AMS-20065: From Modernity to Counter-Culture: American Literature and Social Criticism in the Twentieth Century

The module is designed to examine the relationship between American literature as a critical force and historical developments in 20thC American society. The approach is to look beyond explicit social "content" or polemical intentions. This involves studying a diverse range of texts in order to explore the relations between literary form, a writer's extra-literary purposes, and wider ideological factors. As a result, students will be examining the changing and various nature and role of American literature during the modern period. The module's horizon is a knowledge of how literature may be viewed as critical of, or complicit with, the society within which it is produced.

Intended Learning Outcomes

analyse 20th-century American poetry and prose in order to explore the relations between literary form, a writer's extra-literary purposes, and wider ideological factors. will be achieved by assessments: 01,02,03
relate textual analysis to social, cultural and historical contexts. will be achieved by assessments: 02,03
describe and analyse basic features of the social, historical and political identity of the United States in the Twentieth Century will be achieved by assessments: 02, 03
describe and evaluate basic features of mult-disciplinary scholarship (literary, historical and/or political) relating to study of the United States in the Twentieth Century will be achieved by assessments: 01, 03
employ the basic bibliographical, referencing, and presentation requirements of the core disciplines will be achieved by assessments: 02
-

Study hours

11 x 2 hour seminar; 11 x 4 hour seminar preparation; 84 hours assignment preparation

Description of Module Assessment

01: Short Paper weighted 30%

Close textual analysis exercise 1,000-1,500 words
The module will be taught by weekly two-hour seminars. Feedback will be given on the Short Paper (submitted in Week 7) in one-to-one sessions in Week 9).

02: Essay weighted 60%

Thematic/formal analysis assessed essay 3,000-3,500 words
Thematic/formal analysis, from a range of set titles that should enable students to demonstrate the module's main learning outcomes.

03: Class Participation weighted 10%

Class participation
Participation is assessed according to energy and effort as well as academic ability (see AMS Student Handbook for full details)

Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Mar/2013

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