Introducció a la literatura anglesa Codi:  04.540    Crèdits:  6
Consulta de les dades generals   Descripció   Coneixements previs   Objectius i competències   Continguts   Consulta dels recursos d'aprenentatge de què disposa l'assignatura   Bibliografia i fonts d'informació   Metodologia   Informació sobre l'avaluació a la UOC   Consulta del model d'avaluació   Avaluació continuada   Avaluació final  
Aquest és el pla docent de l'assignatura per al segon semestre del curs 2023-2024. Podeu consultar si l'assignatura s'ofereix aquest semestre a l'espai del campus Més UOC / La universitat / Plans d'estudis). Un cop comenci la docència, heu de consultar-lo a l'aula. El pla docent pot estar subjecte a canvis.

 Students should consider the following aspects:

  • The subject: 'Introduction to English Literature' covers the period from the Renaissance (16th century) until the present time. It is, therefore, an introduction to modern and  contemporary English Literature, excluding the Literature in Old English and Middle English because of its obvious linguistic difficulty.
  • The use of the adjective 'English' in the label 'English Literature' is currently an object of intense debate: why should we use it in relation to the literature in English of nations different from England, such as Scotland and Wales within the United Kingdom, or the many former British colonies all over the world, including Ireland? This subject deals, thus, with a topic currently undergoing a profound transformation.
  • 'Introduction to English Literature' provides the cultural background for diverse professional fields: English language teaching, journalism, management of cultural institutions, publishing, Internet communication and business, etc.

 

Unit

Description
Unit 1

Literature in English: Definitions and debates (exercise CAT1)

Unit 2

Contemporary English fiction: The literary novel today (exercise CAT2)

Unit 3

Popular narratives of the 19th century  (exercise CAT3)

Unit 4

English poetry: A panoramic view (exercise CAT4)

Unit 5

Shakespeare (exercise CAT5)

 "Introduction to English Literature" offers an introduction to the main concepts related to English Literature, followed by an overview of the different genres and periods from the Renaissance until today. The course follows a reverse chronological order for units 2-5. This is because we consider that most students find the contemporary texts easier to read than the earlier works. We trust that as the students' reading and interpretative skills improve they will be able to understand demanding writers such as the poet John Donne or the playwright William Shakespeare with relatively little difficulty.

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English level required to follow the course: B2, 4th-5th year EOI or Advanced (post-First Certificate), though no certificate is required.

According to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)(see http://www.coe.int/T/DG4/Linguistic/Source/Framework_EN.pdf for the complete text), Level B2 describes a level of English where a student is able to "understand the main ideas of complex text on both concrete and abstract topics, including technical discussions in his/her field of specialisation... Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party. Can produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects and explain a viewpoint on a topical issue giving the advantages and disadvantages of various options."

  • Studying English Literature is an excellent way to practise and improve your of English. The amount of material the student has to read in English (the obligatory texts, the Handbook, related links etc) and the command of the language itself are aspects to be considered when choosing this subject.
  • Students are expected to write the exercises (except CAT4), the final exam and all other types of communication (like messages to the Consultor or contributions to the Forum and Debate) in English. However, they should remember that, as with other English subjects offered by the UOC, the emphasis will always be on the ability to communicate ideas rather than on accuracy in grammar, syntax and vocabulary. 

 *Dictionaries are allowed at all times, including during the final exam. Students are strongly advised to use both a good English/Catalan or English/Spanish dictionary and an English dictionary. Some good online dictionaries are WordReference (http://www.wordreference.com) for English-Spanish or Spanish-English translation, Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (http://www.ldoceonline.com/) and Webster's Online Dictionary for English (http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/)

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Objectives

 This subject aims to train students to do the following:

  • Read, understand and become familiar with a selection of the most representative works of English Literature from the 16th century to the present.
  • Reflect, analyse and comment on a variety of literary and academic texts written in English, of diverse genres and historical periods.
  • Develop critical values, summarising information from diverse written and audiovisual sources and from the opinions of their classmates, presenting them in a clear, coherent way.
  • Express themselves clearly and fluently in English on subjects related to academic discourses in general and to English Literature in particular.
  • Participate in current academic debates in relation to English Literature.
Competences

 

The subject 'Introduction to English Literature' and the transversal competences of the Humanities Degree

 

On completion of the subject students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate their understanding of the main ideas in complex academic texts, both regarding concrete and abstract themes, including technical debates in English (minimum level: B2).
  • Communicate fluently and spontaneously, in English, with native speakers of this language within a virtual environment (minimum level B2).
  • Write clear, detailed texts on a variety of subjects, expressing a personal point of view which is argued convincingly (minimum level B2).
  • Search for secondary sources to document the writing of academic essays in English (minimum level B2).

