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Contents
Summary of Content: 3
Educational Aims: 3
Learning Outcomes: 3
Module Evaluation: 3
Lecture topics 4
Seminars 4
Method and Frequency of Class 5
Method of Assessment 5
The Examination 6
Reading Information 7
Coursework Support 8
Guidance on Essay Marking/Writing Criteria 8
Summary of Content:
This module introduces students to the intellectual and practical skills they will need for the successful study of politics.
Educational Aims:
The aim of this module is to help develop students’ intellectual skills, such as critical awareness of sources and developing effective arguments, as well as practical skills such as note-taking and efficient reading, using the library and searching for resources, effective interpretation and presentation of data, essay writing and presentation skills.
Learning Outcomes:
i) Knowledge and Understanding
ii) Intellectual skills
· The development of a critical approach towards a range of academic sources.
· This development of the ability to discriminate intellectually between source types and differing intellectual rationales.
iii) Professional/Practical Skills
· To enhance skills of reading, understanding, and taking effective notes from complex literature.
· Development of the use of the library resources such as JSTOR and UNLOC (University of Nottingham Library and Online Catalogue).
iv) Transferable and Key Skills
· Effective note taking.
· The development of concise written work.
· Efficient use of on-line databases.
Module Evaluation:
Feedback and evaluation are crucial to the success of any module. We want students to have their say on politics modules. Evaluation is by way of a module questionnaire to be completed by students at the end of each semester. The questionnaires are analysed and a full report prepared. Each report is reviewed by the Teaching Committee of the School of Politics on an annual basis.
Lecture topics
This list is indicative of the topics that will be covered. We reserve the right to alter the order of the lectures. Note that lectures are two per week for five weeks.
1. Introducing politics and international relations. Who were are, what we do, what you do, who represents you (30 September).
2. Learning to use articles properly. How to research literature properly and how to read 50,000 words quickly (1 October).
3. Even a chimp should be able to do it. How to reference properly (7 October)
4. George Orwell and the politics of the English language. Writing proper good English and stuff (8 October).
5. Having a heated debate. How to argue. How not to argue (14 October).
6. Why Cicero didn’t mumble. How to present (15 October).
7. From secondary to primary. The joy of sources (21 October).
8. Numbers are your friend I. Why people count things (22 October).
9. Numbers are your friend II. How to analyse primary data (28 October).
10. Ten top tips. Including some things you probably shouldn’t be told (29 October).
Seminars
In the ‘Chat’ tool on WebCT there will be discussion seminars each week. These will take place on Thursdays at 3-4pm and on Fridays at 9-10am.
If you have a query you want raised in the chat session please post it on the chat facility, which you can do at any time. I will then log on at the above times, and answer whatever queries you have. You are strongly encouraged to do this as these online seminars are intended to address the FAQs that students may raise. Students are free to contribute to the online sessions or just read the postings as they see fit.
Method and Frequency of Class
Activity / Number of Sessions / Duration of a SessionLecture / X10 / 1 hour
Online discussion / X20 / 1 hour
Location of Lecture (1): / POPE C14
Day: / Thursday
Time: / 9am
Location of Lecture (2) / LASS B63
Day: / Friday
Times / 12 (noon)-1pm
Location of Seminar: / On-line via Web CT
Day: / Thurs
Time: / 3-4pm
Day: / Fri
Time: / 9-10pm
Powerpoint notes from lectures will be available via WebCT
Method of Assessment
This is a 10-credit module. The module is assessed via the following methods:
1 x literature analysis and summary exercise (30%)
1 x data analysis exercise (30%)
4 x online multiple choice tests (5% each, 20% overall)
1 x end of year multiple choice exam (20%)
The literature analysis exercise is to be submitted on 21 October 2010. The data analysis exercise is to be submitted on 18 November 2010.
For both pieces of assessed work, you must submit an electronic copy via the module’s WebCT site, taking note of the individual ID number that will be generated once you have successfully uploaded it. This process is self-explanatory.
After you have done that – and only then - you must submit one hard copy of the essay. A submission sheet should be completed and attached to the essay. You are required to enter the WebCT ID number on the cover sheet, as proof that you have already electronically submitted the essay. The submission sheet and the top of page of your essay should then be date stamped, and submitted via the First year filing cabinet situated in the School foyer by the lift. Essays handed in after 4pm will be stamped as late and the usual University penalties will be applied.
Failure to complete either process ie electronic and/or hard copy submission will result in late penalties being applied.
