GV2DIP-Geographies of Development, Identity and Place

Module Provider: Geography and Environmental Science
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Prof Mike Goodman
Email: m.k.goodman@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

This module takes a global development approach to exploring the interplay between globalisation, socio-economic and cultural transformations across the Majority and Minority worlds. The module discusses key concepts and approaches to the study of culture, identity and place and relates these to global processes of socio-economic change and geographies of global development. It explores how people in different places and contexts are impacted by globalisation and social-cultural change and how they may contest and resist dominant representations. 

Aims:

The module aims to develop students’ knowledge and understanding of the theoretical approaches and empirical concerns of the study of global development, globalisation, culture and place. It will equip students with the skills to identify, analyse and reflect on contemporary discourses, policy agendas and empirical practice.  It is taught through a series of lectures and seminars with assessment based on an exam and coursework assignment.

Assessable learning outcomes:

On completion of this module it is expected that a student will be able to:

• Critically evaluate key concepts and theoretical approaches to the study of global development, culture,and place and the relationships between them


• Identify and critically appraise the discourses and practices of a range of development and social policy actors, institutions and social groups, and critique the politics in which they are embedded at local, national and global scales


• Evaluate how places and spaces are represented by these different actors, institutions and social groups


• Explore how policy agendas and representations can be contested, resisted and transformed


• Examine the ways that the cultural politics of identity and place are expressed and experienced globally


• Articulate arguments relating to these issues in a coursework assignment.

Additional outcomes:

The module aims to encourage the development of skills of critical reading and the presentation of arguments. This will be achieved principally through the lecture material, group discussions and by students’ carrying out the reading linked to the discussed topics. Students will develop their IT skills by use of relevant web sources and databases. They will develop numeracy skills by interpretation of various quantitative social policy and development indicators, but simultaneously become conversant with more qualitative assessments of representation, social change and resistance.

Outline content:

The module will discuss key concepts and theoretical approaches to the geographies of global development, culture, identity and place and relate these to global processes of socio-economic change. The lectures will explore the relationships between development, culture, place and identity and the ways in which people’s experiences of these are represented, contested and resisted in different places. Topics covered include:  theories of global development; globalisation and livelihoods; digital geographies and ICT; postcolonialism and race; gender, place and space; geographies of sexualities; bodies, disability and illness; migration, diaspora and transnationalism; geographies of care; families, communities and place; cities and urbanisation; poverty, social exclusion and youth transitions. The issues and debates will be explored with reference to a range of theoretical approaches and studies of global development and globalisation, socio-cultural processes of identity formation, cultural politics, social movements and citizenship and social policy practices of states, international institutions and organisations across the majority and minority worlds.

Global context:

This module is global in focus. It draws upon example studies from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, the UK and Europe.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

This is a 20 credit module, which means that it is intended to occupy you for 200 hours of work: lectures and seminars, seminar preparation, background reading, essay reading, revision and sitting the examination. 

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		36
Seminars		2
Practicals classes and workshops		2
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)		20
Wider reading (directed)		40
Exam revision/preparation		30
Advance preparation for classes		20
Preparation for tutorials		3
Preparation for seminars		16
Revision and preparation			1
Essay preparation		30
Total hours by term	0	199	1
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written exam	50
Written assignment including essay	50

Summative assessment- Examinations:

The assessment for this module will take the form of a two-hour written exam during which candidates will be required to answer two of five questions.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

One essay (1,500 words) and one blogpost (1,000 words). 

Formative assessment methods:

Students will receive feedback on their understanding of issues and development of arguments through class discussions of articles, visual stimuli and video extracts and through essay planning activities etc.

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: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/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:

A mark of 40% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:

Re-examination in late August / September.

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: 30 March 2023