| Unit name | The History of Western Political Thought |
|---|---|
| Unit code | POLI20007 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Chuka Agboeze |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
none |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
none |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
none |
| School/department | School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
The unit introduces students to a wide range of foundational texts in the historyof Western Political Thought, and encourages the critical assessment of these texts. Through exploring the work of a range of historical authors, spanning a period of over two thousand years, students will experience both difference and similarity in how distinct eras have seen ideas of the political, and understood the relation of the individual to the state and to others.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This is a political theory course, and as such fits well with the wider political theory programme of study within the School. The texts explored on the unit are a range of carefully selected ground-breaking works authored by exceptionally influential political theorists whose ideas can be fruitfully deployed across SPAIS’ political theory programme of study. Additionally, the critical and analytical skills that the unit equips students with are transferable, and can be fruitfully used in other modules as well.
An overview of content
The unit will explore selected academic texts by influential political thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, and Rousseau. Lectures will provide broad overviews of the work of the authors in question, and contextualise their writings with reference to the political contexts of their times. Seminars will focus on particular extracts from the key works of the authors, and will encourage students both to analyse significant passages of political writing and to think about the relation of these extracts to the writers’ wider projects.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
This unit will help students become familiar with the selected political theory authors and texts studied, the arguments presented in them, as well how that may be creatively applied to evaluate contemporary political realities in a manner that is both academically and socially relevant.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the unit a successful student will be able to:
Teaching and learning activities will be delivered through in-person lectures and seminars. The lecture uses the more traditional teaching technique in which the lecturer speaks, and students actively listen and take notes. It provides an opportunity for students to be introduced, in a more structured and systematic way, to classical academic debates and literature proper to the discipline. Unlike lectures which take place in significantly large group and space, the seminars will take place in smaller groups in order to facilitate interactive learning. In advance of every seminar session, the unit owner/seminar tutor provide students with academic texts to read in preparation for serious academic discussions on the theme of the day. Most of these materials will be made available on the unit’s Blackboard.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
An essay plan. Students will write a formal essay plan for their summative essay. The feedback will assist students in developing their argumentation, including both their grasp of key political texts, as well as how to logically construct their papers.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
A 2,500 word essay (100%). Students will be asked to select one out of a series of essay questions, each of which require students to integrate material from across the unit. - ILO 1, 2, 3, 4
When assessment does not go to plan
You will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. You will be required to complete a different assessment question.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. POLI20007).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