The electronic copies will be scanned to detect plagiarism. It is therefore imperative that you consult the Student Handbook, which outlines what is counted as plagiarism and advises you how to avoid it. Failure to submit an electronic copy even if you submit a hard copy on time will mean that the essay will be counted as having not been submitted.
Any essay handed in after the deadline will have 5% of the original mark deducted per working day, unless an extension has been approved in advance. Applications for extensions will not normally be considered retrospectively. Any student wishing to apply for an extension should collect and complete the necessary forms from the School Office and submit these to the relevant Year Tutor together with any necessary documentary evidence.
Literature analysis and summary
The ability to read, understand, and then take effective notes from complex literature is one of the key tasks of academic work. For this exercise you have to read and summarise three pieces of academic work, producing a one-page summary per piece of work. This exercise will be explained as the module progresses, with detailed instructions downloadable from WebCT.
Data analysis exercise
You will be provided with some numerical data, and shown how to analyse it. You will then have to write a two-page report on your findings. This exercise will be explained fully as the module progresses, with detailed instructions downloadable from WebCT.
Online multiple choice tests
As the course progresses, there will be four very short multiple choice tests, which will be online for a week before becoming unavailable. Each test will consist of ten questions, and each will be worth 5% (making a total of 20%). The dates of the tests are
Test 1: JSTOR, available from 10.00am Thursday 21 October for 1 week
Test 2: Chimp Work: Referencing, available from 10.00am Thursday 21 October for 1 week.
Test 3: Orwell’s Politics and the English Language, available from 10.00am Thursday 28 October for 1 week.
Test 4: Thatcher Archive available from 10.00am Thursday 28 October for 1 week.
The Examination
Students will take a one hour unseen paper counting for 20% of the final mark for the module. The paper will consist entirely of multiple choice questions, covering correct referencing and related bibliographical material.
Reading Information
There is no single set text for this module. The module will provide you with a range of texts and exercises, drawn from different parts of the discipline, allowing you to develop your skills base. It is a task-driven module. It is not a text-book driven module.
There are, however, a series of good texts which relate to aspects of the course, and to which you might find it useful to turn in the event of any difficulties.
General
P Race, How to Get a Good Degree (1999)
A Northedge, The Good Study Guide (2005)
S Cottrell, The Study Skills Handbook (2007)
David McIlroy, Studying @ university: how to be a successful student (2003)
Essay writing
L Truss, Eats, shoots and leaves (2003)
H W Fowler, Fowler’s modern English usage (2004)
R Allen (ed), Pocket Fowler’s modern English usage [electronic resource] (2004)
William Strunk, The elements of style (1959)
P Redman, Good Essay Writing (2006)
B Greetham, How to write better essays (2001)
R Barrass, Students must write: a guide to better writing in coursework and examination (2005)
J Peck and M Coyle, The student’s guide to writing: grammar, punctuation and spelling (2005)
J Rose, The Mature Student’s Guide to Writing (2007)
Arguing and analysing
P Phelan and P Reynolds (1996) Argument and Evidence: Critical Analysis for the Social Sciences (London: Routledge)
D Walton (1989) Informal Logic: a handbook for critical argumentation.
W Connolly (1983) The Terms of Political Discourse (Princeton: Princeton University Press), esp. Chs 1 and 5.
Researching
Colin Robson, How to do a research project: a guide for undergraduate students (2007)
P Burnham et al, Research Methods in Politics (2004)
D Marsh and G Stoker, Theory and Methods in Political Science (2002)
The University bookshop also has a good range of study skills books, mainly quite general, but often still very useful. We are not advising you to purchase these, but you might find them useful if you need further reading on any of the subjects covered in this course, or throughout your time at university.
Coursework Support
The module is supported by a WebCT website:
http://webct.nottingham.ac.uk
Detailed information on seminar work, as well as announcements, will be posted on the site. It is essential that you visit the site on a regular basis.
If you already have a WebCT login, then use that. Otherwise, for those coming to WebCT for the first time:
Your USERNAME is your normal university computer username
Your PASSWORD is your normal network password
The Hallward Library and Halls of Residence have a number of networked PCs to facilitate access to WebCT and for information on library holdings. The library should hold all the recommended texts.
As module convenor please contact me if you have any difficulties with the module or the assessed work. I will be available to see students without appointment during my office hours.
Guidance on Essay Marking/Writing Criteria
A short guide for students on essay writing skills and an outline of the marking criteria used by staff is available from the School Intranet.
Foundations for Politics
2010/11