LW1CRI: Criminal Law

Module code: LW1CRI

Module provider: School of Law

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Beatrice Krebs, email: b.krebs@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module will address the application of a range of criminal offences and defences. It will provide students with an appreciation of the development of the criminal law by precedent and statutory interpretation. The module will look at current law in theory and practice as well as the need for reform. 

The Module Lead at the University of Reading Malaysia is Vijiaprabu Manikam (v.manikam@reading.edu.my).

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an awareness of the key principles of English criminal law and select main offences and defences;
2. Apply legal principles with appropriate authorities to the solution of problems;
3. Formulate coherent legal arguments and present them clearly, both orally and in writing;
4. Evaluate legal arguments and engage in critical appraisal of criminal law doctrine;
5. Engage in critical evaluation of the law and comment on proposals for reform.

Module content

• An Introduction to Criminal Law (Key Principles such as Actus Reus, Mens Rea, Causation) 
• Homicide Offences (Murder, Partial Defences to Murder, Manslaughter) 
• Non-Fatal Offences against the Person 
• Participation in Crime 
• Property Offences (Criminal Damage, Theft, Robbery, Burglary) 
• Defences (Self-defence, duress, necessity) 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be taught by a combination of in-person lectures, workshops, and tutorials, as well as some blended activities. To encourage independent learning, no lectures will be given on one key topic. A handout will be provided as guidance for this exercise and students will be expected to make their own notes. 

For students studying at our campus in Malaysia: This module may be taught in a different semester and the breakdown of study hours may differ to those set out in the Study Hours table (please refer to the Module Handbook for the correct breakdown). In addition, you will be required to complete an additional 40 hours of study, taking the total number of study hours to 240 for this module. This is to comply with the Malaysian Quality Agency (MQA).

Study hours

At least 37 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Written assignment (such as an essay plan or outline of an answer to a problem question). 

Reassessment

Additional costs