Everyday Social Worlds

Module Identifier: GS33320
Module Title: Everyday Social Worlds
Academic Year: 2027/2028
Semester: Semester 1
Co-ordinator: Dr Jesse Heley
Reading List: View on Aspire
Other Staff: Dr Yvonne Ehrstein; Dr Marc Welsh; Professor Peter Merriman; Dr Bethany Simmonds; Rhys Dafydd Jones

Assessment

Assessment Type	Assessment details	Proportion
Semester Assessment	Essay: 2000 Words	50%
Semester Assessment	End of module assessment:	50%
Supplementary Assessment	Essay: 2000 Words	50%
Supplementary Assessment	End of module assessment:	50%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

Critically evaluate the way in which social theorists, writing from different traditions, have conceptualised the notion of the everyday.
Critically evaluate the way in which the notion of the everyday can be used as a lens to understand different aspects of social, cultural and political life.
Synthesise in an effective manner conceptual and more empirical approaches to the everyday.

Brief description

This module introduces students to one of the core cross-cutting concepts within the contemporary social sciences; namely the way in which individuals experience different aspects of social, cultural and political life in everyday settings.

In framing the module in such a way, students will be able to appreciate how many of the key institutions of modernity exist not only in abstract terms but also in the concrete and everyday experiences of individuals and groups.

The module will discuss a broad range of aspects of social, cultural and political life, with the specific focus in any given year being derived from relevant academic research and contemporary events in the media.

Content

Students will explore the work of key theorists of the everyday, including Lefebvre, de Certeau, Auge, Goffman and Kracauer, inclusive case studies which illuminate the significance of their conceptual frameworks for examining social, cultural and political life. The case studies include – but are not limited to – the political discourse, news media, material culture, photography, reality TV shows, CCTV, the office, the home, the street.

Module skills

Skills type	Skills details
Application of Number	Not explicitly developed in this module, though students may use these skills for their case study report.
Communication	The module will develop students’ written communication skills through the requirement to complete written assessments. In addition, students will develop their oral communication skills through team-working and involvement in class exercises.
Improving own Learning and Performance	Student attendance and participation in the lectures will help them to enhance a range of learning skills. The module also requires students to participate in group discussions and extensive self-directed study.
Information Technology	Students will be required to undertake research for the module using bibliographic search engines and library catalogues, as well as on-line sources of policy-related information. They will also utilize standard word-processing packages in the completion of the coursework.
Personal Development and Career planning	The module will help students to develop a range of transferable skills including policy analysis, time management, self-discipline, research planning and team-working in class exercises.
Problem solving	The module will develop students’ problem-solving skills in a number of ways. Students will be required to analyse a range of sources and texts as part of their independent research and coursework assessment.
Research skills	Students are expected to research and synthesize a range of academic source material in preparing for classes and for their assessments.
Subject Specific Skills	The module will enable students to develop and practice subject-specific skills in Sociology.
Team work	The classes will include problem-solving exercises and group discussions which will provide opportunities for students to develop team-working skills and discuss their thoughts with the class.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6