| Unit name | Interrelation of Culture Between Britain, Africa and the Caribbean |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ENGL30137 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| 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 |
N/A |
| School/department | Department of English |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important
This unit will aim to examine the interrelation of cultures between the ‘mother country’ and former African and Caribbean colonies. The unit will introduce students to the diversity of literature written from British former African and Caribbean colonies, as well as texts related to the post-colonial diasporic experience in Britain. Students will study the distinctive qualities of these texts, with a particular focus on the British cultural legacy in the African and Caribbean speaking countries, as well as how this legacy is negotiated both contemporaneously and in the post-colonial period.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
Special units offer thought-provoking and engaging investigations into key topics, including period-focused, thematic, and trans-historical approaches, often closely informed by the research expertise of individual academic staff. Special units ask students to both rethink the familiar and meet the unexpected, and encourage them to develop depth as well as breadth of critical understanding.
An overview of content
This unit will consider the related and distinct trajectories of African and African diasporic post- colonial experience through a study of literary texts. Crossing between Africa, the Caribbean and Britain we will examine works that illustrate the struggle to forge a national voice, the ambiguities of post-colonial identities, the traumas experienced by first generation migrants in the metropolis. Keeping the international framework in mind, we will explore methods of resistance by successive generations, and how new approaches to gender, sexuality, globalisation and authenticity have shaped Black writing in Africa, the Caribbean, and Britain.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
On completion of the unit students will have engaged with a range of writing from Africa, the Caribbean and post-colonial Britain, gained an increased understanding of the historical and cultural contexts of the literature from these interconnected regions, and refined their textual analysis and understanding of these literatures in ways that not only connect to the content of the unit, but will be a meaningful consolidation as they complete their programme.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
This unit is normally taught through a series of 3-hour seminars. Seminars use a range of teaching methods including lectures, group discussion, research and writing activities, and peer dialogue. Students are expected to attend all timetabled teaching, engage with the reading, and participate fully with the weekly tasks and topics. Learning will be further supported through the opportunity for individual consultation. Students will be offered the opportunity to build towards summative assessments through informal formative work and feedback.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Presentation (30%) [ILOs 1-3];
3,000 word essay (70%) [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. ENGL30137).
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.
