Module FOUD0531: Studying Social Life (for Social Science students)

Department: Foundation Year (Durham)

FOUD0531: Studying Social Life (for Social Science students)

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: 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

• 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

• 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 an unseen test and a seen end of module test
• The unseen test - test knowledge and understanding gained across the breadth of the module in a challenging environment.
• The ‘Seen’ test - students given time to research, plan and prepare before test. Specifically tests understanding and the ability to build upon basic knowledge in a particular area of study.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

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