Course Catalogue

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This course explores the many ways in which poetry matters in the world: how it is read; how it is used; how it can be put to work in the messy and often contentious settings of social life. Drawing on frameworks from the sociology of literature, it considers how relationships with poetic writing and practice can be implicated in the formation - and contestation - of unequal social relations. 

Weekly, 2 hour on campus teaching throughout the semester - i.e. 11 x 2 hour sessions comprised of a lecture with an accompanying workshop.

As an optional course within the Sociology Honours programme the entry requirements are those governing entry to that level: i.e. in normal circumstances, completion of Sociology 1A, 1B, 2A and 2B, with average grades of 9 at Level 1 and 12 at Level 2.

None.

None.

Critical reading project, 4,000 words (100%).

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will 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. 

The aim of the course is to give students the opportunity to develop their critical understanding of the social and political significance of literature through consideration of poetry as a specific, substantive example. It will develop their capacity for critical appraisal of evidence and claims derived from theoretical, historical and empirical studies. Finally it will afford students the chance to engage with and critically assess the affordances of different forms of expressive and creative writing.

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

■ describe and assess the sociological significance of poetic texts;

■ evaluate evidence provided in, and claims made on the basis of, studies of the writing, reading, production and sharing of poetry;

■ offer a critical appraisal of debates over the relationship between sociology and poetry.

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