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2012/13 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

ENGL2015 Remixing the Renaissance

20 creditsClass Size: 350

School of English

Module manager: Dr Brett Greatley-Hirsch
Email: b.d.greatleyhirsch@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2012/13

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

An impressive variety of genres and forms emerged, developed, and flourished during the Renaissance period – the so-called ‘Golden Age’ of English Literature. In this module, you will begin to explore and engage with these genres and forms critically and creatively by ‘remixing’, ‘adapting’, and ‘mashing up’ texts. You’ll be following in the footsteps of William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, and other prominent Renaissance authors who were introduced to the mechanics of writing – and learned to better appreciate the relationship between content and form – by inventively deconstructing and reconstructing existing texts, developing your own style and voice in the process.

Objectives

This module provides students with a space to creatively explore and critically engage with a range of literary genres and forms from the English Renaissance. Just as William Shakespeare and Christopher Marlowe would have done, students will be introduced to the mechanics of writing – and better appreciate the relationship between content and form – by inventively deconstructing and reconstructing existing texts, developing their own style and voice in the process. Students will develop skills in independent research, close reading, and creative writing as they work to produce a portfolio of such ‘remixes’ accompanied by a critical and reflective commentary, drawing on each other for constructive feedback along the way.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will begin to be able to:
1. Understand different literary genres and forms used during the Renaissance period in terms of their formal characteristics, conventions, and historical development;
2. Write creatively across a range of literary genres and forms, historical and contemporary; and,
3. Reflect critically on the processes of reading, writing, and adapting literary texts across a range of genres and forms, historical and contemporary.

Skills outcomes
• A capacity to analyse and critically examine texts in a variety of genres and forms.

Syllabus

Through the process of ‘remixing’ and its spirit of experimentation and play, this module guides the student cohort from reading literary texts of different Renaissance genres and forms to producing and adapting works of their own. Texts will be drawn from a range of genres and forms, such as the broadside ballad, emblem, masque, soliloquy and sonnet, among others. Close reading of these examples will be supported through the consultation of secondary material on genre and form as well as independent research. Workshops will provide close direction for students as they develop and reflect on their creative and critical skills, and plan and execute their portfolios and commonplace books.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Peer Discussion	4	1.00	4.00
Lecture	10	1.00	10.00
Seminar	10	1.00	10.00
Private study hours			176.00
Total Contact hours			24.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Reading of primary and secondary texts to be discussed in lectures and seminars; formative seminar preparation tasks; use of library and online resources; researching and writing assessed written assignments. Seminar tutors will provide guidance, via both Minerva and in seminars, for private study activities and assignments. Students will meet in weekly peer sessions to address specific preparatory tasks.
Students are expected to devote 176 hours of private study time to this module, with the following suggested breakdown:
• Reading, preparation and follow-up for lectures and seminars: (20x5=) 100 hours
• Preparation for commonplace book exercise: 26 hours
• Preparation for portfolio assignment: 50 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Commonplace book poster presentation: Students will compile a ‘commonplace book’ of sententiae, references, and interesting texts they discover over the course of the module, effectively compiling their very own archive of models from which to draw inspiration for their portfolio assessments. Students will create and present an A3 poster (equivalent to 500 words) to share and reflect upon each other’s commonplace books. The commonplace book and poster presentation are unassessed but provide valuable opportunities for formative feedback.
Seminars: As the development of individual writing projects is the focus of the module, informal formative feedback will be integral to discussions at each seminar session. Individual written formative feedback will be provided by the tutor following the poster presentations in week 8. Further discussions regarding drafting and development of portfolio items will occur following reading week through to the end of term.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Poster Presentation	Commonplace ‘book’ exercise	0.00
Portfolio	2 x short ‘remixes’ in different genres, each accompanied by a critical reflection (each up to 1,000 words) OR 1 x ‘remix’ (as above) plus 1 x critical essay (up to 1,500 words)	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Poster presentation (formative): Just as the Renaissance humanists did, students will be tasked with compiling a ‘commonplace book’ of sententiae, references, and inspirational models they discover while exploring the early modern archive over the course of the module. Students will create and present an A3 poster to share and reflect on their findings. (The poster presentation will be equivalent to 500 words.) Portfolio (summative): Students will be given the option of submitting two ‘remixes’ and critical reflections or substituting a critical essay of up to 1,500 words in place of one of them. Students who resit will not be permitted to answer the same essay question or to ‘remix’ the same texts and genres.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 29/04/2022 15:24:11

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