2011/12 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

ENGL3202 Femininity and Fiction in the Eighteenth Century

20 creditsClass Size: 40

School of English

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2011/12

Module replaces

ENGL32320

This module is not approved as an Elective

Objectives

To explore eighteenth-century constructions of femininity and the eighteenth-century association of women with fiction, by studying novels of the period in conjunction with non-fictional texts by and about women.

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

This module explores the construction of femininity in the eighteenth century in a wide range of different contexts, both fictional and non-fictional.

We will explore representations of women by both male and female authors of the developing genre of the novel, and compare such representations with contemporary debates on the role of women in society, proper and improper conduct, desire, sexuality (both socially-sanctioned and otherwise), and virtue.

In doing so, we shall address important questions about changing representations of sexuality, and of femininity and masculinity in the period; about the intersection of class and gender; and about the novel’s close association, from its very beginnings, with women writers and women’s experiences.

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, preparation for seminars/essay and exam.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

- Seminar contribution
- Unassessed essay.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	4,000 words	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

One unassessed essay of approximately 1700 words (including quotations and footnotes) is required, for which the deadline is given in the Undergraduate Student Handbook. This does not form part of the examination for this module, but is a module 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: 28/02/2012

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