Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL2127: Electoral Politics

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

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