Duration
Seminar : 30h Th
Language support module : 8h Pr, 15h AUTR
Number of credits
| Bachelor in political sciences : general | 3 crédits |
Lecturer
Seminar : Geoffrey Grandjean
Language support module : Frédéric Depas
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
All year long, with partial in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
Seminar
"Seminar: Classics in political science" combines the analysis of works considered as classics of political science, with the gradual introduction of a foreign language (English) in the process of understanding and assimilating the work by the students.
Students are asked to write an essay and to orally present an argued point of view related to the authors they have read (in english).
This academic year, the authors choosen are: Thomas More, Immanuel Kant, Charles Tilly & Sidney Tarrow, Joseph H. H. Weiler and Larry J. Sabato and Howard R. Ernst.
Language support module
The purpose of this module is to provide customized English language support to help students improve their academic writing and presentation skills in the context of their class on classics in political science.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
Seminar
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
- analyse fundamental political science texts using a reading method;
- master different concepts by authors;
- explain texts seen in class, compare them with other authors and develop a critical view;
- develop an argument in english.
Language support module
At the end of the module, students should be able to write an academic-level essay in English and should be able to present it orally in a clear and intelligible way. The CEFRL objective level of the module is C1.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Language support module
Students are expected to have a good level of general English before the start of the class.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Seminar
The course is comprised of four stages that will allow students to gradually understand and analyse the authors:
- introduction to the seminar, given at the beginning of the academic year, defining the seminar's objectives (25 september 2020);
- individualised support for students to help them prepare their work and their presentation in English (with the possibility of using French in case of difficulties);
- following lessons concerning redaction and expression in english (with a teacher form the ISLV);
- writing a short essay in English;
- oral defense in English.
Language support module
Thursday, February 25th:
The first class will be organized for the whole group of students. This class will deal with the vocabulary necessary to write an argumentative essay in English, with the structure of essays, and with some formal issues.
Students also have to hand in their research question on that day.
Thursday, March 4th:
Students will be required to email the outline of their essays to F.Depas@uliege.be by the end of that day at the latest.
Thursday, March 11th:
Students can present the outline of their essay in smaller groups during the second class, and they can obtain feedback about it.
Thursday, April 1st:
The purpose of the third class is to help students improve their presentation skills in English. The whole group will be present.
Students will also have to hand in the introduction of their essays during that class.
From Thursday, April 22nd to Thursday, April 29th:
In groups of 4 to 6, students will obtain feedback on their introductions and will be given the opportunity to rehearse their exam oral presentation.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Seminar
The course is organised as individual meetings and seminars. Students are expected to actively participate in every session.
Language support module
This is a face-to-face module, but the students will have to hand in the outline of their papers by email.
Organisational adjustments related to the current health context
Seminar
The examination procedures set out are those that apply in normal health situations allowing for the normal conduct of university examinations; they may be modified according to the health situation. The examination will in all cases take the form of a written work to be handed in and an individual oral presentation, in person if possible, and at a distance if the situation so requires.
Language support module
If the sanitary situation deteriorates further, classes will be given online on Collaborate or Lifesize.
Changes might have to be made to the initially planned schedule, depending on possible modifications of the assignment for the main course.
Students will be notified of any changes to the organisation and schedule of the class in due time by email and on eCampus.
Recommended or required readings
Seminar
Compulsory reading (one of these readings must be chosen) :
More Thomas, Utopia, Penguin Classics, 2003 [1516], 176 p.
Kant Immanual, Perpetual Peace. A Philosophical Sketch, Hackett Classics, 2003 [1795], 64 p.
Tilly Charles and Tarrow Sidney, Contentious politics, Oxford University Press, 2012, 224 p.
Weiler Joseph H. H., The Constitution of Europe : 'Do the New Clothes Have an Emperor ?' and Other Essays on European Integration, Cambridge University Press, 1999, 384 p.
Sabato Larry J. and Ernst Howard R., Encyclopedia of American Political Parties and Elections, Checkmark Books, 2007, 548 p.
Bull Hedley, The Anarchical Society. A Study of Order on World Politics, London, Macmillan, 1995.
Grandjean Geoffrey, Classics in Political Science. Part 1 - Thomas More. Part 2 - Immanual Kant. Part 3 - Joseph Weiler. Part 4 - Charles Tilly and Sidney Tarrow. Part 5 - Larry J. Sabato and Howard R. Ernst, Liège, Presses Universitaires de Liège, 2018-2019, 755 p., disponible à l'adresse suivante : http://hdl.handle.net/2268/227374.
Language support module
Course notes will be available on eCampus at a later date.
Assessment methods and criteria
Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.
Seminar
Any session :
- In-person
written exam AND oral exam
- Remote
written exam AND oral exam
- If evaluation in "hybrid"
preferred remote
Additional information:
The assessment is based on several tasks.
First of all, students must read the texts themselves and work the subject of their essay and their oral presentation. As part of this task, they must meet regularly one member of the teaching team. If students fail to do so, one point will be removed every time they fail to turn up.
Secondly, students must write a short essay in english. The essay should be maximum 5 pages long (Times, 12, 1.5 line spacing, excluding the cover page, table of contents and the bibliography) and is worth 50% of the final grade.
Thirdly, students must do an oral presentation in English within the framework of a panel discussion. The defense will last maximum 15 minutes and is worth 50% of the final grade.
Depending on the evolution of the health situation, the oral presentation can be organized as a videoconference.
The followed criteria are applied to the assessment: 1) originality of the subject, 2) inclusion of the authors, 3) structure of the presentation and the essay, and 4) quality of the argument.
For the second session, students are invited to contact the professor.
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
Seminar
The course is held during the second term.
However, to allow students to properly organise their time and their reading programme, an introductory session will be held at the beginning of the first term (25 september, 13h30-15h30).
Language support module
A list of the different groups and a detailed timetable for each group will be available on eCampus before the first class.
Contacts
Seminar
Prof. Dr Geoffrey Grandjean
Lecturer
Faculté de Droit, de Science Politique et de Criminologie
Place des Orateurs, 3
4000 Liege
Box 11
Office 2.17
Tel.: +32 (0)4/366.96.60
Email: Geoffrey.Grandjean@uliege.be
Language support module
Frédéric Depas
bureau des enseignants de l'ISLV
B33 - niveau -1
Email: F.Depas@uliege.be