2023/24 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

ENGL5530M Fictional English and English Fictions

30 creditsClass Size: 10

Module manager: Dr Mel Evans
Email: m.evans5@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

The module introduces the diversity of Englishes represented in literature and explores their relationship to the varieties of English found in non-literary contexts and communities. Exploring texts historical and contemporary, the module draws on sociolinguistic and stylistic frameworks to consider how English is constructed in literary texts, considering themes and topics such as characterization, narration, translation and adaptation, code-switching, political agency, invented languages and cinematic representation.

Objectives

The module will provide students with an understanding of the forms and functions of Englishes in literary texts, providing experience in analysing texts from a broad historical period and from multiple genres. The students will develop their knowledge of sociolinguistic and stylistic concepts that can underpin their descriptive and interpretative analysis of fictional Englishes, and recognise the implications of literary representations for the reading of a specific text and its wider socio-cultural context.

Students will achieve these objectives through a combination of seminars and workshops, with the opportunity to undertake textual analysis through problem-solving and flipped classroom activities, alongside engagement with relevant theory, group-work and plenary discussion.

Learning outcomes
1. Students will understand the social and linguistic characteristics of (some of the) varieties of English around the world

2. Students will recognise and be able to describe the formal techniques used to represent English in literary works

3. Students will be able to undertake a textual analysis of the representation of Englishes, and be aware of relevant theories through which to contextualise and interpret these representations

4. Students will be able to identify and explain how cultural forms, like literary works, engage with and reflect the social and political importance of language

Skills outcomes
Masters (Taught), Postgraduate Diploma & Postgraduate Certificate students will have had the opportunity to acquire the following abilities as defined in the modules specified for the programme: 
 
- the skills necessary to undertake a higher research degree and/or for employment in a higher capacity; 
 
- evaluating their own achievement and that of others; 
 
- self direction and effective decision making; 
 
- independent learning and the ability to work in a way which ensures continuing professional development; 
 
- to engage critically in the development of professional/disciplinary boundaries and norms.

Syllabus

This module covers a range of topics which may include:

Sociolinguistic concepts relevant to varieties of English, English as a global language

Stylistic frameworks for the analysis of Standard and non-standard language, discourse levels, narration and characterisation

Different theoretical and methodological approaches, relevant to genres such as prose fiction, poetry, and drama (stage and cinematic).

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
seminars	10	2.00	20.00
Practicals	1	2.00	2.00
Private study hours			278.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			300.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will get feedback on an extract of close textual analysis of a passage at an early stage of the module e.g. week 4 or 5, prior to selecting their focus for the summative assessments. They will also have on-going opportunities for feedback in seminar and workshop discussions, and receive peer feedback at the presentation session at the end of the semester.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Presentation	10-minute presentation with slides (based on a provided template)	40.00
Essay	3000 words	60.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Student presentations will take place at the end of the semester for their peer group and tutors. Students can provide formative feedback to each other. Tutors will mark the same presentations for the summative component. For resits, the spoken part of the presentation will either be recorded or submitted as a transcript, along with the slides. The essay will be on the same topic as the presentations, but will require the students to develop the scope and nuance of their research, engaging with the theoretical and ideological dimensions of representations of varieties of English (and other languages) in literary contexts, as well as advancing the more formal analysis undertaken for the presentation.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 15/08/2023 12:47:52

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