 

The subject 'Introduction to English Literature' and the specific competences of the Humanities Degree

 

On completion of the subject students will be able to:

  •     Analyse and critically interpret the cultural transformations, both past and present, of English-speaking countries and, by comparison, of their own culture.
  •      Recognise and interpret the complexity of cultural diversity.
  •      Interpret their existing cultural context from a multidisciplinary viewpoint.
  •      Identify and understand the processes of cultural reproduction and transformations in human interaction.

Specific competences of the subject

 

On completion of the subject students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate a sound knowledge of the most representative works and movements of English Literature from the 16th century onwards, and of the relations between literary creation and the general evolution of the corresponding culture.
  • Demonstrate a good knowledge and understanding of literary and academic texts in English.
  • Apply critical thinking to the reading, analysis and description of literary and academic texts in English.
  • Argue complex ideas in a clear, coherent and persuasive way regarding texts and discourses in English.
  • Write critical and explanatory academic texts in English.

 

Specific competences of the subject per Unit

 

Unit 1: Literature in English: Definitions and debates

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate a good knowledge of the current debates on the Literature in English.
  • Argue complex ideas in a clear, coherent and persuasive way regarding these debates.
  • Apply critical thinking to the comparison between the culture in English speaking countries and their own cultures (Catalan or Spanish)
  • Write critical and explanatory academic texts in English on the nature of Literature and how it is defined within the English-speaking world.
  • Apply the theoretical and methodological tools acquired in the production and comprehension of texts of diverse academic areas within the Humanities.

 

Unit 2: Contemporary English fiction: The literary novel today

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate knowledge of the most representative fiction of contemporary English Literature.
  • Demonstrate good reading comprehension of this genre, with an emphasis on literary fiction.
  • Apply critical thinking to the reading, analysis and description of fiction in English.
  • Argue complex ideas in a clear, coherent and persuasive way regarding this genre in their contemporary manifestations.
  • Write critical and explanatory academic texts in English on the fiction written in English.
  • Apply the knowledge acquired to understanding and participating in current debates on multilinguism, nationalism, and the traditions of their immediate cultural context.

 

Unit 3: Popular narratives of the 19C

On completion of this unit the student will be able to:

  • Demonstrate sound understanding of the selected 19th century popular narratives in English.
  • Apply critical thinking to the reading, analysis and description of 19th century popular narratives.  
  • Argue complex ideas in a coherent and persuasive manner regarding 19th century popular literature.
  • Write critical and explanatory academic texts in English on the selected 19th century popular narratives written in English.
  • Integrate quotations from primary sources in written academic essays.

 

Unit 4: English poetry: A panoramic view

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate a sound knowledge of the most representative works and movements of English poetry from the Renaissance to the present.
  • Demonstrate a good understanding of this genre in different historical periods.
  • Apply critical thinking to the reading, analysis and description of a selection of poetry from the past and the present written in English.
  • Argue complex ideas in a clear, coherent and persuasive way regarding the poetry written in English of the past and the present.
  • Write a critical text on the poetry written in English and and record themselves (either on a voice recorder or on a camera) reading it.
  • Apply the knowledge acquired to the reading, analysis and comparison of poetry written in other languages.

 

Unit 5: Shakespeare

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate a basic knowledge of the plays and life of William Shakespeare.
  • Demonstrate a good understanding of one of Shakespeare's plays in its original English version.
  • Argue complex ideas in a clear, coherent and persuasive way regarding the plays by William Shakespeare.
  • Write critical and explanatory academic texts in English analysing, in detail, a play by William Shakespeare.
  • Apply the knowledge acquired to the reading, analysis and comparison of drama written in other languages

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Unit 1

Literature in English: Definitions and debates

 

Texts:

Selected quotations from academic essays

La Literatura. Sara Martin Alegre

Unit 2

Contemporary English fiction: The literary novel today

 

Text: White Teeth.Zadie Smith 

Unit 3

Popular narratives of the 19C

 

Texts: "A Scandal in Bohemia" (Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle); "The Final Problem" (Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle) and "The Adventure of the Empty House" (The Return of Sherlock Holmes, Arthur Conan Doyle) 

Unit 4

English poetry: A panoramic view

 

Texts: Selected poems 16th century -present.

