School of English
Module manager: Dr Richard Brown
Email: r.h.brown@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2020/21
This module is not approved as a discovery module
The aim is to develop a discussion of some features of contemporary and postmodern writing by studying set texts across a variety of genres, especially those features which may be thought to connect to a sense of the apocalyptic the millennial and the imagination of futurity. These texts may offer a challenging revision to ideas of narrative and history in a time of traumatic transition. A range of related themes emerging from these texts such as forboding or anticipation, novelty, transition and/or disappointment, the futures of sex and gender, the ethical, pleasure, boredom and identity may be among the subjects discussed in class.
Students will have developed:
- the ability to use written and oral communication effectively;
- the capacity to analyse and critically examine diverse forms of discourse;
- the ability to manage quantities of complex information in a structured and systematic way;
- the capacity for independent thought and judgement;
- critical reasoning;
- research skills, including the retrieval of information, the organisation of material and the evaluation of its importance;
- IT skills;
- Efficient time management and organisation skills;
- the ability to learn independently.
- Skills for effective communication, oral and written.
- Capacity to analyse and critically examine diverse forms of discourse.
- Ability to acquire quantities of complex information of diverse kinds in a structured and systematic way.
- Capacity for independent thought and judgement.
- Critical reasoning.
- Research skills, including information retrieval skills, the organisation of material, and the evaluation of its importance.
- IT skills.
- Time management and organisational skills.
- Independent learning.
In this module we are going to explore an eclectic mix of mostly British fictions, published around the turn of the century. The aim is to develop a discussion of some features of the contemporary and the postmodern, especially those which may be thought to connect to a sense of the pre- or post-millennial and apocalyptic, to comprise revisions to ideas of narrative and history in a time of traumatic transition. A range of related themes emerging from these texts and from contemporary theory such as generational novelty and identity, foreboding or anticipation, transition and/or disappointment, changing configurations of the sexual, the national and the global may be among the subjects discussed in class.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Seminar | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Private study hours | 185 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 15 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Private Study: Reading, seminar preparation, essay writing.
- Seminar contribution.
- Feedback on unassessed essay of 1700 words.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Essay | 4,000 words (including quotations and footnotes). | 100 |
| Essay | 1,700 words (unassessed) | 0 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
One unassessed essay of 1700 words is required. This does not form part of the assessment for this module, but is a requirement and MUST be submitted. Students who fail to submit the unassessed essay will be awarded a maximum mark of 40 for the module (a bare Pass).
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 2/5/2021
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team