LW1LSC: Legal Skills for Criminologists

Module code: LW1LSC

Module provider: School of Law

Credits: 20

Level: 4

When you’ll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Alexandra Cox , email: a.cox@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded: IN TAKING THIS MODULE YOU CANNOT TAKE LW1ELS (Compulsory)

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2025/6

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 14 July 2025

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This first-year option is designed to help students develop the skills needed to study Criminology as an academic discipline. It also aims to introduce students to methods of teaching and expectations applicable to higher education.

Students will examine the interrelationship between society, culture, the law and crime whilst being provided with opportunities to develop and practise key skills, including employability and transferable skills.

Specific topics may change on a yearly basis.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a good understanding of the English Legal System as it relates to Criminology.
2. Distinguish between law and the social sciences.
3. Develop and implement an approach to reading, studying and attending module activities.
4. Build confidence in reading and distinguishing between academic literature, grey literature, and news sources.
5. Distinguish between evidence and opinion.

Module content

Specific topics may change on a yearly basis but we intend to pursue themes including:

• The English Legal System
• The disciplinary relationships and distinctions between Social Sciences, Law and Criminology
• Feminist and Decolonial Theories of Crime
• Time Management
• Presentation Skills
• ÀÇÓÑÉçÇø Skills
• Referencing and Academic Writing

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

In Semester 1 there will be a 2-hour lectures per week (total 22 hours) thirteen hours of blended activity (13 in total), five 2-hour workshop once per fortnight (total 10 hours) and five 1-hour tutorial once per fortnight (total 5 hours) (total 50 hours contact time).

In the workshops and tutorials there will be a focus on formative activities (for example implementing a study plan, developing a learning contract, conducting a literature search) which the students will need to prepare in advance and bring to the relevant seminar to present to the group. We will be encouraging questions and peer review from the observing students. There is an expectation of whole-class participation.

Study hours

At least 37 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Level 3 (i.e. foundation modules for Part 0) and Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: /cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs