BA English Literature / Course details

English Literature Tutorials is an intensive, seminar-based course designed to teach incoming English literature students the basic skills of university-level research, close reading and academic writing. Each student will be assigned to a seminar group with a member of academic staff who will also serve as that student’s Academic Advisor. Students will work with this member of staff one-on-one and in small discussion groups, with seminars focused on weekly topics designed to help students make the transition from A-level to university-level work. Students can expect to do in-class writing and discussion work, as well as to practice the skills of close reading, research, and debate.

This course aims to:

• help students make the transition from school to university-level study;
• teach students the skills required to produce university-level essays;
• provide training in the necessary skills of the discipline (e.g. use of library, close, critical analysis of literary and other texts, oral skills for seminar presentations);
• make students aware of the requirements of referencing and academic honesty;
• provide guidance for learning and self-development;
• foster an environment in which students take responsibility for their own learning.

This class will have a 2 hour seminar and a 1 hour tutorials each week.  

Relevant materials will be posted on Blackboard each week.   

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• demonstrate a good familiarity with the chosen seminar texts;
• understand how to use relevant library and IT resources ;
• define and avoid academic malpractice, including plagiarism;
• demonstrate a good understanding of close reading skills.

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• analyse and reflect critically on course texts;
• perform close readings of literary texts;
• identify and outline key issues in the study of English literature ;
• synthesize and analyse information from close readings;
• develop and articulate a reasoned argument for a particular point of view;
• draw reasoned conclusions using information from close reading;
• evaluate arguments advanced by other critics.

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• plan and execute independent research on a relevant topic;
• make good use of library, electronic, and online resources pertaining to the course;
• write clearly structured and persuasively argued essays about course texts;
• express ideas in seminar;
• debate ideas with other seminar participants.

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• retrieve, sift, organise, synthesise and critically evaluate material from a range of different sources, including library, electronic, and online resources;
• produce written work using appropriate language for an academic audience;
• produce written work that collects and integrates evidence to formulate a critical argument;
• manage time effectively by scheduling tasks in order of importance;

Essay 1 35%

Essay 2 65%

Readings vary from seminar group to seminar group, and are determined by the instructor.  Students will be advised of the required reading well in advance of the study of the material.