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 Academic Year: | 2016/7 |
| Owning Department/School: | Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies |
| Credits: | 12 [equivalent to 24 CATS credits] |
| Notional Study Hours: | 240 |
| Level: | Certificate (FHEQ level 4) |
| Period: |
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| Assessment Summary: | CW 55%, EX 45% |
| Assessment Detail: |
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| Supplementary Assessment: |
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| Requisites: | |
| Description:
| Aims: This unit seeks to: * Provide students with an introduction to the essential concepts, theories and analytical approaches that shape politics and political analysis * Emphasise the role and value of political concepts as the basic units of political debate and analysis. * Introduce students to the concept of ideology and the importance of ideas to the study of politics. * Provide an introductory grounding in some of the key debates within political thought. * Reflect upon how different approaches to political analysis are based upon distinct ontological and epistemological positions. * Illustrate the importance of moving beyond simple description and cultivate a sophisticated and nuanced approach to political analysis that is theoretically informed and founded on analytical rigour and conceptual clarity. Learning Outcomes: By the end of the module students will be able to demonstrate: * an understanding of some of the most important concepts used in political argument and in the analysis of political phenomena; * understanding of the notion of ideology, and of key political ideologies; * critical and analytical modes of thinking about politics and political analysis, including an interrogation of the key categories via which we think and act, politically. Skills: Skills in critical analysis, conceptual thinking, precision in the use of written and spoken language, exercise of independent judgement, reasoned argument and the planning/conduct/reporting of non-quantitative research are taught and assessed in this unit. Skills in effective learning are developed in this unit. Content: An introduction to the essential concepts, theories and analytical approaches that shape politics and political analysis. |
| Programme availability: |
PL10967 is Compulsory on the following programmes:Department of Economics
PL10967 is Optional on the following programmes:Department of Social & Policy Sciences
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Notes:
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