What will I gain from doing this course





Aims/Objectives

What will I do

Politics should be studied by everyone. For the rules under which we live to be effective as many people as possible should actively participate in making them. A healthy society is a society in which many people participate in political activity and do so with insight and understanding.

Aims

• To develop a critical awareness of the nature of politics and the relationships between political ideas, institutions and processes
• to understand the structures of authority and power within the political system of the UK, and how these may differ from other political systems
• to understand the rights and responsibilities of individuals, and to prepare citizens for active participation in society
• to develop personal effectiveness through a critical awareness of political events and issues, and the skills required to argue a case with relevance and coherence
• to gain a clear understanding of the theories, motives and values that underpin political processes and governmental decision-making and the role of institutions in resolving conflicts and allocating scarce resources

Learn to think for yourself, develop your own views, discuss, debate and argue.

Unit 1 - People and Politics
AS 50% (25% of the total GCE marks)
Assessment: an exam lasting one hour and 20 minutes consisting of two structured questions from a choice of four.

Unit 2 - Governing the UK
AS 50% (25% of the total GCE marks)
Assessment: an exam lasting one hour and 20 minutes consisting of one stimulus question from a choice of two and one extended question from a choice of two.

Unit 3A – UK political issues
A2 50% (25% of the total GCE marks)
Assessment:-an exam lasting one hour 30 minutes consisting of three short answer questions from a choice of five and one essay question from a choice of three.

Unit 4A - The EU and European issues
A2 50% (25% of the total GCE marks)
Assessment- an exam lasting one hour 30 minutes consisting of three short answer questions from a choice of five and one essay question from a choice of three.

Unit 1 - People and Politics
This Unit introduces students to the key channels of communication between government and the people and encourages them to evaluate the adequacy of existing arrangements for ensuring representative democracy and participation.

Unit 2 - Governing the UK
This Unit provides an introduction to the major governmental processes within the UK. It encourages them to develop a critical understanding of the role and effectiveness of key institutions and the relationship amongst them in the context of multilevel governance.

Unit 3A – UK political issues
This Unit examines key policy issues in the UK, particularly those that have affected the outcomes of general elections or stimulated wide ranging public debate. Examples include; Social Welfare, Health and Education; Law and Order and Environmental Policy.

Unit 4A - The EU and European issues
This Unit examines the political issues that have arisen as a result of the process of European integration and the impact of the EU on the UK. It also looks at European institutions and their inter-relationships and the European economic and social model.

A variety of teaching styles will be used to encourage students to be responsible for their own learning. Students must be prepared to keep up with political developments.

In the classroom, library and ICT room as appropriate.

Individual support from subject staff throughout the course.

From the Government and Politics Department.