Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POC3130: Controversies in American 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 survey of the major contemporary controversies in American politics, from constitutional reform, through polarization in public opinion, to areas of public policy. We will use theories and findings from the study of US Politics to understand and analyze each of the controversies we study. We will examine classic and contemporary work in these fields.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. demonstrate knowledge of the arguments major theories of the influences on debates in the various controversies we examine in oral and written work 2. discuss the strengths and weaknesses of different theories and research in oral and written work; 3. apply major theories about US Politics to historical and contemporary issues in oral and written work
Discipline-Specific Skills	4. demonstrate comprehension and the ability to use key concepts pertaining to US Politics in oral and written work; 5. synthesize and critique a variety of theories and arguments in the field in your written work; 6. demonstrate a deep understanding of the implications of new evidence for a given theory in your oral and written work; 7. demonstrate that you understand different methods of research in the field and their implications for findings in your oral and written work;
Personal and Key Skills	8. work independently in spontaneous discussion and defence of arguments 9. demonstrate oral and written analytical and organizational skills in essays, presentations and discussion; and 10. write essays to a deadline.

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
Questions based on readings or topics to be submitted at the beginning of the week (emailed on Sunday before class)	3-5 questions	4, 5, 7-10	Written feedback from module convenor and peer feedback other members of the class

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
70	0	30

...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	70	3,000 words	1-8,10	Written
Group Project Presentation	30	1 x 7.5 minute presentation of slides as part of pair (15 minute presentation total. Notes (all materials handed in via eBART) and evidence of contribution on Trello.	4,5,7,8,9	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	Essay (3,000 words)	1-8,10	August/September reassessment period
Group Project Presentation	20 minute viva (7.5 min presentation + questions)	4,5,7,8,9	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.

McKay, David. 2017 (9^th edition). American Politics and Society. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.

Edwards, George. 2004. Why The Electoral College is Bad for American. New Haven: Yale University Press. Issues for Debate in American Public Policy: Selections from CQ Researcher. Washington: CQ Press.

Levinson, Sanford. 2008. Our Undemocratic Constitution: Where the Constitution Goes Wrong (And How We the People Can Correct It). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

McCarty, Nolan, Keith Poole, and Howard Rosenthal. 2006. Polarized America: The Dance of Ideology and Unequal Riches. Cambridge: MIT Press.