| Unit name | Utopian Literature |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ENGL20058 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Tamsin Badcoe |
| 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 | |
| School/department | Department of English |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
How do texts imagine a perfect world? What do authors’ imagined worlds tell us about the preoccupations and ideologies of their time? This unit approaches utopian writing in various genres from a historical perspective in order to interrogate the role of utopian thinking, from its origins in classical literature and the prose fiction of the early modern period, and traces its development through to the present day. Students will engage with theoretical conceptions of utopian thought and primary texts that engage with, question and/or satirise politics and governance, liberty and labour, gender dynamics, science and technology, and, finally, what it is to be human. The utopian describes places that are potentially both ‘good’ and ultimately ‘placeless’, and the ideas we explore will be seen to move through a variety of genres and forms, from the philosophical dialogue and the scientific treatise to poetry and modern novel.
Students will be given the opportunity to submit a draft or outline of their final, summative essay of up to 1,500 words and to receive feedback on this.
On successful completion of this unit students will have demonstrated:
(1) a detailed knowledge and critical understanding of utopian forms and their evolution;
(2) an in-depth understanding of the theoretical contexts including the relationship of utopian writing to cultural pressures such as geographical thought, the use and misuse of the environment, gender, language, and social justice.
(3) the ability to analyse and evaluate differing critical accounts of the primary literature;
(4) the ability to identify and evaluate pertinent evidence in order to illustrate/demonstrate a cogent argument, and
(5) strengthened skills in argumentation and academic writing, appropriate to level I/5.
Teaching will involve asynchronous and synchronous elements, including group discussion, research and writing activities, and peer dialogue. Students are expected to engage with the reading and participate fully with the weekly tasks and topics. Learning will be further supported through the opportunity for individual consultation.
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. ENGL20058).
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.
