Critical Skills for Politics and International Relations
| Module title | Critical Skills for Politics and International Relations |
|---|---|
| Module code | POL1000 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Jack Tagney (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 200 |
|---|
Module description
This module empowers you with essential skills for independent learning and academic success. Through a series of contemporary issues such as fake news and conspiracy, artificial intelligence, populism and polarisation, you will learn the research, analytical and communication and skills required to understand and respond to contemporary issues. Political communication requires accuracy, detail, clarity, focus and solid analysis regardless of its format. By working on these skills in a structured and supportive environment, you will develop your capacity for written and spoken communication that will underpin your academic work and develop skills for your employability and professional life beyond the university. The module nurtures skills crucial for employability and personal development, allowing you to hone your written and oral communication, problem-solving, time management, research, and teamwork skills—attributes highly sought after by employers and required for academic success.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The module aims to cultivate your abilities as a political analyst, researcher, and communicator, adapting to current issues each year. It offers a foundational understanding of essential concepts and methods in Political Science and International Relations, laying the groundwork for further development in second-year methods training and the final-year dissertation. Additionally, the module focuses on honing key skills necessary for effective academic work, providing opportunities for practice and feedback. It also includes guidance and support to help you independently manage your workload and prioritize wellbeing.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Critically identify and analyse key debates and challenges in politics and international relations, emphasizing contemporary disciplinary issues.
- 2. Apply essential study skills and conventions relevant to Politics and International Relations, and assess their effectiveness in your own work.
- 3. Navigate and engage with the academic tutor framework effectively.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Plan, produce, and evaluate written and oral analyses of political issues.
- 5. Identify, assess, and utilize reputable research sources, including University and externally hosted databases and tools.
- 6. Formulate evidence-based responses to intricate political issues, incorporating considerations such as research ethics and complex theoretical approaches to real-life examples.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Conduct independent and collaborative work, presenting a clear, coherent, and critically analyzed perspective on a given political issue.
- 8. Develop graduate-level research and communication skills, encompassing data gathering and interpretation, formulation of justified conclusions, leadership, collaboration, and effective communication for both academic and lay audiences.
- 9. Collaborate with peers to discuss and evaluate approaches and empirical cases, engaging in peer-evaluation and providing constructive feedback.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
Effective communication for diverse audiences (academic and lay) in written and verbal forms
Fundamentals of political research
Data collection and interpretation
Evaluation of reputable evidence and establishment of reliable knowledge
Exploration of academic integrity, plagiarism, and considerations related to AI
Crafting compelling arguments through basic principles of critical analysis
Development of leadership skills, collaboration, and teamwork
Introduction to using statistics in Political Science, International Relations, and Computational Social Science
Examination of conspiracy theories, counterfactuals, and contested knowledge in Politics and International Relations
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 21.5 | 128.5 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 16.5 | 11x1.5 hour lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 10 | 10x1 hour tutorials |
| Guided Independent Study | 30 | Reading and preparation for tutorials |
| Guided Independent Study | 22.5 | Preparation of presentation |
| Guided Independent Study | 66 | Preparation and completion of portfolio |
| Guided Independent Study | 5 | Preparation for Quiz |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio plan | 500 words | 1-6 | Verbal or Written |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | 0 | 20 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Conduct Test | 5 | Quiz pass/fail | 2,5,7,9 | Written |
| Presentation | 20 | Five minutes per student | 1-9 | Written |
| Portfolio | 75 | 2,100 (3x700 word essays) | 1-8 | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Conduct Test | Academic Conduct Test | 2,5,7,9 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Presentation (5 minutes per student) | 500-word essay | 1-9 | Referral/Deferral period |
| Portfolio (2,100 words) | Portfolio (2,100 word) | 1-8 | Referral/Deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
If a student is referred / deferred for the scheduled presentation, they will write an essay in its place.
Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.
Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
- Bryman, A. (2016) Social Research Methods, 5th Edition (Palgrave Macmillan: Basingstoke)
- Burnham, P et al (2008) Research Methods in Politics, 2nd Edition (Palgrave Macmillan:
- Basingstoke)
- Cottrell, Stella. 2017. Critical Thinking Skills: Effective Analysis, Argument and Reflection – Macmillan Study Skills. Macmillan Education UK.
- Cottrell, Stella. 2019. The Study Skills Handbook – Macmillan Study Skills. Macmillan Education UK.
- Grix, J. (2010) The Foundations of Research. Second Edition (Palgrave Macmillan: Basingstoke)
- Halperin, S and Heath, 0. (2016) Political Research: Methods and Practical Skills, 2nd edition (Oxford
- University Press).
- Hopkins, Diana. and Reid, Tom. 2018. The Academic Skills Handbook: Your Guide to Success in Writing, Thinking and Communicating at University. SAGE Publications.
- Hughes, Gareth. 2020. Be Well, Learn Well: Improve Your Wellbeing and Academic Performance. Macmillan Study Skills. Macmillan Education UK.
- Marsh, D and Stoker G (eds) (2017) Theory and Methods in Political Science., 4th Edition.
- (Palgrave Macmillan: Basingstoke).
- Matthews, B and Ross, L. (2010) Research Methods: A Practical Guide for the Social Sciences
- (Pearson)
- Moore et al (2010) The Ultimate Study Skills handbook (Open University Press)
- Moses, J and Knutsen, T. (2019) Competing Methodologies in Social and Political Research. 3rd
- Edition (Palgrave Macmillan: Basingstoke
- Pierce, R. (2008), Research Methods in Politics: a Practical Guide (Sage).
- Wisker, G. (2009) The Undergraduate Research Handbook. Palgrave Macmillan.
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 14/02/2023 |
| Last revision date | 06/02/2024 |
