LW0JS: Justice and Society

Module code: LW0JS

Module provider: School of Law

Credits: 20

Level: F

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Jo Phoenix , email: j.b.m.phoenix@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

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

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 3 April 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This course aims to help students develop a sociological understanding of the ways that justice functions. As such, it focuses on the meanings of justice and punishment and how ideas about justice and punishment have been shaped, constructed, and theorized about.

Specific topics may change on a yearly basis.

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the definitions of justice.
2. Apply definitions of justice to historic and contemporary examples.
3. Formulate criminological arguments clearly and succinctly and draw appropriate conclusions.
4. Evaluate the awareness of the role of justice in society.

Module content

What is justice?  Historic roots of justice.  What is punishment?  The nature of social justice.  The nature of injustice.  Fairness.  Inequality.  Criminal justice systems.  Gender and justice.  Race and justice.    Critical debates in justice and society.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

There will be a 2-hour lecture per week per subject (total 22 hours), ten 2-hour workshops weekly (total 20 hours).  

In the workshops there will be a focus on formative activities (for example including debates and group presentations) which the students will need to prepare in advance and bring to the relevant workshop. We will be encouraging questions and peer review from the observing students. There is an expectation of whole-class participation.  

Study hours

At least 42 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.

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.

• Blackboard online quiz to assess knowledge and understanding of the subject matter
• Essay writing

Reassessment

Additional costs