Department of Sociology

SECOND AND THIRD YEAR STUDENTS

2010-2011 Undergraduate Handbook

This Course Pack has been reproduced in accordance with the terms and conditions of Goldsmiths Copyright Licences. It must not be re-sold, scanned or re-copied.

DISCLAIMERS The information in this handbook was correct in September 2010. Whilst it is as far as possible accurate at the date of publication, and Goldsmiths will attempt to inform students of any substantial changes in the information contained in it, Goldsmiths does not intend by publication of the handbook to create any contractual or other legal relation with applicants, accepted students, their advisers or any other person. Goldsmiths is unable to accept liability for the cancellation of proposed programmes of study prior to their scheduled start; in the event of such cancellation, and where possible, Goldsmiths will take reasonable steps to transfer students affected by the cancellation to similar or related programmes of study. Please see the Terms and Conditions in the relevant prospectus. Goldsmiths will not be responsible or liable for the accuracy or reliability of any of the information in third party publications or websites referred to in this booklet. Goldsmiths Regulations By enrolling, you undertake to comply with Goldsmiths’ Programme and General Regulations, and with the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances of Goldsmiths. In the event of any inconsistency existing between information provided in this handbook, and either the Programme or General Regulations, the Programme and General Regulations shall govern in all cases. If you have any queries about apparent inconsistency between information in this handbook and the Regulations, please contact the Head of Academic Services in writing. 'Force Majeure' Obligations of the University Goldsmiths, University of London undertakes all reasonable steps to provide educational services including teaching, examination, assessment and other related services, set out in its prospectuses and programme literature (“Educational Services”). However, except where otherwise expressly stated, Goldsmiths University of London regrets that it cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of its obligations to provide Educational Services is prevented or affected by "force majeure". “Force majeure" means any event which could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such events may include (but are not limited to) war or threat of war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity, industrial dispute, natural or nuclear disaster, adverse weather conditions, interruption in power supplies or other services for any reason, fire and all similar events outside our control.

This handbook is available in large print format. If you would like a large print copy ask at Department offices (rooms 905, 906 or 909 Warmington Tower). This handbook is available online at: http://learn.gold.ac.uk/

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GOLDSMITHS’ MISSION AND VALUES Our Mission We offer a transformative experience, generating knowledge and stimulating self-discovery through creative, radical and intellectually rigorous thinking and practice. Our Mission is underpinned by the following values: Achieving academic excellence: • pursuing intellectual curiosity • encouraging the highest standards of research and practice. Embracing complexity: • building on our diverse strengths – academic excellence and rigour inspired by radical

thinking • providing a unique and creative approach to all of our subjects. Respecting the individual: • encouraging individuality and nurturing talent • enabling freedom of thought and expression. Embracing diversity: • having the courage to think differently • providing the freedom to experiment • working beyond the boundaries of preconceptions. Radical thinking: • being the leader in all our fields • daring to think differently and to challenge the norms. Creating change, locally and globally: • being socially aware and socially active • enhancing employability in rewarding careers • actively promoting sustainability • fostering a social and intellectual community within, and beyond, Goldsmiths.

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DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY UNDERGRADUATE HANDBOOK CONTENTS PAGE Format of Handbook 1 Disclaimers 1 Goldsmiths Mission and Values 2 How to read this handbook 4 Sociology at Goldsmiths 5 Welcome 5 Essential Information 6 Enrolment 6 Change of details 6 Term Dates 6 Examinations and Assessed Coursework 6,7 Goldsmiths Information 7 Finding the Sociology Department 7 How We Communicate With You 8 Communication via E-mail 8 How You Can Communicate With Us 9 Course and Assessment Registration 10 Sociology Options Courses 10 Programme Specifications 11 Information Services Centre 11 Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) 12 3D Graduate & Personal Development Planning 13 National Student Survey 15,32 Sociology Society 16 Members of Staff 17 Degree Regulations 18 Information for Second Years 24 Information for Third Years 26 Information for International Students 28 Learning and Teaching in the Department 29 Programme Monitoring (under Teaching Quality) 30 Formative Assessment 31 Developing your skills 33 Attendance – 2 week rule 34 Student support services 36 If things go wrong 39 Goldsmiths Complaints and Appeals Procedure 40 Advice on Reading, Studying & Essays 42 Summative Assessed Essays & Coursework 44 Citations, References & Bibliographies 46 Plagiarism 48 Examinations 49 Assessment and grading criteria 51 Funding 52 Presentation Ceremony 53 References 53 How to Obtain Transcripts from Goldsmiths 53 Alumni Discount Scheme 53 The Goldsmiths Society 53 Goldsmiths Health & Safety 54 Goldsmiths Fire Safety 54 Careers Advice for Second Year Students 55 Careers Advice for Third Year Students 56 Handbook Feedback Form 58

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HOW TO READ THIS HANDBOOK This handbook is for all single and joint honours undergraduate students in the Department of Sociology. Please read this handbook/booklet in conjunction with the General Regulations and other, academic, regulations such as Programme Regulations for your specific programme of study, available on the web at www.gold.ac.uk/regulations. It should also be read in conjunction with the Guide to Goldsmiths handbook (which is available on the web www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/student-handbook). If you are a student following a combined honours degree (ie, a joint honours degree), you will also receive a handbook from your joint Department. Further details about taking a joint degree are given on pages 25,26,27 and 33 of this handbook.

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SOCIOLOGY AT GOLDSMITHS Dear Students Welcome back and congratulations on having completed your previous year and passed your examinations. This handbook contains useful information for you so please do take time to read it. Welcome also to students who have transferred from other universities or are on visiting or exchange schemes to Goldsmiths. We will help make the transition as easy as possible, and know that you will be warmly welcomed by students already here. Best wishes

Professor Beverley Skeggs Head of Department

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ESSENTIAL INFORMATION ENROLMENT Are you fully enrolled? It is vital you are fully enrolled and have either paid your tuition fees, completed a valid direct debit form, shown proof that you are sponsored or have applied for a tuition fee loan as soon as possible after the start of the academic session. If you are not fully enrolled or have failed to pay your tuition fees or provided proof of other means of funding as above, your access to teaching and support services will be withdrawn, you will not be able to sit your exams, and you will be withdrawn from Goldsmiths. If you are withdrawn for failing to enrol or clear a debt, re-instatement will be subject to you paying a £50 administrative fee in addition to any tuition fees due. If you are in any doubt about your enrolment status, please visit the Student Enrolment and Records Office, Room 122, Richard Hoggart Building (e-mail enrolments-records@gold.ac.uk, telephone 020 7919 7536), open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm. CHANGE OF DETAILS Forms to inform Goldsmiths of changes to your term-time or home address, and to your programme, are on the web site at www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/student-services/currentstudents.php TERM DATES Standard Term Dates for 2010-2011 Autumn Term 27 September - 17 December 2010

27 September 2010 - Induction week begins 4 October 2010 - Teaching (week 1) begins

Spring Term 17 January 2011 - 1 April 2011

Summer Term 2 May 2011 - 24 June 2011

All term dates are on the web at www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/registry/term-dates.php Tutorial Weeks In Week 6 of both the Autumn and Spring Terms, there is a Tutorial Week (also called a Reading Week) in which there are no lectures, classes or workshops, so that you have time to work on essays and coursework. You can also see your tutor individually during tutorial weeks. Tutorial Week Dates Autumn Term Week beginning 8 November 2010 Spring Term Week beginning 21 February 2011 EXAMINATIONS & ASSESSED COURSEWORK You will have examinations for some courses, and you will have to hand in assessed coursework for other courses. All examinations are held in the Summer Term.

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The deadlines for handing in assessed coursework (actual times will be announced in Autumn Term) are as follows: Autumn Term Coursework 2nd and 3rd years: • 19th January 2011 Spring Term Coursework 2nd and 3rd years • 4th May 2011 for Spring Term Coursework • 4th May 2011 for all Third Year Dissertations If you do not hand in assessed coursework on these dates, it is treated in the same ways as if you missed an exam, so these dates are very important. The Department cannot give any extensions to these deadlines, and only in exceptional circumstances (usually certificated medical problems) will the Examinations Board consider work handed in after these dates. Medical certificates must be submitted no later than 1 week prior to the Examinations Board date. If you think you will have any problems handing in your assessed coursework by the published deadline, please tell your tutor as soon as possible and also make an appointment to speak to a Senior Tutor so that we can discuss the situation. If you are a Visiting or Exchange student, your hand-in dates and coursework requirements may be different. You will be given detailed information by the International Office and by the Department. You should submit your assessed (examined) coursework to the International Office. GOLDSMITHS INFORMATION

More Information about Goldsmiths The Goldsmiths web-site is at www.goldsmiths.ac.uk. Supporting this is Student Gold, an area of the web-site specifically for students. This is at www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/student . You'll find news and information on Student Gold, plus a link to the online noticeboard where you can post notices for free, advertising items for sale, rooms to rent, or calls for research participants. Information on who to contact for help or advice, and general information about how things work at Goldsmiths can be found at www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/student-handbook Finding the Sociology Department

The Department of Sociology is housed on floors 8 to 12 in Warmington Tower. All room numbers in Warmington Tower are given with the floor number first, and the room number second. For example, the Department Office is on floor 9, room 5 – this is written WT 905. Other common abbreviations are: IGLT Ian Gulland Lecture Theatre RH Richard Hoggart Building EB Education Building DTH Deptford Town Hall BBG Barriedale Building G LWxx y Room y in Number xx Lewisham Way StJ the Annex on St James RISB Rutherford Information Services Building LG Baths the Baths on Laurie Grove ISC Computer Teaching rooms in the Rutherford Building NAB New Academic Building If you are unsure about where a room or building is, you can also ask the Porters at the entrance in the Richard Hoggart Building.

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HOW WE COMMUNICATE WITH YOU By post You should have been sent an information form before the start of term asking for your permanent and term time addresses and telephone numbers. Important: if you did not receive a form, please collect one now from Violet Fearon or the Department Secretary, Sociology Department Offices, WT-905 and -906. Any change of address during your course must be given to Violet Fearon and the Student Enrolments & Records Office - if you do not do this, you are likely to miss essential examination entry information. Noticeboards You should check the Sociology Noticeboards every time you come into Goldsmiths. The Noticeboards are key ways in which we communicate with you and they will also contain information about any last minute changes in teaching arrangements. The Main Noticeboard carries the timetable, information about your classes and class tutors and all Department information and urgent notices. The timetable and duplicate notices are also displayed on the Department Noticeboards. The Sociology Main Noticeboard is on the ground floor of the Richard Hoggart Building, opposite Loafers Cafe. The Department Noticeboards are outside rooms 904 and 905 Warmington Tower. Student pigeonholes Staff may communicate with you, and you can send notes to each other, via student pigeonholes. Undergraduate student pigeonholes are on the ground floor of Warmington Tower. Check your pigeonhole every time you come into Goldsmiths. By e-mail The Department of Sociology and Goldsmiths will communicate with you regularly and frequently through your Goldsmiths email account so it is very important that you check your Goldsmiths email frequently for important information, notices and any last minute changes to teaching arrangements. You are given a Goldsmiths computer username and password when you enrol. This user-name is also your e-mail address (username@gold.ac.uk). Goldsmiths will only use your Goldsmiths e-mail address when it needs to communicate with you by e-mail. You can use Webmail whether you are checking your e-mail on or off-campus (go to (http://webmail.gold.ac.uk/) There is a Goldsmiths E-mail Policy for students which you can read by visiting www.gold.ac.uk/governance/policies Department web pages The Sociology Department web pages, containing full details of department staff, their contact details and research interests are at: http://www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/departments/sociology/ Sociology department learning and teaching materials are at: http://learn.gold.ac.uk/ Sociology department past exam papers are at: http://intranet.gold.ac.uk/exam papers/ when on campus or at: http://learn.gold.ac.uk/exam papers/ when off campus. Timetables for Lectures & Options The lecture and options timetables for each year are posted on Department Noticeboards and VLE.

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Seminars and Tutors The name of your seminar and personal tutors and the times and venue for your seminars is posted on the Main Noticeboard and VLE. HOW YOU CAN COMMUNICATE WITH US Useful numbers Goldsmiths University of London 020 7919 7171 Department of Sociology Office numbers 020 7919 7709 and 020 7919 7707 Department of Sociology fax number 020 7919 7713 The Department of Sociology Offices If things go wrong, you cannot find your tutor or if you need to make an appointment to see the Senior Tutors your first point of contact should be: Violet Fearon Undergraduate Secretary, WT 905, 020 7919 7709. The Department of Sociology Office opening hours are: Monday – Thursday 10.00am – 12.00pm & 2.00pm – 3.00pm Friday 10.00am – 12.00pm The Department of Sociology Offices will only take urgent messages for staff. You should not telephone the Sociology offices to pass on non-urgent messages, for general information which you have lost or forgotten, to find out when class tutors are in, or to arrange appointments with class tutors. Other Department of Sociology Support Staff Lauren Sibley Department Secretary, 906 WT, 020 7919 7707 Deborah Okogba Department Manager 909 WT, 020 7919 7735 Staff availability during vacations The Department Offices are staffed during the summer, and most of the Christmas and Easter, vacations. Your class tutors will make arrangements with you about their availability during the Christmas and Easter vacations. Over the summer vacation, Department and academic staff will be on cover in case you need to contact anyone in the department. In an emergency The Department does not have the resources to find individual students. If there is a family crisis, or if you have a child and their school is trying to contact you, we will do our best to find you, but the normal practice is for urgent messages to be posted on the Main Noticeboard. If you have children in school, you should check this noticeboard between each class. The Department number should not in any circumstances be given to schools as an emergency contact number – you must make other arrangements. We do not have sufficient information on individual students’ whereabouts on a day-to-day basis to make this a safe or effective emergency number. Phoning your tutor To telephone a tutor, dial (020) 7919 followed by their extension number if you are calling from outside Goldsmiths. If you are dialling from inside Goldsmiths, just dial the 4-digit extension. If an extension number begins with a 4, you will have to dial 020 7919 7171, and ask the switchboard to put you through to that extension. If an extension number begins with 5 dial 020 7078 then followed by extension number (5XXX) or if it begins with a 2 dial 020 717 then followed by extension number (2XXX). E-mail If you want to e-mail your tutor, ask them for their e-mail address at the start of term. The email addresses of all full-time staff members are listed at on the Department of Sociology web pages.

