Course unit details:
Brazilian Literature
| Unit code | SPLA20831 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 20 |
| Unit level | Level 2 |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 1 |
| Offered by | Spanish, Portuguese and Latin |
| Available as a free choice unit? | Yes |
Overview
Brazil is a large, multi-ethnic country, marked by deep social and geographical contrasts. This course will discuss different aspects of Brazilian culture and society through the analysis of key literary texts. By reading in Portuguese, students will significantly improve their vocabulary and syntax while developing a sophisticated knowledge of Brazilian literature and culture.
Pre/co-requisites
This unit is available as free choice with knowledge of the target language.
Available on: SPLAS (Portuguese) Programme
Pre/Co/Antirequisite units | Pre-requisite: SPLA52010 Portuguese Language 1 (or equivalent) Co-requisite: SPLA51050 Portuguese Language 5 |
Aims
On successful completion of this course unit, students will be able to:
Teaching and learning methods
- Lectures
- Task- motivated group work
- Structured debate
- Active and informed participation in seminar discussion
Knowledge and understanding
- Discuss key aspects of 19th and 20th century Brazilian literature
- Discuss important aspects of Brazilian culture and society and how they are represented in literature
- Display literary analytical skills
Intellectual skills
- Display cultural analytical skills (literary analysis, social and political analysis)
Practical skills
- Significantly improve their ability to read Portuguese
- Significantly improve vocabulary and syntax in Portuguese
Transferable skills and personal qualities
- Demonstrate independent and critical thinking
- Demonstrate an ability to present material and ideas individually and collectively in oral and written form.
- An ability to participate in group discussions
- An ability to participate in internet discussions
Assessment methods
| Assessment task | Formative or Summative | Weighting unit within |
| Critical commentary | Formative and Summative | 40% |
| Critical commentary | Summative | 60% |
Resit Assessment:
Essay
Feedback methods
- Written feedback on critical commentaries
- Peer feedback on in-class formative exercises
- Formative feedback about in-class participation and discussion
- Additional one-to-one feedback (during the consultation hour or by making an appointment)
Recommended reading
- Bethell, Leslie. “The Independence of Brazil”, Cambridge History of Latin America, vol 3,(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1984) pp. 157-196
- Fausto, Boris. A Concise History of Brazil (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1999). SLC
Study hours
| Scheduled activity hours | |
|---|---|
| Lectures | 11 |
| Seminars | 22 |
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 167 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Karl Posso | Unit coordinator |
Additional notes
Please check your ‘My Manchester’ timetables for days/times. Any queries can be directed to salc-languages@manchester.ac.uk or the Languages Student Information Office.
This module must be passed with a minimum overall mark of 40% in order to progress.