Overview

This Foundation Year module will provide you with the opportunity to make deliberate, structured explorations into the way language shapes individuals, societies, and cultures. Through investigations into English Literature, Creative Writing, and English Language, you will develop a core comprehension of key genres, time periods, and theories within the subjects. This comprehension will be further illuminated by detecting the cultural significance of these conversations, identifying how language is not only shaped by people, but vice versa, through reference to both historic and contemporary contexts.

In this module, you will discover key aspects of English Language and English Literature, including Creative Writing. You will investigate core elements of English Literature by pairing a time period (e.g. Early Modern, Victorian, Modern) with a text from that era and a relevant literary theory (e.g. Otherness, Feminism, Psychoanalytic). After this, you will be introduced to common techniques and concepts utilised by writers, examining traditional genres such as war poetry and fiction, to more contemporary developments of the discipline, such as the role of creative writers in the video game industry. In English Language, you will primarily focus on how language shapes identity and vice versa, analysing the history of English through to its evolution in the Internet Age, working on your ability to define and explain uses of language as a tool for expression, persuasion, cultural significance, and more. Throughout this module, you will build an interdisciplinary approach to English, comparing and contrasting different practices within the three subject areas, and applying them to sociohistorical and contemporary contexts, illustrating varied perspectives on matters such as race, disability representation, and gender, to name a few.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -For English Lit/CW AssessmentsUnsure and lacking in confidence when discussing ideas •Referring to the subject in question in a superficial manner •Making an effort to provide fairly balanced answers •Some points in the argument irrelevant to the topic •Little evidence of background reading •Some uncertainty over language and syntax •Strengths and weaknesses fairly balanced; occasionally clumsy and unimaginative •In creative work: superficial •Not succeeding in mastering the requirements of the mediumFor English Language AssessmentsThreshold D: Student has achieved the minimum acceptable standard of understanding and/or knowledge in all the learning outcomes. Student can demonstrate a minimum level of understanding of the basic concepts and be able to apply them to data with some degree of accuracy.

-good -English Lit/CW AssessmentTypically, work graded B- to B+ (or 60 to 69) will show many of the following qualities: •Discusses ideas adeptly •Most of the arguments about a specific field are well-aired •Displays knowledge of the subject in question; the answer is relevant •Shows analytical and clear thought •Gives evidence of relevant reading •Shows accuracy in expression with mastery over language. •A few minor errors here and there. •Signs of creative thought deserve a higher position within the class •In creative work: shows signs of originality, having understood the requirements of the medium •Plans of well-balanced and full answers, despite some gapsEnglish Language AssessmentGood B: Student has achieved a better-than-average standard of understanding and/or knowledge in all learning outcomes, and has a clear and accurate understanding of concepts; ability to apply concepts to data critically and thoughtfully; evidence of wide reading and clear and accurate reference to source materials; free from misunderstanding and errors of content; free from irrelevant material.

-excellent -English Literature/CW AssessmentTypically, work graded A- to A (or 70 to 100) will show many of the following qualities: •Discusses ideas with confidence and precision •Demonstrates maturity and sophistication •Displays deep knowledge of the subject in question; the answer is totally relevant •Shows independent, analytical and clear thought •Gives evidence of substantial and relevant reading •Shows great accuracy in expression, displaying total mastery over all aspects of the language •Shows occasional signs of brilliance and originality of thought •In creative work: displays considerable originality •Command over medium; may have potential for publication/productionEnglish Language Assessment**A:Student has achieved a thorough standard of understanding and/or knowledge in all learning outcomes; or student has demonstrated an exceptional level of achievement in one or more learning outcomes together with a good overall standard: student has achieved a thorough understanding of the subject, both in terms of content and theory; student is able to apply concepts clearly and accurately; substantial evidence of critical and original thought and analysis; clear, logical argument; high level of communicative competence; free from irrelevant material and errors of spelling and punctuation; evidence of extensive reading beyond basic texts and clear and accurate references to source material.

Learning Outcomes

• Define and explain literary techniques and theories in a variety of texts, each from a different time period, and interpret how these texts contribute to wider cultural conversations across literature.

• Extrapolate common writing practices from texts and critique their efficacy in producing desired outcomes and meanings from the perspective of a creative writer.

• Illustrate the different ways language creates and consolidates identity, identifying these discoveries in individual and social contexts.

• Reflect on the interdisciplinary relationship of Literature, Creative Writing, and Language, recognising techniques and concepts from the different subject areas to formulate nuanced commentary on English in both theory and practice.