| Unit name | Critical Skills for Social Scientists: (International Social and Public Policy) |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SPOL10036 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Joe Webb |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School for Policy Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
This unit will introduce you to the key study, research and employability skills relevant to your subject. This unit also provides a foundation to your second year Social Research Methods unit.
The first part of the unit helps you to become familiar with the essential study skills that you need for critical thinking, managing university reading, your academic writing, ethical learning and academic integrity. You will learn to search for relevant academic literature, cite and reference properly using the Harvard referencing system, and strategies for avoiding academic misconduct.
The second part of the unit introduces you to understanding research in social sciences, how you can develop your research skills as a social scientist, and how to maximise your employability skills. Set in the context of relevant political and theoretical debates, you will explore the uses of data and research, and examine how research shapes our understandings of issues in society
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
The skills you gain in research, critical thinking, constructing arguments, searching for (and understanding) evidence, and writing assignments are essential for, and will be drawn upon in, all the other units you study throughout your degree. This unit acts as a bridge between your college studies and the skills you are required to develop at university level. Drawing on general and subject specific approaches, this unit will equip you with the foundational skills you need to be a social scientist.
An overview of content
This unit focuses on the key skills that social scientists need. You will develop the tools to read critically, write persuasively, understand and conduct research, search for relevant academic literature, learn how to cite and reference academic literature, as well as developing employability skills and learning how these relate to your post university opportunities.
Key themes discussed in this unit include how to structure an essay, developing your authorial voice, how we know what we know, developing a social scientist approach to and critical appreciation of research and evidence.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
The unit will provide you with an introduction to the foundational skills you need as a social scientist studying at university level. It will encourage you to think critically, to evaluate research and develop a core understanding of research and academic scholarship.
Learning Outcomes
You will experience a range of different learning activities including weekly 1-hour lectures (incorporating interactive elements), individuals tasks that relate to the content of the lectures that you will bring along to seminars, weekly 2-hour seminars where you will get to explore the topics, information, and ideas raised in the lectures through small group tasks to support inquiry-based learning in order to familiarise you with social science research and the foundational skills you will need to acquire for all other units throughout your degree. The seminars include a range of interactive exercises designed to develop understanding of key concepts and support the critical application of knowledge and development of key skills for social scientists. These activities will support students to complete both summative assessments. You will also have opportunities to discuss your assessments within the seminars.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative)
Through weekly lectures, readings and formative tasks including a small group task and, seminar based interactive exercises, students will be introduced to a range of concepts and resources to support both summative assessments. The first summative assessment (1000 word essay) will give you the chance to try out the key skills you have learned so far in the course, and which will be needed for your portfolio (2,000 words).
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative)
Part 1: Essay 30% (1000 words)
This assessment covers ILOs 1 & 2.
Part 2 – Portfolio 70% (2,000 words)
This assessment covers ILOs 1, 2, 3 & 4
When assessment does not go to plan
Subject to the university regulations for taught programmes, you may be offered an opportunity for reassessment in the failed element(s). This will comprise a task of the same format as the original assessment.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SPOL10036).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
