Keele UniversityFaculty of HumsSocSci
American Studies
Explore this Section
Welcome to American Studies at Keele
Mount Rushmore , South Dakota : faces of (left to right) Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.
So, you've chosen to study American Studies at Keele: we think you've made the right choice! Here is some information and advice that you'll find useful before you arrive.
If you have any more questions, feel free to contact the Programme Director for American Studie, Tim Lustig, other members of the tutorial staff , or Jayne Braddick, Office Team Co-ordinator. For English and American Literatures (EALs), please contact the Programme Director for EALs, Lucy Munro.
When you arrive at Keele in September you should already be registered for all your first semester modules and the university will have sent you further information. American Studies holds an induction event for new students – the time and venue appear on our welcome letter to you. It is VITAL that you attend both this meeting and the first meetings for ALL of your four modules.
You can find out more about the University and university life in general here.
We're looking forward to meeting you in September.
Some Differences Between School/College and University
- You have less contact time with your teachers.
- You have more opportunities for independent study and research, and this can be very exciting.
- When you watch a movie or read a book for study purposes, you have to be critical, analytical, and make notes. It's good to get into this habit early.
- You will have more topics/texts to cover each semester.
- The first mark you receive for a piece of work is the final mark. You can't resubmit essays.
- There are higher/different standards of research expected.
- Likewise, there are higher/different standards of style and presentation. You will receive guidance in both research techniques and presentation issues.
How Much Work Will You Have to Do?
Obviously, this depends partly on the individual. But as a rough guide, the university guidelines suggest that 1 credit = 10 hours of work. So if you are taking a 15-credit module, you might expect to put in 150 hours of work over a 12-week semester, including seminar attendance, reading, writing essays and planning. That's roughly 12 hours per week.
While we're on the subject, it's worth making a couple of important points. First, we'll do everything we can to make you feel comfortable in the department. We are well aware that the first few weeks can feel bewildering as you try to acclimatise and get used to the various procedures. However, you should also remember that university work is supposed to be challenging . You will have to do a lot of reading, and it's important that you achieve an appropriate balance between study and relaxation right from the start. If you work hard, we're sure you'll get a great deal from your time here.
Remember that if you do run into any problems, the golden rule is PLEASE COMMUNICATE. Rather than disappearing, get in touch with your tutors, who will always do their best to help.
Glossary of Useful Terms (in alphabetical order)
American Studies Undergraduate Resource Centre - this gets referred to in a number of different ways. Sometimes it's the American Studies Resource Room, sometimes the American Studies Library, sometimes the Undergraduate Resource Room. Whatever you call it, it's an invaluable resource. Manned every day by volunteer students, it's a library of books, articles, short stories and DVDs especially for you. It can be found in room CBB1.045 (we'll show you where that is when you arrive). Click here for more information.
consultation hour - each American Studies tutor has designated hours during the week (usually 1 or 2) when students are free to come to the tutor's office and talk about any issues. You might want to go over something you didn't quite understand in a lecture or seminar, for example, or ask about suggested reading for an essay.
core module – you do two of these each semester, one from each of your principal subjects.
elective module - you do two of these each semester and can choose either to specialize in one or other principal subject (or both) or develop knowledge and skills in other subjects.
essay - generally, a longer piece of assessed written work (something between 2,500 and 3,500 words), in which you'll have to construct an argument on a particular topic, using a variety of sources to support your argument. There are also different types of short paper (1,000 - 1,500 words) which will come earlier in the semester. These include close readings of texts, and extended plans and bibliographies.
KLE – the Keele Learning Environment - is an online resource which provides documentation for each moulde. Tutors sometimes run discussion groups and quizzes using the KLE.
lecture - more formal than a seminar. The tutor presents a 50-minute paper on a specific topic to all the students taking the module, often with handouts and/or PowerPoint slides. Students take detailed notes. Depending on the tutor, students might be asked a few informal checking questions. Attendance at lectures, like seminars and workshops, is compulsory.
module document - will be available on the KLE a hard copy will also be given to each student on the module. Contains all the important information about the module you are taking, including times and locations of seminars, lectures and consultation hours; an extended reading list; information about assessment and tutor's contact details.
personal tutor - on arrival, all Keele students are allocated one tutor who looks out for you and offers basic pastoral care and academic advice. S/he will be a tutor from one of your degree programmes.
portfolio – a form of assessment which might involve a number of small tasks designed to improve your study skills, e.g. library searches, using electronic resources, compiling a bibliography. Might also include a learner journal / research diary , in which you reflect on your own study and research and the techniques and activities that work best for you.
programme director - the tutor responsible for American Studies. If you can't get the help you need from other staff, you can always contact the Programme Director. From September 2010 this will be Dr. Tim Lustig.
seminar - a smaller, more intimate group than a lecture. Also more interactive; students and tutor engage in detailed discussion on a particular topic (e.g. literary text, film, historical figure or event). Students are expected to be prepared and to carry the discussion. Tutors will give tasks in preparation for each seminar. Sometimes, groups of students will be asked to give short presentations or lead debates.
SSLC - the Staff-Student Liaison Committee. An important forum for students to give feedback on the work of the department. Includes students from Levels I, II and III, so if you're interested in being on the SSLC, which meets roughly twice per semester, please email Laura Sandy at l.r.sandy@keele.ac.uk
tutor - the person who gives lectures, runs seminars and workshops and makes sure that you are having a positive learning experience. Also a publisher of original research and an expert in his or her field. Different tutors have different styles of teaching: this variety is a positive thing.
workshop - 1 or 2 hours, multi-purpose session. Can be used for screening movies; conducting close readings of literary texts; giving student presentations; group activities or research activities.
What You Can Be Doing Right Now
- Immerse yourself in all things American! As well as starting on the specific reading for the modules you're taking, here are a few other suggestions:
- Read American newspapers such as The New York Times , Washington Post or Boston Globe
- Watch American movies: viewed with a critical eye, movies can tell you a lot about contemporary concerns, ideas and fears.
- American TV: plenty of this about! Recommendations - The Wire , 24 and any number of CSIs .
- Browse websites: for example, the White House site is interesting and includes a revealing list of FAQs and responses, such as “What is the War on Terror?”
- Browse this website at Keele to get an idea of the culture of the department.
Find out about the Tutors
Click here to read about American Studies staff teaching and research interests. Contact details are also here.
What the Students Say
Read testimonies from American Studies students past and present. They'll tell you better than we can what it's like to be here…
