University of Leeds

Leeds

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Anyone doing politics?

Hi all

starting again in 1st year politics after a disastrous year doing civil engineering. Anyone else a politics fresher next year?

Reply 1

Ludwig Wittgenstein

probably do a pol module as an elective :gangster:

University of Leeds

Leeds

Reply 2

jelly1000

scanningforlifeforms

Hi all

starting again in 1st year politics after a disastrous year doing civil engineering. Anyone else a politics fresher next year?

I'll be doing International Relations so I'll be in the same department as you, grades providing

Reply 3

Cesare Borgia

I'll hopefully be doing International History and Politics, so I might be in a few of your lectures.

Reply 4

misterxninja

I might be one of your PASS session tutors :smile:

for Freedom Power and Democracy and/or International Politics

Reply 5

RobPrager

I'm doing Politics =) The course looks interesting but I'm not a massive fan of Political Theory so looking to avoid that as much as possible!

Reply 6

misterxninja

RobPrager

I'm doing Politics =) The course looks interesting but I'm not a massive fan of Political Theory so looking to avoid that as much as possible!

Everyone says that, but freedom power and democracy is the module that is the base of political theory throughout your 3 years. Its actually the one that people who are not that politically opinionated get really involved in so it will be one of your best seminars. The lectures are quiet good for it also, had a new guy do ours last year.

In all honesty you dont really realize what type of politics you like until you finish Uni, it helps you work out what other interests you have. I did not realize how much I like International Politics but I really do now. I also was the same snubbed political theory but quiet enjoy it also now its the people who run the programme that make it interesting.

Reply 7

RobPrager

Yeah, I saw from the Reading List that Freedom Power and Democracy had a lot of Political Theory books.

What is your advice over British vs International vs European Politics? What electives did you take?

Reply 8

misterxninja

RobPrager

I did all three, you gotta pick two out of three, I then had to drop Japanese Language (class was all chinese who were advanced I was beginner lol) so I ended up picking up British politics.

Best one I did was International Politics, coming from someone who at A-level focused on domestic political systems of the UK and USA, I just found the all encompassing International theories hugely appealing. Then British politics was very good, nothing like A-level gov and pol at all, its all based on discussion you dont really talk about the system tbh and mechanics of British politics just the big issues in it and phenomena.

European politics was awful I struggled with it, It was not EU at all it was in my comfort zone in many respects, it was about learning different nations in Europes systems, with focus to: Italy, Germany and France. We had to pick two out of three nations to study. Italy was tedious and dull at times, I did enjoy reading about German phenemona but the reading was more like A-level studying the system not actually studying German politics broadly.

I should of done well at this module since part of it was compare and contrasting the two nations politics you picked. You can do other European nations but need to locate your own reading and get the go ahead from your module programme leader by providing evidence you can handle it, I would advise against that. The only good thing was there was different assessments to make up your total mark such as verbal presentation, comparative workbook on your two nations and an essay on the other nation you did not do a presentation on. So I did Italy presentation, Germany essay and workbook covers both.

The workbook is a real pain you want to explore ideas but really you are better off scientifically bullet pointing things, so I over did it thinking it was not like A-levels where as the workbook was just like A-level style Gov and Pol system and comparison and fffed up the workbook. The problem is the workbook instructions are so loose you have to answer like 20 mini questions 100 words per question, sounds really easy but requires a lot of work, more than you think.

British politics on the other hand is scary, because you dont actually present unless your seminar leader wants non assessed presentations as part of how they run there seminars. Its just one exam if you have an off day your sodded, but then 1st year dont count towards any of the mark just pass it all so you only need 40%.

International politics is two essays a mid term and end term essay on international theory phenemona, well least I picked the theory ones despite adamantly hating theory before I came, so be open to it all. Theory is good its the way its taught and if you can break into deeper thought. So if you like essays and getting into a solo study project aka History A-level coursework but two in a year then thats good.

All of these three modules are introductory ones, so I would look to 2nd and 3rd year modules as they all branch from one of these 3 fields of political study. E.G. an EU module in the 2nd year makes sense to do European politics 1st year, or studying Asian Pacific politics (like me) in year 2 would tie in well with your understanding of International politics and Globalization (compulsory anyway). If you want to do Civil service in year two then British politics is best link in year 1 and will make your life easier and string together your knowledge.

Personally I would avoid European like the plague lot of people hated it for the pain of the workbook and unclear guidance and what was expected of you, it seemed the most unorganized module out of the three and was not taught with gusto, the guy who did it is really good Ed Gouge but he seems to be more comfortable with British politics, since he runs the PPS scheme.

However in first year is best opportunity to take electives outside of politics, but do not bite off more than you can chew or your 1st year will be one big struggle, e.g. dont do what I did and take Japanese lol. That said it would also be wise to discover what you actually like, because honestly you dont know what type of politics you like at this stage since you have not studied any of them, so it could be a good idea to do what I ended up doing and use one of your elective choices to do one of the other core modules.

A-level isnt really studying its kind of like regurgetating, but putting analysis on the end and you will find much of your A-level knowledge pretty useless since its not really knowledge just little facts, though Historical understanding always helps when learning new things if you have something to compare historical political moments too.

