Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POC3124: Political Thinkers of the Late Twentieth Century

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 aims to introduce you to the work of several exemplary thinkers of the late twentieth century who sometimes also participated in the events that they wrote about. It will encourage you to read closely some key political texts that have animated political action and influenced political reflection since their publication. The module aims to provoke critical reflection by engaging with ideas that challenge conventional assumptions about the meaning, possibilities and limits of democratic politics.

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. demonstrate substantive knowledge of the thinkers and texts studied;
2. understand the role that various thinkers and debates have played in shaping modern political thought.
Discipline-Specific Skills3. assess the coherence, plausibility and significance of political arguments;
4. appreciate how political concepts are shaped and transformed by historical context and deployment in action.
Personal and Key Skills5. present complex arguments with clarity and concision;
6. communicate effectively in speech and writing.

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
Essay plan1-2 pages1-6Peer review and verbal comments in 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.

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
Essay602,000 words1-6Verbal and written comments
Portfolio402,500 words1-6Written comments

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
EssayEssay (2,000 words)1-6August/September reassessment period
PortfolioEssay (2,500 words)1-6August/September reassessment period