Module POL3196 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
POL3196: Democracy in the European Union
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Aims
This module familiarizes you with core theories, debates and actors of political representation in the EU. It aims at providing you with the skills to engage in current debates on parliaments, parties, interest groups, and citizens, and to apply theories of representation and of EU integration to concrete instances of political representation, as well as to critically evaluate the usefulness of these theories. Furthermore, the module familiarizes you with current key debates in the EU and challenges you to develop your own position on those debates. In doing so, it aims to equip you with the analytical skills required to describe and explain the hybrid system of political representation in the EU and take an active part in related debates. The first part of the module looks at theoretical foundations of democracy in the EU as well as at the different actors present in it. The second part engages with key contemporary debates that relate to the state of today’s democracy in the EU.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. demonstrate understanding of core concepts and approaches regarding democracy, political legitimacy and political representation and their application to the EU context; 2. give an account of the main institutions, actors and processes of governance in the EU; 3. show theoretical and practical knowledge of the debate on the democratic deficit of the EU; 4. critically engage with on-going relevant debates about the state of todays democracy in the EU. |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 5. critically evaluate core concepts; 6. construct rigorous arguments which show an understanding of key theories; 7. deploy theoretical arguments and apply them to empirical case studies; 8. justify own choices of theory, research design and method. |
| Personal and Key Skills | 9. critically evaluate ideas and debates; 10. write clearly and coherently; 11. deploy the ability to communicate clearly and deliver presentations to peers; 12. work independently and in collaboration with peers; and 13. use IT for the retrieval and presentation of information. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay plan | Max. of 400 words | 1-10 | Either oral or in writing |
| Discussion of presentation prior to presenting | 10 minutes | 1-10 | Oral Feeback |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation | 20 | 15 minutes | 1-13 | Written feedback |
| 2 Podcasts in teams of 2-3 | 20 | Each podcast 5-10 | 1-13 | Written feedback |
| Essay | 60 | 4,000 words | 1-10 | Written feedback |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation | Presentation (15 minutes) | 1-13 | August/September reassessment period |
| 1-2 podcasts by individual students | Minimum 5 minutes | 1-13 | August/September reassessment period |
| Essay | Essay (4,000 words) | 1-10 | August/September reassessment period |
