Module Information
Course Delivery
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Review essay 1500 Words | 50% |
| Semester Assessment | Seminar performance | 10% |
| Semester Exam | 8.5 Hours Online Examination | 40% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Review essay 1500 Words | 50% |
| Supplementary Assessment | Review in lieu of seminar performance 500 Words | 10% |
| Supplementary Exam | 8.5 Hours Online Examination | 40% |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Discuss concepts such as 'causation', 'sources', 'evidence', 'historical argument' and 'historiography'
2. Demonstrate an understanding of key developments in global international politics since 1789
3. Demonstrate an historical understanding of the changing relationship between the Western and non-Western Worlds since 1789
4. Analyse and discuss historical debates about power, diplomacy and ideology in international politics since 1789
Brief description
The module introduces first year undergraduate students to ‘big’ issues, trends and debates in global politics in a way that lays intellectual foundations for Honours-level study of military and international history. Students will be provided with a grounding in subject-specific knowledge and techniques which will contribute to the general development of scholarly and employability skills.
Content
The module explores broad trends and patterns in 18th, 19th and 20th century international relations. The lecture programme is divided into four thematic sections. The first looks at general trends, historiographical developments, and modes of analysis pertinent to the historical discipline. The second explores different manifestations of military, political, technological and economic power and the evolving nature of the international balance of power. A third section explores revolution and conflict in the non-western world and a final section looks at how revolutionary, reformist and reactionary ideologies have impacted upon ideas about the management of international society and the pursuit of peace.
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | N/A |
| Communication | Students will learn how to present their ideas both verbally and in writing and how to how to present their arguments most effectively. They will learn the importance of information and clear communication and how to exploit these. They will know how to use the many sources of information available and how to use the most appropriate form of communication to best advantage. They will learn to be clear in their writing and speaking and to be direct about aims and objectives. They will learn to consider only that which is relevant to the topic, focus and objectives of their argument or discussion. The presentation of work should reflect effective expression of ideas and good use of language skills in order to ensure clarity, coherence and effective communication. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | The module aims to promote self-management but within a context in which support and assistance is available from both the convenor and fellow students alike. Students will be expected to improve their own learning and performance by undertaking their own research and exercising their own initiative, including searching for sources and deciding (under guidance) the direction of their coursework and presentation topics. The need to meet coursework deadlines will focus students’ attention on the need to manage their time. |
| Information Technology | Students will be expected to submit their work electronically through the Blackboard VLE. Also, students will be encouraged to search for sources of information on the web. Students will also be expected to make use of the resources that will be available on the Blackboard VLE. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | This module is designed to hone and test skills of use to students in their working lives, particularly in speaking to small groups, listening, thinking and responding to the statement of others. Moreover, the written work includes writing clearly and concisely, which is a common task in the workplace. Students will be encouraged throughout to reflect on their performance and to consider lessons for future application |
| Problem solving | Independent project work and problem solving will be one central goal of the module; the submission of an essay and preparation for seminar discussions will require that students develop independent research skills as well as problem solving skills. The ability of students to solve problems will be developed and assessed by asking them to: adopt differing points of view; organize data and estimate an answer to the problem; consider extreme cases; reason logically; construct theoretical models; consider similar cases; look for patterns; divide issues into smaller problems. |
| Research skills | Students will be required to undertake independent research for all elements of the assessed work. This will involve utilizing media and web sources, as well as more conventional academic texts. Students will in part be assessed on their ability to gather appropriate and interesting resources materials. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Students have the opportunity to develop, practice and test a wide range of subject specific skills that help them to understand, conceptualise and evaluate examples and ideas on the module. These subject specific skills include: Collect and understand a wide range of data relating to the module; Evaluate competing perspectives; Demonstrate subject specific research techniques; Apply a range of methodologies to complex historical and contemporary political problems. |
| Team work | Students will undertake team exercises in the seminars and as part of the Roundtables. Use of Blackboard facilities such as message boards and forums will be encouraged. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 4