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Feedback and Consultation Times All tutors have regular feedback and consultation times. These times are posted outside their doors. You can usually just turn up during these times, or write your name down on a feedback and consultation sheet outside your tutor’s door. You can also arrange to see tutors outside feedback and consultation times by making an appointment with them first. Visiting tutors If your tutor is a Visiting Tutor you must ask them how to communicate with them between seminars/ classes (in case you or they are ill, or arrangements need to be changed). Visiting tutors may not be in regularly except to see their tutees. Staff pigeonholes You can leave messages for staff in the message tray outside the Staff Resources Room, 904 WT. Making sure you write the staff member’s name on your message. COURSE & ASSESSMENT REGISTRATION For the courses that you take each year, you have to check and sign a course and assessment registration form. Once you have done this, you are automatically entered for the examinations or assessed coursework requirements for that course. It is your responsibility to check that the details on the form are accurate. You must check and sign the form in good time. Check for notices in the Autumn Term, and go to see Violet Fearon in the Department Office (WT 905) to sign your form. If 2nd and 3rd year students change any of their options they must see Violet Fearon to fill in a Change of Course Form so that the Examinations Office can register them for new option(s). SOCIOLOGY OPTIONS COURSES Second and Third Year students take Sociology Options courses. The number of Sociology Options courses you take depends on your degree Regulations. You select your Second and Third Year Sociology Options in the Spring Term prior to entering your Second or Third Year. The Options Handbook will be available during Reading Week of the next Spring Term. This lists the Sociology Options available for the following year, procedures for selecting options and dates by which these must be done. Check noticeboards and the VLE in the Spring Term. It is your responsibility to select your Options courses in accordance with your degree Regulations, and ensure the relevant forms are filled in, checked and handed in on time. Because of the demands on some Options courses, and because of timetabling issues, we cannot guarantee that you will be enrolled for the Options courses of your first choice. PROGRAMME SPECIFICATIONS Each degree programme offered at Goldsmiths has a full Programme Specification that provides further details about the courses, units and learning outcomes for that degree. You should make sure that you read this carefully. For Sociology, these are available online at: http://learn.gold.ac.uk/

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INFORMATION SERVICES CENTRE The Information Services Centre is in the Rutherford Building, and houses the Library, the Computer Services Centre, Languages Resources Centre and the Media Resources Centre.

Please visit http://www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/library for the Library opening times.

The Library First Years are given a tour of Goldsmiths’ library during Induction Week together with introduction to the VLE. If you have transferred from another university into your 2nd year at Goldsmiths please go along to the library tour or attend one of the open sessions organised by the Library at the start of term, or ask to see the Library Video. See also the section on Reading in this Handbook. Computer Services Computer Services provides induction sessions for all new First year students. If you have transferred from another university into your 2nd year at Goldsmiths you can attend these sessions too, details of first year computer induction sessions are posted on the Sociology Main noticeboard in the Richard Hoggart Building. All registered users can use the computers in the Open Access sections on the first and second floor of the Information Services Centre in the Rutherford Building. There is also an email room on the ground floor of the Rutherford Building. Goldsmiths will issue you with a username, and you will make up your own password. You get a username by completing a Registration Form which will be issued at the beginning of term. If you did not receive a form, you can get one from the Computer Services Help Desk, Room 101 RISB, extension 7555, helpdesk@gold.ac.uk You will be provided with space on Goldsmiths network for your files, but you should keep electronic backup copies of all your work, save your work regularly, and keep printed copies of all your work. You must learn to use word processing or other software well before your hand-in dates for coursework. A range of Guides for students on computing, information technology and supported software are available at: http://www.gold.ac.uk/?view=student&heading=it Guides for students on how to use word processing packages (such as Microsoft Word) are also available from the same site. Computer resources are provided for the production of coursework. You are asked not to abuse the facilities by leaving a coat on a chair to reserve a machine, or leaving a machine unattended for long periods. Do not use the facilities for games or recreation on the Internet when others are waiting. Do not disrupt other users, or any teaching classes that are held in the Computer Services classrooms.

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Virtual Learning Environment (VLE)

A considerable part of the teaching in the department is based on Goldsmiths’ Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) and you will be expected to use the VLE throughout your degree. Goldsmiths’ VLE is also called learn.gold and is at https://learn.gold.ac.uk. It is essential that you use the VLE regularly and consistently as part of your learning and in order for you to be able to participate fully in your courses, seminars and workshops. First year students will be given information on logging onto and using the VLE during Induction week. You are expected to enrol onto the VLE for the courses you are taking and your lecturer or tutor may also send you important information and emails via the VLE pages. Some of the ways in which you will be using the VLE are given below:

• Each of your core courses has dedicated VLE web pages which contain information that is

relevant to your lectures, seminars and workshops. Look at the page titled ‘Department of Sociology Undergraduate Programme Information’ at https://learn.gold.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=468. Course convenors maintain the content of their course’s web-page and update this regularly, often weekly during the course.

• Each of your option courses also has dedicated web pages on the VLE and you can find your

options course pages from: https://learn.gold.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=11211 Course convenors maintain the content of their option course’s web-page and this includes key readings and additional literature on their option course. Course materials placed on the VLE are regularly updated and your lecturer may also send you emails via the option course web-site.

• Lecturers place a variety of audio-visual materials and text on the VLE, from digital videos

and photos to podcasts, PowerPoint demonstrations of statistical software to lecture notes and slides. They may also place external links to other online resources and reading.

• Reading materials (including key readings), handbooks, course outlines, programme

specifications and other information relevant to your degree is available on the VLE for you to download and use. Please note that some material on the VLE and in reading packs and key readings, is copyrighted and is for your use only during the period that you are enrolled for your degree programme.

• Programme Monitoring Minutes are available from:

https://learn.gold.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=468

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3D Graduate and Personal Development Planning at Goldsmiths We want all our students to become critical and self-reflective thinkers, with a set of skills and personal values that will be of benefit in the future, whether in employment or whether undertaking further studies. At Goldsmiths, we have a number of initiatives to support you in developing both personally and professionally and to help you acquire and recognise your transferable skills. The 3D Graduate The first of these initiatives is the 3D Graduate scheme, which incorporates Personal Development Planning (PDP), an initiative that has been introduced in all universities to provide the opportunity to take active control of your development and to plan for your future. 3D Graduate opportunities aim to support you in becoming three-dimensional, well-rounded individuals through self-directed engagement in three areas: your personal, academic and career development. 3D Graduate will also help you in recognising skills that will be invaluable for your prospective career. 3D Graduate is offered though a website found at www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/3d. The ‘tools’ section of the site offers a complete set of guides and exercises to start you in planning your development, regardless of which level of study you are currently engaged in. The website allows you to print or save all your exercises to create your own personal development portfolio, which you can add to at any time. The ‘opportunities’ section of the website lets you know about all the other workshops and activities that are available at Goldsmiths through which you can develop yourself further. These include workshops, seminars and events offered by the Careers Service, the Language Studies Centre, Student Services, the Students’ Union and others. Some departments also offer their students sessions to help you to engage with the key concepts associated with 3D Graduate such as reflectivity and planning. 3D Graduate related activities may come in the form of personal tutoring sessions, ‘professional-orientation’ workshops or group self-assessment work. Speak to your tutor about the opportunities available to you The Gold Award The Gold Award is an initiative for undergraduates that rewards and recognises those who take active steps in developing themselves personally and professionally through participating in activities above-and-beyond your academic studies. These activities can include anything from volunteer work to putting on an exhibition, from working in the Students’ Union to running a team, from mentoring your peers to running a society. If you are an undergraduate, you may want to work towards the award because:

• Receiving a Gold Award certificate will give you something extra to put on your CV which will help you stand out from everyone else

• It helps you record your achievements, making it much easier when you come to take job interviews or write application forms

• The Gold Award Team will be able to provide you with an additional reference. The award uses a points system: you have to achieve five points in order to receive the award. One of these points has to be by completing a series of personal development exercises and a Personal Development Record (PDR). The other four points must be obtained though extra-curricular activities. The award is also supported by a full programme of workshops and events to help you on your personal and professional journey. You can take a minimum of one year and up to three years to complete the award; the timescale through must be reflected in your PDR. Numbers are limited make sure to sign up early at goldaward@gold.ac.uk. To find out more, look for the Gold Award page on https://learn.gold.ac.uk/

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Developing your skills and attributes Both the 3D Graduate Scheme and the Gold Award can help you to understand:

• The skills / competencies you have • How to develop these further • The experiences you can quote to evidence them • How to highlight the impact of your skills / competencies on things you have done • How you might apply and evidence these skills in new situations • How to apply your skills / competencies in your personal and professional life.

If you would like more information on the 3D Graduate scheme or the Gold Award, please contact Goldsmiths Learning Enhancement Unit on 020 7919 5118, visit the website at www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/gleu or speak to your personal tutor about opportunities for personal development. Goldsmiths Learning Enhancement Unit 020 7919 5118

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National Student Survey If you’re going to be a final-year undergraduate in 2010-2011, you’ll be amongst over 170,000 students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, who will be asked to give anonymous feedback on your academic experience at university. The results of the National Student Survey are published in the Guardian, used by HEFCE (the higher education funding body) to monitor the performance of the higher education sector, and are available to help future students choose suitable degrees. The survey normally starts in January and can be completed online, by post or over the phone. Goldsmiths will contact all final-year students with details of this closer to the time. Students sometimes express concern that Goldsmiths has passed on their details to Ipsos MORI, who run the survey for HEFCE. Goldsmiths does not pass on student contact details to outside bodies; the only exception is for HEFCE. Ipsos MORI have guaranteed that they will destroy all student records at the close of each year’s survey. The Sociology Society The Sociology Society is a student-led initiative which the department facilitates. The agenda of the society and its activities and events are decided by students in consultation with the department. We strongly encourage you to become involved in the Sociology Society and help shape the sociology of the future while also gaining knowledge that would be useful for your degree. To become involved, contact Dr. Yasmin Gunaratnam, y.gunaratnam@gold.ac.uk.

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DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY 2010 – 2011 Academic & Professional Staff

Name & Initial Room (Telephone)

Brian Alleyne (BA) Deputy Senior Tutor 1104 WT (7721)

Les Back (LB) Dean of Graduate School 1004 WT (7380)

Vikki Bell (VB) Director of MA Programmes 1005 WT (7724)

Kirsten Campbell KC) Director of Unit for Global Justice 1105 WT (7720)

Violet Fearon (VF) Undergraduate Secretary WT 905 (7709)

Mariam Fraser (MF) WT 1012 (020 7717 2204)

Monica Greco (MG) Director of MPhil/PhD Programmes

809 WT (7719)

Michael Guggenheim (MG) LG Baths (from Jan 2011)

Yasmin Gunaratnam (YG) Deputy Admissions Tutor Sociology Society Coordinator

911 WT (020 7717 2957)

Paul Halliday (PH) 1109 WT (2945)

David Hirsh (DH) Senior Tutor 912 WT (7730)

Carole Keegan (CK) CUCR Administrator LG Baths 1.3 (7381)

Aidan Kelly (AK) 1106 WT (020 7078 5019)

Caroline Knowles (CK) Director of CUCR LG Baths 2.2 (7392)

Celia Lury (CL) 1011 WT (7718)

Noortje Marres (NM) Lecturer 1103 WT (from March 2011)

Mike Michael (MM) Director of CSISP LG Baths, TBD

Kate Nash (KN) Co-Director of Centre for Global Media & Democracy

1112 WT (7734)

Pamela Odih (PO) Director of Learning & Teaching 1111 WT (7732)

Jane Offerman (JO) Research Administrator 913 WT(7179)

Deborah Okogba (DLO) Department Manager 909 WT (7735)

David Oswell (DO) Director of Research 903 WT (7715)

Nirmal Puwar (NP) Admissions Tutor Director of Methods Lab

1010 WT (7716)

Sheila Robinson (SR) MA Secretary 1006 WT (7712)

Alison Rooke (AR) Employability Officer 1113 WT (020 7078 5073)

Marsha Rosengarten (MR) Examinations Officer 1009 WT (7733)

Monica Sassatelli (MS) 1002 WT (020 7717 2202)

Vic Seidler (VS) International Officer 1008 WT (7723)

Lauren Sibley (LS) Department Secretary 906 WT (7707)

AbdouMaliq Simone (AS) 1108 WT (7710)

Beverley Skeggs (BS) Head of Department 908 WT (020 7078 5007)

Brett St Louis (BL) Director of Undergraduate Programmes 1003 WT (020 7078 5061)

Alberto Toscano (AT) Deputy Exams Officer Director of Xenos 1013 WT (7717)

Anh Tu (AT) CUCR Secretary LG Baths 1.1 (7390)

Emma Uprichard (EU) Senior Lecturer 1102 WT (from Jan 2011)

Nina Wakeford (NW) MPhil/PhD Visual Sociology Convenor Director of INCITE 1205 WT (7081)

Bridget Ward (BW) Postgraduate Research Secretary 808 WT (020 7717 2981)

Peter Webb (PW) 901 WT (7729)

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DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY 2010 – 2011 Visiting Tutors (part-time)

Name Room & Telephone number Feedback & Consultation Times

Aragon, Margarita

Ariza, Lucia

Berriman, Liam

Cardullo, Paolo

Fiaccadori, Elisa

Gerlitz, Carolin

Jones, Rachel

Kultz, Christy

Liokaftos, Dimitrios

Papaioannou, Spyros

Paul, Joshua

Stephansen, Hilde

Complete information was at the time of printing. The page is supplied so that you can complete it yourself at the start of term. The information will be displayed on department notice boards.

