2008/09 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

ENGL3349 Human/Animal/Machine

20 creditsClass Size: 30

School of English

Module manager: Professor Graham Huggan
Email: G.D.M.Huggan@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2008/09

This module is not approved as an Elective

Objectives

On completion of the module, students will possess an increased understanding of the relationship between humans, animals and machines and of the different ways in which this relationship is explored in nineteenth-, twentieth- and twenty-first century texts. Students will also have augmented their critical and analytical skills with respect to different kinds of texts, cinematic as well as literary, and further developed their skills in essay writing and oral presentation.

Learning outcomes
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 outcomes
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.

Syllabus

Philosophical and scientific debates on what separates humans from other animals, and both from machines, are longstanding. Since Darwin, it has generally been accepted that humans are descended from other animals and share at least some of their genetic properties, while recent developments in biotechnology have resulted in 'transgenic' fusions of human, animal and machine. Beginning with an assessment of Darwin's legacy, the module will look at a selection of mostly twentieth-century literary and cinematic representations of the changing relationship between humans, animals and machines, and at the contribution these representations have made to contemporary bioethical debates. Roughly the first two thirds of the module will focus on the relationship between humans and other animals, especially the Great Apes, while the last third will look at the rise of the cyborg and other hybrid manifestations of the human/animal/machine.

One unassessed essay of 1,700 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).

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Meetings	5	1.00	5.00
Seminar	10	1.00	10.00
Private study hours			185.00
Total Contact hours			15.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Teaching will be through weekly seminars (10 x 1 hour) plus up to 5 additional hours (content to be determined by the module tutor). The 5 additional hours may include lectures, plenary sessions, film showings, or the return of unassessed/assessed essays.

Private Study: Reading, seminar preparation and essay writing.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Contribution to seminars
1 x 1,700 word unassessed essay

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	4,000 words	100.00
Essay	One unassessed essay of 1,700 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).	0.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

One unassessed essay of 1,700 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).

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 24/04/2008

Disclaimer

Browse Other Catalogues

• Undergraduate module catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
• Undergraduate programme catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team.PROD