Undergraduate Module Descriptor

PHL2112: Practical Ethics

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

Module Aims

This module aims to engage you in some very important contemporary debates in applied ethics. By the end of the module, you should be able to:

1)    Understand the motivations and methods of practical ethics;

2)    Assess arguments for different social and moral positions; and

3)    Discuss in a philosophically sophisticated manner some of the most pressing contemporary moral controversies.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. Identify and discuss the issues raised in some key contemporary debates in applied ethics.
2. Distinguish and evaluate certain positions and arguments within some key contemporary debates in applied ethics.
3. Demonstrate a sound grasp of the methods of applied ethics.
Discipline-Specific Skills4. Demonstrate a good understanding of the relationship between the practical and theoretical aspects of philosophy.
5. Demonstrate sound knowledge of different types of philosophical analysis.
Personal and Key Skills6. Demonstrate an expanded philosophical vocabulary and understanding with respect to key ideas in practical ethics.
7. Engage in complex arguments both orally and through writing.
8. Conduct research independently engaging with complex ideas and problems.

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
Tutorial ParticipationFortnightly1-8Oral
Essay draftDraft of final essay1-8Peer review

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
Reading reports (The mark will be an overall mark for the set: you will have 8 chances to submit a reading report, and if you submit at least 5 reports over the semester, you’ll get the full 10% (each report is worth 2%, up to a total of 10%). You will get feedback on these assignments in three ways: (1) Reading reports will form the basis of tutorial discussion, so you will receive (and offer) feedback from your peers during class; (2) I’ll provide general feedback during classes; (3) Students can receive individual feedback on request).105 reports x 150 words1-3Oral
Essay301000 words1-7Written
Final Essay602000 words1-8Written

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
Reading reportsLiterature summary (750 words)1-3August/September reassessment period
EssayEssay (1000 words)1-7August/September reassessment period
EssayEssay (2000 words)1-8August/September reassessment perio