Course Catalogue

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This course assesses the changing shape of American literature after 1930, considering the construction of a modern American literary canon and the extent to which that canon has been challenged by the emergence of ethnic literatures and writings by women.

1 x 1hr lecture per week over ten weeks and 7 x 90min seminars over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus.

This is one of the Honours options in English Literature and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

Available to all students fulfilling requirements for Honours entry into English Literature, and by arrangement to visiting students or students of other Honours programmes who qualify under the University's 25% regulation.

ENGLIT4002  American Literature 2

None

Essay (1000 words): 25%

Essay (3000 words): 50%

Seminar contribution: 10%

Seminar presentation of 7 minutes: 15%

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

This course aims to:

■ encourage a breadth of reading across several genres in post-1930 American literature

■ develop students' understanding of literary texts within relevant social, cultural, technological, and historical contexts 

■ facilitate study and discussion of relevant secondary materials related to the period's key critical terms and concepts 

■ empower students to select individual areas of specialized enquiry within post-1930 American literature.

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By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ identify and discuss a range of literary genres and movements specific to post-1930 American literature

■ articulate an understanding of the complex relationship between American literature and its contexts

■ analyze the period's literature making informed reference to current issues and relevant critical concepts

■ communicate responses to the material studied on the course both orally and in written form through coherent and sustained argument.

■ Demonstrate resilience and time management through effectively planning, undertaking and submitting coursework.

■ Deal with change and new challenges by applying their disciplinary skills and knowledge to previously unfamiliar research areas and questions.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.