Course Co-ordinator

Pre-requisites

None

Linked Courses

Synoptic courses (C48CT2)

Excluded Courses

Aims

• To familiarise students with the theory and practice of institutions and societies and the political status & role of the regions in France, Germany, Spain and UK.
• To provide students with an appreciation of the principles underlying the key aspects of societies and political systems of contemporary Europe.
• To give students a detailed understanding of the societies and political institutions of France, Germany, Spain and UK.
• To enable students to develop a comparative approach to the study of the societies and political systems of France, Germany, Spain and UK.
• To enable students to relate theoretical principles underlying the social and political systems of the various countries to present-day practice & function.

Syllabus

The course follows a topic sequence as follows: media; education systems; social services; government systems and parties and regionalism in Europe. Lectures on the main ideas and principles involved in the study of these fields, are illustrated in particular with examples drawn from the UK. Complementary tutorials examine the situation in France, Germany, and Spain, or the UK in more detail, and attempt to relate these ideas.

Learning Outcomes

Subject Mastery

• Demonstrate a broad knowledge and understanding of Contemporary European societies.            
• Ability to apply a systematic and critical assessment of journal articles.
• Ability to identify and analyse current social problems and issues and to evaluate related arguments.
• Show critical understanding of key contemporary social and political theories, concepts and principles.                        
• Use a wide range of routine skills and some advanced  skills associated with academic essay writing.
  (data collection, argumentation, editing)
• Use a wide range of routine skills and some advanced skills associated with academic project writing.
  (fieldwork, interviews).
• Acquire an awareness of the differences and similarities in Contemporary European  societies.

Personal Abilities

• Work with others, taking account of own and others’ roles.                                                                      
• Demonstrate ability to gather and sort information       
• Structure and make simple presentations                 
• Learn appropriate register and vocabulary related to current social and political issues.
• Exercise initiative and independent thinking
• Participate in teamwork, peer conversation  and group activities (lectures and tutorials).                                      
• Self-management skills fostered by the need to be committed to a purpose, to manage self-study effectively and to work to deadlines 
• Present information, complex ideas and arguments in a well-structured and coherent form (written/oral). 
• Use presentation software to make presentations.
• Ability to understand and appropriate diagrams and charts

Assessment Methods

Method

Duration of Exam
(if applicable)

Weighting (%)

Continuous Assessment

100%
(40% on oral presentations, class attendance & partcipation, etc.)
(60% on written essay)

Supporting Information and Downloads

Core Texts: Richard Sakwa, Anne Stevens Contemporary Europe, Palgrave Macmillan, 2006
Ursula E. Beitter (ed.) Critical essays on contemporary European culture and society, P. Lang 2003

Course Co-ordinator

Pre-requ isites

Linked Courses

C48CS1

Excluded Courses

Aims

General Linguistics

• To consolidate students understanding of linguistic and sociolinguistics topics introduced in Stage1
• To advance students knowledge of the categories and tools for further study and analysis of language and its possible applications
• To further develop students’ awareness of language and to encourage reflection on their own and others’ use of language
• To develop in students an appreciation of concerns in the practical application of translation and interpreting
• To build on students academic skills which they will need for the successful completion of their degree, including library research, critical reading, problem-solving activities, advanced literacy skills, academic writing and oral communication

Society and Institutions in Contemporary Europe Research Project

• To enable the student to engage in both guided and independent study
• To promote and assess the student's ability to collect and evaluate relevant information, to marshal thoughts and to present them clearly.
• To test and develop the student's sustained command of appropriate linguistic skills

Syllabus

General Linguistics

The syllabus will explore in more depth some of the different themes covered in the Introduction to Language and Intercultural Studies course in year one. These will include some or all of the following areas:

• Language, semiotics and communication
• Advanced study and analysis of language structures
• Introduction to pragmatics
• Language ideologies, power and politeness
• Conversational, textual and discourse analysis
• Second language acquisition
• Language in society, multilingualism, language, peoples and nations

Society and Institutions in Contemporary Europe Research Project

Students research and write a project in English (2500-3000 words) relating to one of the topics covered in C48CS1 in preparation for further project work undertaken during Stage 3 Year Abroad study/work placements abroad.

Learning Outcomes

Subject Mastery

General Linguistics

• Have consolidated their understanding of and ability to analyse some of the debates which exist within linguistics and sociolinguistics
• Be able to research and discuss key issues in the field of language studies, assessing the merits of contrasting theories and using appropriate language and a relevant conceptual framework
• Be able to apply appropriate analytical tools in the analysis of text and discourse

Society and Institutions in Contemporary Europe Research Project

• Demonstrate a broad knowledge and understanding of Contemporary European societies.
• Show critical understanding of key contemporary social and political theories, concepts and principles.  
• Use a wide range of routine skills and some advanced skills associated with academic essay writing (data collection, argumentation, editing)
• Use a wide range of routine skills and some advanced skills associated with academic project writing (fieldwork, interviews).
• Acquire an awareness of the differences and similarities in Contemporary European societies.
• Ability to apply a systematic and critical assessment of journal articles.
• Ability to identify and analyse current social problems and issues and to evaluate related arguments.

Personal Abilities

General Linguistics

• Be able to demonstrate an ability to approach problem-solving, working independently or with others
• Be able to describe, explain and evaluate the development of their personal academic skills
• Be able to demonstrate learner autonomy
• Have further developed communication and presentation skills appropriate to set tasks

Society and Institutions in Contemporary Europe Research Project

• Work with others, taking account of own and others’ roles
• Demonstrate ability to gather and sort information       
• Structure and make simple presentations 
• Learn appropriate register and vocabulary related to current social and political issues.                   
• Exercise initiative and independent thinking
• Participate in teamwork, peer conversation and group activities (lectures and tutorials)
• Self-management skills fostered by the need to be committed to a purpose, to manage self-study effectively and to work to deadlines
• Ability to understand and appropriate diagrams and charts
• Present information, complex ideas and arguments in a well-structured and coherent form (written/oral).                                                                              
• Use software to make presentations.
• Ability to understand and appropriate diagrams and charts

Assessment Methods

Method

Duration of Exam
(if applicable)

Weighting (%)

SICE Research Project

Continuous assessment

40%

General Linguistics

Continuous assessment

60%

Supporting Information and Downloads