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DEGREE REGULATIONS It is very important that you read carefully and fully understand the Regulations for your degree (programme). The Regulations determine which core and options courses you have to take for your degree, and how many Sociology Options courses are available to you in your Second and Third Year. The Regulations also determine which examinations and assessments you will have to take during your degree. If you are a joint honours student, you will have to also check carefully the courses and Options offered by the other (non-Sociology) Department. The Regulations are contained in this Handbook and it is your responsibility to ensure that you read and act in accordance to them. If you cannot understand any part of the regulations for your degree, you must see your tutor. BA SOCIOLOGY REGULATIONS 510043A

YEAR 1 UNITS ASSESSED BY SO51002A Critical Readings 1 3 hr seen exam SO51003A Modern Knowledge, Modern Power 1 3 hr seen exam SO51004A Culture & Society 1 3 hr seen exam SO51005A Researching Society & Culture 1A ½ Coursework SO51006A Researching Society & Culture 1B ½ Coursework YEAR 2 UNITS ASSESSED BY SO52001A Central Issues in Sociological Analysis ½ 2 hr unseen exam

2 hr unseen exam

SO52003A Philosophy and Methodology of Social Science

½

SO52002A The Making of the Modern World ½ 2 hr unseen exam

½ SO52004B Sociology of Culture and Communication

½

SO52083A Researching Society & Culture 2A ½ Coursework SO52084A Researching Society & Culture 2B ½ Coursework 2 Sociology Options courses, ½ unit each 1 Coursework YEAR 3 UNITS ASSESSED BY SO53001A Dissertation 1 Dissertation SO53023A Contemporary Social Theory & Society

1 3 hr seen exam

4 Sociology Options courses, ½ unit each 2 Coursework ALL STUDENTS - You must take 4 course units each year, 12 course units over your degree. BA SOCIOLOGY SECOND YEARS – SO52001A is an unseen 2 hr exam (½ unit). SO52002A is an unseen 2 hr exam (½ unit). SO52002A is an unseen 2 hr exam (½ unit). SO52004B is an unseen 2 hr exam (½ unit). BA SOCIOLOGY SECOND & THIRD YEARS - Sociology Options are courses with codes prefixed ‘SO’ (see Options Handbook for more details). Options are specifically for Second Years, or specifically for Third Years. All Options courses have a value of ½ course unit.

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BA SOCIOLOGY & CULTURAL STUDIES REGULATIONS 510098A

YEAR 1 UNITS ASSESSED BY SO51002A Critical Readings 1 3 hr seen exam SO51003A Modern Knowledge, Modern Power 1 3 hr seen exam SO51004A Culture & Society 1 3 hr seen exam SO51005A Researching Society & Culture 1A ½ Coursework SO51006A Researching Society & Culture 1B ½ Coursework YEAR 2 UNITS ASSESSED BY SO52001A Central Issues in Sociological Analysis ½ 2 hr unseen exam

2 hr unseen exam

SO52040A Culture, Representation and Difference ½

SO52004B Sociology of Culture & Communication ½ 2 hr unseen exam

2 hr unseen exam

SO52079B Contemporary Cultural Theory ½

SO52083A Researching Society & Culture 2A ½ Coursework SO52084A Researching Society & Culture 2B ½ Coursework 2 Second Year Sociology Options courses, ½ unit each 1 Coursework YEAR 3 UNITS ASSESSED BY SO53001A Dissertation 1 Dissertation SO53021A Theorising Contemporary Society ½ 2 hr seen exam SO53042A Researching Culture: Case Studies ½ Coursework 4 Third Year Sociology Options courses, ½ unit each 2 Coursework

ALL STUDENTS You must take 4 course units each year, 12 over your whole degree. BA SOCIOLOGY & CULTURAL STUDIES SECOND YEARS – SO52001A is an unseen 2 hr exam (½ unit). SO52040A is an unseen 2 hr exam (½ unit). SO52004B is an unseen 2 hr exam (½ unit). SO52079A is an unseen 2 hr exam (½ unit). BA SOCIOLOGY & CULTURAL STUDIES SECOND & THIRD YEARS – Sociology Options courses are courses with codes prefixed ‘SO’ (see Options Handbook for more details). All Sociology Options courses have a value of ½ unit. BA SOCIOLOGY & CULTURAL STUDIES THIRD YEARS If you take SO53022A Issues in Contemporary Social Theory (½ course unit) as an option, this is assessed by a 5000 word essay.

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BA MEDIA & SOCIOLOGY 510005B & 510143A

YEAR 1 UNITS ASSESSED BY SO51002A Critical Readings 1 3 hr seen exam SO51003A Modern Knowledge, Modern Power 1 3 hr seen exam MC51002A Media History & Politics ½ MC51005A Culture and Cultural Studies ½ MC51006A Key Debates in Media Studies ½ MC51007A Representation & Textual Analysis ½ YEAR 2 UNITS ASSESSED BY SO52001A Central Issues in Sociological Analysis ½ 2 hr unseen exam

2 hr unseen exam

SO52003A Philosophy & Methodology of Social Science

½

MC52008A Media Production - Option 1 1

2 hr unseen exam SO52004B Sociology of Culture & Communication ½ 1 Sociology Options course ½ Plus 2 ‘MC’ prefixed courses from the following: MC52003A Communications Psychology and Experience

½

MC52004B Media Economy and Society ½ MC52005B Culture Society and the Individual ½ YEAR 3 UNITS ASSESSED BY SO53035A Dissertation (Joints) 1 Dissertation 2 Sociology Options courses 1 Coursework MC53029A Media Production – Option 2 1 1cu from an approved list of ‘MC’-prefixed course units

1

ALL STUDENTS - You must take 4 course units each year, 12 course units over your degree. BA MEDIA & SOCIOLOGY SECOND YEARS - SO52001A is an unseen 2 hr exam (½ unit). SO52003A is an unseen 2 hr exam (½ unit) and SO52004B is an unseen 2 hr exam (½ unit . BA MEDIA & SOCIOLOGY SECOND & THIRD YEARS - Sociology Options are courses with codes prefixed ‘SO’ (see Options Handbook for more details). All Sociology Options courses have a value of ½ course unit. ‘MC’-prefixed course unit and assessment details from Department of Media & Communications.

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BA ANTHROPOLOGY & SOCIOLOGY REGULATIONS 510004A

YEAR 1 UNITS ASSESSED BY SO51003A Modern Knowledge, Modern Power 1 3 hr seen exam SO51002A Critical Readings 1 3 hr seen exam AN51001A Introduction to Social Anthropology 1 AN51003A Anthropological Methods ½ Plus one ½ unit course from the following: AN51007A, AN51008A, AN51009A, AN51010A, AN51011A, AN51012A, AN51013A

½

YEAR 2 UNITS ASSESSED BY SO52001A Central Issues in Sociological Analysis ½ 2 hr unseen exam

2 hr unseen exam

SO52002A The Making of the Modern World ½

1 Sociology Second Year Option ½ Coursework AN52002A Religion, Morals and Symbolism 1 AN52004A Politics, Economics and Social Change 1 AN52001A Methodological and Philosophical Issues ½

YEAR 3 UNITS ASSESSED BY SO53021A Theorising Contemporary Society ½ 2 hr seen exam A minimum of 1 course unit from a list of courses offered by the Anthropology Department

1 Coursework

A minimum of 2 Third Year Sociology Options courses 1 Coursework The remainder course units (1½) chosen from other Third Year courses offered by the departments of Sociology and Anthropology

1½

ALL STUDENTS You must take 4 course units each year, 12 course units over your degree. BA ANTHROPOLOGY & SOCIOLOGY SECOND YEARS – SO52001A is an unseen 2 hr exam (½ unit). SO52002A is an unseen 2 hr exam (½ unit). Sociology Options courses are courses with codes prefixed ‘SO’ (see Options Handbook for more details). All Sociology Options courses have a value of ½ unit. BA ANTHROPOLOGY & SOCIOLOGY THIRD YEARS – If you take SO53022A Issues in Contemporary Social Theory (½ course unit) as an option, this is assessed by a 5000 word essay.

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BA HISTORY & SOCIOLOGY REGULATIONS 510027A

YEAR 1 UNITS ASSESSED BY SO51002A Critical Readings 1 3 hr seen exam SO51003A Modern Knowledge, Modern Power 1 3 hr seen exam HT51004A Concepts and Methods in History 1 1 course unit from the following: HT51001A The Making of Medieval Europe HT51002A The Age of Discovery HT51003A The Shaping of The Modern World

1

YEAR 2 UNITS ASSESSED BY SO52001A Central Issues in Sociological Analysis ½ 2 hr unseen exam

2 hr unseen exam

SO52003A Philosophy and Methodology of Social Science

½

2 Sociology Second Year Options 1 Coursework 2 course units from a list of approved course units available annually from the Historical Studies Department

2

YEAR 3 UNITS ASSESSED BY Either HT53005A Interdisciplinary Link Paper 1 4 Sociology Third Year Options courses 2 Coursework 1 course unit from a list of approved course units available annually from the Historical Studies Department

1

Or HT53005A Interdisciplinary Link Paper 1 2 Sociology Third Year Options courses 1 And 2 course units from a list of approved course units available annually from the Historical Studies Department

2

Or 1 University of London Group 3 History Paper 2

ALL STUDENTS You must take 4 course units each year, 12 course units over your degree. BA HISTORY & SOCIOLOGY SECOND YEARS – SO52001A is an unseen 2 hr exam (½ unit). SO52003A is an unseen 2 hr exam (½ unit). Sociology Options courses are courses with codes prefixed ‘SO’ (see Options Handbook for more details). All Sociology Options courses have a value of ½ unit.

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BA SOCIOLOGY & POLITICS REGULATIONS 510103B

YEAR 1 UNITS ASSESSED BY SO51003A Modern Knowledge, Modern Power 1 3 hr seen exam SO51005A Researching Society & Culture 1A ½ Coursework SO51006A Researching Society & Culture 1B ½ Coursework PO51012A Ideas, Ideologies and Conflicts 1 Plus one course from the following: PO51009AUK & EU Governance and Politics ; PO51010A World Politics; PO51011A Political Economy and Public Policy

1

YEAR 2 UNITS ASSESSED BY SO52001A Central Issues in Sociological Analysis ½ 2 hr unseen exam

2 hr unseen exam

SO52002A The Making of the Modern World ½

SO52078B Democracy & Domination: Concepts in Political Sociology

½ Coursework

1 Sociology Second Year Option ½ Coursework PO52002A Modern Political Theory 1 Plus one course from the following: PO52001A Public Administration PO52004A Comparative European Politics PS52007A Political Economy PO52011A Politics and Rhetoric PS52012A Contemporary International Relations: Theory & Practice PS52013A Chinese Politics

1

YEAR 3 UNITS ASSESSED BY SO53021A Theorising Contemporary Society ½ 2 hr seen exam SO53035A Dissertation (Joints) 1 Dissertation 1 Sociology Third Year Option ½ Coursework Plus 2 course units available from the following: PO53007A Political Economy of the European Union (1 cu) PO53010A New Radical Economy (1cu) ; PO53015A ; Politics and Risk: Theory and Practice (½ cu); PO53016A; Northern Ireland’s Politics and Political Culture (½ cu); PO53008B ; Culture, Globalisation and Power (½ cu); PO53011B Beyond all Reason (½ cu); PO53017A Public Policy Analysis (½ cu); PO53018A Discourse, Power and Politics (½ cu); PO53019A Politics and Welfare (½ cu); PO53020A Liberalism and its Critics (½ cu); PO53022A Anarchism (½ cu); PO53009B Nationalist Conflict and International Intervention (½ cu)

2

ALL STUDENTS You must take 4 course units each year, 12 course units over your degree. BA SOCIOLOGY & POLITICS SECOND YEARS – SO52001A is an unseen 2 hr exam (½ unit). SO52002A is an unseen 2 hr exam (½ unit). Sociology Options courses are courses with codes prefixed ‘SO’ (see Options Handbook for more details). All Sociology Options courses have a value of ½ unit. BA SOCIOLOGY & POLITICS THIRD YEARS – If you take SO53022A Issues in Contemporary Social Theory (½ course unit) as an option, this is assessed by a 5000 word essay.

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INFORMATION FOR SECOND YEAR STUDENTS The second year course aims to broaden and deepen your sociological thinking and practice by building on your first year course. The core courses focus on the central, core issues of the discipline while introducing more advanced areas in theory, methodology and research methods. The core courses you are required to do depend on your degree programme. There are also link courses for Anthropology/Sociology students which are designed to help you make connections between your two disciplines. Depending on your degree programme, you will also take one or two Sociology options courses. These have been specially designed for Second Year students. We have tried as far as possible to allocate you to the Options you chose, but this has not always been possible. You will be given lecture outlines and reading lists for your Options courses when they begin. The timetables for your core and options courses are on Department Noticeboards and the VLE (Virtual Learning Environment). Please read the timetables in conjunction with the Regulations in this Handbook for your degree programme. Joint degree students in particular should read carefully the section below, and should make sure they know about the course requirements from their other Department. From Induction Week, you will be able to download your course outlines from the department’s VLE . You will also have the opportunity to pre-order and purchase your Course Reader Packs (all of which are on the department’s VLE). Information about the date, time and location for pre-ordering/purchasing your Course Reader Packs will be distributed to you during Induction Week. Your seminars serve as the focus for your formative written work and provide a setting for more intensive discussion and exploration. Each core course lecture will have a seminar attached to it. Seminar leaders will also have a feedback and consultation hour when they are available in their study to meet students individually without appointment. One of the seminar leaders will also be your personal tutor (in most instances). Details of your seminars are posted on the Main Noticeboard. Second Year Learning Outcomes • If you are taking SO52001A Central Issues in Sociological Analysis you will explore

diverse traditions of classical social theory as well as challenges made to these traditions during the 20th century. You will learn about different theoretical traditions in Sociology, and how these traditions relate to, or have been set up against each other.

• If you are taking SO52002A The Making of the Modern World you will develop a

historical understanding of the conditions and processes that contributed to the making of the modern world. This will help you appreciate the social worlds that diverse theoretical traditions have sought to understand and investigate. This course will help students to link both macrosocial and microsocial historical processes to sociological analysis.

• If you are taking SO52003A Philosophy and Methodology of the Social Sciences you will

learn to analyse the relation between theory and methodology in social research and be able to understand key classical and contemporary approaches to knowledge and methodology.

