| Unit name | Literature and Trauma: 1900 to the present |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ENGL20129 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Masud |
| 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 tackles one of the most important questions of the contemporary world: what is the impact of pain and suffering? How does it shape our minds on a personal, political and societal level? And how is it captured in literature? In this unit, we will read texts from poetry to films to graphic novels, and study theory from psychoanalysis, literary studies and history, to understand how – and why – we tell stories about trauma.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
Specialisation units challenge and empower you to engage with specific elements of advanced literary study. Specialisation units include taught options, which are closely informed by the world-leading research of individual academic staff, as well as final-year dissertation units that will enable you to pursue your own research or creative interests. Specialisation units cultivate ambition and independent learning, and showcase the department’s wide-ranging and varied expertise.
An Overview of Content
In this unit, students will tackle a key aspect of contemporary writing: how do we understand and write about trauma? How does it affect choices around style, genre, narrative and characterisation? And how are these choices shaped by our cultural contexts? Every seminar will be based on one literary text, primarily from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries (poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction or drama), and one theoretical text (for instance, Freud, Laub, Caruth, Borzaga and Cvetkovich), and will address a different question around trauma (and) writing. For example: how has the meaning of the word ‘trauma’ shifted across the twentieth century? How might the consequences of trauma be differently conceived and written about in different cultural contexts? And how might trauma simultaneously disrupt and constitute narrative?
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 a range of theoretical and literary texts, gain an increased understanding of trauma as a historical and cultural construct, and refine their argumentation and close-reading skills in ways that not only connect to the content of this unit, but will be a valuable frame of reference for progress into year 3, and a possible starting point for their dissertation research.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:
Teaching will involve asynchronous and synchronous elements, including 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 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 outline of your final essay and receive formative feedback.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative)
Portfolio, 3,000 words (100%) [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. ENGL20129).
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.
