module specification

• The module aims to provide a foundation for the understanding of political ideas and government.

• Mastering this subject matter will aid the development of critical skills which are transferable to a variety of contexts, thus assisting employability prospects.

What is politics and how is it studied? LO1,LO2,LO3
The nature and pervasiveness of the political LO1,LO2,LO3
The State and the individual LO1,LO2,LO3
Power and its resolution LO1,LO2,LO3
The history of modern political thought LO1,LO2
Modern approaches LO1,LO2,LO3

Teaching consists of a weekly two hour lecture followed by a one hour tutorial.
Lectures will involve a combination of taught lectures, videos, skills workshops, and the use of primary and secondary documents and websites.
During the module seminars will combine a variety of methods including discussion based on pre-set questions and role plays.
Blended Learning will be a key component of the module, building on existing face-to-face contact time via a virtual environment, and offering additional resources for students to develop further their subject knowledge and skills.
Lecture notes and primary and secondary documents for use in class will be posted on line, as will web links for academic and governmental websites, as well as video links.  Some recorded material by the module convener may also be made available on line.

During teaching periods students are expected to spend 9 hours per week in preparation and private study

Materials for use in class will be posted at least one week in advance on line to allow students to reflect on the subject and prepare.
Questions for class discussion will be available from the beginning of the module via the Module Booklet available on weblearn, which will include a list of resources students can use to answer the questions and study the subject in greater depth.

Skills development will form a central component of the module, including specific sessions on essay preparation and writing, complimenting skills workshops featured on other Level Four modules provided by PIR.

There will be one activity week which also form part of the syllabus, allowing further skills development and subject-specific study.

The transferable employability skills students should have developed include:
• The ability to communicate effectively in speech (the ability to work under pressure in seminars, where students must demonstrate the ability to respond to questions orally) and writing (for example, writing an essay using commonly accepted standards of definition, analysis, grammatical prose, and documentation);
• Research skills, including the ability to synthesise and analyse arguments, to read and understand texts on international relations, and to exercise critical judgement;
• The capacity to work independently, demonstrating initiative, self-organisation and time-management, as well as co-operating with other students to achieve common goals.

The key intellectual skills developed in the module are:
• 1. The ability to understand the nature and range of what is political,
• 2. To understand the main political theories, their origins and their connection to a range of present day issues
• 3. In broader terms, students will develop an understanding of the contested and problematic character of inquiry in this, as in any, discipline. This is a key employability skill.
• 4. Develop skills in academic research, analysis, presentation, and writing

One formative piece of work is required for this module.

This is a short paper, of up to 500 words, succinctly stating the key principles and claims of one of the major political ideologies explored in the first 8 weeks of the module. This will be commented on by the module tutor in order to identify key strengths and areas for improvements in writing skills (in relation to the written assignment which is one part of the summative assessment – see below) and subject awareness and understanding. The short paper will be submitted on line.

Summative assessment of an essay
A second summative assessment by seminar participation, including a class presentation

CORE

Axford, Barrie, et al. (2002) Politics: An Introduction, London, Routledge.
Boucher, David, & Paul Kelly (eds.) (2009) Political Thinkers: From Socrates to the Present,2nd edition, Oxford and New York, Oxford University Press.
Farrelly, Colin (2004) Introduction to Contemporary Political Theory, London, SAGE.
Goodwin, Barbara  (2007) Using Political Ideas, 5th edition, Chichester, John Wiley.

ADDITIONAL

Heywood, Andrew (2012) Political Ideologies: An Introduction, 4th edition, Basingstoke, Palgrave.
Heywood, Andrew (2004) Political Theory: An Introduction, 3rd edition, Basingstoke, Palgrave.
Eatwell, Roger and Wright, Anthony, Contemporary Political Ideologies
Leftwich, Adrian, What is Politics? The activity and its Study, Polity, Cambridge, 2004.
Wetherly, Paul, Political Ideologies, OUP, Oxford, 2017