UDENGLIT - BA English Literature

The BA English Literature course is designed to increase students’ knowledge and critical thinking about literature and the world. Students will study general literary history and theory, as well as particular periods in literary history (such as the Romantic and Victorian periods, Modernism, Postmodernism, and contemporary literature), and the genres of prose, poetry and drama. There is also an optional specialist Shakespeare module. The course is outstanding in offering connections between critical and creative writing: students will have the opportunity to write their own prose, poetry and drama, alongside their study of published texts. Students will also learn about London as a literary capital, with structured opportunities for cultural enrichment through visits to and projects involving specialist libraries, galleries, museums and other centres of culture. Students will study with expert tutors and experience both online support and regular contact hours with scheduled class time for 30 weeks of each year, tutorials and guided blended (online) learning, and regular feedback on their academic progress.

The main aims of the BA English Literature degree course are

• To support and facilitate students’ acquiring a sound knowledge of the historical, cultural and theoretical study of English Literature at a high level of graduate competency.
• To develop and respond to the critical, digital, and communicative strengths, needs and experiences of students and facilitate their taking active responsibility for class-based and independent learning and development in the study of English Literature.
• To prepare students for employment in a range of contexts drawing on their critical, creative, transferable and subject-specific skills, and to introduce students to a variety of (particularly London-based) workplaces and centres of literary excellence throughout the course.
• To provide reflective, active and collaborative learning opportunities that enable students to explain, reflect upon and critically assess their own skills and development.
• To prepare students for possible postgraduate research in English Literature.

The following learning outcomes incorporate and depend on systematic understanding of the key aspects of the knowledge base of English Literature including a coherent and detailed knowledge of some specialist areas in depth.

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

• deploy accurately established techniques of analysis and enquiry within English Literature

• devise and sustain arguments, and/or to solve problems, using ideas and techniques, some of which are at the forefront of English Literature

• describe and comment upon particular aspects of current research, or equivalent advanced scholarship, in English Literature recognising the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of knowledge;

• manage their own learning, and to make use of scholarly reviews and primary sources (for example, refereed research articles and/or original materials appropriate to English Literature);

• apply the methods and techniques that they have learned to review, consolidate, extend and apply their knowledge and understanding, and to initiate and carry out projects;

• critically evaluate arguments, assumptions, abstract concepts and data (that may be incomplete), to make judgements, and to frame appropriate questions to achieve a solution - or identify a range of solutions - to a problem;

• communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences;

• exercise initiative and personal responsibility, including decision-making in complex and unpredictable contexts;

• undertake appropriate further training of a professional or equivalent nature.

 deploy accurately established techniques of analysis and enquiry within English Literature:

 All modules (IPA)

 devise and sustain arguments, and/or to solve problems, using ideas and
techniques, some of which are at the forefront of English Literature:

 All modules (IPA)

 describe and comment upon particular aspects of current research, or
equivalent advanced scholarship, in English Literature recognising the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of knowledge:

 Genre Fiction (IP)
 History of Critical Thinking (IP)
 Perspectives on Shakespeare (I)
 The Novel and the Contemporary World
(A)
 Literary London (PA)
 Project (PA)
 Book Print Hypertext (PA)
 From Page to Performance: Stage and
Screen (PA)
 Contemporary Poetry: Theory and
Practice (A)
 The Literature of Childhood (A)

 manage their own learning, and to make use of scholarly reviews and primary
sources (for example, refereed research articles and/or original materials appropriate to English Literature):

 Romantics to Victorians (I)
 Victorians to Moderns (P)
 Genre Fiction (P)
 History of Critical Thinking (PA)
 Poetry and Performance (P)
 The Short Story (P)
 Existentialism in Literature
 Perspectives on Shakespeare (P)
 Literary London (PA)
 The Novel and the Contemporary World
(A)
 Project (PA)
 Contemporary Poetry: Theory and
Practice (A)
 The Literature of Childhood (A)
 Book, Print, Hypertext (A)
 EOK modules

 apply the methods and techniques that they have learned to review,
consolidate, extend and apply their knowledge and understanding, and to initiate and carry out projects:

 All modules (IPA)

 critically evaluate arguments, assumptions, abstract concepts and
data (that may be incomplete), to make judgements, and to frame appropriate
questions to achieve a solution - or identify a range of solutions - to a problem:

 Theory and Practice of Prose (I)
 Theory and Practice of Poetry (I)
 Theory and Practice of Drama (I)
 Genre Fiction (IP)
 History of Critical Thinking (P)
 Literary London (PA)
 Existentialism in Literature (P)
 Project (PA)
 EOK modules

 communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialist and non-specialist audiences:

 All modules (IPA)
 EOK modules

 exercise initiative and personal responsibility, including decision-making in complex and unpredictable contexts:

 Project (PA)
 Literary London (IPA)
 Poetry and Performance (IP)
 From Page to Performance: Stage and
Screen (IPA)
 EOK modules

 undertake appropriate further training of a professional or equivalent nature:

 Project (PA)
 Literary London (PA)
 EOK modules

http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Documents/English07.pdf

Students’ learning of skills and subject matter is assessed by formative and summative strategies. Formative assessment includes: contribution to seminar and workshop, short exercises written in class or during independent learning hours and posted onto the weblearn discussion forum, presentations, essay plans and quizzes: all will receive oral and sometimes written feedback during and between class sessions. Summative assessments include academic essays, set presentations, group work, reviews, and portfolios of critical work. Written feedback on summative assessment is provided within two weeks and tutorial time made available. Generally written feedback on assessments will be made available via weblearn, and tutors will also respond to queries by email and other social media as appropriate.

Details of organised work experience, work based learning, sandwich year or year abroad available during the course (if applicable)
Work-related learning is an integrated and mandatory part of the course, with at least 70 hours working on engagement with live organisations, delivered through establishing contacts with professionals and companies and participating in publishing sector activities and events. The level 6 module SJ6054 Publishing and the Industry is designated as the placement or work-related learning module. Students will experience a competitive recruitment process or pitching for opportunities, and they will be required to reflect on their experience of the project and undertake forward career action planning.

N/A

Level 4:

• Theory and Practice of Prose
• Theory and Practice of Poetry
• Theory and Practice of Drama
• Romantics to Victorians

Level 5:

• History of Critical Thinking
• Genre Fiction
• Victorians to Romantics
• TWO of: Poetry and Performance; The Short Story; Perspectives on Shakespeare; The Literature of Childhood; EOK module

Level 6:

• Project
• The Novel and the Contemporary World
• Literary London
• TWO of: Contemporary Poetry: Theory and Practice; From Page to Performance: Stage and Screen; Book, Print, Hypertext; Existentialism in Literature; EOK module

Successful completion of this course offers improved career opportunities in publishing, arts and other administration, communications work and business. Students should graduate with high literary, verbal and presentation skills, and competency with new technologies.

The programme is also excellent preparation for further research or study in English literature.

In addition to the University's standard entry requirements, you should have:

• 280 UCAS points from three or more A levels or
• 320 UCAS points from a BTEC National a Level 3 Diploma (or equivalent), or
• an appropriate Access course

Mature students with previous relevant experience are encouraged to apply.

All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.