Selected Topic in English Literature and/or Culture I

Postgraduate course

Course description

Objectives and Content

The course aims to increase students' knowledge of English literature and/or culture and to promote critical and independent understanding of problems related to the study of literature and/or culture.

ENG331 is a specialised course which typically treats a topic in American, British, or World Literatures of English. The contents of the course vary on a semester-to-semester basis. The texts to be studied may represent the literary tradition of a nation, a period, a genre, a specific authorship, a specific topic related to literature or culture or a literary and cultural movement. All texts are to be studied on a critical and theoretical basis.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course:

Knowledge

The student

  • will have further developed his/her general knowledge of the discipline
  • will have acquired specialised knowledge of the topics treated in the course
  • will have become familiar with recent research in the field treated in the course

Skills

The student

  • will be able to discuss topics on English literature and culture on an analytical basis, taking both critical and theoretical perspectives into account

General competence

The student

  • will be capable of working on specific theoretical and methodological problems over a relatively substantial period of time
  • will have developed further his/her ability to express academic ideas in English, both in writing and orally

Level of Study

Master

Semester of Instruction

Autumn
Required Previous Knowledge
Bachelor degree with specialisation in English, or the equivalent.
Recommended Previous Knowledge
None
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
ENG331 overlaps completely with ENG331L.
Access to the Course
The course is open to students enrolled in the Master programme in English and the master's programme in Foreign Language Teacher Education at the University of Bergen.
Teaching and learning methods

Seminars: up to 16 hours.

In the case that fewer than five students register for a course, the organized teaching may be adapted to fit the number of students. If this occurs, students will be informed at the start of the semester, and before the registration deadline 1. February/1. September.

Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
None
Forms of Assessment

Course assessment consists of a seven-day take-home examination on a topic selected by the teacher of the course, followed by an oral examination. The written work is to comprise 3000 words (±10%) (excluding the bibliography etc.), and counts toward 2/3 of the final grade. The oral examination counts towards 1/3 of the final grade. The oral exam may be digital.

Students must achieve a passing grade on the take-home examination in order to be eligible for the oral examination. During the oral examination, candidates will be examined both with reference to their own written work as well as the remainder of the reading list. Students who fail the oral examination will fail the course.

Grading Scale
The Department uses a grading scale ranging from A to F. F is a failing grade.
Assessment Semester
Course assessment in ENG331 is offered in the spring and autumn semesters.
Reading List

The reading list comprises a maximum of 700 pages of academic text or textbook material, or literary text corresponding to 6¿8 works. Works on literary theory are included. It will also be possible for students to combine academic text/textbook material with literary works into a specialised reading list. In addition to works on the reading list, students should be prepared to consult any recommended auxiliary literature.

The reading list will be available by 1 June for the Autumn semester.

Course Evaluation
The course will be evaluated in accordance with the quality assurance system of the University of Bergen.
Examination Support Material
None
Programme Committee
The Program Board is responsible for the academic content and structure of the study program, and for the quality of all the subjects therein.
Course Coordinator
Programme Board for English
Course Administrator
The Department of Foreign Languages at the Faculty of Humanities has the administrative responsibility for the course and the study programme.