Undergraduate Module Descriptor

LAW2171: Human Rights and Human Dignity

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

1. Introduction to the concept of human dignity: Historical and philosophical origins, post-1945 context, key questions and problems

2. Human dignity and human rights: human dignity as foundation of human rights, selected jurisdictions (e.g. Germany, ECHR, EU and UK), significance of human dignity as foundation of human rights; unresolved questions

3. Specific human dignity and human rights tensions and synergies, e.g. human dignity and equality, human dignity and privacy – human dignity and life – human dignity and prohibition of torture

4. Human dignity conundrums, crises and potentials, e.g. human dignity v autonomy; ‘illiberal’ models of human dignity; human dignity, time and environmental justice; dignity of the non-humans.

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
26.5123.5

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities2211 X 2 hour lectures
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities4.53 X 1.5 hours workshops
Guided independent study48Study group for lecture preparation work
Guided independent study18Workshop preparation
Guided independent study55.5Independent reading and research

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

How this Module is Assessed

In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.

Formative Assessment

A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
A voluntary essay outline and a fully drafted introduction addressing formative essay title.750 words1-7i) Individual: written comments and indicative mark; ii) General feedback: in writing and posted on ELE, and orally to the cohort.
A voluntary reflective commentary 250 words1-7i) Individual: written comments; ii) General feedback: in writing and posted on ELE, and orally to the cohort.

Summative Assessment

A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
10000

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
One essay comprising two parts: (1) 3000 word essay (from choice of two titles) (2) 500 word reflective commentary1003,500 words1-7Individual feedback.

Re-assessment

Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Essay (including reflective commentary)Essay (including reflective commentary) 3500 words1-7August/September reassessment period