Teaching English Literature
Code: 106330Credits: 6
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| English Studies | OP | 3 |
| English Studies | OP | 4 |
| English and Catalan Studies | OP | 3 |
| English and Catalan Studies | OP | 4 |
| English and Spanish Studies | OP | 3 |
| English and Spanish Studies | OP | 4 |
| English and French Studies | OP | 4 |
| English and Classics Studies | OP | 3 |
| English and Classics Studies | OP | 4 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- David Owen
- Email :
- david.owen@uab.cat
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
A C2 level of spoken and written English, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, is a fundamental requirement for this subject.
It is highly recommended that UAB students taking this course should previously have successfully completed the obligatory first- and second-year literature subjects in the degree programme.
Students taking this course from another degree or university are ideally expected to have taken and passed at least one university-level literature subject.
Students whose previous studies are not directly related to literary studies are advised to pay particular attention to the course bibliography and to reflect carefully on their own experience as readers of literary texts.
Objectives
This subject uses the act of teaching literature as a way of understanding literature more fully. Planning a class, setting objectives, selecting materials, preparing activities, presenting ideas and assessing learning all require us to move beyond plot summary and personal response. They oblige us to ask how a text works, what it does, how it creates meaning, and how that meaning can be explained to others.
For this reason, the course approaches literature from several connected perspectives. It considers literary texts formally, by examining genre, structure, narrative, voice, imagery, rhythm and style; pragmatically, by asking how texts can be communicated, discussed and taught; and more abstractly, by exploring the symbolic, metaphorical, theoretical and conceptual dimensions through which literature speaks beyond its immediate content.
The central question throughout the course will therefore be: if you had to teach this text, form or literary problem, what would you need to understand first, and how would you help others to understand it?
The course begins with literary theory and interpretation, understood not as a separate or purely abstract field, but as a practical set of tools for reading more precisely. These approaches are then applied to prose fiction, poetry and a range of other narrative or textual forms, including songs, film, journalism, advertising and other cultural texts that tell stories or construct meaning in literary ways.
The main aims of the course are:
- To explore different definitions, functions and interpretations of literature.
- To introduce key theoretical approaches to literary analysis.
- To understand the formal, narrative and linguistic features of prose fiction.
- To analyse the distinctive forms, voices and effects of poetry.
- To compare the aesthetic and communicative purposes of prose, poetry and other textual forms.
- To examine how non-literary or “other” texts may be read through the tools of literary analysis.
- To develop students’ ability to explain literary concepts, texts and interpretative problems clearly and critically.
- To encourage reflection on how literature can be taught, presented and discussed in educational contexts.
Learning outcomes
- In an effective manner, organise the autonomous component to learning.
- Plan work effectively, individually or in groups, in order to fulfil the planned objectives.
- Locate specialised and academic information and select this according to its relevance.
- Incorporate ideas and concepts from published sources into work, citing and referencing appropriately.
- Express oneself in English orally and in writing in an academic register, using terminology appropriate to the study of the texts and contexts of English literature.
- Understand specialised academic texts on research into the texts and contexts of English literature.
- Produce written and spoken academic texts at a higher-proficient-user level (C2) on the concepts and skills relevant to the study of English literary texts and contexts.
- Demonstrate comprehension of specialist and non-specialist texts in English of high difficulty and interpret these critically.
- Distinguish principal ideas from secondary ideas and synthesise their contents in literary texts in English from earlier to contemporary periods.
- Analyse and interpret literary texts in English from periods prior to the contemporary period.
- Interpret extracts from documents and texts in English representative of distinct historical periods.
- Identify the stylistic and cultural elements that make up the interpretation of different literary genres in English.
- Understand and reflect on the different critical and interpretative contexts of the teaching of literature in English.
- Develop advanced oral and written criticism in teaching, academic and cultural contexts in English.
- Understand and differentiate adequately between the concepts of literature and culture in English, as well as their mutual relations and interactions.
- Understand and reflect on literature and culture in English, situating these in their contexts and historical circumstances.