• If you are taking SO52004B Sociology of Culture and Communication you will learn how

to analyse cultural phenomena and communication as social processes. You will also explore transcultural processes in the context of globalisation.

• If you are taking SO52083A / SO52084A Researching Society & Culture 2A/2B, you will

learn about more advanced methods of social research and data analysis. If you have to, or have chosen to take a dissertation in your Third Year, these methods will provide a grounding for you to undertake your own independent research.

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SECOND YEAR JOINT DEGREE STUDENTS BA Media & Sociology Second Years compulsorily take SO52001A Central Issues in Sociological Analysis (½ course unit) which is an unseen 2 hr examination in the Summer Term and SO52003A Philosophy and Methodology of Social Science (½ course unit) which is also an unseen 2 hr examination in the Summer Term. You also compulsorily take SO52004B Sociology of Culture & Communication (½ course unit) which is assessed by a 2 hour unseen examination in the Summer Term. BA History & Sociology Second Years compulsorily take SO52001A Central Issues in Sociological Analysis (½ course unit) which is an unseen 2 hr examination in the Summer Term. You also compulsorily take SO52003A Philosophy and Methodology of Social Science (½ course unit) which is also an unseen examination in the Summer Term. BA Anthropology & Sociology Second Years compulsorily take SO52001A Central Issues in Sociological Analysis (½ course unit) which is an unseen 2 hr examination in the Summer Term. You also compulsorily take SO52002A The Making of the Modern World (½ course unit) which is also an unseen examination in the Summer Term. BA Sociology and Politics Second Years compulsorily take SO52001A Central Issues in Sociological Analysis (½ course unit) which is an unseen 2 hr examination in the Summer Term. You also compulsorily take SO52002A The Making of the Modern World (½ course unit) which is also an unseen examination in the Summer Term. You also compulsorily take SO52078 Politics, Culture and Society, which is coursework and has a value of ½ course unit.

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INFORMATION FOR THIRD YEAR STUDENTS The Third Year course builds steadily on the work you did during the Second Year. The core courses focus on more advanced and contemporary theoretical developments. You will be enabled to assess social transformations that have taken place in recent decades, and to engage with contemporary developments in social theory in a critical and reflexive manner. Third Year Learning Outcomes In the course of your third year you will: • Gain a critical understanding of recent social, economic, and cultural developments, such

as the transition from industrial to post-industrial economies; the phenomenon of globalisation; the rise of information technologies; the emergence of environmental politics.

• Gain a critical understanding of the main issues addressed in contemporary social theory,

and of its relationship to the legacy of classical sociology. You will engage with the distinction between ‘modern’ and ‘postmodern’ social theory in relation to themes such as (among others) identity and difference; history and progress; embodiment and materiality; gender and ‘race’.

• Develop a reflexive understanding of the relationship between social theory and recent

social developments. Through the course you will build links that will enable you to see how new forms of sociological theorising have emerged in response to specific social transformations.

• If you are taking SO53042A Researching Culture: Case Studies, you will learn advanced

research techniques for the analysis of cultural phenomena. The Core Courses and Assessments • The core course SO53021A Theorising Contemporary Society (½ course unit) is assessed

by a 2 hr seen examination paper. It is compulsory for BA Anthropology & Sociology, BA Sociology & Cultural Studies and BA Sociology & Politics Third Year students.

• The core course SO53022A Issues in Contemporary Social Theory (½ course unit) is

assessed by a 5000 word essay. It is available as an option only to non-BA Sociology students.

• The core course SO53023A Contemporary Social Theory & Society (1 course unit) is made

up of both the above courses, SO53021A and SO53022A, and assessed by a 3 hr seen exam. BA Sociology Third Year students take SO53023A Contemporary Social Theory & Society (1 course unit) as a compulsory core course. Other students who take both SO53021A and SO53022A are assessed differently, SO53021A by a 2 hr seen exam and a 5000 word essay for SO53022A.

From Induction Week, you will be able to download your course outlines from the department’s VLE (Virtual Learning Environment). For those Option Courses that are supported by a Course Reader Pack, information about the date, time and location for pre-ordering/purchasing your Course Reader Packs will be distributed to you during Induction Week. Please also note that these materials will be available on the department’s VLE. The Options courses enable you to explore advanced specialisms in greater detail. The Option courses have been specially designed for Third Year students. Depending on your degree programme, you will take between two and four Sociology options. We have tried as far as possible to allocate you to the Options you chose, but this has not always been possible. You will be given lecture outlines and reading lists for your Options courses when they begin. The timetables for your core and options courses are on Department Noticeboards and the VLE. Please read the timetables in conjunction with the Regulations in this Handbook for your degree programme. Joint degree

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students in particular should make sure they know about the course requirements from their other Department. Many of you will either have to compulsorily take the Dissertation, or have chosen to take it as an Option. The Dissertation is compulsory for BA Sociology, BA Sociology & Cultural Studies (SO53001A), BA Communications & Sociology and BA Sociology & Politics (SO53035A) Third Year students. It is available as an option only for BA Anthropology & Sociology third years. The Dissertation will allow you to independently undertake a structured piece of social analysis and research of your own choosing. In addition to supervision from your tutor, Dissertation workshops are scheduled throughout the year for single and joint degree students, and you should attend these – check the Noticeboards for details. If you have not already done so, download a copy of the Undergraduate Dissertation Handbook from the VLE (please read carefully the section on Ethical Practice and Your Research because of professional, ethical or legal obligations to those you undertake research with). The Dissertation handbook is available online at: http://learn.gold.ac.uk Third Year Classes If you are taking either or both of the core courses (SO53021A, SO53022A or SO53023A), you will be allocated to a class group (usually of no more than 12 students). Each core course will be supported by a weekly one hour class. Third Year Dissertations Dissertation Teaching will be organised in the following manner over the year:

Dissertation Lectures There are general lectures for all students researching and writing an undergraduate dissertation in sociology. These lectures will address general issues concerning research design, literature reviews, data collection and methodology, data analysis, research ethics, and writing a dissertation. There will be six two-hour lectures over the year.

Group and Individual Supervision Students will be allocated a supervisor who will provide one-to-one and collective supervision. You (and other students in your degree programme) will meet with your supervisor every two weeks over the Autumn and Spring terms. In some circumstances (for example if the group of students are covering very disparate topics or deploying very different research methods), the supervisor may decide to supervise students primarily on a one-to-one basis instead of seeing you in groups; in which case, you would still have the expectation of seeing your supervisor for the equivalent amount of time over the course of the two terms. Supervisors will also be available to comment on very general matters (e.g. presentation of the dissertation, title, etc) in the Summer term. But supervisors are not able to comment on the completed final copy of the dissertation.

Dissertation Surgeries Students, who need advice additional to that given by their supervisors, will have the opportunity of attending Dissertation Surgeries over the Autumn and Spring terms. Two members of staff will person three surgeries over the Autumn and Spring terms. These surgeries will be scheduled for set times of the term and will be on an appointment basis. You will be required as a minimal requirement to have submitted to your supervisor by the end of week 5 a copy of a detailed research plan and dissertation outline and by the end of week 10 a copy of the literature review.

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INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS We would like to welcome you to Goldsmiths and know that you will be warmly welcomed by staff and students in the Department of Sociology. The Department’s International Student Liaison Officer is Vic Seidler. Please make sure that you see him at the start of the year, and at any time in the year about any issues or problems you might have. Most International Students have little difficulty in settling in, making friends and doing their courses, but some students have problems because of homesickness, feeling lonely, leaving family and friends behind, getting to know a new place, and in meeting people and making friends. There are many activities organised by Goldsmiths and also its students that you can get involved in, and this is a good way of meeting new people. The Students Union can also give you further information on the many student societies in Goldsmiths. If you are having any difficulties, make sure you see International Students Liaison Officer Vic Seidler. Goldsmiths’ International Office (020 7919 7702), international-office@gold.ac.uk) can provide support and advice for international / overseas students on immigration, English Language, finance, accommodation, or any other aspect of being an overseas student at Goldsmiths. They run free sessions at the beginning of the Autumn and Spring terms to introduce you to Goldsmiths and the local area, and they can give you general advice about life in the UK. You can visit them any time during their feedback and consultation times.

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LEARNING & TEACHING IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY The Sociology Department provides a variety of teaching and learning methods which are focused on developing your knowledge and understanding of Sociology. Lectures. Core course teaching across all three years is based on lectures/presentations. The main aim of the lecture is to introduce key writers, theories, debates, themes, concepts, and social and historical context in a structured and succinct way. A lecture enables you to acquire concise knowledge and stimulate your thinking about a particular topic, while a lecture block or course enables you to contextualise and relate weekly themes. A variety of lecturing styles is used, from ‘instructional’ lectures followed by student questions, the use of audio-visual material or demonstration of statistical software, to approaches that can combine several shorter lecture periods with discussions or group exercises. Research methods core course teaching in the First and Second Year (depending on your degree programme) is based on lectures/presentations and dedicated weekly research methods workshops. Research dissertation teaching (Third Year, depending on your degree programme) is based on dedicated dissertation workshops, small group dissertation classes, dissertation surgeries and individual dissertation supervision during their feedback and consultation times. Sociology Options courses (Second and Third Years only) are taught by a combination of weekly lectures followed by seminars, plus one hour feedback and consultation per week typically attached to each option course. The Sociology Options enable you to explore an area in greater depth and detail and are taught by specialists working in the chosen area. Feedback and consultation times. You will have guaranteed weekly one hour slots feedback and consultation times for both the core and options courses. During these you can see your seminar/class tutor or options course convenor (Second and Third Years) to discuss your assignments, discuss lecture and course material and get further guidance around your learning. Seminar and Class Systems. The seminar and class systems and weekly tutor feedback and consultation times are central to the teaching and learning methods in the Department. The main aim of the seminar/class system is to enable you in groups to explore in greater depth and detail specific core course lecture themes and topics, relate these to other lectures, courses, and writers, and relate them to your own reading and ideas. The seminar and class system aims to reinforce knowledge you have gained through lectures and independent reading, and relate lecture material to concrete examples that will enhance your understanding of the lectures. You are expected to regularly produce formative assessed written work for your tutor and do at least one seminar/class presentation during each year. Formative written assignments, presentations and feedback from tutors enable you to expand and demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of an area, develop your own arguments in relation to the literature, and develop your study, writing and presentation skills. You will undertake a variety of group work exercises that extend your knowledge and understanding of the lecture themes. Annual Report. All seminars/class tutors produce a written report each year on the academic progress, attendance and contribution of each student. The report will be used for writing references for you, and is available to examination boards. You will receive a copy of this report. CLASSES & SEMINARS The kinds of learning activities you undertake in seminars (with your tutor) 2nd years and classes (3rd years) can change over the course of the year, and can include: Explanation and clarification – the tutor will spend most of the session talking to the group, explaining and putting the lectures into context, answering questions, or explaining Department procedures and requirements.

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Set reading - the tutor will have previously set some reading for the whole group, and this will be discussed in detail, usually with the tutor asking questions to the group to ensure you have understood the key points. Presentations - one or a small group of students prepare and give a presentation to the whole group. The topic will have been agreed previously with the tutor. The students will aim to generate discussion, and the tutor may have minimal involvement. Exercises - the tutor will set exercises, questions or other ‘problem-solving’ tasks for the group to do. This may involve the whole group working on the same task, or the group may be split into smaller groups or pairs of students each undertaking the same or different tasks, with the smaller groups reporting back to the whole class. Debates – the tutor may decide to split the group into two, with one ‘side’ making a case for one position or statement, and the other ‘side’ making a different, or opposite case. The two ‘sides’ have to make their reasoned case to each other (often with minimal involvement from the tutor). Practical activities – the tutor may set the seminar group/class practical activities, involving such things as using and finding material in the library or on computer, drawing up rough essay plans, reading and analysing an extract or image, taking notes, role-playing (for example, doing a research interview) and so forth. These activities focus on developing students’ study, research, analysis or transferable skills. Tutors also run other types of seminars/classes – for example, introductory seminars/classes for you to get to know your tutor and classmates, allowing space for students to discuss their worries or concerns (about assignments, exams, the course), holding practical seminars/classes on revision and exam techniques, showing a video or film and discussing this as a group, receiving feedback from students about their expectations of a seminar/class , student evaluations of the course, discussion of personal experiences in relation to course themes and so forth. Often, you may find several of the activities described above combined in one seminar/class session. Formative Assessment – focuses on the assessment of the process of learning and thus differs from summative assessment, which refers to the assessment of the outcome of learning. Each academic year, you are required to complete TWO pieces of formative assessment for each of your core courses. Your seminar/workshop tutor will provide you with a list of formative assessments from which to make your selection. Changing Seminar/Class Tutors Occasionally students request to change tutors. First, think carefully about why you want to do this. Then you must see the Director of Learning & Teaching. We will not change tutors because of seminar/class time. If there is a clash with another course please let your seminar/class tutor know. IT & teaching Most of your course guides, outlines and handbooks are available on-line at

http://learn.gold.ac.uk/ In addition, your lecturer or tutor may also place further resources, weekly exercises or links related to your course. They will tell you about this at the start of the course, but you should check this site regularly. TEACHING QUALITY Quality of learning and teaching As a student at Goldsmiths, you play a key role in Goldsmiths’ processes for assuring the quality of its programmes, and your feedback on your learning experience is very important. As well as informal feedback to the teaching staff, Goldsmiths collects information through

