IL1GMB: Modern Britain: Society, History and Politics

Module code: IL1GMB

Module provider: International Study and Language Institute

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Lucy Watson, email: l.a.watson@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

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

Module(s) excluded: IN TAKING THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT TAKE IL2GMB (Compulsory)

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

What position does the UK occupy in the world? What does it mean to be British today?  

This module introduces key aspects of modern British society, politics and history by identifying significant past events since 1945 and connecting them to the present.  

Some questions explored are: 

• How has Britain’s place in the world changed since 1945? 
• How has the concept of ‘Britishness’ shifted? 
• What inequalities exist in Britain and why? 
• How do communities mobilise to bring about change? 
• Does religion still play a role? 
• What has been the impact of British popular culture on the rest of the world? 

These questions are placed in a global context. Students will draw on their own experience and cultural backgrounds to make connections between the UK and the rest of the world in order to develop their intercultural awareness.  

The assessment is an independent research project based on one of the topics covered. 

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Describe and explain key aspects of life in Britain today including key political and historical events. 
2. Present ideas, both orally and in written form, in a clear and concise manner including more than one perspective. 
3. Demonstrate transferrable skills such as group work and discussion skills. 
4. Demonstrate an ability to research a topic independently. 

Module content

The semester will consist of 10 screencasts, which students view before the in-person sessions, and 10 workshops covering topics relating to key aspects of modern British society, culture, politics, and history. Topics explored may include post-war Britain, British identities, patterns of inequality, people and protest, religion, and Britain’s relationship with the rest of the world.  

Students will also attend 5 research workshops and small group tutorials to work on individual assessed projects. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

This module is delivered using a flipped learning method. Each week students will be asked to watch a screencast and/or engage with reading and other tasks in preparation for a workshop. 

Tasks to consolidate learning after the workshop will also require completion. Independent study tasks form a central element of this course and include wider directed reading, preparation for seminars (including independent research) and group study tasks. All tasks and related information are displayed on Blackboard. 

Tasks may include watching videos, screencasts, or narrated PowerPoints, reading, completing activities and participating in discussion boards.  

At the end of the module, students will prepare an independent project on a topic of their choosing agreed with the module convenor.  

Study hours

At least 25 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: /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.

Project plan submitted on BB for discussion in tutorial.  

Reassessment

Additional costs