autumn 2021
ENG-3103 Major Authors - 10 ECTS

Application deadline

Applicants from countries within EU/EEA: 1 June for the autumn semester and 1 December for the spring semester.

Exchange students and Fulbright students: 15 April for the autumn semester and 1 October for the spring semester.


Type of course

This course is intended for students in the master's programme in English literature and students in the master's programme in education year 8-13 (lektorutdanninga, studieretning engelsk, jf. progresjonskrav for år 4).

This course may be taken as a single course by students who meet the admission requirements for the master's programme in English Literature. Please see the admission requirements section.


Admission requirements

Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS), or equivalent qualification, in English literature, or a degree combining English literature and a closely-related discipline (minimum 80 ECTS in English). An average grade equivalent to C or better (in the Norwegian grading system) is required.

Application code: 9371 - Enkeltemner på masternivå (Nordic applicants).


Course content

There are certain individual authors who have played defining roles in shaping the canon of Anglo-American literature as we now study it. Some of these authors have assumed monolithic status while others remain under-appreciated. This course offers an in-depth study of the work of a particular writer in its cultural and historical significance. Students will gain an understanding of literary and cultural developments as they acquire in-depth knowledge of the work of a particular writer.

This course takes the place of earlier single-author courses and enables instructors to choose an individual author based on their own scholarly interests and expertise. 

In Autumn 2021 we explore the novels of Toni Morrison. Morrison was the first black woman to receive the Nobel Prize in literature. 


Objectives of the course

The students have the following learning outcomes: 

Knowledge

Students will have:

  • advanced knowledge of the work of a single writer
  • an understanding of contemporary critical/theoretical discourse as it applies to the work of the writer in question
  • an ability to assess the process of canon formation and the role of individual writers in it

Skills

Students will be able to:

  • evaluate, discuss, and apply advanced critical concepts in oral in written form
  • find and evaluate critical sources and use them in constructing scholarly arguments concerning literary texts
  • formulate original arguments to build upon existing critical discussions through oral and written communication
  • arrive at independent understandings of demanding literary texts
  • apply and build upon knowledge gained in the course for future work carried out at the master level


Language of instruction and examination

Language of instruction and examination: English.

Teaching methods

The course takes place for one 13-week term and meets once per week. Teaching methods will include lectures, class discussions, and independent study.

Information to incoming exchange students

This course is open for inbound exchange student who meets the admission requirements, including prerequisites. Please see the Admission requirements" and the "Prerequisite" sections for more information.

Do you have questions about this course?  Please check the following website to contact the course coordinator for exchange students at the faculty: https://en.uit.no/education/art?p_document_id=510412


Assessment

The course will include the following assignments/coursework requirements:

Two oral presentations. In addition, each student will write a short paper or series of short blog posts (up to 3000 words).

The presentations and mid-term paper must be approved by the teacher before the student can submit the end-of-term paper.

Exam: End-of-term paper (up to 4500-5500 pages, double line spacing, submission at the end of the semester). This paper is to be based on independent research concerning the work of a poet or poets from the course syllabus. Topic TBA

Grading:

Performance in the course will be assessed with the grades A-F. Grades are A-E for passed and F for failed. A re-sit examination is offered in in the beginning of the following semester in cases of grade F. A postponed examination is offered in the beginning of the following semester if the student is unable to take the final exam due to illness or other exceptional circumstances. The deadline for registering (via the Studentweb) for the re-sit/postponed examination is 15 January (for autumn semester exams) / 15 August (for spring semester exams). The new exam date will be announced in the Studentweb approximately in the beginning of February (for autumn semester exams) / the beginning of September (for spring semester exams). In the event of a re-sit/postponed examination, the student is allowed to submit a revised version of his/her term paper.


Recommended reading/syllabus

Pensumliste for ENG-3103 Major Authors
  • About the course
  • Campus: Tromsø |
  • ECTS: 10
  • Course code: ENG-3103
  • Tidligere år og semester for dette emnet