HUM6012 - Great Thinkers: Applying Political Ideas

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of selected West European theorists and thinkers in the humanities and social sciences from the ancient world until the late twentieth century;
demonstrate an ability to apply theories and philosophies which they have studied to particular issues or topics, such as the nature of freedom, the ideal political community, equality, gender roles, war and peace, aesthetics, etc;
exhibit a high level of ability to present ideas orally and to sustain debate.

Content:

Students will study theories and philosophies of normally six thinkers in philosophy, politics, and the social sciences, such as (for example), Hobbes, Rousseau, Marx and Engels, Arendt, Foucault, Butler. They will be concentrating primarily on key texts from the thinkers' works. They will be required to compare and contrast the theories and ideas of thinkers in class discussions and to apply them to such issues and topics (for example) civic responsibility, power, equality, race and gender and the role of religion and culture in a civic community. The theorists studied and the topic/issue chosen for the presentations may vary from year to year and could be selected with attention to the nature of the cohort of students (e.g. should the cohort consist primarily of theologians, a greater number of theological thinkers could be selected). The module will develop theoretical and critical understanding and knowledge appropriate to preparation for postgraduate study within the humanities and develop the ability to explain and experiment with ideas through debate and discussion. Students will be trained in different techniques of verbal and visual presentation.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Lectures and seminars/workshops will be the principal modes of delivery, the latter in particular featuring extensive discussion and debate. Learning will be supported by hand-outs, and by preparation and reading before each seminar as directed by the tutors.

Lectures/Seminars/Workshops
Hours: 34
Intended Group size: 25

ndividual Tutorials
Hours: 1

Guided independent study
Hours: 165

Further details relating to assessment
Students will deliver a portfolio of four presentations of different lengths and forms in class during the year. The topics for the presentations will be chosen by the student in consultation with the module leader and will relate to the core theme(s) addressed by the module in a contemporary context and the intellectual content of the module up to the point of delivery. The weighting of assessment will rise to reflect greater student confidence as the year progresses: presentation 1 = 10%; 2 = 20%; 3 + 30%; 4 = 40%. The form of presentations may include: PowerPoint, Prezzie, vlog, speech, podcast, presentation of written text.

If studied for only one semester, the two presentations in the semester will count as 100% of the portfolio.

Students may also negotiate their assessment topic with the lecturer.

Other relevant matters
Students choose their topic for each of the 4 presentations and to some extent negotiate collectively some aspects of assessment not specified in the handbook (e.g. whether to present to their peers or only examiners, the extent to which technical proficiency should be graded).

Assessment:

001 Portfolio of 4 presentations of a variety of verbal and visual forms and lengths; 30 Minutes; Throughout academic year. 100%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Jonathan Simons
Level - 6
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 6YL

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