But im bias as I have hindsight knowing I detest European politics now, but if the idea of the EU is not keen to you now it never will be, so there is no point taking that route unless you want to work for an MEP or in the European parliament in Brussells. So I got no clear answer for you, you just have to do what you think is best, make the mistakes and learn from them and work out what your into and what your not and then plan your 2nd year choices around your first year results and favourites its all a trial and error year so do not overthink it ok.

Reply 9

RobPrager

Thanks very much for that detailed answer! Lots of food for thought!

Reply 10

MagicNMedicine

British Politics isn't that bad a module, I really enjoyed it, the only reason people get put off is because there's no coursework, just a 3 hour exam at the end. Kevin Theakston and David Seawright are two of the friendliest tutors and they make it quite interesting, especially Theakston who has a lot of humorous anecdotes. One lad did no revision and just wrote on his paper BEAM ME UP SCOTTIE then left after an hour! He had to beg to be allowed to do the resit, they just marked him as NSA (No Serious Attempt) at first which means you fail with no resit allowed.

However as long as you learn three topics fairly well the exam isn't too bad.

Freedom Power and Democracy is a great module, it sets you up well for stuff like Theories of Democracy/Justice in 2nd year or Gramsci in 3rd year. I wonder what's happening now with the staff for these as I heard the legendary Ricardo Blaug was off to Westminster Uni, and Maureen Ramsay is retiring (a BIG loss as she was fantastic, hint for any students doing these modules, get "Whats Wrong With Liberalism" which she wrote, it is the best introductory textbook IMO). Surely they can't leave everything to Schwarz....

Reply 11

misterxninja

RobPrager

FAO

MagicNMedicine

They got Mr Mcnaley or something Irish guy, he had a test by doing the FPD module for us he was fantastic really enthusiasitc knowledgeable and entertaining in lectures. Cant say I personally got on with maureens work and texts, but it is rather unique, no other academics with the views of Maureen which makes fascinating reading if your into far fetched theories.

I imagine Mcnaley will do some 2nd year modules now or the 3rd year ones linked to FPD, he seems more than capable.

I have to agree with you about British politics people are put off by the exam. But a lot of people found the exam easier than most of the coursework they had done all year and most people got 2:1s in it with a weeks revision only learning 3 topics, despite being told to revise 5 just incase.

British politics has some heavyweights thats for sure, Seawright is a rightie but has great political banter with the centre and left students, as you say he is very good especially at the media and politics in Britain. Theakston is really good also as he knows westminster inside out and the workings of local council authorities and usually takes the later lectures on constitution etc.

But to be honest British Politics module has the best array of lecturers and seminar leaders you will ever get at the Uni, I mean you have 5 guys who have written books on British politics who take the lectures most related to there work. Every two lectures you get another british political heavyweight so it can't be bad. I dont know any other module that you have so many of the Uni and polis departments top tier, they even did a joint lecture with 5 of them about the general election, the week before it and presented different aspects of how they predicted the election would go. Went into things like what the problems that face the 3 main parties are basically a detailed analysis of the development of the election and liklihoods. So if you want to be in a module with some of the top proffessors and academics then its certainly something to consider.

Reply 12

MagicNMedicine

Yes there's no doubt that Leeds is really well suited to the people into British politics and those who want to go into working in Westminster. Ed Gouge is well connected so he's a good one to approach if you want to get some work experience somewhere.

The northern Irish guy will be Mark McNally, he came to Leeds from Essex which has an awesome dept of Government. I knew he was helping Schwarz out with the Gramsci stuff as I think he's a Gramsci specialist. He seems a pretty cool bloke so a good fit for taking on FPD.

Reply 13

Little Jules

Ed Gouge left at the end of the year too (although he may still teach the Parliamentary Studies module) and Tim Heppell will be taking over the PPS course I think.

Two of my favourite tutors were Stuart McAnulla and Jason Ralph. Jason's US class (3rd year) was one of the best IMO.

Reply 14

misterxninja

Little Jules

That is a shame ed is well connected, hope he passes them onto Tim. Tim is very good though also does British politics modules now for first years, he run the programme but technically all of them had an input.

None of my PPS mates were aware of Gouge standing down though so thats a bit odd, where you find this out?

Reply 15

Little Jules

misterxninja

I've stayed in contact with Stuart McAnulla and Jason Ralph since I left (IMO two of the best tutors in the department), Stuart told me, and I then emailed Ed (to ask about him leaving and tell him about my job in Parliament) and he confirmed it. He said he'd still be teaching the Parliamentary Studies class so perhaps he hasn't made a huge thing about it.

Personally, I didn't think he was a great tutor - I had him for European politics, Parliamentary Studies, and he was my dissertation supervisor, although in practice Stuart McAnulla did a lot more for me on my dissertation than Ed did. The contacts for the PPS course will still be there.

Reply 16

misterxninja

Little Jules

Yea I had him as seminar leader, very ad hoc ways great guy to have a conversation with though. Tim is a good replacement though a lot of gusto and he seems bias to Lib Dems <3 :smile:

About time we had a Lib Dem in the POLIS department to much left right fighting, especially in the election special lecture they all did. Think you would of liked it to see some of your favourite and familiar members of staff debating against each other.