School of English
Module manager: Dr Hamilton Carroll
Email: h.e.m.carroll@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module examines how the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 have been represented in US culture. It considers fictional, nonfictional, and cinematic accounts of the events and asks how they have been represented and understood. What are the links between September 11 and traditional understandings of US national identity? How has September 11 been memorialized? How do the terms 'Homeland', 'Ground Zero', 'War on Terror' through which September 11 was understood produce meaning? Who are taken to be the victims of the terrorist attacks? How is heroism understood in relation to September 11?
September 11 in Fact and Fiction aims to inculcate a critical understanding of a range of literary and cinematic texts through a combination of seminar discussion, close reading and essay writing; and to gain an understanding of the relationships between contemporary narrative cultural forms and broader socio-political transformations in US society after September 11. The module aims to equip students with the critical skills to students to gain insights in and knowledge of
• stylistic and formal developments in literature and film
• the influence of historical, political, and cultural contexts
• engagement with relevant scholarship on literature, cinema, national identity, and political culture.
On successful completion of the module, students should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of contemporary texts informed by close reading and critical thinking.
2. Evaluate wider scholarship and debates around September 11 and its cultural contexts.
3. Show how contemporary texts engage with wider socio-political contexts.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module, students should be able to:
4. Conduct independent research, gathering information from a range of sources, and engaging in good academic practice in referencing their sources.
5. Produce independent arguments demonstrating advanced proficiency in critical thinking and writing skills.
Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Seminar | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Private study hours | 185 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 15 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Formative feedback will be given during seminar discussions and individual consultations on essay plans.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Essay | 4,000-word essay | 100 |
| 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: 5/31/2024
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team