School of Humanities  
 
 
AMS-20056 Burning Crosses: Religion and American Culture  
Co-ordinator: Dr James Peacock    Room: CBB0.025, Tel:33140  
Teaching Team: Mrs Jayne  Braddick, Mrs Amanda  Porritt, Miss Jo-Anne  Watts, Dr Mariangela  Palladino  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 2 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office: Tel: 01782 733147
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for
American Studies Dual Honours (Level 2)
American Studies Minor (Level 2)
American Studies Single Honours (Level 2)
English and American Literatures Single Honours (Level 2)
English with Creative Writing Single Honours (Level 2)
English Single Honours (Level 2)
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
Prerequisites
None
Barred Combinations
None
Description

This module offers a broadly chronological look at religion's importance in American cultural movements. It aims to raise students' awareness of the complex interactions between religious faith and cultural production through readings of a wide variety of stimulating and challenging texts, from literature, cinema and visual art. These diverse texts, which deal with equally diverse belief systems, show how in both celebration of and violent reaction to organised religion, culture is inextricably bound up with belief. One of the questions the module will address is: in an era when the death of religion has been widely cited, how does one account for the apparent resurgence and centrality of religious belief in American life?
Aims
This module offers a broadly chronological look at religion&©s importance in American cultural movements. It aims to raise students&© awareness of the complex interactions between religious faith and cultural production through readings of a wide variety of stimulating and challenging texts, from literature, cinema and visual art. These diverse texts, which deal with equally diverse belief systems, show how in both celebration of and violent reaction to organised religion, culture is inextricably bound up with belief. One of the questions the module will address is: in an era when the death of religion has been widely cited, how does one account for the apparent resurgence and centrality of religious belief in American life?
Intended Learning Outcomes
describe and evaluate basic features of multi-disciplinary scholarship (literary, historical and/or political) relating to study of the United States. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3, 4
describe basic features of the social, historical, and political identity of the United States. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3, 4
analyse and interpret a range of primary and secondary written and/or visual sources. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3, 4
make coherent arguments based on evidence and analysis orally and in writing. will be achieved by assessments: 2, 3, 4
relate textual analysis to social, cultural and historical contexts will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3, 4
carry out research using a range of textual and electronic resources. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 4
employ the basic bibliographical, referencing, and presentation requirements of the core disciplines. will be achieved by assessments: 1, 4
Study hours
11 weeks @ 1 hour lecture/workshop plus 1 hour seminar = 22 hours
2 weeks @ 1 hour workshop = 2 hours
11 weeks @ 3 hours seminar preparation = 33 hours
Short paper preparation = 25 hours
Seminar presentation preparation = 14 hours
Exam preparation = 54 hours
Total = 150 hours
Description of Module Assessment
01: Research Design weighted 10%
1000-word presentation plan
Students produce a provisional outline plan of their assessed presentation, with some reference to sources they will use.
02: Unseen Exam weighted 60%
2 hr unseen examination
Unseen 2-hour examination, in which students are required to answer two questions from a choice of ca. 10, including a compulsory question on the second two module units.
03: Seminar weighted 10%
Seminar Participation
Participation is assessed according to effort as well as academic ability; i.e., evidence of preparation in response to set seminar topics, readiness to apply the preparation positively in class discussion and quality of contributions. Tutors will keep weekly records to support marks awarded. (See AMS Student Handbook for full details).
04: Group Presentation weighted 20%
10-minute oral presentation with questions
Groups of 3 or 4 students will present for 10 minutes on a topic related to one of the module primary texts, using PowerPoint or Prezi and, optionally, a handout. They will be assessed on content, quality of the visual materials and on presentation skills.
Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Oct/2013

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.