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Reading Lists at King's: a guide for students

What is a reading list?

What is a reading list? 

A reading list is a list of books, journal articles, other types of academic or professional literature, and multimedia. Reading lists can look different in different fields of study. The way you use a reading list might change as you progress through your studies.  

At King’s we use an online reading list system called Leganto. The College Education Committee made a commitment in 2016 for all taught modules to have a reading list.  

See below for additional information from your faculty/department.  

Reading lists at King’s 

University is the first time many of us encounter reading lists. 

Our reading lists are an important part of module design, carefully curated by our teachers to support learning at King’s. Leganto reading lists are built around module learning outcomes, meaning the key resources on reading lists are directly connected to lectures, seminars, and assessments. Our reading lists contain all the essential materials needed for us to succeed but is also a starting point for further research. 

Reading lists at King’s are not just a tool to access resources, they are a gateway to a world of information and knowledge. They support King’s in building a world class, research led inclusive education. 

Definitions

Our reading list system at KCL allows academics to structure reading lists in the way that works best for their modules. However, we do have 3 levels of importance which are used across the University. 

CORE

Fundamental reading or multimedia that encompasses the key concepts and learning objectives of the modules. Sometimes these materials are necessary for a specific activity such as lecture or seminar discussions, journal clubs, or assignments. If this is the case, this should always be made clear by your module lead.

 

RECOMMENDED

Recommended items on reading lists enhance and extend your understanding of topics covered in the module.

 

FURTHER READING

Optional readings that go beyond the fundamental learning objectives of the module, or that cover them in a level of detail not demanded or expected of students in assessments. 

Faculty specific guidance

We are currently awaiting guidance for this faculty. If you are unsure of what to read, please contact your module lead or programme administrator in the first instance.

We are currently awaiting guidance for this faculty. If you are unsure of what to read, please contact your module lead or programme administrator in the first instance.

We are currently awaiting guidance for this faculty. If you are unsure of what to read, please contact your module lead or programme administrator in the first instance.

During your legal studies at DPSoL, you will spend a lot of time reading! Getting to grips with the relevant reading lists for the modules on which you are studying is, therefore, very important. Every module at the Dickson Poon School of Law has a Leganto reading list. A link to the Leganto reading list can be found near the top of each module's KEATS page. Each module leader is responsible for creating and maintaining these reading lists. Therefore, if you have questions about what you need to read and when, you should raise these questions with the relevant module lead.

In terms of how our reading lists look, some modules will separate out the relevant semesterly/weekly reading into separate sections on the Leganto reading list. In this instance, you should cross-reference the Leganto reading list with the relevant class reading list (you should be able to find this on the relevant module KEATS page) to see what reading is essential in advance of that class.

Other Leganto reading lists may offer more generalist guidance on what is core and what is additional relevant reading across the span of the entire module. This will usually mean that the reading list won’t be divided into semesterly/weekly reading but sub-divided into some (or all) of the following sections:

Core: This reading is compulsory and is essential in helping you to develop your understanding of the subject matter being taught. You should make sure that you complete this reading in advance of any relevant classes.

Recommended: This reading offers you a good alternative source of information to help support and develop your critical understanding of the core reading. If you are struggling to make sense of the core reading, dipping into the items on this list might be useful in resolving that struggle. You may also find this reading helpful as a further point of reference for coursework or other formative or summative assessed work.

Further: This reading offers you a broader understanding of the relevant subject matter. You may wish to delve into the items on this section of the reading list if you are particularly interested in the subject matter. Alternatively, once again, you may find this reading helpful as a point of reference for coursework or other formative or summative assessed work.

Please bear in mind that many of the core texts should be fully available online for free through the University’s subscriptions to services like LawTrove, which can be accessed through the library’s databases page.

Should you wish to purchase a personal physical copy of any of the relevant core texts, you will want to first either visit the Library (for texts which are only available in print), or review the online version of the text (for those texts which are available as an eBook) and spend some time perusing the particular text to see if you ‘get along’ with the text (i.e. you find the language and explanations accessible and understandable). You may find that another textbook (one not set by the module leader) clarifies a particular point in a way that works better for you, or answers questions that you have about a particular topic. Therefore, it’s worth your time to read around, not only at the start of the year but as you become immersed into more in-depth topics later in the year. Again, the text(s) that work(s) best for you may be available online, or in print form. Make sure to use the most up-to-date edition available, as earlier editions can be very useful but may not have the latest Supreme Court case or some other recent development which your tutors will want you to know about. Remember that the law is always on the move!

NB: There is no expectation to purchase a physical copy of core texts (textbooks are expensive!) and you should definitely not purchase anything before starting a module, unless explicitly told otherwise.

Additionally, with the volume of reading which seems an inevitability for anyone studying law, it is quite easy to fall behind and for your ‘to read’ list to quickly snowball. If you are finding it difficult to keep up with your reading lists, please do reach out to your module tutors and personal tutors as soon as possible. Don’t wait until it becomes a bigger issue. They are there to support you in your academic study so get in touch with them!

Happy reading!

We are currently awaiting guidance for this faculty. If you are unsure of what to read, please contact your module lead or programme administrator in the first instance.

We are currently awaiting guidance for this faculty. If you are unsure of what to read, please contact your module lead or programme administrator in the first instance.

We are currently awaiting guidance for this faculty. If you are unsure of what to read, please contact your module lead or programme administrator in the first instance.

We are currently awaiting guidance for this faculty. If you are unsure of what to read, please contact your module lead or programme administrator in the first instance.

We are currently awaiting guidance for this faculty. If you are unsure of what to read, please contact your module lead or programme administrator in the first instance.