Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

This module trains students in the principles and methods of the study of media, communication and culture. It introduces them to key terms and concepts and covers the critical skills that students will need for all academic work in this area. The module aims to build students' confidence in approaching academic work in a rigorous and systematic way and to demystify key elements of academic practice (e.g. citation, academic writing, learning from feedback).

Outline Of Syllabus

The module is divided into two phases:
1. The principles of scholarly integrity, with teaching materials designed to equip students to work in the study of media and culture at university level. Topics include critical thinking, finding sources, academic writing, critical engagement with published scholarship, and citation.

2. Key concepts and introductory methods suited for the analysis of phenomena in media, communication and culture, with teaching materials designed to equip students to identify patterns, politics and ideologies in these phenomena.

Weekly lectures explore relevant terms, concepts, skills and ideas, and provide material for analysis. In seminars, students will delve further into those ideas and skills, and practice applying them.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

A student successfully completing the module will possess knowledge of:
- the scholarly principles applicable to university-level study in the Humanities in general, and the study of media, communication and culture in particular.
- how to maintain scholarly integrity in research and writing during the entirety of their programme.
- ways that works of media and culture make claims about the world and take political stances, and methods of identifying these claims and stances.
- the place of analyses of media, communication and culture in the wider landscape of scholarly disciplines and methods.

Intended Skill Outcomes

A student successfully completing the module will be able to:
- gather evidence from a range of phenomena in the field of media, communication and cultural studies.
- identify patterns in the form and content of various works.
- apply relevant distinctions across a variety of textual and cross-textual phenomena, such as the distinctions between the stances of characters, the stances of narrators and the implicit stances of works.
- identify, at a rudimentary level, how items media and culture are shaped by their historical environments.
- identify, at a rudimentary level, the influence of political positions and ideologies on items of media and culture.
- access and sift relevant scholarly resources both in hard copy and online.
- communicate a basic argument in clear scholarly prose.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The module is delivered in the first semester of stage 1 to provide students with an intensive grounding in knowledge and skills that will be fundamental across the rest of their degree programme. Lectures provide students with details and rationales of the critical skills they will need while at university. In seminars students will develop their understanding of, and skills in applying, these skills. The module is support by members of the Academic Skills Team and the library team.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Assessment 1: Guided Critical Report on a Failed Essay
Students are required to produce a critical (1000-word) report evaluating a 2,000-word mock student essay that failed due to poor scholarly practice. The mock essay will be provided during the module. Your task is to identify, explain, and correct the flaws in the original essay, demonstrating your understanding of academic standards and the expectations for university-level work. Full marking guidance is provided in the module guide.

Assessment 2: Scholarly Practice and Student Citizenship
This is a structured report that invites you to explore your development as a student and scholar throughout the module. Your answers should be personal, honest, and thoughtful, supported with specific examples from your scholarly work and student experience. Full marking guidance is provided in the module guide.

General Notes

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