Studying at York
Foundations in Law - Portfolio & Reflections II - LAW00038I
- Department: The York Law School
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: I
- Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
Module summary
This module considers core areas of law: Criminal Law; European Union Law; the law of Obligations; Property Law; Public Law. These are the foundations of legal knowledge associated with progression to the legal professions. The module involves the production of a portfolio reflecting on learning in these areas, and a short research task. It is also assessed in part on the basis of contributions to the Problem-Based Learning process.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Autumn Term 2022-23 to Summer Term 2022-23 |
Module aims
The module provides the opportunity for you to reflect in depth on the development of your learning in relation to the core subject areas of legal learning, namely Criminal Law; European Law; Obligations (Contract, Tort and Restitution); Property Law (Land Law and Equity); Public Law (Constitutional and Administrative Law) and on the connections between those subject areas. You will generate a portfolio comprising a reflective report, and items of evidence supporting the learning claims made in the reflective report. The evidence will be drawn from your substantive legal studies in relation to the core subject areas in Foundations in Law 1, 2, 3 and 4. You will also conduct a short research task. In undertaking the module, you will develop both your substantive knowledge and understanding of the law, and your capacity to reflect effectively and in depth on the development of your learning, making effective use of feedback and planning future learning.
Module learning outcomes
By the end of the module, you should be able to: 1. Describe and explain key legal rules and principles, and the relationships between and among them; 2. Describe and explain processes of legal research relevant to developing knowledge about these rules and principles; 3. Analyse and evaluate the legal issues in a range of scenarios, and suggest solutions to legal problems; 4. Develop reasoned argument and practise critical evaluation in relation to law; 5. Explain the relevance of different perspectives on and contexts relevant to law; 6. Communicate clearly, and in accordance with scholarly norms, to an academic audience / readership; 7. Reflect in depth on the development of your learning and identify possible future learning needs and interests; 8. Demonstrate a positive contribution to your learning and development, and those of others, by regular attendance and active participation in learning activities in Foundations PBL workshops.
Module content
The module content is drawn from your learning in Foundations in Law 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 80 |
| Oral presentation/seminar/exam | 20 |
Special assessment rules
None
Additional assessment information
Formative work is embedded as follows. There are formal opportunities to discuss substantive and reflective work in progress through surgery provision; and informal opportunities are embedded within PBL.
The summative assessment involves two elements: a portfolio, comprising a reflective report on assigned learning outcomes, with supporting evidence; and contribution to PBL sessions, the latter being a major enabling factor in achieving the learning outcomes. The reassessment of contribution is in a different form - a written submission - as it is not possible to recreate the environment in which contribution is made. Therefore, students will be examined on their understanding of the impact of their contribution to PBL activities on both their own and others' learning. Students will be given the opportunity to complete this reassessment if they fail the module and the module failure includes a failure in the assessed contribution element of the module.
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 80 |
| Essay/coursework | 20 |
Module feedback
Ongoing feedback through PBL activity and Portfolio Learning Activity sessions; surgery and plenary opportunities to discuss generation of portfolio evidence; etc.
Written feedback and surgery opportunities to discuss completed portfolio.
Indicative reading
Key substantive legal texts are those used by students for Foundations in Law 1 and 2. Students might
also benefit from engagement with the literature on reflective practice, e.g.,
Reflection in learning and professional development : theory and practice
Moon, Jennifer A.
London : Kogan Page 2000
Learning journals : a handbook for academics, students and professional development
Moon, Jennifer A.
London : Kogan Page 1999
The reflective practitioner : how professionals think in action
Schön, Donald A.
London : Ashgate c1991