Module POL2127 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
POL2127: Electoral Politics
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Aims
Voting is the cornerstone of democracy. Candidates and parties offer competing views of how government should function and what policies should be enacted, and then voters get to choose between these competing visions. Yet, this process of turning voter preferences into political outcomes is not always straightforward. This module aims to:
- Improve understanding of how electoral politics and electoral process shape outcomes such as who gets elected and how governments form.
- Examine how the “fundamentals” such as economic performance affect candidate performance.
- Assess whether or not campaigns have a significant effect on election outcomes (i.e., how much do campaigns actually influence decisions of whether or not to vote, or who to vote for).
- Examine the role of media and advertising in elections (including the role of new and social media).
- Appreciate different and competing theories of voting behaviour.
- Understand the process for recruiting candidates to run for office, with a particular focus on who is encouraged/recruited to run.
- Examine interventions that increase voter turnout and other forms of political participation.
- Promote improved critical thinking to analyse news events and issues related to elections in the UK and abroad.
- Promote understanding of the definition and use of predictive social science models.
- Improve your ability to critically analyse texts and to communicate effectively.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. Demonstrate knowledge of electoral politics processes and institutions, and how these differ across different national contexts 2. Appreciate the role of voters, campaigns, candidates, media, and context play in affecting electoral outcomes |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 3. Explain in a critical way how institutions and preferences combine to produce outcomes 4. Demonstrate understanding of the definition and use of predictive social science models |
| Personal and Key Skills | 5. demonstrate critical thinking skills, particularly as they relate to evaluating empirical (quantitative) evidence; 6. demonstrate the ability to work independently within a limited time frame to complete a specified task 7. demonstrate writing skills and/or other presentation skills to facilitate more powerful communication |
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:
-How the “fundamentals” (such as economic performance and how long the incumbent party has been in power) help explain election outcomes
-How electoral rules shape electoral outcomes (e.g., “Duverger’s Law” in first past the post single member district system versus proportional representation systems)
-Whether or not campaigns have an effect on election outcomes/the effect of campaign activities on
-Competing theories of voting behaviour
-The role that scandal plays in affecting the electoral prospects of parties and candidates
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 26.5 | 123.5 |
...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 | 11 X 1.5-hour lectures |
| Scheduled learning and teaching activity | 10 | 10 X 1-hour tutorials |
| Guided independent study | 123.5 | A variety of private study tasks directed by module leader. These tasks may include: Reading assignments Preparing assessments Following political news events |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discussion in lectures and tutorials | During lectures and tutorials | 1-7 | Oral |
| Tutorial quizzes | Beginning of tutorial | 1-7 | Written, Oral |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
...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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time-limited essay | 77 | 2500 words | 1-7 | Written |
| Election report | 23 | Students will have the choice of either (due at the same time): -750 words written report; or -7.5-minute presentation (delivered as recorded video, slide deck, or similar) | 1-7 | Written |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time-limited essay | Time-limited essay | 1-7 | August-September assessment period |
| Election report | Election report (same as original assessment 750 word essay or 7.5 minute presentation) | 1-7 | August-September assessment period |
