AD3004 - Sociological Imagination

This module will be delivered via a series of workshops – made up of a combination of directly taught and interactive activities. These workshops will involve group and individual activities as well as engagement with a range of academic and media sources, including: documentaries, photographic images and newspaper articles.

Throughout the module emphasis will be placed on you developing your knowledge and understanding of the methods, approaches and key ideas that underpin sociology and the sociological imagination. Key to this is developing a sociological vocabulary and foundation knowledge of the discipline of sociology that you can build upon and develop as your studies progress. Where practical, workshop learning activity will take place outside of the classroom.

On the module you will be academically supported in the following ways:

• During workshops through a variety of learning activities led by the module leader as well through in-session question and answer opportunities.
• Through pre-arranged one-to-one consultations with academic staff arranged in person, via email or over the telephone.
• Through the module’s online electronic learning portal website (Blackboard) which will act as a depository for learning materials, assessment information and including a module handbook that guides you through many frequently asked questions.

The module handbook provides details of sessions, reading lists and assessment criteria; lecture PowerPoint slides are made available on the e-learning portal. The module tutors will be available in taught sessions, as well as in feedback and consultation hours and on email/phone, to discuss any queries or concerns you have about how to excel academically on the module. Moreover, feedback on formative work and the first summative assessments will also serve as ‘feed forward’, giving guidance on how to improve during the module. In addition, you have a designated Personal Guidance Tutor throughout the entire duration of your programme. The academic side of the Personal Guidance Tutor’s role includes:

• monitoring your ongoing academic progress
• helping you to develop self-reflection skills necessary for continuous academic development
• directing you to further available services which can help them with their academic skills (e.g. Library’s Skills Plus)

You are advised to see your Personal Guidance Tutor at least twice each semester to review your academic progress.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. You will develop a knowledge and understanding of sociology as a discipline and the role of the sociological imagination.
2. You will be able to identify and understand key sociological concept including structure, agency and society.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
3. You will develop and demonstrate the study skills needed to study sociology in higher education.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
4. You will show an appreciation of the role of sociology in understanding diversity in society.
5. You will show an appreciation of the diverse environment that characterises higher education study.

You will be supported through formative (i.e. informal) tasks within the module workshops to prepare for the summative (i.e. formal) assessment for the module.

The summative assessment for this module is based on you submitting the following compulsory components:

• A poster that outlines the meaning, purpose or role of sociology as a discipline.
• A 1500 word essay on a topic of sociological importance

The assessment tasks address all MLOs.

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Please find details of this module in the other sections provided.