| Unit name | Approaches to Poetry |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ENGL10026 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| 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) |
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 |
Why is this unit important?
This course will introduce students to the rich diversity of poetry in English and equip them with the skills and knowledge to better understand, and better enjoy, that poetry. The poetry studied will range throughout the history of English Literature, and tutorial work will generally focus on the close reading of poetic texts. Weekly lectures and tutorials will study matters including: rhyme and metre; poetic imagery; a number of poetic forms such as the sonnet; a number of poetic genres such as epic or pastoral. There will also be space for students to look at poetry from a variety of aesthetic and historical contexts and to consider poetry from diverse authorships.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
Core units provide an accessible and stimulating introduction to university-level English. You will gain knowledge of and insight into literary forms, from poetry and prose to critical essays and drama. You will practice essential academic skills in close analysis and argument, encounter key critical concepts, and develop your confidence as a researcher. Core units will further enable you to understand and appreciate the importance of historical contexts from the medieval period to the present day, and the development of literary studies as a discipline.
An overview of content
The unit will introduce students to a range of critical and analytical approaches to the study of poetry in English, developing their ability to read, interpret, and build arguments about varying forms and genres across different historical periods. The unit is structured around key topics for reading and understanding poetry, including scansion, language, rhyme, narrative, and tone. Lectures will provide historical and theoretical context; seminars will teach the students how to draw on this context as they develop their close reading skills through group discussion, reading and writing activities.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
Students who engage with this course will become proficient ‘close readers’ of poetry, able to draw connections between individual textual details and the broader concerns of the text.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:
The unit is taught by seminars and a lecture programme. Teaching includes 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
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative, required for credit):
1,000-word commentary (0%) [ILOs 1-4]
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Exam (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. ENGL10026).
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 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.
