Module Information

Module Identifier
EN10520
Module Title
Contemporary Writing
Academic Year
2013/2014
Co-ordinator
Mr Michael John Smith
Semester
Semester 2
Other Staff
 

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Seminars / Tutorials 10 Hours. (10 x 1 hour seminars)
Lecture 20 Hours. (20 x 1 hour lectures: two per week for 10 weeks)
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Continuous Assessment: 2000 word essay  50%
Semester Exam 2 Hours   (Answer two questions on a two hour examination paper)  50%
Supplementary Exam 2 Hours   RE-SIT EXAM  Resit examination  100%

Learning Outcomes

On the completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate an informed critical understanding of selected examples of contemporary writing.

2. Relate these texts to contemporary cultural concerns.

3. Write about contemporary literary texts in a structured and disciplined manner.

Brief description

This module introduces a range of contemporary writing in English covering a wide variety of forms, styles, and linguistic registers but concentrating on the genres of poetry and the novel. The set texts raise a number of critical issues concerning literary form and language, cultural positioning and social identity. They are arranged under four thematic headings: 'Nation and Community', 'Place and Ethnicity', 'Sexualities and Dissidence' and Twenty-First Century Traumas'. This approach will enable students to engage with the sort of theoretical work they will encounter at a higher level in Part Two.

Content

Lectures 1-3 and Seminars 1-3: Nation and Community
Text: Ed. Richard Gwyn, 'The Pterodactyl's Wing'

Lectures 5-10 and Seminars 4-5: Place and Ethnicity
Texts: Mohsin Hamid 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist'; Anne Enright 'The Gathering'

Lectures 11-15 and Seminars 6-8: Sexualities and Dissidence
Texts: Jackie Kay 'The Trumpet'; Jeanette Winterson 'The Stone Gods'

Lectures 16-20 and Seminars 9-10: Twenty-First Century Traumas
Texts: Tom McCarthy 'Remainder'; James Meek' We Are Now Beginning Our Descent


Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number n/a
Communication Written - developing a sustained critical argument Oral - group discussions adn seminar presentations
Improving own Learning and Performance Independent research and reading
Information Technology Use of word-processing packages, use of Blackboard and other e-resources to research and access course documents and other materials
Personal Development and Career planning Increased critical self-reflection and the development of transferable, ICT, communication and research skills
Problem solving Evaluative analysis and critical skills
Research skills Independent research ad synthesizing information in an evaluative argument
Subject Specific Skills Reading, writing and researching skills involved in the interrogation of literary texts, and the conceptual/theoretical analysis of works of imaginative literature in relation to a range of other non- literary texts
Team work Group work in seminars and/or through the preparation of paired presentations for seminars

Reading List

Essential Reading
Enright, Anne (2009.) The gathering /Anne Enright. Vintage Primo search Hamid, Mohsin (2008.) The reluctant fundamentalist /Mohsin Hamid. Penguin Primo search McCarthy, Cormac (2007.) The road /Cormac McCarthy. Picador Primo search Meredith, Christopher (c2012.) The book of idiots /Christopher Meredith. Seren Primo search Oswald, Alice (2010.) Dart /Alice Oswald. Faber and Faber Primo search Roberts, Michael Symmons (2013.) Drysalter /Michael Symmons Roberts. Jonathan Cape Primo search Shears, Owen (2008) Resistance Faber & Faber Primo search Smith, Ali (2012) There But For The Penguin Primo search

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 4