School of Humanities  
 
 
ENG-10026 Reading Literature  
Co-ordinator: Dr Nicholas Seager   Tel:33142  
Teaching Team: Dr Roger  Pooley, Mrs Tracey  Lea, Prof David Amigoni, Dr Lucy Munro, Dr Ceri Morgan, Prof Scott  McCracken, Miss Jo-Anne  Watts, Dr Jonathon  Shears, Prof Ian  Bell  
Lecture Time: See Timetable...  
Level: 1 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office: Tel: 01782 733147
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for
Film Studies Dual Honours (Level 1)
Film Studies Minor (Level 1)
Available as a Free Standing Elective
Yes
Prerequisites
'A' level English or equivalent.

Barred Combinations
None
Description

How is University English different from 'A' level? What sorts of ideas and facts are important for studying literature? What makes literature distinctive and exciting? This core introductory module aims to answer these questions and thereby enable students to manage the transition from 'A' level or equivalent to self-study, group work, and formal assessment at university level. The central focus of the module is poetry and drama, from William Shakespeare to Tony Harrison. As well as reading these primary works, students will also be introduced to some key ideas and terms in literary criticism, as well as to all the research resources available to them at Keele. It is a module designed to develop and strengthen your pleasure, knowledge and confidence as a reader of literature.
Aims
To impart research skills (use of library, electronic resources etc.) for the further study of literature.

To enable students to sample a range of texts and genres by a number of different authors and from a range of the historical periods covered by modules later in the programme.

To equip students with a familiarity with the distinctive characteristics of the key literary genres of poetry and drama.

To equip students with a clear and working knowledge of relevant literary terminology.

To familiarise students with some of the important debates in critical and literary theory in English studies (focusing on historicism and feminism).

To introduce students to essential techniques and conventions of presenting ideas orally, on paper and electronically.
Intended Learning Outcomes
engage in description and analysis of a number of varied examples of poetry and drama will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3
articulate some of the key concepts in historicist and feminist critical theory and relate these to the texts studied will be achieved by assessments: 2, 3

acquire, assess, organize and engage with a wide variety of sources (including electronic ones) as part of the practice of research


will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3

demonstrate familiarity with some of the distinctive characteristics of 2 key literary genres: drama &poetry will be achieved by assessments: 1,2,3

demonstrate skills appropriate to both written and oral forms of communication and using basic word processing skills will be achieved by assessments: 1,2,3

work constructively with others, weighing up differing or opposing critical positions and articulating a clear assessment of them will be achieved by assessments: 4
Study hours
Lecture (12 hours)
Small group class (12 hours)
Seminar preparation and private study (75 hours)
Exam writing and preparation (40 hours)
Formative exercise preparation and writing (10 hours)
Feedback (1 hour)
Description of Module Assessment
01: Essay weighted 20%
Close reading exercise (1200 words)
02: 2 Hour Exam weighted 70%
2 hour exam
03: Class Participation weighted 10%
A mark will be given for class participation skills: contribution to discussion, group skills, preparation etc.
Version: (1.06B) Updated: 03/Mar/2013

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