IL1MB1-Modern Britain: Society, culture and history 1

Module Provider: International Study and Language Institute
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Autumn and Spring (Double presentation)
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2019/0

Module Convenor: Miss Victoria Collins

Email: v.collins@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module is ONLY AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS ON THE STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMME. It aims to provide a broad-based introduction to key aspects of modern British society, culture, politics and history, identifying past and present issues. Topics explored will include the historical and political landscape of Post war Britain, British identities, patterns of inequality, education, religion, and Britain’s relationship with Europe.

Support is given and adjustments are made for students with disabilities.

Aims:

The module aims at providing students with:

• An introduction to key aspects of life in Britain today


• An introduction to key political and historical events, debates and people in Modern Britain


• An appreciation of the complexity of what it means to be British today.

Assessable learning outcomes:

At the end of the course students will be able to:

• Identify key aspects of life in Britain today


• Recognise key political and historical events, debates and people in Modern Britain

Additional outcomes:

• Students will be involved group activities and discussions and will develop an awareness of the complexity of life in Britain today.


• Students will develop an ability to lead an evidenced based seminar discussion: researching relevant literature, conveying information clearly, expressing, seeking and responding to others appropriately.

Outline content:

The module will consist of one weekly 2 hour session- a lecture followed by a seminar discussion and activities on key aspects of modern British society, culture, politics and history. The lecture will introduce and provide an overview of the subject, while the seminar will focus on a discussion of more specific issues within each subject. Topics explored will include Post war Britain, British identities, patterns of inequality, education, religion, and Britain’s relationship with Europe.

Recommended textbook/s:

There is no set textbook. A reading list and other materials will be available on the module Blackboard site.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

The module consists of one weekly 2 hour lecture/seminar. In week 7 of the module, there is a 2 hour seminar discussion, researched and led by students on pre-determined topics.

Independent study tasks include wider directed reading, preparation for seminars (including independent research), group study tasks, and revision for the end of module in class examination. The weekly outline in the module handbook specifies the preparation task (s)

Terms in which taught: Autumn (repeated in Spring).

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	9
Seminars	11
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)	38
Wider reading (directed)	9
Preparation for presentations	6
Preparation for seminars	18
Revision and preparation	9
Total hours by term	100	0	0
Total hours for module	100

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Class test administered by School	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:

A one-hour paper

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Formative assessment methods:

Feedback on the content and delivery of the student led seminars will be provided to enable students to consolidate their learning and improve their research and seminar skills.

Penalties for late submission:
The Module Convener will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day[1] (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;

where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

40% (50% for postgraduate students)

Reassessment arrangements:

A one-hour Multiple Choice Question paper in the term following the first attempt.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 19 December 2019