Module Information
Course Delivery
Assessment
Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
---|---|---|
Semester Assessment | Seminar Participation | 10% |
Semester Assessment | Essay 2000 Words | 50% |
Semester Assessment | Briefing Paper 1500 Words | 40% |
Supplementary Assessment | Review in lieu of seminar participation 500 Words | 10% |
Supplementary Assessment | Essay 2000 Words | 50% |
Supplementary Assessment | Briefing Paper 1500 Words | 40% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
Critically analyse different accounts of the historical evolution of the UK state and its territorial constitution.
Outline in detail and critically analyse the main features of the UK’s evolving governing arrangements.
Compare and critically evaluate different arguments for constitutional change.
Critically analyse trends in electoral politics in different parts of the UK.
Brief description
The aim of the module is to provide a comprehensive introduction to contemporary UK politics with a particular focus on constitutional and territorial questions. The material discussed will include: the historical evolution of the UK state and its territorial constitution; different interpretations of the nature of the UK (unitary state, union state, political union); the nature of current UK governance arrangements and possible future directions; attitudes to public policy across the UK; and contemporary discussions regarding citizenship and identity, secession and unionism.
Content
- the historical evolution of the UK state and its territorial constitution;
- different interpretations of the nature of the UK (unitary state, union state, political union);
- the nature of the UK's current governing arrangements and possible future directions;
- attitudes to public policy across the UK;
- contemporary discussions regarding citizenship and identity, secession and unionism.
Module Skills
Skills Type | Skills details |
---|---|
Communication | Students will learn how to present their ideas both verbally and in writing and how to present their arguments most effectively. They will learn the importance of information and clear communication and how to exploit these. They will know how to use the many sources of information available and how to use the most appropriate form of communication to best advantage. They will learn to be clear in their writing and speaking and to be direct about aims and objectives. They will learn to consider only that which is relevant to the topic, focus and objectives of their argument or discussion. Students will also be required to submit their written assessments in word-processed format and the presentation of work should reflect effective expression of ideas and good use of language skills in order to ensure clarity, coherence and effective communication.. |
Improving own Learning and Performance | The module aims to promote self-management but within a context in which support and assistance is available from the module convenor and other students. Students will be expected to improve their own learning and performance by undertaking their own research and exercising their own initiative, including searching for sources and deciding how to answer assessed essay questions. |
Information Technology | Students will enhance their proficiency using Blackboard, where materials to support learning will be made available. Students will also develop skills in searching for, and assessing the validity of, online information sources as part of preparation for lectures, seminars and assessed tasks. Assessed work will be presented in electronic format, according to standard expectations. |
Personal Development and Career planning | The module is designed to hone and test skills of use to students in their working lives, particularly in speaking to small groups, listening, thinking and responding to the statement of others. Moreover, the written work requires students to write clearly and concisely, which is a common task in the workplace. Students will be encouraged throughout to reflect on their performance and to consider lessons for future application. |
Problem solving | Independent work and problem solving will be one central goal of the module; the preparation of two assessed pieces of written work will require that students develop independent research skills as well as problem solving skills. The ability of students to solve problems will be developed and assessed by asking them to: adopt differing points of view; organize data and formulate an answer to the problem; reason logically; construct theoretical arguments; divide issues into smaller problems. |
Research skills | Students will be required to undertake independent research in order to complete the assessed work. This will involve utilizing a range of information sources, including core academic texts, journal articles etc. |
Subject Specific Skills | Students have the opportunity to develop, practice and test a wide range of subject specific skills that help them to understand, conceptualise and evaluate examples and ideas on the module. These subject specific skills include: - Collect and understand a wide range of data relating to the module - Evaluate competing perspectives - Apply a range of methodologies to complex historical and contemporary social and political problems. |
Team work | Students will undertake team exercises in the seminars. For many of the topics of this module, seminars will consist of small-group discussions where students will be asked to discuss as a group the core issues related to the seminar topic. These class discussions and debates form a significant part of the module, and will allow students to approach and examine a given topic through team work. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6