| Unit name | Technologies of the Text |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ENGLM0091 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Cathy Hume |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
N/A |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
N/A |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
N/A |
| School/department | Department of English |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
This unit will explore how texts have been designed, made and experienced over time, concentrating on their material and digital forms. We will aim to expand your outlook if, so far, you have mostly studied literature without thinking about its physical form and production, and to give you a thorough and wide-ranging introduction to the history of the book. The unit will take a long historical perspective, comparing medieval book culture with early modern and contemporary approaches and thinking about what these differences mean for how we experience texts. There will be plenty of opportunities to work with physical objects – medieval manuscripts and early printed books held in the University Library’s Special Collections, and the historic and replica printing presses at the Bristol Common Press – as well as to experiment with a wide range of digital tools for studying book and manuscript history, including transcription, collation, and printing history.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit offers an opportunity to broaden your expertise into the subdiscipline of book history, an area of advanced literary study that is not often encountered at undergraduate level. It will teach you a complementary approach and set of skills to enhance your study of literary texts. This is an optional unit, which is designed to cultivate ambition and independent learning, and showcase the department’s wide-ranging and varied expertise.
An Overview of Content
The unit will compare medieval textual technologies and cultures with their modern and contemporary counterparts for a nuanced understanding of historical developments and their impact on reading practices, including:
Throughout, we will explore digital tools and resources alongside material objects.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
Students will have explored the history of the book, and will have a new understanding of its importance to literary study. They will have gained experience in handling historic manuscripts, books and technology, as well as digital tools.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:
1) Describe key features of the history of the book in the British Isles from the medieval period to the present day.
2) Apply their understanding of textual technologies to wider questions of literary history and analysis.
3) Handle manuscripts and early printed book and use (at beginner level) historic printing technology and digital tools.
4) Identify, present and analyse evidence as part of a cogent argument in written form appropriate to level M.
Teaching will involve asynchronous and synchronous elements, including group discussion, research, and peer dialogue. Some short written and practical tasks will also be set inside and outside of seminars. Students are expected to engage with the reading and participate fully with the weekly tasks and topics. Learning will be further supported through the opportunity for individual consultation.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative)
Students will be given the opportunity to submit an abstract or plan for feedback as part of the preparation for their essay. Portfolio tasks will form part of seminar preparation or in-class activity, and will be given formative feedback as part of teaching.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative)
1,000 word portfolio of written tasks from the unit (25%) [ILOs 1-4], and 3,000 word essay (75%) [ILOs 1, 2 & 4].
When assessment does not go to plan
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the format or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are confirmed by the School/Centre shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the year.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. ENGLM0091).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
