Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2020-2021 (archived)

Module FOUD01W3: Concepts, Methods and Theories in Arts & Humanities

Department: Foundation Year (Durham)

FOUD01W3: Concepts, Methods and Theories in Arts & Humanities

Type Open Level 0 Credits 60 Availability Available in 2020/21 Module Cap None. Location Durham

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To introduce a range of concepts, methods and theories relevant to a range of Arts and Humanities degree progression routes
  • To introduce primary and secondary source materials alongside relevant critical work, which locates these sources in their discipline contexts, as well as within the wider body of academic scholarship
  • To develop critical thinking by describing, analysing and evaluating relevant primary and secondary source materials
  • To develop academic communication of concepts, methods and theories
  • To encourage interdisciplinary and collaborative studentship
  • To prepare students for the teaching and learning environment at Durham
  • Skills and other attributes:
  • This module also supports the overall programme aims to enable students to have:
  • acquired the ability to work confidently with a range of academic materials and sources (as appropriate to progression subject area);
  • acquired the ability to work confidently with primary and secondary source material (as appropriate to progression subject area);
  • gained various skills for undergraduate study, including the ability to extract and summarise meaning from text, to read rapidly and accurately, to write and present clear and precise arguments using appropriate evidence;
  • acquired a level of self-efficacy in relation to workload management, basic academic autonomy and a learner identity as an effective university student;
  • gained skills in using libraries, online databases and other reference resources;
  • acquired the ability to engage confidently and with clarity in academic oral argument and respond appropriately to contributions made by fellow students.

Content

  • An introduction to the Arts and Humanities and how they intersect
  • Concepts, methods and theories from the Arts and Humanities
  • Research Methods in the Arts and Humanities

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • By the end of the programme students will have:
  • 1. Knowledge of a range of foundational subject concepts
  • 2. Knowledge of a range of relevant research methods
  • 3. Knowledge of a range of relevant vocabulary
Subject-specific Skills:
  • By the end of the programme students will be able to:
  • 1. Demonstrate the appropriate use of a range of foundational subject concepts
  • 2. Demonstrate the appropriate use of relevant research methods
  • 3. Demonstrate the appropriate use of a range of relevant vocabulary
Key Skills:
  • By the end of the programme students will be able to:
  • 1. Demonstrate critical thinking
  • 2. Demonstrate effective communication using appropriate academic styles
  • 3. Demonstrate appropriate use of number
  • 4. Demonstrate the use of appropriate sources of evidence

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

  • This module will be delivered using a combination of lectures and seminars/tutorials on a weekly basis. Students will be taught concepts and then challenged to apply them in a variety of contextual tasks that are designed to lead to achieving the module outcomes.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Synchronous Lecture and Tutorial 20 20 hrs/ 10 credits 120
Asynchronous Preparation, Reading, Orientation Task 80hrs/ 10 credits 480

Summative Assessment

Component: Portfolio Component Weighting: 40%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Written Task A 1,000 words 20% Yes
Written Task B 1,000 words 20% Yes
Written Task C 1,000 words 20% Yes
Written Task D 1,000 words 20% Yes
Presentation 10 minutes 20% Yes
Component: Essay 1 Component Weighting: 30%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Essay 1 2000 words 100% Yes
Component: Essay 2 Component Weighting: 30%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Essay 2 2000 words 100% Yes

Formative Assessment:

A range of formative tasks are used on a weekly basis to enable the demonstration of working towards module outcomes and building competency towards each respective summative assessment method


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