Module PHL3018 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
PHL3018: Sex and Death: Introduction to the Philosophy of Biology
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of the following topics:
- What is evolution?
- Evolutionary explanations of human nature
- Selfish genes
- Altruism and group selection
- Adaptation and function
- Genes, genetics and molecular biology
- Evolution and development
- Ecology: biodiversity, niche construction, conservation
- Species and the tree of life
- Philosophy of biology in practice
- Summarizing philosophy of biology; revision; essay and exam discussion.
Learning and Teaching
This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 16.5 | 133.5 |
...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 16.5 | The module will be taught and learned via weekly one-and-a-half-hour seminars, which will consist of a one-hour lecture followed by a half-hour tutorial. The tutorial will incorporate student presentations as well as further discussion of the lecture material |
| Guided Independent study | 133.5 | A variety of activities directed by module convener. |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
A WebCT site provides detailed module information, including online reading material.
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 assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation in seminars | Weekly | 1-11 | Verbal feedback |
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.
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | 30 | 10 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 60 | 3,000 words | 1-10 | Written |
| Examination | 30 | 1 hour | 1-10 | Written |
| Presentation | 10 | 10 minutes | 1-10 | Verbal |
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 assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay (3,000 words) | 1-10 | August/September reassessment period |
| Examination | Examination (1 hour) | 1-10 | August/September reassessment period |
| Presentation | Presentation script and slides | 1-10 | August/September reassessment period |
