Undergraduate Module Descriptor

POL2026: Political Analysis: Behaviour, Institutions, Ideas

This module descriptor refers to the 2022/3 academic year.

Module Aims

To introduce you to the key approaches to the study of politics and to some of the main theoretical debates on the relationship between political action, structures and ideas. The study of these approaches will be linked to the development of key concepts and ideas in political research. More specifically, the module aims to provide you with an introduction to the nature, limitations and possible applications of various ways of studying political behaviour, political relations and institutions, and political ideologies and values.

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. identify, categorise and explain the basic nature, limitations and the study of politics; 2. assess and judge a range of approaches to the study of politics;
Discipline-Specific Skills	3. identify and discuss the major concepts in Politics and IR and deploy them in appropriate circumstances; 4. engage in sympathetic interpretation and reasoned criticism of theories and approaches in Politics and IR; 5. use logic and reasoning to evaluate arguments about Politics and IR; 6. construct well-structured rigorous political arguments based on logical deduction;
Personal and Key Skills	7. communicate effectively; 8. research and critically evaluate information; 9. apply techniques and theories in appropriate contexts.

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
Optional Formative Essay Outline	300 words	1-9	Written comments and personal feedback in office hours if requested

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
One short essay on a topic covered in first part of module	30	1,200 words	1-9	Written comments provided in an Assessment Sheet; personal feedback in office hours if requested
One essay in answer to questions on topics covered by the second part of module	70	2,200 words	1-9	Written comments provided in an Assessment Sheet; personal feedback in office hours if requested

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
One short essay on a topic covered in first part of module	One short essay on a topic covered in first part of module (1,200 words)	1-9	August/September re-assessment period
One essay in answer to questions on topics covered by the second part of module	One essay in answer to questions on topics covered by the second part of module (2,200 words)	1-9	August/September re-assessment period