Module POL2114 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
POL2114: Issues in Modern British Politics
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
The module’s precise content varies from year to year depending on the issues of relevance and importance that emerge.
In the beginning of the module, you will be asked to vote on and select 4 issues to be covered in the module.
The list of the possible issues includes the following topics:
- Reforming the electoral system – pros and cons (and how to)
- Future of multiculturalism and social cohesion
- Electoral rights (e.g., vote at 16, voting rights for non-citizen residents and non-resident citizens)
- Social and political values in a state of flux
- Political engagement beyond elections
- Changing nature of social class
- The rise of identity politics
- Media and politics
- Representative claims and challenges to representative democracy in Britain, etc.
In addition, the module will provide an opportunity to develop team working, debating and presentation skills through interactive sessions spread across the term.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 |
...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 Activities | 14 | 7 x 2 hr interactive lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 8 | 4 x 2 hr student presentations and discussions |
| Guided independent study | 50 | Completing readings assigned for the module in preparation for the discussion of selected poitical issues |
| Guided independent study | 30 | Preparation of the presentation |
| Guided independent study | 48 | Preparation of the research report, including conducting research, collecting and analysing data and writing up results |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation outline | 1,000 words | 1-8 | Written and oral 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 70 | 0 | 30 |
...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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small group presentation | 30 | 45 mins | 1-8 | Written and peer-to-peer feedback |
| Reflective essay | 10 | 750 words | 1-8 | Written |
| Individual research report | 60 | 2000 words | 1-8 | Written |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small group presentation | Poster presentation (1,000 words) | 1-8 | August/September reassessment period |
| Reflective essay | Reflective essay (750 words) | 1-8 | August/September reassessment period |
| Individual research report | Research report (2,000 words) | 1-8 | August/September reassessment period |
Re-assessment notes
Individual poster presentation is used as a form of re-assessment of a small group presentation as it evaluates same set of knowledge and skills, i.e. the students ability to formulate an evidence-based, literature-informed argument on the topic of student’s choice (as chosen in the beginning of the module) and communicate it in clearly in a visually appealing and engaging way.
