Module POC1023 for 2022/3
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
POC1023: Participating in Politics
This module descriptor refers to the 2022/3 academic year.
Please note that this module is only delivered on the Penryn Campus.
Module Aims
This module provides a clear and inspiring introduction to different types of political participation in democratic countries. The module will enable you to reflect critically and creatively on the idea of a democratic phoenix, which purports that we do not need to worry about disengagement from politics – people are simply engaging in different ways. It will introduce you to the main ways of engaging in politics, and illustrate the advantages and disadvantages of different forms of political participation.
| On successfully completing the programme you will be able to: | |
|---|---|
| Module-Specific Skills | 1. analyse and understand the channels open for citizens to participate in politics in democratic countries 2. understand, evaluate and apply a range of concepts and theories about political participation to understand how and why political participation varies cross countries; 3. appreciate the efficacy of different types of political participation for achieving social or policy change; |
| Discipline-Specific Skills | 4. identify and discuss core political concepts around political participation; 5. understand how survey evidence is (mis)used in the study of political participation; |
| Personal and Key Skills | 6. apply scholarly reflections to own political participation; 7. present coherent arguments in a call to action for political participation; and 8. communicate effectively in your written and oral work. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peer review of call to action | One A4 page poster / leaflet | 1, 3, 8 | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scholarly reflections on two types of political participation engaged in during the course | 70 | 2,000 words | 1-8 | Written, verbal on request |
| Call to action | 30 | 1-page (words and/or pictures) (revised version of formative assessment) | 7 | Written, verbal on request |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scholarly reflections | Scholarly reflections (2,000 words) | 1-8 | August/September re-assessment period |
| Call to action | 1-page (words and/or pictures) | 7 | August/September re-assessment 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.
Dalton, R. (2007) Citizen Politics: Public Opinion and Political Parties in Advanced Industrial Democracies, Washington DC: CQ Press.
Gallego, A. (2015) Unequal Political Participation Worldwide, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.
Meredith, R. (2012) Voter Turnout: A Social Theory of Political Participation, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Norris, P. (2002) Democratic Phoenix: Reinventing Political Activism, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Pattie,C., P. Seyd and P. Whiteley (2004) Citizenship in Britain: Values, Participation and Democracy, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Uldam, J and A. Vestergaard (eds) (2015) Civic Engagement and Social Media; Political Participation Beyond the Protest, Basingstoke, Palgrave MacMillan.
Whiteley, P. (2012) Political Partiicpation in Britain and the Decline and Revival of Civic Culture, Basingstoke, Palgrave MacMillan.
Zukin, C. et al (2006) A New Engagement? Political Participation, Civic Life and the Changing American. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
