ENG-1110 Introduction to British Studies - 10 stp

The British Studies syllabus will be organized into two to three week blocks, which focus on particular historical periods and investigate specific literary and cultural texts within British 'national' and international historical contexts. The modules in the course are focused on developing higher-level reading skills, interpretative writing skills, and a theoretical understanding of contextual analysis of literary writing in particular periods of British literature from 1600 to 2015. The course focuses on a range of poetic, dramatic, and fictional forms in different time periods. We will explore how to understand these texts through analyzing genres, historical and literary contexts, language choices, and formal reading and critical strategies. These modules also develop your confidence in speaking and writing about literary/critical concepts, cultural analysis, and literary genres in British Literary Studies.

The course will introduce the student to the techniques of close textual reading of literary and cultural texts in British literature; develop an appreciation of the historical and literary conditions under which texts have been produced; examine the development of specific genres within historical time periods; and ask the student to write essays, response papers, and do different forms of academic research about the texts on the reading list using the vocabulary and strategies of literary study.

Applicants from Nordic countries: 1 June for the autumn semester and 1 December for the spring semester.

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

Higher Education Entrance Qualification (generell studiekompetanse) or prior learning and work experience (realkompetanse).

Application code: 9199 (Nordic applicants).

The students have the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

The student has:

• some knowledge of the history and society of the British Isles in different historical periods- understanding of the interplay between culture and literature in British history and culture
• insight into the main formal and thematic characteristics of literary genres
• in-depth knowledge of individual texts of the period

Skills

• familiarity with a diversity of texts and genres of British Literature
• proficiency in close reading, analysis, and interpretation of literature
• to be able to write persuasively and effectively in academic English

The course will meet for four hours (two hours lecture and two hours discussion section) each week during 13 teaching weeks of the semester. Please see Fronter for specific details. Any course changes in meeting times will be announced on Fronter and study questions and discussion material will be available on Fronter or at the course meetings.

Quality assurance: All courses undergo a halfway evaluation once in a 3-year period at the bachelor´s level.

Assessment method: One six hour written school exam

The course mark is solely determined by a six-hour school exam at the end of the course, but no student can sit the school exam until they have passed both work requirements.  Performance in the course will be assessed on an A-F grades scale. Grades are A-E for passed and F for failed. A re-sit examination is offered in the event of an F grade. The deadline to register for a re-sit examination is January 15th for the autumn semester and August 15th for the spring semester.

Assessment activities involve:

• Coursework 1 includes two components: an 80% attendance requirement spread throughout the semester, and a series of short writing assignments between Weeks 4-9 written in discussion sections. These will include summaries, close readings and explications of texts, and thematic and contextual analysis.
• Coursework 2: One project paper (5-6 pages/1750-2100 wordsigns).
• Coursework are pass/fail. Each student has the opportunity to receive feedback on their coursework, provided that they are done at times specified and submitted within the posted deadlines. Some of the writing assignments in discussion section will be assessed by students within the class.
• Participation in one of the two-hour discussion sections of the course will be expected throughout the semester.
• Final 'school exam': The course mark is solely determined by a six-hour school exam in Wiseflow at the end of the course, but no student can sit the school exam until they have passed the listed Coursework.

All written work is based on the following standard: Times New Roman, 12, 1,5, 2,5 cm.

The date for the exam can be changed. The final date will be announced at your faculty early in May and early in November.