EN2LCT-Literary Criticism and Theory
Module Provider: English
Number of credits: 20 [10ECTS credits]
Level:
5
Terms in which taught: Autumn
Module Convenor: Dr
RD
McDonald
Pre-requisites: EN1LL EN1RS EN1WKT
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Module version for: 2009/0
Email: r.d.a.mcdonald@reading.ac.uk
Aims:
Building on the critical and theoretical work undertaken in Part 1, this module aims to develop students' understanding of some of the most important concepts in modern literary study, through an examination of critical debates and the way some recent critics and theorists have responded to them.
Assessable learning outcomes:
By the end of the module it is expected that students will be able to:
• demonstrate an understanding of key concepts, issues and debates in the contemporary study of literature
• identify and analyze the distinctive features of a variety of critical methodologies
• engage critically with the ideas presented in lectures, seminars, or secondary materials
• organize and articulate a coherent written argument, both in coursework essays and under timed examination conditions.
Additional outcomes:
Students will be encouraged to develop skills of oral communication and effective participation in group work. They will also enhance their IT competence through the use of relevant web resources and databases and the word-processing of assessed work. Students will also gain a more confident and discriminating awareness of their own critical procedures, which should carry over into their literary studies elsewhere on the degree course.
Outline content:
The module will explore ideas of author, text, reader, gender, history and value. Lectures will outline some of the ways in which these concepts have been interpreted, with reference to works by specific critics and theorists such as F. R. Leavis, Roland Barthes, Wolfgang Iser and Helene Cixous. A 'Reader' in Modern Criticism and Theory will provide most of the extracts selected for study, but this will be supplemented by additional material where necessary. In seminar discussion students will examine and debate the views of particular critics or theorists as they are represented in individual essays or extracts.
Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
A combination of lectures and seminars, for which students will do preparatory reading. Each student will also receive an individual tutorial on the non-assessed coursework essay.
Contact hours:
| Autumn | Spring | Summer | |
| Lectures | 9 | 1 | |
| Tutorials/seminars | 9.5 | ||
| Practicals | |||
| Other contact (eg study visits) | |||
| Total hours | 18.5 | 1 | |
| Number of essays or assignments | 2 | ||
| Other (eg major seminar paper) |
Assessment:
Coursework:
Students write one non-assessed essay of approximately 1500 words, and submit a second essay, of no more than 2000 words, for formal assessment.
Relative percentage of coursework
Assessed Essay 33%.
Penalties for late submission
Ten marks (out of 100 on the normal University scale) will be deducted from a piece of work submitted up to one calendar week after the original deadline or any formally agreed extension of that deadline. Once this period has elapsed, a mark of zero will be recorded.
Examinations
A two-hour paper, requiring two answers, which 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.
Last updated: 7 December 2009