POL1045 : Becoming a Political Analyst
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Judy Murray
- Owning School: Geography, Politics & Sociology
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
POL1045 Becoming a Political Analyst provides students with an essential foundation in critical thinking, evidence evaluation and argument construction. The module will offer applied opportunities to critically examine language and rhetoric, reasoned argument and standards of proof. Students will work with real-life examples of speech, media reports and academic writing to identify arguments, assess the quality of evidence presented, and interpret the nature and quality of information. The module will enable students to assess critically the quality of data, evidence and analyses produced by others, and will enable students to become independent researchers and effectively present the findings of their own research.
Outline Of Syllabus
POL1045 Becoming a Political Analyst will engage widely with essential critical thinking skills such as:
• Analysis of language and rhetoric
• Argument identification and reconstruction
• Assessing beliefs and bias
• Systems of reasoning: induction and deduction
• Recognising the use of irony and logical fallacies
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 22 | 1:00 | 22:00 | PIP Lectures |
| Structured Guided Learning | Academic skills activities | 6 | 1:00 | 6:00 | Quizzes; guided tasks |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | PIP Seminars |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured research and reading activities | 11 | 2:00 | 22:00 | Annotated/guided reading |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | Online assessment surgery |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 139:00 | 139:00 | Assessment preparation and completion |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The lectures will provide students with an introduction to the foundations of critical thinking, presenting topics such as:
• Analysis of language and rhetoric
• Argument identification and reconstruction
• Assessing beliefs and bias
• Systems of reasoning: induction and deduction
• Recognising the use of irony and logical fallacies
This content will provide the basis for self-directed study, small group teaching and assessments.
Small group teaching provides an environment in which students can explore and deepen their understanding of the issues raised in the lecture material and discuss essential readings relevant to the module. Small group teaching also provides the context in which students will develop many of the skills outcomes associated with this module.
Structured, guided learning activities will allow students to check their understanding of the topics covered in lectures and small group teaching, foster a deeper understanding and reflection, whilst simultaneously encouraging independent learning and effective time management.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prof skill assessmnt | 1 | M | 25 | Quizzes and guided tasks |
| Written exercise | 1 | M | 25 | Source analysis 1000 words: focus on what is an argument, reconstructing arguments, valid and invalid arguments |
| Written exercise | 1 | M | 25 | Source analysis 1000 words: focus on assessing evidence, inductive reasoning and explanations, theories and hypotheses |
| Written exercise | 1 | M | 25 | Source analysis 1000 words: focus on rhetoric, logical fallacies, and bias |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The professional skills assessments foster engagement with the module through the duration of the semester and provide students with the necessary opportunities for skills acquisition, thereby enabling students to successfully continue their university studies.
The written exercises provide students the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, critical thinking and analytical skills through the process of evaluation and interpretation of real-life examples of speech, media reports and academic writing.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- POL1045's Timetable