Convenor name: Dr Manish Maskara
Convenor email: mm169@soas.ac.uk
Office room: P400 (Office hours) P401-403 (Desk)
Office hours: Wed & Thu 1-2 (P400) Fri (3-4 via Teams)
Module dates: Semester 1
Intended learning outcomes:

1. Understand and engage critically with different perspectives and arguments within the literature, particularly in development studies

2. Analyse how arguments are generated, what different types of evidence can and cannot do, and how to find and critically engage with evidence for their own 

3. Engage in core academic skills: argument reconstruction; literature reviews, academic writing


Assessment 1: Name: Assignment 1 (AS1)
Assessment 1: Weighting: 30%
Assessment 1: Due date: 27 November 2025, 23:59
Assessment 1: Release date: In 3 weeks
Assessment 1: Permitted AI usage: Retrieval;Editing
Assessment 1: Format: TED Talk Review. A 700 word review paper that critically examines the argument presented in a TED Talk (See Assessment brief)
Assessment 2: Name: Assignment 2 (AS2)
Assessment 2: Weighting: 70%
Assessment 2: Due date: 8 January 2026, 23:59
Assessment 2: Release date: In 3 weeks
Assessment 2: Permitted AI usage: Autonomy
Assessment 2: Format: Critical thinking Essay. A 1500 word essay that critically engages with an argument in global development theory and practice (See Assessment brief)
Page type: Module
Study year: 2025/26
Librarian name: Farzana Qureshi
Librarian email: fq@soas.ac.uk
Page template: 2025/26 On campus