Studying at York
Humans & Other Animals - SOC00007H
- Department: Sociology
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: H
- Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Autumn Term 2022-23 |
Module aims
To find out what looking at animals can tell us about the nature of human identities and the structures of human societies.
Module learning outcomes
- To develop an understanding of the role played by animals in human politics and culture, and an appreciation of how that role has evolved historically and geographically
- To examine the significance of animals in the production of both profit and knowledge in capitalist societies
- To consider the contrasts between expert and lay opinions on the nature of animal life, and the use of animals in the construction of definitions of what counts as human
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Additional assessment information
You will normally have the opportunity to prepare short presentations on topics related to the module aims or to submit short pieces of written work for within-module feedback on your performance.
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
Feedback at University level can be understood as any part of the learning process which is designed to guide your progress through your degree programme by providing commentary on your work to date. So feedback means more than just written comments on written work. We aim to help you to reflect on your own learning and to feel clearer about your progress through clarifying what is expected of you informative and summative assessments. The University guidelines for feedback are available in the Guide to Assessment Standards, Marking and Feedback.
You will receive feedback in a number of forms:
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On any formative (non-assessed) work, you will receive written or verbal feedback about how to improve your work (though you may not receive a mark)
-
On summative work (work that is assessed) you will receive detailed written feedback from the marker. This is intended to show areas in which you have done well, and areas in which you need to improve.
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Your supervisor will also give you feedback on your work. S/he will be able to look across a range of your work and discuss ways in which you can build on your strengths and improve in any areas
Feedback on your summative written work is made available to you online via e:vision. You will receive an email telling you when it is ready to look at. You are then advised to take this work (printed out or on your laptop) to your regular meeting with your academic supervisor. Your supervisor will be able to look at your work with you and address any queries you have, as well as advise you on ways to improve your work.
Feedback on Exam Scripts
You can ask for feedback on your exam performance from your supervisor, who will go through your examination script(s) with you and discuss the areas in which you did well, and those in which you need to improve. However, you may not take the script away with you, or photocopy the script. If you would like to discuss your exam performance, please let your supervisor know at least two working days in advance of your meeting, so that they can make sure they have the script with them when you meet.
Indicative reading
- Brantz, D (ed) (2010) Beastly Natures: Animals, Humans and the Study of History. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press.
- Franklin, A. (1999) Animals and Modern Cultures . London: Sage
- Gross, A & Valley A (eds) (2012) Animals and the Human Imagination. New York: Columbia UP
- Ingold, T (ed) (1988) What is an Animal? London: Routledge
- Kalof, L. (2007) Looking at Animals in Human History. London: Reaktion
- Malamud, R (ed) (2007) A Cultural History of Animals in the Modern Age. Oxford: Berg
- Rees, A (2017) 'Animal agents?', BJHS THEMES, 2: 1-10
- Philo, C & Wilbert C (eds.) (2000) Animal Spaces, Beastly Places: New Geographies of Human-Animal Relations. London: Routledge