Module SOC1040 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
SOC1040: Social Issues: Part II - Themes in Criminology
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Aims
* Introduce you to core themes in the study of crime and deviance
* Foster understanding of the varied qualitative and quantitative methodologies for assessing crime
* Enable you to undertake independent research
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. Demonstrate knowledge of the underlying concepts and of strengths and weaknesses of theories of crime and deviance 2. Demonstrate a clear understanding of the qualitative and quantitative methodological foundations of criminology; 3. Identify and locate relevant materials and information in support of research; 4. Synthesise and critically assess the relationship between disciplinary approaches to crime; |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 5. Extend your ability to apply the insights and findings in the literature to the analysis of crime; 6. Conduct independent research; |
| Personal and Key Skills | 7. Communicate complex ideas in writing; and 8. Demonstrate the ability to work independently, within a limited time frame, and without access to external sources, to complete a specified task. |
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:
Topic 1 Deviance and crime
Topic 2 Case study: drugs
Topic 3 Victimology and crime
Topic 4 Justice and crime
Topic 5 Terrorism and crime
Topic 6 Technology and new forms of crime
Topic 7 Crime and war
Topic 8 State crimes
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 28 | 122 | 0 |
...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 | 22 | Two hours weekly lectures. Lectures provide students with a broad overview of the study of crime; they cover more ground than is possible in tutorials, and are designed to establish a context in which to think about the issues discussed in tutorials. |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 6 | 1 hour tutorials. Exercises based on reading will be set. |
| Guided Independent study | 33 | Course readings |
| Guided Independent study | 67 | Preparation for essays, library, research |
| Guided Independent study | 22 | Examination revision. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-line test | 1 hour total (5 elements of 20 minutes tests spread out over term) | 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 | Written |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 70 | 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 | 30 | 2,000 words | 1-7 | Written |
| Examination | 70 | 2 hours | 1-9 | Exam mark + qualities comments on request |
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 | Essay (2,000 words) | 1-7 | August\September reassessment period |
| Examination | Examination (2 hours) | 1-9 | August\September reassessment period |
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
Basic reading:
Beirne, P. (ed) (1994) The Origins and Growth of Criminology.
Blackburn, R., The psychology of criminal conduct [1995] Wiley
Elmsley, C., Crime and Society in England, 1750-1900 (2010) Longman
Jewkes, Y. and G. Letherby (eds.) 2002. Criminology.
Maguire, M., Morgan, R. and Reiner, R. (eds.) (1997) The Oxford Handbook in Criminology.
Morrison, W., Theoretical Criminology, from modernity to postmodernism [1995] Routledge-Cavendish
Musson, A., Crime, Law and Society in the Later Middle Ages (2010), Manchester University Press.
ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/
