Politics Major (Level 1)
Politics Minor (Level 1)
Politics Single Honours (Level 1)
This module is designed to provide a clear introduction to the academic study of International Relations and is useful to both beginning International Relations students and to students who would like to simply to find out what the subject is about and explore a few topics or issues in the module that particularly interest them. The module shows how the modern "society of states" came about and was affected by various factors such as nationalism and other ideologies, technology and a globalizing capitalist economy. It also gives students a basic understanding of the "traditional" perspectives in the academic discipline of International Relations and helps them to distinguish between these schools of thought.
The ten topic-based lectures are accompanied by eight weekly meetings of each small seminar group. The seminar meetings fall into two kinds. In roughly half the seminars, students learn how to perform effectively in core aspects of University-level study such as: researching, planning and writing an essay; and examination preparation and technique. The other half of the tutorial meetings are devoted to discussion of the topics covered by the module, including: the evolution of the modern states system; Realist and "Idealist" perspectives on IR, violence and war; order, justice and fairness in international society; sovereignty and humanitarian intervention; and the transition from international to global society. Half way through the module, students receive a one-to-one personal meeting with their Module Tutor (lasting approximately ten minutes) in which they receive feedback on their essay plans and can discuss their progress in the module in general. Assessment format: 3-400 word essay plan (0% of the module mark, but non-submission of the essay plan will automatically trigger failure of the module); 1,000-word essay (50% of the module mark); two-hour unseen exam (50% of the module mark).
2) To serve as the main medium in the Autumn semester through which to enable IR students to secure the achievement of some core study skills and to develop some key employability skills.
Interpret and compare the more "traditional" perspectives in the academic discipline of International Relations. will be achieved by assessments: 01, 02, 03
Identify and discuss pertinent sources of information from the academic literature of International Relations, as found in recommended textbooks and in monographs and journal articles listed in the module's recommended reading lists. will be achieved by assessments: 01, 02, 03
Develop an argument and assemble a coherent analysis that is communicated clearly, applying good standards of punctuation and spelling. will be achieved by assessments: 01, 02, 03
Understand the nature of academic honesty and plagiarism and effectively apply the conventions regarding the use and acknowledgment of sources, employing the Harvard referencing system. will be achieved by assessments: 01, 02
Recognise the important functions performed by lectures and be able effectively to identify and coherently summarise their key points. will be achieved by assessments: informal optional formative (week 4)
Apply pertinent criteria for exam assessment to the peer evaluation of exam answers will be achieved by assessments: informal formative in class (weeks 10 &11)
Effectively prepare for a written examination and deliver well informed answers that directly address the question(s) set will be achieved by assessments: 03
8 hours attendance at seminars
10 minutes individual meeting with the Tutor for receipt of face-to-face feedback on the student's essay plan (week 7 or 8)
2 hours attendance at written examination
40 hours preparation for the eight plenary seminars
9 hours 50 minutes hours research and writing of the essay plan
40 hours researching and writing the essay
40 hours revision for the written exam
3-400 words long, this will identify and explain the planned structure of the essay on the topic selected by the student from the list of essay questions, referring to some of the sources used and supplemented (outside the word limit) by an appropriately constructed Bibliography, using the Harvard system. The plan will address questions indicated in the guidance to be provided on essay planning and writing.
A 1,500-word essay chosen from a list of questions supported by reading lists
Students must answer two questions
This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.