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 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 |
