Module manager: Dr J R Carpenter
Email: J.R.Carpenter@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as an Elective
Climate Writing considers the intersections between English Literature, Creative Writing and other (cross-)disciplinary formations such as ecocriticism, World Literature and Indigenous Studies. It provides an updated (re)introduction to the field, paying particular attention to key concepts such as nature writing, ecopoetics, climate fiction, ecocriticism, social/environmental justice and decolonization. Anchored in contemporary literary and cultural texts, the module gauges climate writing’s capacity to perform and support activist work. Please note this is an optional module and runs subject to enrolments. If a low number of students choose this module, then the module may not run and you may be asked to choose another module.
This module aims to (re)introduce students to the multi/interdisciplinary field of environmental writing and the social, political and decolonial issues it raises. It situates these issues within their relevant cultural and historical contexts, and examines the state of the field today and its relationship to social activism, social/environmental justice movements and the decolonization agenda. The module provides a conceptual grounding that yokes environmental writing to the analysis of literary and other cultural texts.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
1. Articulate advanced knowledge of environmental writing and understanding of its social, political and decolonial relevance;
2. Analyse the cultural and historical contexts for key debates that inform its formal range and ongoing struggle for social and environmental justice;
3. Apply key concepts to cultural and textual analysis.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
4. Evaluate different arguments and perspectives, using supporting evidence with sensitivity and nuance;
5. Engage ethically with complex literary, theoretical and contextual material;
6. Construct clear, concise, focused and well-structured text.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar | 10 | 2 | 20 |
| Private study hours | 280 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 20 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 300 | ||
Students will receive written tutor feedback on their essay abstract/introduction (and concept-based work); they will also be given the opportunity to share ideas for their essay or piece of creative writing with each other in class. Spoken tutor feedback on in-class group presentations will be given upon request.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Research essay OR piece of creative writing | 80 |
| Coursework | Abstract/Critique | 20 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 30/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team