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course evaluation questionnaires and regular staff/student forums. In addition to this Goldsmiths takes part every year in the National Student Survey, where final year undergraduates are asked to comment on the quality of their learning experience in a nationwide survey. Course evaluation All students are invited to provide feedback on each course that they take at Goldsmiths. Course Evaluation is in the form of a questionnaire, and covers all aspects of the course, including teaching and administration. The results of these are analysed by the Department, with students’ views being taken into account and appropriate action taken if necessary. Course Evaluation can also be discussed in staff/student forums. Student feedback and staff/student forums Student feedback. also takes place through staff/student forums, which are held twice a year. Departments choose how to allocate programmes to forums for representative purposes, but all departments are required by Goldsmiths to have at least one forum for undergraduate students. Autumn Term - 11 November 2010 Spring Term - 24 February 20111 The forum consists of a Chair (normally a member of academic staff), members of academic staff who teach on the programmes under consideration including (at least) all programme convenors, the Departmental Student Coordinator, Departmental Administrator and student representatives for particular programmes/all students on the programmes under consideration. Student representatives/students have the opportunity to discuss any matters regarding their programme, courses, teaching, Department or Goldsmiths resources and student services. Issues raised will be communicated to the relevant staff members, within the Department if they can be resolved at this stage, or via the Quality Office if they need to be raised at Goldsmiths level. Student representatives represent the students on their particular programme, whereas the Departmental Student Coordinator represents all students covered by the forum and plays a key role in liaising with the Department and its students regarding issues raised at the forum. Feedback is given at each forum regarding any issues from the previous meeting that required action. Students are able to view the minutes from both Departmental Board/Departmental Learning and Teaching Committee and staff/student forums, which should be displayed on the [specify which: departmental/programme notice board/website/VLE]. Student Representatives Student representatives’ play a vital role at Goldsmiths; providing an essential link between the students, the Students’ Union and Goldsmiths. Most programmes have at least one student representative from each year who will attend the staff/student forum to represent the interests and views of students on their programme. The Department Boards will be held on: Autumn Term - 20 October 2010 Spring Term - 2 February 20111 Being a Student Representative is an excellent way to really have a say in the development of your degree programme. If you are interested in representing the students on your degree programme, get in touch with the Students’ Union or [include details here of who students should contact in the department] in the Department Office for more information on how to become a Student Representative. Student Departmental Coordinators Each department will have at least one Undergraduate Departmental Student Coordinator (DSC) who will attend the relevant staff/student forum. DSCs are recruited and trained by the Students’ Union. They are paid for their work and provided with contracts and job

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descriptions. DSCs are responsible for collecting student feedback, raising issues with the Department either through the staff/student forum or otherwise with appropriate Department staff, attending the staff/student forum and taking notes of the meeting and feeding back to students on the outcome of issues raised. Being a DSC means learning how to be an effective advocate for others and would be a great opportunity to develop your organisational, communication, negotiation and note-taking skills, as well as learning about working on committees. Use of online technology In order to provide students with a mechanism for giving prompt feedback on programme level issues and to discuss issues with peers, departments may have an online forum, hosted within the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). Part of the DSC’s role is soliciting and giving feedback to students which may be via the online forum. The National Student Survey In the National Student Survey all final year students in England and Wales are asked to give their opinion on the quality of their learning opportunities, by answering 22 questions about such things as teaching, assessment, learning resources and academic support. The survey is strictly anonymous, in that institutions are not allowed to know which students have responded to the survey, and the survey data is of interest to the government, prospective students, league table providers and, of course, to universities themselves. The survey is run by Ipsos MORI on behalf of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE – the government agency that funds higher education). We are required by HEFCE to give details of eligible students to Ipsos MORI; however all personal data held by them is destroyed at the end of the survey and is never passed on to third parties. Your feedback could influence prospective students on their choice of university, it could send Goldsmiths up (or down) league tables and, most importantly, it helps us to know where we are getting things right, and where we can take measures to improve the quality of the student experience at Goldsmiths. DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY PROGRAMME MONITORS/CONVENORS Degree

Programme Monitor/ Liaison Person

Programme Convenor

BA SOCIOLOGY Nirmal Puwar Pam Odih BA SOCIOLOGY & CULTURAL STUDIES Alberto Toscano Nirmal Puwar BA SOCIOLOGY & POLITICS Brett St Louis Alberto Toscano BA ANTHROPOLOGY & SOCIOLOGY Yasmin Gunaratnam Brian Alleyne BA MEDIA & SOCIOLOGY David Hirsh Yasmin Gunaratnam BA HISTORY & SOCIOLOGY Monica Greco David Hirsh ATTENDANCE

You must attend all scheduled classes, seminars and workshops, and undertake all non-assessed coursework in order to get your degree – it is not sufficient for you just to pass your exams and assessed coursework. The Department monitors and takes very seriously student attendance at classes, seminars and workshops. This is both to ensure student attendance at these teaching events, and to encourage you to come forward and get the help that is available from the Department in the case of non-attendance. Goldsmiths regulations state that you require a medical certificate for absences. Unexplained absences can be deemed to be withdrawal from your course. If you regularly attend some elements of your degree, but miss others or do not hand in non-assessed work set by your tutors, this can also be deemed to be unsatisfactory performance, and can involve you being referred to Goldsmiths’s Student Review Committee. If you cannot attend a class, seminar or workshop, you must let your tutor know and provide medical certificates to the Department for any absences.

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Please note the following “2-week rule” excerpts from General Regulations: 8.2 Students who fail to notify the appropriate office of the central administration within two weeks of their last date of attendance shall be liable for payment of fees in full and shall not be eligible for any refund of fees paid. 9.7 Students who are absent for more than two weeks from their programme and have not supplied a medical certificate or other evidence acceptable to Goldsmiths to cover such an absence shall be deemed to have withdrawn from Goldsmiths. 10.3 Students who fail to notify the appropriate office of the central administration of making a change to or interrupting a programme within two weeks of that change being effective or their last date of attendance shall be liable for payment of fees in full and shall not be eligible for any refund of fees paid. Department procedures regarding attendance A weekly register is taken by all tutors of classes, seminars and workshops. If a student fails to attend and fails to explain non-attendance to a class/seminar/workshop tutor for a period of two classes/seminars/workshops or more the tutor will report this fact to the Department. A report will also be made if there is concern about the amount of effort a student is putting into their non-assessed coursework. On receiving this report, the Department will write to the student. If the problem continues, the Department will write to the student stating that his or her performance is formally under review by the Department. The student may also be placed on probation. In the case of joint degree students, a copy will go to the joint department. If the problem continues the matter will be referred to the Head of Department who will proceed more formally. There may be a referral to Goldsmiths Student Review Committee, or there may be a recommendation for dismissal. At every stage in this process students will be encouraged to come forward and discuss any problems they are having with their personal tutor, Senior Tutor or Deputy Senior Tutor, so that solutions can be found to any problems they may be having. Students can appeal against dismissal from their degree course. Balancing part-time work with full-time study The Department is sympathetic to the often difficult financial circumstances that students face or find themselves in, and their need to find income through part-time working. However, it is very important to recognise that a degree course is a full-time commitment. You cannot undertake your degree on a part-time basis or in two or three days of the week. You need to devote yourself fully to the degree course if you are to take full advantage of the opportunities it can offer you, and so get a good degree result. Your degree result may affect the jobs you get when you leave University. If you need to work part-time to support yourself, be realistic about the time required for full-time study, and the need to spend time in the library (including on days when you have no lectures, seminars, workshops or classes, and during vacations). If you work part-time, we advise you very strongly to discuss time-management with your tutor, but you should aim to have at least 35 hours a week available for attending Goldsmiths and for private study. If you are facing financial difficulties, make sure you see the Senior Tutor or Deputy Senior Tutor, or the Student Support Office – they will be able to advise you on other ways of dealing with financial problems. Goldsmiths Career’s Service can often help with finding part-time work – see the information in this handbook on the Career’s Service. DEVELOPING YOUR SKILLS For a degree level course, you will need to develop and enhance a range of skills. These skills may be very different to those you learnt about in school or in other courses. You should use your time at University to use the opportunities provided to you to develop your skills and abilities in a wide range of areas. You can think of these skills as: • Academic skills, knowledge and experience that you will require as a sociologist • Study skills you will need to develop and enhance to enable you to undertake fully and

effectively your degree course • A range of transferable skills that you will develop which will be useful after University

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• Employability skills you will need to enhance your career and employment prospects in the job market

Study skills Study skills are very important, and the study skills you need for a degree course will be different to those you acquired at school or in other courses. Study skills include: • Managing your time • Planning your day, week, term and year – including planning leisure and work • Organising your study area, room, books, stationery and notes • Attending regularly all teaching events • How to listen in a lecture and class • How to think about what your lecturer or tutor says • Taking notes effectively in a lecture or class • Assessing what you don’t know and what you need to read more about • Finding out about and using sources of information, and retrieving and selecting

appropriate information • Prioritising your work and the areas you need to focus on • Planning, managing and undertaking your core, additional and background reading • Developing your reading skills, including detailed critical reading and skim reading • Understanding and being able to communicate clearly in verbal and written form what

you have learnt • Developing and enhancing your English language skills, including your vocabulary,

grammar and the way you put your thoughts into spoken or written words • Using computers and information technology • Planning, organising, structuring and undertaking written assignments, including writing

clearly and in a structured and well-organised way • Developing good revision and exam techniques • Avoiding presenting other people’s thoughts, ideas and writing as if they were your own Study skills resources There is further information in this handbook on taking notes, writing essays, presenting coursework, taking exams and on English as a second language. There are also scheduled lectures that cover study skills areas in some First Year courses. Your seminar/class tutors will also cover study skills with you. In addition, you can also • Attend the Library and Computer Services Induction sessions during Induction Week • Attend study skills sessions organised specially for Sociology students by the Language

Unit – details of these sessions will be given during Induction week. • Attend study skills courses run by the Language Unit – check for notices during the year • Get support from the Language Unit if English is your second language • Attend special sessions run by the Counselling Service that cover participating in

seminar/class discussions and coping with stress during exams • See the Language Unit, if you have or think you may have dyslexia or any other learning

difficulty that is affecting your academic ability • Discuss any questions or queries you may have about plagiarism with your seminar/class

tutor • Make an appointment to see the Senior Tutor for further information and advice on study

skills. You are strongly advised to consult or buy: S. Cottrell, The study skills handbook, Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1999 You may also want to look at some of the following study skills resources: T. Buzan, Use your head, London: BBC Books, 1982 G. J. Fairbairn, Reading, writing and reasoning: a guide for students, Buckingham: Open University Press, 1996

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G. Taylor, The student’s writing guide for the arts and social sciences, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1988 J. Peck & M. Coyle, The student’s guide to writing: grammar, punctuation and spelling, Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1999 M. Hutchings & H. Schmitz, Study skills, Leamington Spa: Scholastic Publications, 1996 B. Seal, Academic encounters: reading, study skills, and writing, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997 R. Phipps, The successful student’s handbook: a step-by-step guide to study, reading, and thinking skills, Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1983 J. Hall, Essays and exams: a practical approach for students, Cambridge: University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate, 1989 Thinking & transferable skills Other important skills and abilities that your degree aims to develop and enhance include • Thinking critically about, analysing and evaluating what you have heard or read • Comprehending, reasoning about, analysing and communicating information • Making links between, comparing and contrasting different writers, ideas, societies and

historical periods • Learning to recognise examples of the sociological imagination and developing your own

sociological imagination • Identifying an argument, including the steps taken in the argument, the claims being

made and the evidence being used to support the argument • Learning how to formulate and structure your own arguments based on your reading,

evidence and ideas • Identifying, analysing and solving problems, either on your own or with others • Learning about sociological research methods, including using them yourself • Planning, organising and prioritising • Working on your own, including undertaking independent work, study and research • Working with others, including working with and communicating with people from

backgrounds that are different to yours • Developing, and gaining confidence in using, your verbal and written skills in

communicating ideas to individuals and groups, including presentation skills You should make use of the opportunities provided by your courses to develop your skills in these areas. For example, if you find it difficult to talk in seminars/class, think about why this might be the case – which kinds of situations do you find it easy to talk in, and which ones are difficult? If you find it difficult to make a presentation in front of a seminar group or a class, is there a way that you could explore how you could develop your confidence and your presentation skills? The Careers Service can also provide further advice and support in developing your transferable and employability skills. English as a second language Goldsmiths can provide help to students for whom English is not their first language – contact the Language Studies Centre, RH 204, extension 7402, langstudies@gold.ac.uk. It is very important that you get the support you need in English language skills. You need to be able to use English for class discussions and conversation with other students. You also need to be able to use academic English for understanding your lectures and reading, and for writing essays and exams. If you are having difficulty in understanding lectures, classes or reading, you should make an appointment to see the Senior Tutor or Deputy Senior Tutor. If English is not your first language, you are usually required to have taken a relevant course to show that you can speak and write academic English. See:

www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/international/entry-requirements.php

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STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES What Goldsmiths can offer Student Services has overall responsibility for supporting and offering guidance to students on all practical non academic matters which may be affecting your ability to study. We also offer assistance with some of the administrative tasks you will need to undertake whilst studying at Goldsmiths The core services provided are: Advice (on general welfare issues) Assessments Bursaries and scholarships Counselling Chaplaincy and multi-faith centre Disability support Enrolment and Records Fees Management information Nursery Student funding and information We also work closely with the Careers Service. All students are encouraged to register with a GP. If you live in halls of residence or near to campus, you may be able to make use of local medical services. For further information about this or any of our services please visit www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/student-services. Student Services administer the Access to Learning Fund, a discretionary fund available for those students who meet the eligibility criteria and who are in financial need. For further information please contact the Student Funding and Information Office. A Short Term Emergency Loan scheme is also available for students whose funding is delayed at the start of term. Immigration advice A points-based immigration system was introduced in the UK in 2009. The system means people wishing to study or work in the UK will have to demonstrate they have the correct number of points before being granted entry clearance/leave to remain in the UK. Tier 4, the student tier, came into force on 31 March 2009. The Advice Team at Student Services can offer students confidential advice and support with immigration matters. E-mail student-advice@gold.ac.uk. Student Services opening times The different areas within Student Services have separate opening times however the offices are generally open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm. Some of the services are by appointment only and details of how to access them can be found on the web. Support for students with disabilities and/or specific learning difficulties Goldsmiths welcomes applications from disabled students. Disabled students includes people with physical and sensory impairments, mental health needs, people with long-term health conditions and also those with specific learning difficulties (e.g. dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADD etc). The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) obliges the university to make reasonable adjustments, to ensure disabled students can participate equally in all aspects of Goldsmiths life. The Disability Team provides advice and guidance on the various support initiatives that are available.

