| Unit name | Understanding Critical Theory and Thought |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ENGL10056 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Mr. Savage |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
none |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
none |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
none |
| School/department | Department of English |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Description
Building on the work undertaken in 'Introduction to Critical Theory and Thought', this unit will offer an introduction to a broad range of critical thinkers and theorists, and to creative writers thinking reflectively about their work. Students will be asked to consider the relevance of these materials to a range of primary texts and to the development of their own critical voice. There will be opportunities to compare and contrast a variety of approaches to literature, and to consider the relationship between critical or reflective thought and creative writing.
Aims:
This unit aims to build on the work of 'Introduction to Critical Theory and Thought', encouraging students to consider a variety of approaches to literature - in part through engagement with a range of critical thinkers and theorists. The unit will focus these discussions on four or five literary texts, which will be read from a variety of perspectives; a range of shorter critical texts and essays will also be introduced. Students will be encouraged to develop and/or to reflect on their own critical voice
An overview of content
This unit builds on the work of 'Introduction to Critical Theory and Thought', encouraging students to consider a variety of approaches to literature - in part through engagement with a range of critical thinkers and theorists. The unit will focus these discussions on four or five literary texts, which will be read from a variety of perspectives; a range of shorter critical texts and essays will also be introduced. Students will be encouraged to develop and/or to reflect on their own critical voice
How will students personally, be different as a result of the unit
On completion of the unit, students will have had the opportunity to engage with critical theory in the context of literary studies and gain an increased understanding of how we might productively close read and analyse literary texts in conversation with theory and thought. Students will be able to refine their understanding in ways that not only connect to the context of this unit, but also serve as a valuable frame of reference for progress into their following year of study. Moreover, engagement with this unit offers vital transferrable skills in close reading, analysis and synthesis of relevant sources, and lateral thinking.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:
Teaching will involve asynchronous and synchronous elements. This includes a mini-lecture element, group discussion, research and writing activities and peer dialogue. Students are expected to engage with the reading and participate fully with the weekly tasks and topics. Learning will further be supported through individual consultation.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
The unit involves weekly, formative, writing exercises (max. 500 words) relating to the content of that week to emphasise progressive and incremental learning. This is particularly beneficial for students in the ELCE programme, who do not always have much experience of academic writing. The unit tutor will provide light-touch feedback each week on these exercises. The best three will be developed by the student to be presented to the class as a ‘Work in Progress’ presentation, to then form their summative portfolio.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
2,100-word portfolio (3 x 700 words) (67%) [ILOs 1-3].
Presentation (33%) [ILOs 1-4].
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. ENGL10056).
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.
