Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2017-2018 (archived)

Module FOUN0681: Studying Social Life (for Social Science students)

Department: Foundation Year

FOUN0681: Studying Social Life (for Social Science students)

Type Open Level 0 Credits 20 Availability Not available in 2017/18 Module Cap Location Queen's Campus Stockton

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To encourage students to think sociologically; stimulate the ‘sociological’ imagination
  • To introduce a foundational bank of social science knowledge, paradigms and themes
  • To provide a framework of academic and analytical skills upon which students can build either in further directed study or by the process of self-study
  • To develop confidence and students’ learning and assessment skills
  • To establish familiarity with ‘classic’ sociological texts and to facilitate successful seminar skills

Content

  • Introduction to sociology
  • Social stratification, inequality and social class
  • ‘Race’, ethnicity and nationality
  • Gender and feminism
  • Crime, deviance and subculture
  • The mass media and new media
  • Ten ‘classic’ sociological texts/papers

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Subject-specific Knowledge: By the end of the module students will have acquired the knowledge to be able to:
  • Display an understanding of society and the social world using sociological concepts such as socialisation, culture, subculture, norms and values
  • Demonstrate an awareness of differing theoretical approaches in the social sciences
  • Critically analyse a selection of classic sociological texts
Subject-specific Skills:
  • By the end of the module students will have acquired the skills to be able to:
  • Ask critical questions about the taken-for-granted social world which humans inhabit
  • Recognize a wide range of sociological theories and concepts
Key Skills:
  • By the end of the module students will be able to:
  • Communicate effectively in writing
  • Demonstrate critical thinking skills
  • Perform effectively in examinations/seminars

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Theory, initial concepts and research techniques will be introduced during lectures and classes
  • Much of the learning, understanding and consolidation will take place through the use of structures exercises, group-work, seminars, discussions and library assignments
  • Knowledge and understanding of concepts/topics will be assessed by a number of assessments both summative and formative. The summative assessments for this module will be a traditional written exam, an individual essay and a seen exam
  • The unseen exam - test of knowledge and understanding gained across the breadth of the module in a challenging environment.
  • The ‘Seen’ exam - students given time to research, plan and prepare before exam. Specifically tests understanding and the ability to build upon basic knowledge in a particular area of study.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 10 Weekly 2 20
Tutorials 10 Weekly 1 10
Seminars 11 Weekly 2 22
Preparation & reading 148
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Essay Component Weighting: 20%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Essay based on course material 100% Resubmission
Component: Test Component Weighting: 30%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Unseen test 2 hours 100% Resit
Component: Exam Component Weighting: 50%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
‘seen’ exam 3 hours 100% Resit

Formative Assessment:

Throughout the module exercises (for example, 1000 word essay) and library research (i.e. task specific focus) will be undertaken by students. Comments are fed back to individual and group


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University