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Further information is available at www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/disability. The Disability Co-ordinator and Disability Adviser can advise students and staff as well as students applying to Goldsmiths about any aspect of disability. The service is confidential and information will not be passed on to tutors without your consent. Examples of support provided through the Disability Team:

• Access around the campus • Liaison with tutors concerning adjustments you might need • Assistive Technology • Recording lectures • Location of hearing loops, accessible toilets, and so on • Examination adjustments • Consideration of Dyslexia when marking coursework • Advice on meeting deadlines • Library support and extended loans • Study skills support • Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)

When meeting the Disability Team it is important to bring evidence of your disability or specific learning difficulty with you. This should be in the form of a recent letter from your GP or other health professional, or an educational psychologist report (if you have a specific learning difficulty) The Disability Team can also advise on how to obtain evidence for those who think they may have a specific learning difficulty (dyslexia, dyspraxia ADD etc). Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) The Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is a grant available for disabled students including those with Specific Learning Difficulties (eg dyslexia, dyspraxia etc) and for people with long term health conditions. The DSA can provide equipment, support such as note takers, interpreters, dyslexia tutors etc. as well as funding for books and so on, depending on your needs. More information on this can be found at www.direct.gov.uk (search ‘disabled student’). To apply for the DSA you need to fill out an application form (DSA1) which you can download on the web site above. If you would like any more information or help in doing this please feel free to contact us. You will need to enclose evidence of your disability with the DSA form (eg a doctor’s letter or an Educational Psychologist’s report). Contact details: Disability Team, Richard Hoggart Building, room 125 Drop in: Monday to Friday - 11.00am – 12.00pm and 3.00pm – 4.00pm Book an appointment: telephone 020 7717 2292 email disability@gold.ac.uk www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/disability Student Services 020 7919 7757 student-supp@gold.ac.uk www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/student-services

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What the Department of Sociology can offer In addition to the above, the Department can in consultation with you and/or Goldsmiths Disability Co-ordinator provide a range of advice and support relating to learning and teaching, coursework and examinations and accessibility. In the first instance, you should make an appointment to see, in confidence, the Senior Tutor or the Deputy Senior Tutor. You make appointments to see them by contacting Violet Fearon, Undergraduate Secretary, WT 905, 020 7919 7709, v.fearon@gold.ac.uk. If you have stated in your application to Goldsmiths that you have a disability, the Examinations Officer or the Senior Tutor in the Department may be contacted by Goldsmiths in order to make arrangements regarding appropriate support. However, no information about your disability will be revealed to other staff members without your permission or without you requesting this. If your disability or learning difficulty affects or is likely to affect either coursework or examinations, you must make sure that you contact the Examinations Officer, Marsha Rosengarten, as soon as possible. Students with disabilities and dyslexia may be eligible for special arrangements for examinations, such as extra time, use of a word processor, amanuensis or enlarged examination papers. If you have informed Goldsmiths of your disability you should be contacted by the Examinations Officer, Marsha Rosengarten, to deal with your specific circumstances. If you have not been contacted 6 weeks before your first exam then you should contact the Senior Tutor, David Hirsh or the Examinations Officer, Marsha Rosengarten as it may be that we do not have you recorded as having a disability. The Department can contact on your behalf and at your request other Goldsmiths services and, if relevant, external agencies, to assist you. The Department will attempt to ensure that all handbooks and learning and teaching materials are placed on the VLE. Large print copies of all handbooks and course materials can also be made available on request. It is important that you contact the Department well in advance for us to arrange this. You can also ask lecturers to provide their overheads and, if relevant, lectures notes in electronic format or large print. Your seminar/class tutor or lecturer can also advise you on materials in the library and Information Services Centre, and refer you to the appropriate librarian or staff member who may be able to help you further. Where a relevant disability is a factor, students can use recording equipment in lectures and seminars/classes. In liaison with Goldsmiths, the Department can also assist in arranging readers or other helpers. It is important that you contact the Department well in advance of any coursework deadlines or examinations to arrange this – ideally before the start of the academic year. As far as is possible, the Department tries to arrange all lectures and teaching events in accessible rooms. If accessibility to teaching rooms or teaching events is an issue, please contact the Department.

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IF THINGS GO WRONG Although University is a pleasurable experience for most people, it can also be stressful. Students have their share of homesickness, loneliness, personal, domestic, financial, study skills and health problems. If you experience these or any other difficulties, you may need advice or help. There are sources of help and support both in the Department and in Goldsmiths. SUPPORT IN THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY Personal tutors Problems can be discussed in confidence with your personal tutor who can give advice on appropriate sources of further help. All tutors will have feedback and consultation times when students can be seen individually without an appointment. Your personal tutor is also your primary contact regarding Personal Development Planning (PDP). Consequently, your Personal tutor is available for you to discuss the written feedback you receive for your formative and summative assessment. These discussions will provide you with important feedback and consultation opportunities, while also enabling you to reflect positively on your academic development. Department Senior Tutors Personal, domestic, financial or other problems can be discussed with the Department Senior Tutor or Deputy Senior Tutor. To make an appointment, see Violet Fearon, WT 905, 020 7919 7709. Financial support If you are in financial difficulty or need advice on finances, see the Student Support Office. Also make an appointment, via Violet Fearon (WT 905), to see the Senior Tutor or Deputy Senior Tutor.

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Goldsmiths Complaints Procedure One of our aims is to provide a supportive environment including academic and welfare services, and to be responsive to concerns when they are raised. Goldsmiths recognises there may be occasions when you have cause to complain about a service you have received. When this happens, the complaints procedure is intended to provide an accessible, fair and straightforward system which ensures an effective, and appropriate response. Before making a complaint The majority of complaints can usually be sorted out informally by discussing the issue you wish to complain about with the member of staff or person concerned. It's best to do this immediately wherever possible. However, it may be that you wish to discuss your complaint with somebody else, and there are a number of sources of help within the institution. Your Personal Tutor is there to provide welfare support and help as well as academic advice. You can find out who your Personal Tutor is by contacting the Department Manager or Department Secretary on 020 7919 7735 and 020 7919 7707 respectively. You can also contact the Head of Department on 020 7919 7382. If you'd rather discuss your complaint with a member of staff outside of your academic department, you can get in touch with Student Services (Room 124, Richard Hoggart Building, tel 020 7919 7757), or the Students' Union Advice Centre (tel 020 8692 1406, e-mail suadvice@gold.ac.uk). Making a complaint If you feel discussion hasn't resolved your complaint, and you want to pursue it formally, then you must put this in writing and send it to the Head of Academic Services (room 117a, Richard Hoggart Building). You will need to explain in your letter what steps you have already taken to try and resolve the matter, for example, discussing it with the person the complaint is about, and with your Head of Department. Your complaint will be investigated, and you'll receive a letter explaining the decision taken by Goldsmiths. If you are dissatisfied with the outcome of this investigation, you can write to the Head of Academic Services and ask for your complaint to be referred to a Pro-Warden, who may decide to set up a complaints committee. Your complaint will not be considered unless stage one and stage two of the Complaints Procedure has been completed. Please see the ‘General Regulations’ (number 14) linked from www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/regulations. Help and support If you need help with understanding this process, then get in touch with your Personal Tutor, Student Services, or the Students' Union. Goldsmiths’ Appeals Procedure An appeal is different from a complaint, because it is an application for a decision to be reconsidered or changed. These are the procedures to do with appealing about examination results. You have the right to appeal on the following grounds: 1. that the examiners were not aware of circumstances affecting your performance 2. that there was some form of administrative error or procedural irregularity in the way

in which an examination or assessment was conducted 3. that there is evidence of prejudice or of bias on the part of one or more of the

examiners You can't appeal against the academic or professional judgement of the examiners, nor can you appeal on the grounds that you didn't know about certain assessment requirements or submission deadlines.

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How to appeal Before you appeal, you are strongly advised to seek help and advice, either from your Personal Tutor, the Departmental Senior Tutor, or the Students' Union. If you wish to appeal, you must complete a form (available from the Head of Assessments or on the web at www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/student-services/assessments or available from the Students' Union) and submit this to the Head of Assessments within 21 days of the publication of the results, against which you're making the appeal. You should receive an initial response within four weeks of submitting the appeals form; if it's likely to take longer, you'll be told about this. Outcome of the appeal If your appeal is successful, the outcome will depend on the details of your individual case. If your appeal is unsuccessful, and you are dissatisfied with this, there is a further step you can take, which involves taking your appeal to the Office of the Independent Adjudicator.

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ADVICE ON READING, STUDYING & ESSAYS Reading As part of your degree course, you are expected to read and work on your own for most of your working week. You will need to read for lectures, workshops, classes or seminars as well as for essays. You are expected to spend time working in the library on days when you do not have lectures, seminars, workshops or classes. Learn to use the Library. Develop your research, information retrieval and selection skills. Make sure you: • spend time browsing the relevant Sociology book and journal sections • know how to use Goldsmiths on-line Library catalogue to search for both books and

journals • know how to search CD-ROM based abstracts catalogues • find out about the audio-visual resources held by the Library • know how to use (from Goldsmiths) the on-line catalogues of other University of

London libraries Many textbooks are only available on reference or for short loans only. Some key texts can be very popular and you may not find them when you need them. Look for alternative reading in your course outlines (this is why your tutors give you long reading lists). During your degree, you should also expect to use the University of London Library at Senate House, Malet St, London WC1 (Tottenham Court Road or Goodge Street Tube) – this is open to all students and is a good source of material. You can also use the library facilities at the British Library of Political & Economic Science at the London School of Economics and other libraries of the University of London. You should have reading and access rights at all of these, and you may have borrowing rights at some of them. Your tutor can also write a letter of recommendation for specific libraries in order for you to be able to use them. It is also recommended that you use the web-based search engine of Senate House library (www.ull.ac.uk). This can search simultaneously across a number of University of London libraries, and you can more easily track down the book or journal that you want. ‘Serials’ and ‘periodicals’ include journals; therefore you can also search indexes of serials and periodicals (such as the Union List of Serials at Senate House) when looking for a journal article. Your tutor and other staff members can also advise you about more specialised sociology on-line bibliographic services, ‘information gateways’, and on-line journals. Make sure you write down the full details of the books, journal articles and other material when you first come across them. This will save you time later, when creating your bibliography. New to sociology? If you find it difficult to understand what you are reading, do not get discouraged or think that the course is beyond you. You may require some preliminary reading before you are ready to tackle a more difficult book. Or you may need to work on your vocabulary or develop your study and readings skills. If you have not studied Sociology before, you may find the following textbooks useful: T. Bilton et al, Introductory sociology, Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1996 A. Giddens & K. Birdsall, Sociology, Cambridge: Polity Press, 2001 A. Giddens, Sociology: a brief but critical introduction, Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1986. J. Macionis & K. Plummer, Sociology: a global introduction, New York: Prentice Hall, 1998 G. Marshall ed., A Dictionary of Sociology, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998 C. Wright Mills, The sociological imagination, Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1970 A. Giddens, Capitalism and modern social theory, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1971 D. McLellan, The thought of Karl Marx: an introduction, London : Papermac, 1995

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A. Giddens, Durkheim, London: Fontana, 1978 S. Lukes, Émile Durkheim, his life and work: a historical and critical study, Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1992 D. Käsler, Max Weber: an introduction to his life and work, Cambridge: Polity, 1988 F. Parkin, Max Weber, Chichester: Ellis Horwood, 1982 Taking notes You should learn to take notes effectively in lectures, classes and seminars, and from the books and articles you read. Do not write down everything the lecturer or tutor says. You need brief notes of main points, definitions, arguments, and debates which will enable you to recall later what you have heard. Use your lecture notes to guide your reading, but do not rely too heavily on your notes. Lecture notes should be used as an introduction to your own reading and thinking, not as a substitute for them. Note-taking also improves with practice. • Use loose-leaf paper and ring-back files, not exercise books, so that you can reorganise

your notes later if you wish. Do not keep all your notes in one file, in case you lose it • Even if you only dip into a book or article, note the full author, date, title, place of

publication, publisher and where you found it. You will need to be able to refer to everything that you have read, to know who wrote it and when the author was writing

• Do not start on the first page of reading, taking notes as you go. If you are reading a whole book, check the contents, index, and chapter conclusions to gain some idea of its relevance to your topic. With long or difficult reading take notes on one section at a time, but always read through and think about the material before taking any notes. Read through again (and again) until you can understand and summarise the author’s main points. If you copy out quotations, take them down accurately, keep them in quotation marks, and note the page number.

FORMATIVE ASSESSED ESSAYS During your degree, you are required to regularly submit formative assessed essays for your tutors. You will be given information about these by your seminar/ workshop/class tutors. SUMMATIVE ASSESSED ESSAYS & COURSEWORK Assessed (examined) essays have to be handed in for some courses by set deadlines. You will be given detailed information on assessed essays during the courses which are examined in this way. Essay titles are normally provided in the course outline for the course that is assessed by coursework. The overall marks for your assessed essays can directly affect whether your can proceed from one year to the next and can affect your final degree result. Length The length of each Sociology assessed essay/coursework you hand in is as follows: Second Years Either 2 x 2,000 or 1 x 4,000 words Third Years: 5,000 words This length includes any footnotes/endnotes, but excludes the bibliography and any appropriate appendices. Writing to the appropriate word-length for assessed coursework is an important part of the course assessment. Students who submit over- or under-length work with be penalised as follows: • If coursework is more than 10% over the required length, the additional work will not be

read by examiners and will not be awarded any marks. • If coursework is seriously under-length, it will be marked out of an appropriate

proportion of the total available marks. For example, an essay that is 50% under-length will be marked out of 50% rather than out of 100%.