- Develop coherent discourses on literature and culture in English and apply these discourses to the analysis of social and academic reality.
- Maintain an attitude of respect for the opinions, values, behaviors and practices of others.
- Synthesise information obtained from distinct sources, problematise a topic, and structure the information in a relevant way in oral and written presentations adapted to the audience.
- Produce works in which the fundamental digital and bibliographic tools for the field of study are applied.
- Autonomously search, select and process information both from structured sources (databases, bibliographies, specialized magazines) and from across the network.
- Understand specialised academic texts on research into the texts and contexts of English literature at Mastery level (C2).
- Interpreting characteristic extracts from different historical periods of documents and texts in English.
- Apply the knowledge and competences acquired to the analysis of problems and their resolution.
- Express oneself effectively orally and in writing, in an appropriate manner in each professional field.
- Work with independence and initiative, integrating the contributions of others and respecting the established work plan.
- Distinguishing the main ideas from the secondary ones and summarising the contents of literary texts of periods preceding the contemporary era.
- Analyse the contexts of application of literary and interpretative criticism in the different areas of literary and cultural production in English.
- Recognise and put into practice the following teamwork skills: commitment, collaborative skills, ability to contribute to problem solving.
- Apply the theoretical knowledge acquired to carry out work.
- Use the appropriate terminology in the construction of an academic text and in the transmission of their knowledge.
- Use digital tools and documentary sources to obtain, classify, interpret and analyse relevant data related to the practice of commenting on literary texts.
- Understand specialised academic texts (C2) on research into the texts and contexts of English literature.
- Produce written and spoken academic texts (C2) on the concepts and skills relevant to the study of English literary texts and contexts.
- Plan work effectively, individually or in groups, in order to fulfil the planned objectives.
- Distinguish the sex/gender factor in the configuration of the literary canon.
- Demonstrate a solid knowledge of subjects related to the study of Literature and Culture in general.
- Organise the autonomous component to the learning process in an effective manner.
- Analyse sex/gender inequalities and gender bias in English literature.
- Conduct bibliographic searches of secondary sources related to nineteenth-century Literature using digital technologies.
- Integrate secondary sources related to nineteenth-century Literature in the production of basic academic criticism.
- Apply the acquired work planning methodologies to individual and group professional tasks.
- Apply the work-organisation methodologies acquired to individual and group-based professional tasks.
- Locate and organise relevant English-language information available on the internet, databases and libraries, and apply this to work and/or research environments.
- Integrate knowledge and information from academic sources consulted for written work, citing, referencing and paraphrasing correctly.
- Develop effective written work and oral presentations and adapted to the appropriate register.
- Produce normatively correct written and oral texts.
- Plan, organise and carry out work in a team.
- Commenting on literary texts, applying the acquired tools and taking into account the historical and sociocultural context.
- Discern the sex/gender factor in the configuration of the literary canon.
- Apply the tools and know consult the documentary sources.
- Produce work in accordance with academic ethics.
Contents
- Unit 1: Literature, Theory and Interpretation
- Unit 2: Prose Fiction and Narrative
- Unit 3: Poetry, Voice and Form
- Unit 4: Literature Beyond the Literary Text
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 25 | 1 | 1, 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 21, 22, 23, 33, 36, 39, 44, 50 |
| Lectures | 30 | 1.2 | 1, 2, 6, 9, 12, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23, 33, 36, 38, 50 |
| Personal Study | 20 | 0.8 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 18 |
| Bibliographical Research | 10 | 0.4 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 32, 33, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 52 |
| Essay Writing | 20 | 0.8 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 52 |
| Class Discussions | 20 | 0.8 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18 |
1 ECTS credit = 25 teaching/assessment hours > 6 credits = 150 hours.
The course is based on the presentation, analysis and discussion—from practical and pragmatic perspectives—of a range of literary and non-literary texts, including novels, short stories, poems, folk tales, songs, journalism, advertising, internet texts, message-type texts (Whatsapp, etc.) and commercial writing, among others.
