Postgraduate Taught

The new MA English Literatures will provide a structured learning environment, and it will provide choice through modules from:

• Victorian Studies (taught at Keele since 1968) that have been integrated into the new programme
• Students may select modules from the MA in Global Media and Communication:
• and they may select from a variety of M level (4) modules from English and American Literatures research-led teaching
• Students will continue to benefit from a wide choice of dissertation topics
• Students will have the full research training programme offered as part of the MRes Humanities  

The Masters programme aims to enable students to:

• Engage in wide and varied reading among the regional and global varieties of literature and literary criticism.
• Think both critically and creatively about literature in English.
• Assess the form and meaning of literary and filmic texts.
• Develop their understanding of the characteristics of key literary genres (prose fiction, poetry, and drama) and periods (post-1500), and of the principles of canonisation that elevate and marginalise texts and their authors.
• Understand, evaluate, and apply to literary texts a range of critical ideas and theories relevant to textual criticism at Masters level.
• Communicate ideas and arguments with clarity and care in a number of different forms—including essays, oral presentations, reflective diaries—using appropriate language and techniques of presentation.
• Work both constructively and critically, by themselves and as part of a team, to deliver specific projects.
• Reflect productively on their strengths, weaknesses, and methods of learning.
• Develop research skills commensurate with postgraduate study in the field of English Literary Studies.

Students are accepted onto the Programme on the basis of an honours degree at second class (normally a 2.1), or higher (or international equivalent).  Applicants with other qualifications and appropriate experience are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Students registered at overseas Institutions which are ERASMUS partners or have existing exchange agreements with Keele and who wish to take parts of this Programme as an exchange student will be required to satisfy the criteria for qualification for such an exchange agreed by their home institution in consultation with CIED.

Students for whom English is a second language will be required to satisfy the criteria outlined in the first paragraph of this section, however we will also require English language proficiency of at least 7.0 in IELTS test scores (or equivalent).

The function of the assessments listed in the table above is to test students’ achievement of the learning outcomes of the English Literatures Programme. For example:

• Essays test the quality and application of subject knowledge.  They allow students to demonstrate their ability to carry out bibliographic research and to communicate their ideas effectively in writing in an appropriate scholarly style using appropriate systems of referencing.
• Critical Analyses of other scholars’ work test students’ ability to identify and summarise the key points of a text and to evaluate the quality of arguments and the evidence used to support them. Critical analyses also assess students’ knowledge of research methodologies and their ability to make critical judgements about the appropriateness of different approaches.
• Annotated Bibliographies test students’ ability to analyse and evaluate critically a range of secondary and source materials with a view towards specific areas of research.
• Project Outlines test students’ ability to plan, prepare, and structure a viable research project. They also test the students’ knowledge of relevant and important areas of research within English literary studies, and to assess the originality and impact of certain areas of research to the field.
• Reflective Study Diaries test students’ ability to engage self-reflexively with their study and practice within their field. They encourage students to develop a critical engagement with their modes and practices of study, learning and development of research topics.
• Short research papers test student’s knowledge of different research methodologies. They also enable students to demonstrate their ability to formulate research questions and to answer them using an appropriate strategy.
• Oral presentations, either by individual students or in groups, assess students’ subject knowledge and understanding. Where applicable, they also test their ability to work effectively as members of a team, to communicate what they know orally and visually, and to reflect on these processes as part of their own personal development.
• Dissertations test students’ ability to carry out independent research and communicate findings in an extended piece of written work following recognised academic standards of presentation.

Marks are awarded for summative assessments designed to assess students’ achievement of learning outcomes. Students are also assessed formatively to enable them to monitor their own progress and to assist staff in identifying and addressing any specific learning needs. Formative assessment is not formally marked. Feedback, including guidance on how students can improve the quality of their work, is also provided on all summative assessments and more informally in the course of tutorial and seminar discussions.