| Unit name | What Does It Mean To Be Human? I: The Modern World |
|---|---|
| Unit code | AFAC10010 |
| Credit points | 40 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. John McTague |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Arts Faculty Office |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit aims to introduce students to a broad range of topics from, and some of the intellectual questions raised by, the range of disciplines Foundation students may go on to study at degree level. It further aims to help students develop a range of skills required for study at university and to gain an understanding of how particular disciplines may be studied in more depth at undergraduate level. The unit will use the academic content it provides as the vehicle for this development of these skills.
In more detail, the unit has the following aims:
• To introduce students to significant events, movements, ideas, and works of arts, literature, philosophy, and music from the nineteenth century to the present day, with a particular emphasis on understanding how these historical episodes and works contributed to our present day society and its culture.
• To introduce students to primary and secondary source material; to introduce them to the skills required to analyze and evaluate the primary material, to understand the secondary material and critically evaluate it, and to formulate their own ideas in response to this.
• To introduce students to the various disciplines from which they may wish to choose an undergraduate course as a result of progression from the Foundation programme.
• To introduce students to seminar-style discussion lead by a member of academic staff, and to help them develop the skills required to contribute productively and to articulate their own ideas in these discussions.
• To help students develop skills required for study at university, such as writing an essay, critical thinking, or responding to feedback.
The thematic question that titles the unit will be explored from diverse perspectives, e.g. by examining how our understanding of what it is to be human has been influenced by movements such as those for women’s rights, civil rights, climate change, the Labour movement, universal suffrage, Apartheid in South Africa and/or the Holocaust.
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
There will be two 2-hour sessions each week:
• A lecture. Each lecture will be taught by a member of staff with research interests in the topic of study, with the aim that the unit introduces a wide range of disciplines over the lecture series. Normally the 2-hour lecture session will include 1-1.5 hours of lecturing and 30 minutes to 1 hour of discussion, which may include break-out groups. The lecture will be delivered to the entire cohort of no more than 50 students.
• A seminar, in which the material from the lecture and the set material will provide a vehicle for discussion of a particular skill required for study at university, e.g. critical thinking, developing an argument, planning an essay etc. These sessions will normally be taught by research postgraduates and/or tutors with research interests relevant to the topic of study. There will be up to five seminar groups, each of no more than 10 students.
(i) 1 x. 2,000 word assignment (formative)
(ii) 1 x 1,000 word essay plan (20% of unit mark)
(iii) 1 x 2,000 word assignment (40% of unit mark)
(iv) 1 x formal 2-hour examination (40% of unit mark)
An attempt will be required for each assignment.
The written assignments will assess ILOs (1), (2) and (4) and they will also assess many components of ILO (3), especially essay writing, critical thinking and critical appraisal skills. Each piece of work should normally be equivalent to 2,000 words in total. The exam will assess ILOs 1-4, as well as forming an important part of students’ preparation for undergraduate study by enabling them to develop the necessary skills to prepare for and undertake a formal examination.