Note: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attendance and Participation in Class Discussions | 10% | 5 | 0.2 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51 |
| Essay 1 | 45% | 10 | 0.4 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 52 |
| Essay 2 | 45% | 10 | 0.4 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 50, 51, 52 |
Assessment is based on the following items
- Two essays (2 x 45%) = 90%.
- Attendance and participation in class = 10%. Please note: this an optional subject for which participation and debate are expected. The subject is not concerned with "transmitting the teacher's knowledge" but, instead, with a shared, general reflection on aspects of literature.
- Definitive dates for each of the above exercises will be published at the start of the course.
- On carrying out each assessment activity, lecturers will inform students (on Moodle) of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place.
- All exercises are COMPULSORY
- Students will obtain a Not assessed/Not submitted course grade unless they have submitted more than 30% of the assessment items.
Reassessment conditions
- Reassessment is available ONLY to students who have failed the initial assessment; it is NOT available to students who have passed but wish to improve their final grade.
- To access re-assessment, students must have been assessed in activities worth at least two-thirds (2/3) of the total continuous assessment weight.
- Students whose final weighted average mark across all continuous assessment activities (essays and participation) is between 3,5 and 4,8 are eligible for re-assessment.
- Both essays are re-assessable, covering 90% of the total weight, through a single re-assessment exam. The specific re-assessment activity will be confirmed by the lecturer.
- There is no cap on the grade a student may obtain in re-assessment.
- In case students cannot take the exam on the date set up by the teacher for justified medical reasons, a different date can be agreed on with the lecturer.
Plagiarism
In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place.
In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject.
Irregularities refer, for instance, to copying in an exam, copying from sources without indicating authorship, or a misuse of AI such as presenting work as original that has been generated by an AI tool or programme (see next section). These evaluation activities will not be re-assessed.
Use of AI Tools
This subject permits the use of AI technologies exclusively for the following support tasks: bibliographic or content-related searches, and general queries about course content. Students whose first language is not English may not use AI tools to translate into English any written work submitted for assessment. Any other use must be expressly authorised by the lecturer in advance.
Students must (i) identify which parts of their submitted work have been generated using AI technology; (ii) specify the tools used; and (iii) include a critical reflection on how these tools influenced the process and final outcome of the activity.
Lack of transparency regarding AI use in an assessed activity will be considered academic dishonesty; the corresponding grade may be lowered, or the activity awarded a zero. In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken.
Single Assessment
Students who opt for this will be required to take the following assessment, which will be scheduled on a single day:
- Exam 1 (Units One and Two) (50%)
- Exam 2 (Units Three and Four) (50%)
- Students opting for single assessment must have completed all scheduled activities to access re-assessment.
- The same re-assessment method as continuous assessment will be used.
Procedure for Reviewing Grades
On carrying out each evaluation activity, the lecturer will inform students (on Moodle) of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place.
Exchange Students
Erasmus and exchange students who request to advance an exam must present a document from their home university justifying their request.
Bibliography
The main work of reference for this subject is:
- Showalter, Elaine. Teaching Literature. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, 2003
Other works that will be referred to include:
- Barry, Peter. Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theory. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2017
- Bennet, Andrew & Nicholas Royle. Literature, Criticism and Theory. Harlow: Pearson Education, 1995 (4th Ed., 2009)
- Berger, John. Ways of Seeing. London: Penguin Books, 2008.
- Eagleton, Terry. Literary Theory: An Introduction. Oxford:Basil Blackwell, 1983.
- ____________. How to Read Literature. New Haven; Yale University Press, 2013
- Mullan, John. How Novels Work. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008
- Wainwright, Jeffrey. Poetry: The Basics. Abingdon: Routledge, 2004
- Wood, James. How Fiction Works. Jonathan Cape: London, 2008
Software
Moodle/UAB Virtual Campus
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TE) Theory | 1 | English | first semester | morning-mixed |
| (PAUL) Classroom practices | 1 | English | first semester | morning-mixed |