Academic Community

Code

ENGL1008

School

English

Level

1

Credits

20

Semesters

Full Year UK

Summary

This module, taken by Single Honours English, English Language and Literature and English with Creative Writing students alongside their core first year modules in literature, language, medieval studies and drama, offers an introduction to key issues and skills in the discipline for those making the transition to studying English at university level in the School of English at Nottingham. Whereas those other modules necessarily concentrate students’ attention within closely-defined disciplinary boundaries (focus that is essential to learning specific skills and acquiring specialist knowledge), this module emphasises points of intersection between the diverse disciplines contained within the study of English. Taught in small groups, students are encouraged to explore – critically and reflexively – what it means to be a student of English, and are supported in developing a toolkit of study, research and communication skills which can be transferred to other modules.

Target Students

Only available to First Year Single Honours English students.

Classes

• One 1-hour tutorial each week for 12 weeks
• One 1-hour lecture each week for 9 weeks

Lecture - 9 x 1hr, 4 in semester A (weeks 2,4,6,8 etc) 5 in semester B. One small group tutorial per fortnight, involving student-led discussion and presentation; set reading and preparation (including engagement with resources on Moodle) in intervening weeks, together with a lecture addressing key skills for English students. Individual tutorials with students through the year allow for personal reflection and feedback on progress.

Assessment

• 75% Coursework 1: 2,000 word essay due end of Spring semester
• 25% Presentation 1: A 5 - 7 minute presentation at end of Autumn Semester

Assessed in both autumn & spring semest

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and understanding of:

• The range of the discipline of English (A1, A2, A3)
• Key elements of the fundamental features of the discipline of English in relation to their own study (A1, A2, A3)
• Some elements of the literary, cultural and historical contexts for literature, language and drama (A2)
  
   

Intellectual skills:

• The ability to think independently while giving due weight to the arguments of others and to reflect on their own critical practice (B2)
• The ability to begin to understand complex ideas and relate them to specific problems or questions (B2)
   

Professional practical skills:

• The ability to write accurately and grammatically, demonstrating awareness of the importance of style and register in communication, and present written material using conventions appropriate to literary or language work including bibliographies (C3)
• The ability to construct and communicate analyses of texts, verbally and in writing (C4)
• The ability to carry out research (including the use of scholarly resources and databases), to evaluate the material so acquired and use it appropriately (C5)
   

Transferable (key) skills:

• The ability to communicate effectively in writing (D2)
• The ability to communicate effectively by oral presentation (D3)
• The ability to retrieve information from a range of written and electronic sources and present the results in a clear and accurate fashion (D5)
• The ability to reflect upon and assess their own progress, strengths and weaknesses and to build on that reflection to improve their work (D6)

Conveners

• Dr Rebecca Gregory
• Benjamin Masters