EN2PW1: Women's Writing and Feminist Theory 1(eve)

Module Provider:

English

Number of credits:

20 [10 ECTS credits]

Level:

I (Intermediate)

Terms in which taught:

Spring

Module Convenor:

Prof CA Howells

Pre-requisites:

Co-requisites:

Modules excluded:

Current from:

2005/6

Aims:
This module is designed to acquaint students with a range of texts in different genres written by women, to familiarize them with central debates in feminist theoretical discourse, and to foster a discriminating awareness of gender issues in reading and writing.

Assessable learning outcomes:
By the end of the module students will be expected to:

Additional outcomes:

Outline content:
The focus of this module is on feminist critical approaches to a selection of women's texts, ranging from the seventeenth to the twentieth century. Some of the lectures introduce general issues of feminist theory, while others engage directly with the set texts and with various feminist approaches to reading these texts. Both in lectures and in seminars, discussion is mainly concerned with 'difference' in women's writing and the gender debate, with particular reference to the woman writer's relation to literary tradition, and representations of the female body. Materials selected for study represent a variety of genres, and are likely to include Aphra Behn's play The Rover, Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, Virginia Woolf's Orlando, and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. The module may be taken on its own, or in conjunction with full-time 'Women's Writing and Feminist Theory 2' .

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
A combination of lectures and seminars. Students will present short seminar papers as a basis for group discussion, and they also have an individual tutorial consultation.

Contact hours:

Assessment:
Coursework
Students write one non-assessed essay, of approximately 1500 words. They also submit one Assessed Essay, of 2000 words, for formal assessment.
Relative percentage of coursework: Assessed Essay 33%
Examinations
One two-hour paper requiring two answers. The examination accounts for 67% of the overall mark for the module.
Requirements for a pass
An average mark of 40%
Reassessment arrangements
Re-examination in September. Coursework will be carried forward if it bears a confirmed mark of 40% or more. Otherwise it must be resubmitted by 1 September.