LW3LS-Law and Society 1750 - 1918

Module Provider: School of Law
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Charlotte Smith
Email: C.L.Smith@reading.ac.uk

Module Co-convenor: Dr Mark Wilde
Email: m.l.wilde@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module takes a thematic and case-study based approach to the study of modern British Legal History from 1750 to 1918, and covering topics relating to areas such as law and technology, law and the environment, law and religious change and law and empire. It is taught by seminars which, in addition to addressing substantive topics, will consider issues of historiography and methodology – equipping students to undertake their own primary source research in legal history.

Aims:

• To introduce students to a series of thematic case studies of the interactions between law, institutions, ideas and society in modern British legal history


• To introduce students to the sources, methodology and discipline of legal history


• To introduce students to the use of primary sources for research in legal history


• To develop the skills of analysis, synthesis, critical judgement and evaluation as applied to the sources and literature of modern British legal history

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of this module it is expected that the student should be able to:

• Demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of aspects of modern British legal history


• Demonstrate a critical awareness of contemporary debates and academic literature in relation to the topics studied


• Demonstrate the ability to undertake independent research on a topic in modern British legal history, and to produce an extended piece of written work on t his topic


• Demonstrate a knowledge of, and ability to use, relevant sources and methods of legal history, and to reflect upon the research process

Demonstrate general presentation skills by giving a presentation on their research project

Additional outcomes:

• Students will be encouraged to improve their legal writing


• Students will be assisted to engage in reflective learning through the medium of research supervision and feedback

Outline content:

Seminars will consider thematic case studies relating to:

• Law and responses to developing technologies


• Law, the workplace and workplace relationships


• Law and transport


• Law and constitutional change


• Law and religious change


• The birth of the modern system of judicature


• Law and approaches to empire


• Historiography, methodology and the sources of legal hi story

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

This module will be taught by seminars in the Autumn and Spring Terms and project supervision in the Spring Term.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Seminars	16	4
Project Supervision		4
Guided independent study:
Preparation for presentations		4
Preparation for seminars	64	16
Completion of formative assessment tasks	10
Carry-out research project		40	10
Essay preparation	30
Reflection	2
Total hours by term	122	68	10
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	30
Project output other than dissertation	60
Oral assessment and presentation	10

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

• 1 x 4 page essay from a choice of set titles: Due week 11 of Autumn Term


• 1 x 15 minute presentation on the research project: Due week 11 of Spring Term


• 1 x 8 page research project (mini-dissertation) on a title agreed with the module convenor: Due week 1 of the Summer Term   

Formative assessment methods:

• 1 x optional 4 page essay: due week 7 of the Autumn Term

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.

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%

Reassessment arrangements:

See the school Guide (Programme Assessment). Only the failed element(s) must be retaken with the marks for the passed element being carried forward.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Last updated: 8 April 2021