Unit information: Contemporary Literature, Social Change and Movements in 2021/22

Unit name	Contemporary Literature, Social Change and Movements
Unit code	ENGL30138
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. April Gallwey
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of English
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

This course will seek to interrogate features of the contemporary world through the study of literary texts. Focusing on some major developments facing societies in the twenty-first century, such as widening socio-economic inequalities, climate change, and the increasing prominence of nationalistic and right-wing politics in Europe and beyond, we will look at literary responses to these, and the way that both literature and current social movements offer sites of resistance and new visions for the future.

This unit therefore aims to:

• Introduce students to a range of literary texts that relate to contemporary political and social issues
• Develop students’ ability to analyse those texts and relate them to the contexts in which they were written.
• Encourage students to reflect on the value of using literary sources as a means of understanding contemporary issues.
• Further develop students’ skills of written and oral communication.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate advanced understanding and ability to analyse literary, critical, sociological and historical texts related to the period.

2. Apply knowledge and thorough understanding of how literary texts both respond to and shape historical and sociological change.

3. Present and critically assess pertinent evidence relating to the major literary and sociological/historical themes.

4. Present a persuasive and well evidenced written argument appropriate to level H/6.

Teaching Information

The unit will normally be taught in 1 x 3-hour seminar per week.

Assessment Information

1x 4000-word essay (100%) [ILOs 1-4]

Resources

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. ENGL30138).

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 Faculty 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. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.