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2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

GEOG1031 Local to Global: Geographies of a Changing World (Joint Honours)

20 creditsClass Size: 80

Module manager: Dr Martin Purvis
Email: m.c.purvis@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

Pre-requisite qualifications

none

This module is mutually exclusive with

GEOG1021Local to Global: Geographies of a Changing World

Module replaces

Current level 1 BA Geography modules

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Objectives

- To introduce students to key human geography concepts, approaches, knowledge and skills through focused study of urban places and systems, particularly the city of Leeds
- To give students experience of human geography fieldwork
- To explore the historical and contemporary economic, social, demographic and cultural geography of Leeds through different learning activities
- To develop key skills in reading, analysis, writing, presentation and critique of a range of academic material, individually and in groups.

Learning outcomes
- Depending on which ‘blocks' are chosen (see below):
- The geography of places and their constitution by environmental, economic, social, demographic and political processes, and the influence of places on these processes
- The geographies of difference and inequality with particular reference to historical development, ethnicity, class, gender and the changing nature of urban and regional economies and policy
- Contemporary debates about time-space relationships, globalization and global interconnections
- Foundational knowledge of key human geography concepts and approaches applied to an extended case study.

Skills outcomes
Abstraction and synthesis of information from a variety of sources
Critical analysis and interpretation of data and text
Close reading of academic sources and critical appraisal of contrasting viewpoints, approaches and methods
Ability to contrast different approaches to key themes and topics, and navigate a path through these
Developing reasoned arguments
Plan, design, execute and report geographical research both individually and as part of a team
Undertake effective field work (with due regard for safety and risk assessment)
Collect, interpret and synthesise different types of quantitative and qualitative geographical data
Recognise the ethical issues involved in geographical debates and enquiries
Identify, retrieve, sort and exchange geographical information using a wide range of sources.


Syllabus

Students take two from three 'themes':
- Urban utopias and dystopias

Plus EITHER
- Changing economies (urban and economic geography);
OR
- Changing populations (demography, health, social geography);

Each will involve nine or ten lectures, plus a mix of small group activities (tutorials, workshops, fieldwork).

Tutorials will centre on practices of reading and writing, through a structured series of exercises and assignments that will help students to develop skills in note-taking and summarising; to engage critically with academic papers; to explore the construction of academic arguments; to develop their own skills in various forms of academic writing.


The module begins with a lecture and workshop outlining of the approaches taken, the broader concepts and approaches being explored, and the learning activities, assessment etc.

Indicative syllabus:

Introductory lecture

Changing economies
Leeds as a modern city; connections and flows into and out of Leeds; economic scales; post-industrial Leeds; the current economic geographies of the city; global Leeds?

Changing populations
'Ethnoscapes' in Leeds; the social make-up of Leeds today; inequalities and changing social geographies; belonging in Leeds; multiculturalism and difference; predicting the future

Urban utopias and dystopias
Depicting the city; ideal cities; planning and control; cities of gardens or cities of towers; when and why does planning fail?; designing urban futures

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Workshop101.0010.00
Fieldwork17.007.00
Fieldwork23.006.00
Group learning101.0010.00
Lecture12.002.00
Lecture191.0019.00
Tutorial71.007.00
Independent online learning hours22.00
Private study hours117.00
Total Contact hours61.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)200.00

Private study

Students will be given directed independent study, both individual and groupwork, supported by weekly tutorials. Tasks will be specific and also supported by VLE materials.

The aim of this is to inculcate a culture of independent working while supporting students while they are learning to learn.

Online learning will include some specific online tasks (such as Leeds for Life tutorials) plus review of course materials.

Private study will mainly be in preparation for assessments, and general review of module materials e.g. guided reading, preparation for presentations, etc.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Through tutorials and formative assessments set on a regular basis and returned promptly to students with detailed feedback.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Essay1 x 750 words0.00
Essay1 x 1,50040.00
Group Project2 x 2,000 words60.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 26/04/2017

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