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BA English Literature and French

Year of entry: 2021

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Course unit details:
Writing, Identity and Nation

Unit code	ENGL20491
Credit rating	20
Unit level	Level 2
Teaching period(s)	Semester 1
Offered by	English and American Studies
Available as a free choice unit?	No

Overview

This course addresses issues of nationhood and identity in post-1945 British and Irish writing, including recent works by postcolonial writers. The content ranges across a wide geographical area and covers a broad spectrum of literary styles, themes and narrative voices. While the primary focus is on selected works of fiction and poetry, the course also examines key concepts in literary and cultural theory. Authors discussed include Sam Selvon, Andrea Levy, Irvine Welsh, Rita Ann Higgins, Sebastian Barry, Nikita Lalwani, Mohsin Hamid and Kamila Shamsie.

Aims

To develop an understanding of theories of nationhood, the colonial and the post-colonial in a literary context;

To develop the skills to analyse literature in its historical and cultural contexts;

To develop the ability to work between literary texts and theories, and across different literary genres, with particular reference to 20th century and 21st century literature;

To foster skills of written and oral forms of expression, and of critical and analytical thinking, at a level appropriate to Level 2 of an English Studies degree.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course, students should be able to demonstrate:

A knowledge of theories of nationhood, the colonial and post-colonial in a literary contexts;

An ability to analyse texts in their historical and cultural contexts;

An ability to relate literary theories to different literary genres, with particular reference to 20th century and 21st century literature;

An ability to present work which is characterised by analytical thought and sustained, coherent argument, in written and oral forms, at a level appropriate to Level 2 of an English Studies degree.

Syllabus

Employability skills

Analytical skills: Students taking this unit will be able to analyse and evaluate arguments and texts. Above all, committed students will emerge from this course unit with an advanced capacity to think critically, i.e. knowledgeably, rigorously, confidently and independently.
Group/team working: Students taking this unit will be able to work courteously and constructively as part of a larger group.
Innovation/creativity: On this unit students are encouraged to respond imaginatively and independently to the questions and ideas raised by texts and other media.
Leadership: Students on this unit must take responsibility for their learning and are encouraged not only to participate in group discussions but to do so actively and even to lead those discussions.
Project management: Students taking this unit will be able to work towards deadlines and to manage their time effectively.
Oral communication: Students taking this unit will be able to show fluency, clarity and persuasiveness in spoken communication.
Research: Students on this unit will be required to digest, summarise and present large amounts of information. They are encouraged to enrich their responses and arguments with a wide range of further reading.
Written communication: Students on this unit will develop their ability to write in a way that is lucid, precise and compelling.

Assessment methods

Essay

60%

Exam

40%

The use of dictionaries in the examination is prohibited. This rule applies to all categories of students, including all Visiting Students.

Study hours

Independent study hours
Independent study	165

Teaching staff

Staff member	Role
Howard Booth	Unit coordinator

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