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SUBMITTING ASSESSED COURSEWORK Assessed coursework must be submitted on the hand-in dates given in the Essential Information section earlier in this Handbook. You must plan your assessed work carefully and pace it well across the two terms so that you avoid rushing, or facing computer and printer problems, close to the submission date. Remember that the deadline for assessed work is treated like an exam, and there is no system of giving extensions. Late hand-ins may only be accepted if there are certified medical reasons. Computer problems are not accepted as a valid excuse for lateness. You must ensure that you print your assessed coursework well ahead of the deadline. You will be given instructions nearer each deadline about where you should bring in your assessed work. You will have to fill in and attach a cover sheet for each piece of submitted coursework. Make sure you obtain a receipt for all work submitted. If you think that you will have any problems handing in your assessed coursework by the published deadline, please tell your tutor as soon as possible so that we can discuss the situation. If you are in debt to Goldsmiths, at the time the results become available, you will not automatically receive your final transcript. If you wish to obtain information concerning your results you can do so by making a Data Subject Access Request under the Data Protection Act (1998), for which a fee will be charged. The letter from the Examinations Office informing you that your results are being withheld will tell you how to do this, and under the Data Protection Act you will be entitled to receive your result (not in the form of a transcript) within 40 days of submitting the Data Subject Access Request and fee. ADVICE ON WRITING ASSESSED ESSAYS While reading and note taking, keep the essay question in mind. Think carefully about concepts in the question and the point of the question. Use a ‘spider diagram’ to brainstorm relevant points and themes, and make connections between them. Make a plan based on an introduction, the body of the essay, a conclusion and a Bibliography. In your introduction, briefly explain how you understand the point of the question, the topic, any key debates that are relevant, and how your essay is organised or signposted. You can refer to key concepts, but bear in mind that the discussion of key concepts may be the point of the whole essay. A very good introduction to an essay would briefly: demonstrate that you have grasped the point of the question, topic or relevant debate, presented the essence of your argument, and provided a signpost to the remainder of the essay for the reader. In the body of your essay, you should present, discuss and evaluate your reading in relation to the essay question or topic. Do not: • simply write everything you know about the area or author • simply summarise what you have read • move from explaining one author’s views to another’s • jump about from one unrelated point to another • make sweeping statements Relate your discussion to the point of the question. Think about your reasoned argument, backing this up with relevant points or evidence from your reading. Think about how your points and arguments relate to each other logically. Explore and evaluate the key debates and contentions. Highlight criticisms and counter arguments. Build up your argument in stages. Organise your material and discussion according to themes. Subheadings are useful in helping you organise the body of the essay and move your argument forward. In your conclusion do not just summarise points you have already made, but conclude properly. Give your response to the question or topic, based on the arguments made in the course of your essay. Indicate any unresolved issues or debates, or broader implications of the topic. You must include a full Bibliography that includes all the material that you read and used for your essay.

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In you essays, avoid giving general or personalised views or making sweeping statements. Instead, refer directly to the studies you have read, the writers of these studies, the period they were written (if relevant), and what was actually said by them. Compare A and B below. A B The reason this happens is all because of society…

However, Griffiths (1990) has argued that the reasons for such differences have more to do with social and cultural factors than…

In trying to find the truth, I think… In assessing these different claims, my view is…because…

Sociologists say that suicide is a social fact…

In his study of suicide, Durkheim (1952) said that…

Social class is… I think social class is… Sociologists say that social class is…

Social class has no agreed meaning in sociology because there are different theories of class. Marx (1968) argued that ... Weber (1986) challenged this view on the grounds that ... Davis (1959) develops the concept on the basis of quite different assumptions ... My view is ...

Social status is… According to Parkin (1982), Weber defined social status as…

Marxists believe that… In Capital Volume 1, p.663, Marx stated that… The Enlightenment oppressed women and black people and made them invisible…

Hall (1984) has argued that one of the key consequences of Enlightenment was the exclusion of women and the populations of the ‘New World’ from…

Foucault said that power doesn’t repress sexuality…

Foucault (1981) argued against what he called the ‘repressive hypothesis’…

Single mothers get pregnant when they get welfare benefits…

On the basis of some local studies (Mooney 2001), it has been argued that household income and household organisation are…

Cultural studies is about the study of culture…

The sub-discipline of cultural studies arose from a dissatisfaction among…

She is wrong… While Hunter (2000: 218) makes a number of interesting points, I am not fully convinced by her conclusion. As Minto (1998) states…

Feminists use experience as a research method and positivists don’t.

However, Maynard and Purvis (1981) argue that traditional sociological methodology has evaded forms of experience…

This proves that the son will be in a high social class if the father was.

This table shows that the association between father’s social class and son’s social class is very strong. These results are also statistically significant…

MEANINGS OF SOME ESSAY TERMS Account for Explain, clarify, give reasons for Analyse Break an issue down into its component parts, discuss them and show

how they interrelate Argue Make a logically structured case, based on appropriate evidence, for

and/or against some given point of view Comment on Usually requires you to describe and then assess, analyse or evaluate a

statement, claim or topic Compare Identify the characteristics that two or more things have in common,

while also requiring you to point out their differences Contrast Point out the differences between two things, while also identifying

their similarities as well Describe Indicate the key features or characteristics of a topic, argument or

theme Discuss Usually requires you to describe and then analyse, evaluate or assess a

statement Discuss with examples

Analyse, evaluate or assess, giving (usually empirical) examples or perhaps case studies

Evaluate Usually requires you to (possible describe and then) analyse and

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assess a statement, claim or theory Do you agree? Usually requires you to make a reasoned analysis, evaluation or case in

relation to a statement or claim, arriving at a conclusion Explain Tell how things work or how they came to be the way they are,

including perhaps some need to ‘describe’ and to ‘analyse’ Give an account of

Describe in detail

Outline Indicate the main features of a topic or sequence of events, possibly setting them within a clear structure or framework to show how they interrelate

To what extent ...? How far?

Explore the case for a statement or explanation, probably arguing for a less than total acceptance of the statement or explanation

ESSAY PRESENTATION Ideally you should word process your essays, though you may choose to write them instead. Remember that if you do not have a computer at home, you have free access to Goldsmiths’ computing and printing facilities, including its training courses in packages such as Microsoft Word. Make sure you include the following information on the first page of each piece of assessed coursework: • Your student number (for non-assessed work that you give to your tutor, remember to

also include your name) • The course title • The course code • The name of your degree course • The name of the lecturer or convenor for that course • The title of your assignment • The date • Print (or write) on one side of the paper, leaving good margins around the text • Include page numbers • If you write (instead of word process) your essay, make sure it is legible • Make sure you correct your spelling, grammar and punctuation • Make sure you have constructed clear sentences, used paragraphs and subheadings and

made an effort to make your work readable • Include a full bibliography of all the sources you used CITATIONS, REFERENCES & BIBLIOGRAPHIES This and the next section are very important – please read them carefully. You are required to cite all the sources (books, articles, Internet material, other electronic sources) which you have read for your essays. Note down all the details of a book or article when you first see it, to avoid wasting time checking details later. In writing your essays, you must not: • Copy lecture notes or passages from books, articles, the Internet or any other sources and

present them as if they were your own words or your own work • Copy the work of other students • Closely paraphrase any source You must: • Reference every source you use • Indent or put into quotation marks and fully reference every direct quotation you use • Include a full bibliography of every source you used You should use a standard recognized format for acknowledging all the sources you have used, both in your essay and in a separate Bibliography. You must also read the statement on plagiarism in this handbook.

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IN YOUR ESSAY EXAMPLES (Author(s) Year: Page number)

…as argued by (Smith 1998: 212)… …it has also been argued (Smith 1998: 212)… …this view has also been countered by other writers (for example, Mooley & Sussman 1996, Gosling 1999)… According to Harvey, Foucault claims that…(Harvey 2001: 15) Karl Marx said ‘Workingmen of all countries unite!’ (quoted in Giddens 1978: 48) As Madan has said:

‘If globalization has allegedly advanced homogeneity, it has also differentiated peoples, ethnicities, cultures and nations in forms unimaginable in the nineteenth-century.’ (Madan 2000: 12)

If citing more than two authors, use: (First Author et al Year: Page number)

…disputed by others (Davis et al 2002: 415)

IN YOUR BIBLIOGRAPHY TYPE OF DOCUMENT

FORMAT EXAMPLES

Book

Author(s), (Year), Title, Place: Publisher.

Gosling, J., (1999), Social Spaces and Places, Melbourne: Other Publishers.

Article in Edited Book

Author(s), (Year), ‘Title’, in Editor(s), Book Title, Place: Publisher

Mooley, J. K., (1996), ‘The economy of social time’, in P. J. Holden & T. Matthews eds., Social Theory Today, London: Major Publishers.

Journal Article Author(s), (Year), ‘Title’, Journal Name, Journal Volume (Journal Number), Pages.

Smith, S., (1998), ‘Revisiting “the cyborg”: the dynamics of gender and technoculture’, Journal of Sociology & Culture, 7(3), 198-223.

Newspapers, Magazines and other periodicals

Author(s), (Year), ‘Title’, Periodical Name, Date (if relevant), Page number.

Muggle, C. (2001), ‘Asylum Flood!’, The Sun, 25 December, p. 1. Youle, G. (2002), ‘Asylum and Xenophobia’, The Observer Monthly Supplement, April, p.17.

Internet document

Author(s), (Year), ‘Title’, Full Internet Address, Date published (if relevant) Type of Internet Document (e.g. ‘web page’), Date the document was accessed by you.

Tyler, P., (not dated), ‘Social inclusion’, http://www.anorg.co.uk/poppy/~scu/ marginsuk.pdf, pdf file, accessed 24.08.2000.

Electronic media

Author(s), (Year), ‘Title’, Place: Publisher. Type of Electronic Medium (e.g. CD-ROM).

Anonymous, (2000), ‘Josephine Bluntley - early life’, Microsoft Encarta 2000, Redmond, VA: Microsoft Corp. DVD.

CELT (Centre for Excellence in Learning Technology) has also produced an on-line essay guideline at www.real.gold.ac.uk/essayguide/index.html.

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PLAGIARISM (CHEATING) Copying or closely paraphrasing texts from whatever source without full referencing or acknowledgement of the source is called plagiarism. Plagiarism is considered to be cheating and is dealt with formally by Goldsmiths. Plagiarism is a serious academic offence. If you do not cite fully your sources, you may end up presenting other people’s ideas as if they were your own. Plagiarism also includes copying, closely paraphrasing or not referencing properly documents from the Internet (including Web pages, any other downloaded documents, or documents from any other Internet archives or Internet services), other electronic sources (such as DVD/CD-ROM encyclopedias, other DVD/CD-ROMS, other digitally / electronically stored information, and electronic journals, magazines and newspapers). Copying from the work of other students is also plagiarism. You need to be very clear about what is meant by plagiarism. If in doubt consult your tutor. Goldsmiths policy on plagiarism is set out below: • All work submitted as part of the requirements for any examination of the University of

London must be expressed in your own words and incorporate your own ideas and judgments.

• Plagiarism - this is the presentation of another person’s thoughts or words as though they were your own - must be avoided, with particular care in course-work and essays and reports written in your own time. Direct quotations from the published or unpublished work of others must always be clearly identified as such by being placed inside quotation marks, and a full reference to their source must be provided in the proper form.

• Remember that a series of short quotations from several different sources, if not clearly identified as such, constitutes plagiarism just as much as a single unacknowledged long quotation from a single source.

• ‘Unconscious plagiarism’ or ‘unintentional plagiarism’ - including an unattributed quotation in your essay because you did not identify quotations in your notes - is as much an examination offence as deliberate plagiarism and will be dealt with in the same way as any other examination offence. Equally, if you summarise another person's ideas or judgments, you must refer to that person in your text, and include the work referred to in your bibliography.

• Unless specifically agreed and deemed as a collaborative project by all parties, sharing work with other students will be regarded as plagiarism on the part of both the recipient and the originator.

• Failure to observe these rules may result in an allegation of cheating. You should therefore consult your tutor or course director if you are in any doubt about what is permissible.

• Recourse to the services of ‘ghost-writing’ agencies (for example in the preparation of essays or reports) is strictly forbidden, and students who make use of the services of such agencies render themselves liable for an academic penalty. Word-processing services which offer ‘correction/improvement of English’ should not be used.

• Assessed essays suspected of plagiarism in the form of being bought from an essay writing agency or other such services will result in the student being asked to sit a further oral examination. The purpose of the oral examination will be to determine the origin and authorship of the essay.

PLEASE ALSO NOTE: You may not present substantially the same material in any two pieces of work submitted for assessment, regardless of the form of assessment. For instance, you may not repeat substantially the same material in a formal written examination or in a dissertation if it has already formed part of an essay submitted for assessment. This does not prevent you referring to the same texts, examples or case studies as appropriate, provided you do not merely duplicate the same material.

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EXAMINATIONS In addition to assessed coursework for some courses, you will be taking examinations in the Summer Term of each year. Sociology examinations for First and Third Year courses are based on seen papers - which means you get the exam paper about a week before sitting the exam. Sociology examinations for Second Years are based on unseen papers – which means you first see the exam paper during the exam itself. Past exam papers are available online at: http://intranet.gold.ac.uk/exampapers/ If you absent yourself from any examination, you will be reported to the Examiner’s Board as ‘incomplete’. In such a situation, your progression to the following year may be jeopardised, or you may not get your degree result. If, for any reason, you miss an examination, you must inform the Examinations Officer and your tutor immediately. If you fail a course-unit, you will have to retake that unit in the next year, and penalties will be applied to your retake mark. In exceptional circumstances, supported by medical or other written evidence, application can be made to the Board of Examiners for mitigating circumstances to be considered at the discretion of the Board (for example if you miss an examination because you are taken ill or have been bereaved). You can explain your circumstances by writing in confidence to Marsha Rosengarten, the Department Examinations Officer, explaining what has happened, and enclosing a medical certificate or other evidence. You should also inform your class tutor. As part of the requirements of your degree, you take 12 course units over the three years of your degree. In order to be considered for the award of an Honours degree, you are required to pass a minimum of 9 course units. However, the assessment of a candidate for Honours is determined from the weighted average of the marks on 10 course units, comprising the best 3 course units in Year (Level) 1 and the best 7 course units in Years (Levels) 2 and 3. If necessary, marks on one or more failed courses are included. Year (Level) 1 courses are given less weight than courses at Years (Levels) 2 and 3. Calculation of final weighted average mark for course unit degrees http://www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/registry/courseunit_calculation.php EXAMINATION TECHNIQUE Exams success depends a great deal on: Attending your classes, seminars, workshops and lectures Working steadily through the year, rather than in a rush at the end Reviewing notes, essays and reading at regular intervals throughout the year, rather than taking copious notes and then ignoring them until three weeks before the exams Planning carefully and pacing your revision nearer the exam Reading the exam paper carefully (turn it over – there may be more questions on the other side) Selecting your questions carefully Planning answers to each of the questions you are answering Answering the question asked, rather than a question you hoped for, reproducing an essay you have previously done, or writing everything you know about a topic. The examiners are not testing your ability to memorise textbooks, but your ability to understand sociology and to evaluate and debate the material you have learned in relation to the question asked.

