Module POC2005 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
POC2005: American Politics
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Please note that this module is only delivered on the Penryn Campus.
Module Aims
This module comprehensively examines the political system of the United States, from its foundations with the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, through the way its institutions work, to contemporary debates about gun control and health care. We will use theories and findings from the study of US Politics to understand politics in each of the domains we study. We will survey classic and contemporary work in these fields.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. Demonstrate knowledge of the major theories of US Politics in the various subfields we examine in oral and written work; 2. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of different theories and research in oral and written work; 3. Apply major theories about US Politics to historical and contemporary issues in oral and written work; |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 4. Demonstrate comprehension and the ability to use key concepts pertaining to US Politics in oral and written work; 5. Synthesize and critique major theories and arguments in the field in your written work; 6. Demonstrate that you understand the implications of new evidence for a given theory in your oral and written work; 7. Demonstrate that you can identify different methods of research in the field and their possible implications for findings in your oral and written work; |
| Personal and Key Skills | 8. demonstrate oral and written analytical and organizational skills in essays, online and/or in-person discussion with some guidance; 9. Write essays to a deadline. |
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. The US Constitution
Its origins and the compromises that allowed its passage
2. US Federalism
The history of the federal system, how it has evolved, and why it is fundamental to understanding US politics
3. Ideology and Public Opinion
US political culture and how this manifests itself in public opinion over time.
Debates about polarization and its consequences
4. Political Parties
Reasons for the two party system, party competition, role of party identification
5. Voting and Elections
Recent national elections, voter turnout, understanding vote choice
6. Congress I
Congressional campaigns and elections
7. Congress II
How Congress is organized; congressional committees
8. Congress III
Congress and the presidency; divided government
9. Presidency
The powers of the presidency
Presidential approval and its effects
The “two presidencies” thesis
10. The Supreme Court
Principle of judicial review
Activism versus restraint
The contemporary Court
11. Public Policy
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 27.5 | 122.5 | 0 |
...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 | 11 | Lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and teaching activity | 11 | Seminars |
| Guided Independent study | 44 | About 4 hours per week reading and preparing |
| Guided Independent study | 29 | Group project. Around 20 hours researching, 4 hours planning, 4.5 hours writing. |
| Guided Independent study | 55 | Preparation for summative essay |
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 assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Questions based on readings or topics to be submitted at the beginning of the week (emailed on Sunday before class) | 3-5 questions | 4, 5, 7-10 | Verbal feedback from module convenor and other members of the class. |
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 | 0 | 40 |
...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 | 2,500 words | 1-8, 10 | Written feedback |
| 1 x 15 minute presentation | 40 | 15 minutes + slides (all materials submitted via eBART) | 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 | Written feedback |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
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 (2500 words) | 1-8, 10 | August/September assessment period |
| Presentation | 30 minute viva (15 min presentation + questions) | 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 | August/September assessment period |
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
McKay, David. 2017 (9th edition). American Politics and Society. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.
Fiorina, Morris. 2017. Unstable Majorities:Polarization, Party Sorting and Political Stalemate. Stanford: Hoover Institution Press.
Theiss-Morse, Elizabeth, Michael Wagner, William Flanigan, and Nancy Zingale. 2018 (14th edition). The Political Behavior of the American Electorate.
Thurber, James, and Antoine Yoshinaka (eds.). 2015. American Gridlock: The Sources, Character, and Impact of Political Polarization.
Wattenberg, Martin. 2015. Is Voting for Young People?
