IL1GMB1-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: 2021/2
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 and delivered at University of Reading 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 (the post war 20th century - 21st century)
- 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 and demonstrate understanding of key aspects of life in Britain today
- Recognise key political and historical events, debates and people in Modern Britain
- Draw on and organise information from a selection of sources to deliver a team presentation demonstrating critical evaluation of a given topic.
Additional outcomes:
- Students will be involved in group activities and seminar discussion activities and will develop an awareness of the complexity of life in Britain today. They will developdiscussions skills such as conveying information clearly, expressing, seeking and responding appropriately to others.
Outline content:
The module will consist of 1 hour of input in the form of either live or recorded lecture material and a 1 hour seminar focusing 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 relati onship 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 2 hours of lecture/seminar material each week In week 7 of the module, there are group presentations researched by students on pre-determined topics.
Independent study tasks form a central element of this course and include wider directed reading, preparation for seminars (including independent research), group study tasks, and revision for the end of module in class examination. All tasks and related information are displayed on Blac kboard
Contact Hours
Those shown in the Autumn term will be repeated in the Spring term.
| 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 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total hours for module | 100 |
| Method | Percentage |
| Oral assessment and presentation | 40 |
| Class test administered by School | 60 |
Summative assessment- Examinations:
Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
Oral assessment and presentations - 6-8 minute group presentation - 40%
Class Tests administered by school - one hour paper - 60%
Formative assessment methods:
A short multiple choice practice test is made available one week before the end of module summative class test for students to familiarise themselves with the test construct and topics. The practice test results are available immediately after the test is submitted.
Penalties for late submission:
The Support Centres 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 (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.
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
An individual video oral presentation on a given topic and question.
Additional Costs (specified where applicable):
1) Required text books:
2) Specialist equipment or materials:
3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:
4) Printing and binding:
5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:
6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:
Last updated: 16 December 2021
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MODULE DESCRIPTION DOES NOT FORM ANY PART OF A STUDENT'S CONTRACT.