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Managing your time during the exam. Allow sufficient and equal amounts of time for each question, and set aside time at the start to draw up rough plans for all your answers. Managing exam stress and nerves. Some anxiety during the exam period is normal. However, if you are particularly anxious, nervous or stressed, talk to your tutor or the Senior Tutors. The Counselling Service runs also workshops and sessions for coping with stress during the exam period. You can also make an appointment to see a Counsellor. See the Counselling Service’s Exam Tips web page

www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/counselling/

Looking after yourself. Eat well, get enough sleep, and schedule breaks from revision. Revision lectures for your core courses are held in the Summer Term, and your class tutor will also organise revision sessions with you. You will learn about both revision and exam techniques during these sessions.

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DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY ASSESSMENT AND GRADING CRITERIA All assessed work is marked on a percentage scale, as follows: 70% - 100% First class 60% - 69% Upper second class 50% - 59% Lower second class 40% - 49% Third class 35% - 40% Pass Below 35% Fail The marking criteria for examined coursework, seen and unseen exams and dissertations are: • The extent to which the specified course learning outcomes have been achieved • The originality, ambition, scope and relevance of the written work in terms of the topic

being addressed • The structure and form of the writing • The presentation of the work in terms of attention to clarity of expression, clear

print/handwriting, spelling and punctuation. 70-79% Excellent - Represents the overall achievement of the appropriate learning outcomes to an excellent level. 80-89% Outstanding – Represents the overall achievement of the appropriate learning outcomes to an outstanding level 90-100% Exceptional – Represents the overall achievement of the appropriate learning outcomes to an exceptionally accomplished level. 60-69% Very Good – Represents the overall achievement of the appropriate learning outcomes to a good level. 50-59% Good - Represents the overall achievement of the appropriate learning outcomes to a threshold level. 40-49% Threshold represents the overall achievement of the appropriate learning outcomes to a threshold level (honours) 35-39% Pass – Represents the overall achievement of the majority of the appropriate learning outcomes to a pass level. Students achieving an overall mark of between 35-39% at degree level will be awarded a pass (non honours) degree. 25-34% Fail - Represents an overall failure to achieve the appropriate learning outcomes. 10-24% Bad fail- Represents a significant overall failure to achieve the appropriate learning outcomes (shall be deemed a valid attempt and not necessarily required to be re-sat). If you are in debt to Goldsmiths, at the time the results become available, you will not automatically receive your final transcript. If you wish to obtain information concerning your results you can do so by making a Data Subject Access Request under the Data Protection Act (1998), for which a fee will be charged. The letter from the Assessments Office informing you that your results are being withheld will tell you how to do this, and under the Data Protection Act you will be entitled to receive your result (not in the form of a transcript) within 40 days of submitting the Data Subject Access Request and fee.

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FUNDING Undergraduate Funding schemes (UK/EU only) As part of our commitment to academic excellence and widening participation, we are providing financial support to enable our students to reach their full potential at Goldsmiths. The Goldsmiths Bursary - a bursary worth between £329 and £1,000 each year may be available to undergraduate students from low household income backgrounds who are in receipt of a full or partial Maintenance Grant or Special Support Grant from the Government. The Bursary is available to help with course-related costs including books, travel, and equipment and where applicable, childcare costs. For information on how to apply, please visit www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/ug/costs.

Student Residential Hardship Bursary - offers a 5–20% discount on Goldsmiths halls of residence fees to UK/EU undergraduate students from low-income families.

Access to Learning Fund – can provide a discretionary grant to UK undergraduate students who experience financial difficulties during their course.

Short-Term Emergency Loan – a maximum loan of £300 may be available to students who experience short-term hardship.

You can obtain details of the eligibility criteria for the above additional support schemes, as well as application forms and guidance notes from the Student Funding and Information Office, Room 124, Richard Hoggart Building, telephone: 020 7919 7757, e-mail: student-supp@gold.ac.uk.

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PRESENTATION CEREMONY All final-year students completing in the summer of 2011 will be invited to attend Goldsmiths’ Presentation Ceremonies which take place in early September. Dates of the ceremonies will be published early in the autumn term, and you will be invited to one of the three dates. Details of which of the dates your ceremony will be held on will be published by the end of the autumn term. Invitations will be sent to your home address in the Easter vacation. If you have not received your invitation by the beginning of the summer term please contact Joan Doherty, Room 117, Richard Hoggart Building, e-mail j.doherty@gold.ac.uk HOW TO OBTAIN REFERENCES FROM THE DEPARTMENT A reference can be obtained from the department either by contacting your relevant seminar tutors, class tutor, dissertation tutor or from the Department Office. HOW TO OBTAIN TRANSCRIPTS FROM GOLDSMITHS Requests for transcripts or confirmation letters Transcript information available from Student Services web site www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/student-services/transcripts-archives.php and transcript request form available at www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/media/request-1.pdf ALUMNI DISCOUNT SCHEME/ KEEPING IN TOUCH/ THE GOLDSMITHS SOCIETY

The completion of your degree at Goldsmiths doesn't have to mean the end of your affiliation with Goldsmiths. You will always be a part of Goldsmiths community and we want to keep in touch.

The Goldsmiths Society was established to help alumni and friends of Goldsmiths keep up to date with news and events, access alumni services and learn more about way they can help Goldsmiths today. For more information please visit www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/alumni. Students who complete a course at Goldsmiths now automatically become lifetime members and we are currently in touch with over 25,000 former students based across the world. Alumni discount scheme There is a discount on tuition fees for all those who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree, DipHE or postgraduate taught programme at Goldsmiths, and who now wish to progress to a different postgraduate degree. In order to apply for the reduced tuition fee, you will need to have been accepted on to your intended programme of study and to have satisfied all the normal academic admissions criteria as well as all the conditions of enrolment and registration set down by Goldsmiths. For further information please see www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/alumni.

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HEALTH AND SAFETY Goldsmiths Health and Safety policy is at www.gold.ac.uk/governance/policies//physical-environment/health-safety-policy/ FIRE SAFETY Goldsmiths Fire Safety policy is at www.gold.ac.uk/governance/policies//physical-environment/health-safety-policy

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CAREERS ADVICE FOR SECOND YEAR STUDENTS

Using the Careers Service in your Second Year As a second year you’re probably thinking about getting work experience and might be starting to have some career ideas. You can come and see us about finding an internship, writing a CV, application and interview advice, choosing a career or simply finding a part-time job. There is lots of free information you can take away and the reference library has books on everything from working in the media to vacation work abroad. We have computers for you to do online career research and you can get help from our experienced information staff. Part-time work and volunteering Most students find they need to work while they study. In October we host an event called ‘Experience Works’ where Goldsmiths students can meet employers from a wide range of industries. Look out for the posters from the start of term. Part-time work will earn you cash but sometimes volunteering will give you better experience and contacts. Perhaps there might be a way you can balance the two? We can help you to find temporary, part-time and voluntary positions throughout the year. Vacancies are listed on the Careers Service website www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/careers/jobs or our work experience noticeboard at the Laurie Grove office. Come in and browse at any time during our opening hours.

Marketing yourself Sometimes thinking about what you’ve got to offer and translating it to employer-speak can be hard. We can help you to analyse what you have done and present it in an effective way. We can also help you think about any skills gaps and what you can do to plug them this year. International students Adapting to a new job market and working out how to apply can be confusing. We have leaflets explaining the basics written specifically for international students. We run two sessions each year where we cover job-hunting. Still confused? Come and see an adviser, more information below. Adviser appointments An appointment with an adviser can cover anything careers-related. From thinking about yourself, through to tips on the best way to find work experience. If your CV needs a health check bring it in. Twenty-five minute sessions with an adviser are available Monday to Thursday, 2pm to 4.30pm, bookable from 9.30am on the day in person or by phone. Seminars We run seminars such as CV writing, interview skills and postgraduate study and funding. We also have events on specific career areas. We’d like to see you there. Look out for the posters or go to the Careers Service website www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/careers/whats-on. • Find us at 23/24 Laurie Grove. Tel: 020 7919 7137 • Opening hours are Monday-Friday, 9.30am-4.30pm

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CAREERS ADVICE FOR THIRD YEAR STUDENTS

Using the Careers Service in your Final Year As a finalist you’re probably starting to think about life after your degree. Whether you are unsure or have a clear idea of what you want to do, a chat with an adviser can help. Come and see us about choosing a career, postgraduate study, application and interview advice, or simply finding a part-time job. There is lots of free information you can take away and the reference library has books on everything from psychometric tests to becoming a writer. We have computers for you to do online career research and you can get help from our experienced information staff. Part-time work and volunteering Most students find they need to work while they study. In October we host an event called ‘Experience Works’ where Goldsmiths students can meet up with employers from a wide range of industries. Look out for the posters from the start of term. Part-time work will earn you cash but sometimes volunteering will give you better experience and contacts. Perhaps there might be a way you can balance the two? We can help you to find temporary, part-time and voluntary positions throughout the year. Vacancies are listed on the Careers Service website www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/careers/jobs or on our work experience noticeboard at the Laurie Grove office. Come in and browse at any time during our opening hours. Marketing yourself Sometimes thinking about what you’ve got to offer and translating it to employer-speak can be hard. We can help you to analyse what you have done and present it in an effective way. We can also help you think about any skills gaps and what you can do to plug them. The recruitment cycle Come and see us for leads on the best places to look and the most effective ways to find opportunities for a particular job sector. Many larger employers recruit to formal graduate training schemes with starting dates in the summer after you graduate. These programmes usually have a closing date for applications, which can be as early as November. Not all employers of graduates have a formal recruitment programme and many small to medium-sized employers recruit as and when vacancies arise. Some employers, particularly in the creative fields, fill positions from speculative applications and word of mouth. International students Adapting to a new job market and working out how to apply can be confusing. We have leaflets explaining the basics written specifically for international students. We run two sessions each year where we cover job-hunting. Still confused? Come and see an adviser, more information below. Adviser appointments These can cover anything careers-related, from thinking about yourself to brainstorming career ideas. If your CV or application form needs a health check bring it in. Twenty-five minute sessions with an adviser are available Monday to Thursday, 2pm to 4.30pm, bookable from 9.30am on the day in person or by phone. Seminars We run seminars such as CV writing, interview skills and postgraduate study and funding. We also have events on specific career areas. We’d like to see you there. Look out for the posters or go to the Careers Service website www.goldsmiths.ac.uk/careers/whats-on.

Gradclub

Finally, by joining our ‘GradClub’ scheme in your final year, you can continue to use our services for free or at a discounted rate for an additional two years. Ask for membership details at the Careers reception or go to www.gradclub.co.uk.

• Find us at 23/24 Laurie Grove 020 7919 7137 • Opening hours are Monday-Friday, 9.30am-4.30pm

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HANDBOOK FEEDBACK FORM (2010-2011) This handbook has been written with you in mind, and we would appreciate your feedback. This will help us when we produce next year's handbooks. You do not need to give your name. All information will be treated in confidence. 1. Your name (optional) ___________________________________________________________

2. Your degree programme, eg, BA Anthropology, MA Screen Documentary, etc ___________________________________________________________ 3. Please indicate which year of study you are in by ticking the appropriate box 1st

2nd 3rd 4th

other (please specify) ___________________________________________________________ 4. Are you (please tick the relevant box)

a home/EU student an overseas student?

5. Are you (please tick the relevant box)

full-time part-time

6. Please indicate how you received this handbook included in a Departmental mailing

at Departmental Induction meeting at the beginning of term at first lecture from Personal Tutor

other (please specify) ___________________________________________________________

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7. If you are a continuing student, did you receive a copy of last year's handbook?

yes no 8. If you are a student on a joint degree programme, have you also received a handbook

from your other department?

yes no 9. What information did this handbook not provide which you would have found useful? ___________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ 10. What do you think this handbook does best? ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ 11. And, what do you think this handbook does least well? ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ 12. Tell us how we can improve this handbook ___________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ Thank you very much for your time in filling in this feedback form. Please return it to Violet Fearon, Sociology Ddepartment, Room 905 WT or post it to Quality, Planning and Governance, Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, London, SE14 6NW.

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INDEX PAGE NO. Advice on Reading, Studying & Essays 42 Alumni Discount Scheme 53 Assessment and grading criteria 51 Attendance – 2 week rule 34 Careers Advice for Second Year Students 55 Careers Advice for Third Year Students 56 Change of details 6 Citations, References & Bibliographies 46 Goldsmiths Complaints and Appeals Procedure 40 Goldsmiths Information 7 Communication via E-mail 8 Course and Assessment Registration 10 Degree Regulations 18 Developing your skills 33 Disclaimers 1 Enrolment 6 Essential Information 6 Examinations 49 Examinations and Assessed Coursework 6,7 Finding the Sociology Department 7 Format of Handbook 1 Formative Assessment 31 Funding 52 Goldsmiths Fire Safety 54 Goldsmiths Health & Safety 54 Goldsmiths Mission and Values 2 Handbook feedback form 58 How to obtain Transcripts from Goldsmiths 53 How to read this handbook 4 How we communicate with you 8 How you can communicate with us 9 If things go wrong 39 Information for International Students 28 Information for Second Years 24 Information for Third Years 26 Information Services Centre 11 Learning and Teaching in the Department 29 Members of Staff 17 National Student Survey 15,32 3D Graduate & Personal Development Planning 13 Plagiarism 48 Presentation Ceremony 53 Funding 56 Programme Monitoring (under Teaching Quality) 30 Programme Specifications 11 References 53 Sociology at Goldsmiths 5 Sociology Options Courses 10 Sociology Society 16 Student support services 36 Summative Assessed Essays & Coursework 44 Term Dates 6 The Goldsmiths Society 53 VLE 12 Welcome 5

Goldsmiths, University of London New Cross London SE14 6NW Tel 020 7919 7171 Web www.goldsmiths.ac.uk