Module POL3120 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
POL3120: War and Public Opinion
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Aims
You will able to demonstrate knowledge of the complex and dynamic relationship between public opinion and foreign policy. You will learn the important role that public opinion plays in guiding the foreign policy choices of democratic states. You will be exposed to multiple competing theoretical approaches will be able to articulate similarities and differences to these competing approaches. Particular emphasis will be placed how to read and evaluate quantitative data analysis. This is a quantitatively oriented course. There are no quantitative prerequisites (the instructors will give all relevant training to perform well in the course, but you should be prepared to engage with quantitative work). Taken together, this class will help your skills in applying theory to data, and subsequently using data to inform theory.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. use substantive and methodological knowledge to critically analyse public opinion data about international affairs, foreign policy, and war; 2. demonstrate knowledge in basic and advanced methodologies and tools of analysis used by public opinion researchers; |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 3. analyze a broad spectrum of research designs applicable to the study of politics and international relations; 4. synthesize competing theories in order to apply them to novel social science problems; |
| Personal and Key Skills | 5. demonstrate critical thinking skills, particularly as they relate to evaluating empirical (quantitative) evidence; 6. demonstrate writing skills to facilitate more powerful communication; and 7. work independently, within a limited time frame, to complete a specified task. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual class presentation | 10 minutes | 1-6 | Verbal comments |
| Research question | 500 words | 1-6 | Written comments |
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 | 40 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 60 | 3,500 words | 1-6 | Written comments |
| Examination | 40 | 2 hours | 1-7 | Written 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 assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 3,500 word essay | 1-6 | August/September reassessment period |
| Examination | Examination (2 hours) | 1-7 | August/September reassessment period |
