GV538-6-SP-CO:
From Cradle to Grave: Social Justice in Childhood, Adulthood, and Death

The details
2023/24
Government
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Monday 15 January 2024
Friday 22 March 2024
15
28 March 2022

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

(none)

Module description

The study of politics includes not only the study of how the political world operates, but also the study of how it should operate. GV538 examines a set of issues that continue to receive considerable attention within contemporary normative political theory. More specifically, this module will introduce you to cutting edge research concerning theories of justice.

Rather than consider these issues in the abstract, we will examine various theories of justice through their application to concrete social and political controversies that are central to contemporary politics. Very roughly, this module is split into three parts and, together, these display a cradle-to-grave structure. We shall begin with (i) issues regarding parenting, education, and upbringing; then we shall consider (ii) issues concerning individuals’ working lives; and we shall conclude by examining (iii) issues relating to later life and death.

Module aims

1. To enable you to understand the ethical and political implications of academic research and study.
2. To enable you to place the theoretical study of justice in the wider context of Political Science as an academic discipline.
3. To enable you to understand, critically to analyse, and to evaluate contemporary theories of justice.
4. To locate the concept of justice in contemporary political theory.

Module learning outcomes

1. To understand some key policy controversies in the study of social justice.
2. To understand the different contemporary approaches taken to the study of social justice.
3. To understand the place of the concept of social justice in contemporary political theory.
4. To be able to analyse rigorously the arguments provided for and against key policies that constitute social justice.
5. To write a clear analysis of a contemporary policy controversy.

Module information

The module also enables students to acquire the following generic and transferable skills:

1. Library and Internet research
2. Data collection, presentation, and analysis
3. Exposition and argumentation in a structured fashion
4. Presenting verbal arguments to classroom peers
5. Production of short well-researched reports
6. Working to deadlines
7. Conducting oneself in a scholarly and professional manner

Learning and teaching methods

2 hour seminar

Bibliography

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Essay 1    35% 
Coursework   Essay 2    65% 

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

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Isabella Trifan, email: isabella.trifan@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Mollie Gerver
Module Supervisor: Dr Mollie Gerver Module Administrator: Edmund Walker, govquery@essex.ac.uk

 

Availability
Yes
Yes
No

External examiner

Dr Katharine Dommett
The University of Sheffield
Senior Lecturer
Resources
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), module, or event type.

 

Further information
Government

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