2008/09 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

GEOG3980 Research Frontier: Urban Culture and Consumption

20 creditsClass Size: 11

Module manager: Dr David Bell
Email: d.j.bell@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2008/09

Pre-requisite qualifications

Overall average of Level 2 module marks of at least 60%

This module is mutually exclusive with

GEOG3032	Radical Geographies: Engagement, Theory, Praxis
GEOG3051	Research Frontier: Citizenship and Belonging

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module introduces students to research currently being undertaken by members of one of the School of Geography's research clusters. The module thus offers students the opportunity to engage with issues at the forefront of contemporary geographical research. Members active in the Urban Cultures and Consumption research cluster base their research around different approaches to the city -- un-settling cities, sensing cities, consuming cities -- and are concerned with themes such as urban counter-cultures and spaces of resistance, changing urban landscapes, and urban consumption and the cooperative movement. These themes are developed, as appropriate, by students in seminars and assessed essays. Attendance at departmental seminars and involvement in research cluster meetings is a central part of the module.

Objectives

On completion of the module students should be able to demonstrate:
1) an extended understanding of a range of issues relevant to urban and cultural geography;
2) an awareness of theoretical and empirical issues at the forefront of geographical inquiry;
3) an understanding of research currently being conducted by the teaching staff and of the intellectual context within which this research is conducted;
4) advanced skills in the identification of literature and the preparation of seminar papers;
5) advanced skills in essay preparation and writing;
6) enhanced skills in discussion and argumentation in seminar conditions.

Skills outcomes
A Knowledge and Understanding
A1 The dynamic nature of geographical thought and practice and the inter-relationships between the discipline and the social sciences
A4 Spatial patterns and relationships in human phenomena at a variety of scales
A5 The geography of places and their constitution by environmental, economic, social and political processes, and the influence of places on these processes
A6 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
A7 Contemporary debates about time-space relationships, globalization and global interconnections
A10 The contribution of geography to development of environmental political, economic and cultural agendas, policies and practices

B Cognitive skills
B1 Abstraction and synthesis of information from a variety of sources
B2 Assessment and critical evaluation of the merits of contrasting theories, explanations, policies
B3 Critical analysis and interpretation of data and text
B4 Developing reasoned arguments

C Practical/professional skills
C1 Plan, design, execute and report geographical research both individually and as part of a team
C5 Recognise the ethical issues involved in geographical debates and enquiries

D Key skills
D2 Communicate effectively (in writing, verbally and through graphical presentations)
D5 Identify, retrieve, sort and exchange geographical information using a wide range of sources
D7 Manage time and organise work effectively

Syllabus

1. Introduction
2. Governing the City I
3. Governing the City II
4. The Sustainable City
5. The Sustainable City II
6. Alternative Cities I
7. Alternative Cities II
8. Consuming (in) the city I
9. Consuming (in) the city II
10. Module Summary

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Meetings	2	1.00	2.00
Seminar	4	1.00	4.00
Seminar	10	2.00	20.00
Private study hours			174.00
Total Contact hours			26.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

30 hours reading to support seminars
24 hours reading to support cluster meetings and departmental seminars
50 hours reading, preparation and completion of literature review
20 hours reading and preparation for presentation
50 reading, preparation and completion of assessed essay

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Through participation in seminars - including a presentation (pass for credit) in the final week of term 2 outlining the individual student's approach to the topic to be explored in their assessed essay.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	3,500 words	70.00
Oral Presentation	5 minutes	10.00
Report	1,000 words	20.00
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: 28/04/2009

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