GV275-5-FY-CO:
Issues in Politics and Capstone Preparation
2021/22
Government
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Undergraduate: Level 5
ReassessmentOnly
Thursday 07 October 2021
Friday 01 July 2022
15
05 February 2020
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
BA LV21 Modern History and Politics,
BA LV22 Modern History and Politics (Including Placement Year),
BA LV28 Modern History and Politics (Including Foundation Year),
BA LV2C Modern History and Politics (Including Year Abroad)
This module introduces the dynamics of a variety of current issues in politics, and will introduce them to new topic that may supplement their future projects. The module tackles topics that are often not covered in other politics modules but that should not remain on the fringe.
These topics include but are not limited to the intersection of: identity; religion; culture; terrorism; engaging with the morality of torture in counter terrorism; engaging with the reality of civilian casualties in wars; body language of political speakers; textual tones; nonverbal communication; back-channel diplomacy; and rhetorical strategies in politics.
The line-up of topics to be covered varies from year to year depending on what is newsworthy and current. In addition to covering these topics, the module will also provide important preparation for the final capstone project by helping students improve their research skills and hone basic writing skills.
The modules aims to help students to think critically while also developing insights into a variety of current topics that interconnect with politics.
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
1. Critically assess and discuss a variety of issues in politics.
2. Capacity to produce original research.
3. Develop an attitude of nuance and the tendency to complexify topics, in other words, rejecting a simplistic approach to any topic
4. Understand the effect that a variety of current issues have had on shaping political behaviour and institutions and how politics and institutions have affected these issues
5. Adjudicate between competing theories or arguments, giving credit to perspectives other than their own
6. Construct a literature review on a research question related to the module.
7. Improve general writing skills in a concise fashion
8. Formulate a research question and put together a research design and methods section
9. Conceptualize key concepts
10. Gather data and analyse it in a concise fashion
No additional information available.
The course will be taught with a thirty minute lecture on a current topic, followed by discussion. The structure of the class will depend upon the nature of the topic of the week. There will be topics that will lend itself to discussions from the very outset, while some topics will require exercises in class. Students cannot receive the full benefit of the module without preparation and class participation.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Assignment 1: Critical Analysis |
|
30% |
| Coursework |
Assignment 2: Literature Review |
|
30% |
| Coursework |
Assignment 3: Research design |
|
35% |
| Practical |
Participation |
|
5% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Abdulaziz Alghashian
Module Supervisor: Abdulaziz Alghashian - amhalg@essex.ac.uk / Module Adminsitrator: Lewis Olley - govquery@essex.ac.uk
No
No
No
Dr Katharine Dommett
The University of Sheffield
Senior Lecturer
Available via Moodle
Of 20 hours, 20 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).
Government
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