| Unit name | Introduction to Spanish Peninsular literature since 1850 |
|---|---|
| Unit code | HISP20121 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Garcia Lopez |
| 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 Hispanic, Portuguese and Latin American Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
This new unit will introduce students to key novels, short stories, and poems in Spanish Peninsular literature by writers from diverse backgrounds from the 19th century to the present. For students with a particular interest in understanding cultures through literature, this unit is aimed at developing skills in literary criticism as well as the ability to respond personally and creatively to texts. Each seminar is organised around a topic that is significant for understanding Spain and its diverse cultures since 1850, and students will learn about the wider cultural context and critical interpretations of the assigned texts based on these themes. Students will also have the opportunity to conduct independent research and choose texts and topics based on their own interests in preparation for summative assessments (a literary review and a podcast).
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This unit will introduce you to Spanish Peninsular literature since 1850, taking a decolonised approach to both the texts and topics studied. You will deepen your language skills as you read the original texts in Spanish. You will also learn the practice of close literary criticism and how to integrate innovative, interdisciplinary, and intercultural approaches to the study of culture through literature in your own interpretation of texts. A focus on independent research skills, in particular the ability to choose texts and topics outside of the unit reading list for assessed work, will prepare you for more advanced final-year units and potential graduate study.
An overview of content
Assigned texts will include 2-3 novels which are key to understanding the literary movements of Spanish naturalism and social realism by writers such as Emilia Pardo Bazán, Benito Pérez Galdós, Ramón J. Sender, and Almudena Grandes. Students will also read poems by writers like Rosa Chacel and Antonio Machado, which helped shape Spanish modernism, and autobiographical fiction in the form of short stories or essays that are currently defining the genre of Afro-Iberian fiction, with authors such as Cesar Mbá Abogo and Najat el Hachmi.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
At the end of this unit, students will be able to:
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
Teaching will be delivered through weekly two-hour seminars featuring interactive and student-led learning approaches. In addition to short presentations by the unit director, seminars will be centered around group discussions, student presentations, and peer-to-peer feedback on draft assessments. These activities are tailored to the unit learning outcomes, in particular the development of collaborative skills and the ability to respond creatively to literature.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative)
1x 2500 word literary review (60%) [ILOs 1-4]
1x 15 min. group presentation (40%) [ILOs 1,2 and 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 form or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are normally confirmed by the School shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the academic 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. HISP20121).
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.
