Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POC3130: Controversies in American Politics

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

Please note that this module is only delivered on the Penryn Campus.

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 and debates:

1. The Constitution and constitutional reform

2. Culture wars in public opinion

3. The electoral system

4. Voting and voting rights

5. Political communication (campaign advertising, fake news, social media)

6. The two-party system

7. Reforming Congress

8. Changing the Supreme Court

9. America’s place in the world

10. Public policy controversies

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
22	128	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	The module will be taught through 11 weekly 2 hours of lectures and seminars (starting week 1) over one term, in which we discuss the topics and materials.
Guided Independent study	128	Private study reading and preparing (around 4 hours of reading and note-taking per week = 44 hours); researching and writing essay (around 56 hours researching, planning and writing the essay). Around 28 hours researching (20 hours) planning (4 hours) and writing (4 hours) presentation.

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).