Module POL3261 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
POL3261: Becoming an Actor in World Politics: International and Transnational Recognition
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Aims
1) To introduce students to the politics of international recognition of states, secessionism and contested statehood
2) To bridge traditional (legal and state-centric) understandings of international recognition in IR and the social theory of recognition
3) To expand traditional views of international recognition into the concept of transnational recognition, applying the latter to a variety of processes of state and non-state actor emergence in world politics
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. Demonstrate understanding and situate debates on the international recognition of states and contested statehood 2. Critically apply insights from the social theory of recognition to both state and non-state actors in world politics |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 3. Find, use and analyse secondary and primary data relevant to specific issues in politics and IR; 4. Place contemporary political issues in larger contexts; 5. Deploy critical arguments in analysing political issues and evaluating sources; |
| Personal and Key Skills | 6. Work independently and in a group, including the presentation of material for group discussion; 7. Demonstrate analytical skills and the ability to digest, select and organise material; 8. Demonstrate writing skills including the ability to produce well organised and coherent essays to a deadline, practice in articulating and defending positions on tutorial topics. |
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 reading summary | 10 minutes | 1-7 | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | 0 | 20 |
...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 1 | 40 | 3,000 words | 1-8 | Written |
| Case study presentation in pairs | 20 | 20 minutes | 1-7 | Oral |
| Essay 2 | 40 | 3,000 words | 1-8 | Written |
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 1 | Essay 1 (3000 words) | 1-8 | August/September reassessment period |
| Case study presentation in pairs | 20-minute presentation | 1-7 | August/September reassessment period |
| Essay 2 | Essay 2 (3000 words) | 1-8 | August/September reassessment period |
