Undergraduate Module Descriptor

SOC3112: Introduction to Terrorism Studies

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

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 assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Group Presentation 10 minutes1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8Verbal, written
Poster presentation1 poster of statistical analysis for essay preparation2, 3, 6, 8Verbal
Participation in seminarsActive participation based on readings1 - 7Verbal

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.

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
60040

...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
ELE-based in-class test401 hour test1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9Written Feedback
Essay453,000 words3, 4, 5, 8, 9Written Feedback
Quantitative Data Collection Assignment151,500 words1, 2, 4, 9Verbal class 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 assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
ELE-based in-class test1 hour test 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9August/September reassessment period
EssayEssay (3,000 words)3, 4, 5, 8, 9August/September reassessment period
Quantitative Data Collection Assignment1,500 words1, 2, 4, 9August/September reassessment period

Re-assessment notes

Re-assessment will be calculated and weighted in the same manner as assessment during the regularly schedule.  Note: a separate, but comparable, examination will be provided for re-assessment.

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:

Andrew Silke. (2004). Research on Terrorism: Trends, Achievements and Failures. Routledge Press.

Brian Forst. (2008). Terrorism, Crime, and Public Policy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Clark McCauley and Sophia Moskalenco. (2011). Friction: How radicalization happens to them and us. New York: Oxford University Press.

Gary LaFree and Laura Dugan (2007). Introducing the Global Terrorism Database. Terrorism and Political Violence. 19:181-204.

Jessica Stern and J.M. Berger (2015). ISIS: The State of Terror. Harper Collins Publisher. 

Marc Sageman. (2008). Leaderless Jihad. University of Pennsylvania Press

Robert Pape. (2003). The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism. American Political Science Review 97(3): 343-361.

Steven M. Chermak, Joshua D. Freilich, William Parkin, and James P. Lynch. (2012). American terrorism and extremist crime data sources and selectivity bias: An investigation focusing on homicide events committed by far-right extremists. Journal of Quantitative Criminology, 28(1): 191-218.

Victor Asal and J. Wilkenfeld (2013). Ethnic conflict: An organizational perspective. Penn State Journal of Law and International Affairs 2(1): 91-102.