Høst 2021

ENG-1120 Introduction to American Studies - 10 stp

The course is administrated by

Institutt for språk og kultur

Type of course

This course may be taken as a single course. A good command of oral and written English is recommended.

Course overlap

ENG-1120 Liberty, Equality and Power: American Culture in Text and Film 10 stp

Course contents

The course provides an introduction to American literature and culture. It represents a historical, highly selective survey course of American literature from colonial times to the present, with primary emphasis on texts from the Romantic Age to the present. Texts from the various periods are analyzed closely and discussed in their socio-cultural contexts. The course thus attempts to integrate the study of literature and culture. The major genres of literature are represented in the course, and it provides students with the basic methods and tools of textual analysis, designed to make them more proficient in close reading.

Application deadline

Applicants from Nordic countries: 1 June (for courses offered in the autumn semester).

Exchange students and Fulbright students: 15 April (for courses offered in the autumn semester).

Admission requirements

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

A good command of oral and written English is recommended.

Application code: 9199 - Enkeltemner (ikke realfag), lavere grad (Nordic applicants).

Objective of the course

The students have the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge:

of the history of American literature and culture
of different literary genres of American writing
of methods and concepts for the study of literary and cultural texts
of a variety of samples of fiction, poetry, and drama

Skills:

ability to explain one's ideas in a succinct, coherent manner and support them with close reading of texts
acquisition of advanced skills for the close reading of texts

Language of instruction

Language of instruction and examination: English.

Teaching methods

13 weeks of teaching (4 hours of teaching per week).

Quality assurance: All courses undergo a halfway evaluation once in a 3-year period at the bachelor's level. The Programme Board determines which programme options will be evaluated per year, and which courses will be evaluated by the students and the teacher per year.

Assessment

Coursework requirements:

Assessment of one essay (1200-1500 words) that focuses one or more of the texts on the reading list. In addition, attendance is required at 80% of the group discussion sessions scheduled for one class on most weeks (after the course registration closes). For distance students one additional written assignment replaces the 80% attendance requirement. Coursework requirements are evaluated with approved/not approved. The obligatory coursework requirements must be approved in order to take the final exam.

The exam will consist of:

A 6-hour written (digital) school exam in WISEflow.

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). The new exam date will be announced in the Studentweb approximately in the beginning of February (for autumn semester exams).

Date for examination

Take-home exam hand out date 06.12.2021 hand in date 06.12.2021

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