Unit 5

Shakespeare

Text: A Midsummer Night's Dream. William Shakespeare

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Material Suport
Definitions and Debates PDF
Poetry PDF

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Texts

These are the texts students are required to read.

Unit 1 Literature in English: Definitions and debates

A SELECTION OF QUOTATIONS FROM ACADEMIC ESSAYS:

  • Quotations from books by the following authors: Tony Bennett, Clive Bloom, Harold Bloom, George Bluestone, Malcolm Bradbury, Lennard J. Davis, Terry Eagleton, Ken Gelder, Harriet Hawkins, Kathryn Hume, Fredric Jameson, Frank Kermode, Stephen King, F.R. Leavis, Lawrence W. Levine, James B. Twitchell, Raymond Williams, Virginia Woolf and Ken Worpole. (Available from the resources section in the classroom).
  • Academic Essay: Sara Martín Alegre, La Literatura.  Available from the resources section in the classroom.

  Unit 2. Contemporary English fiction: The literary novel today

  • NOVEL: Zadie Smith, White Teeth (Penguin, 2000). PLEASE, NOTE: Students are advised to order the book (either the paperback or kindle edition) from Amazon UK (amazon.co.uk) or Amazon Spain (www.amazon.es) or from The Book Depository (with no delivery costs, see http://www.bookdepository.com/). This is the fastest way to buy it. FNAC, La Central, Casa del Llibre, Come In and BCN Books in Barcelona might also have copies. Students are strongly advised to see the corresponding BBC serial adaptation by Roger Michell (1993), though this is not a compulsory part of the course.
  • HANDBOOK Introduction to English Literature (Coord: Andrew Monnickendam, Ediuoc) Units 4 and 5

 Unit 3. Popular narratives of the 19C

  • SHORT STORY: Arthur Conan Doyle, "A Scandal in Bohemia" (Adventures of Sherlock Holmes); "The Final Problem" (Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes) and "The Adventure of the Empty House" (The Return of Sherlock Holmes). PLEASE, NOTE: Students are advised to use the paperback (or kindle) edition of The Penguin Complete Sherlock Holmes (Penguin Books, 1981), but the stories can also be downloaded from the internet at: https://sherlock-holm.es/. Students are strongly advised to see the contemporary BBC serial adaptation by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss (2010, 2012 and 2014) though this is not a compulsory part of the course.
  • HANDBOOK Introduction to English Literature (Coord: Andrew Monnickendam, Ediuoc) Units 3 and 4.

 Unit 4. English poetry: A panoramic view

  • POETRY: A selection of 20 poems from different historical periods, available from the resources section in the classroom.
  • HANDBOOK Introduction to English Literature (Coord.: Andrew Monnickendam, Ediuoc) Units 1 to 5. 

Unit 5. Shakespeare 

  • PLAY: A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare. You are strongly advised to use a book edition with introduction and notes but the play can also be downloaded in English from the internet at http://shakespeare.mit.edu/midsummer/index.html, among others. IMPORTANT: Cambridge School Shakespeare (ISBN 9781107615458) is a highly recommended edition. Editorial Austral has a very good Spanish translation by Ángel Luis Pujante published in 1999 (ISBN ISBN-10: 8467034106), which can also be downloaded from Amazon Kindle: http://www.amazon.es/sue%C3%B1o-noche-verano-Noche-Cl%C3%A1sica-ebook/dp/B00D4B30BS
  • HANDBOOK Introduction to English Literature, (Coord. Andrew Monnickendam, Ediuoc) Units 1 & 2 
A note on the Handbook

The HANDBOOK Introduction to English Literature (Coord: Andrew Monnickendam Ediuoc), provides the background reading for some units. Its exercises, however, will not be used in the course.

The UNITS in the subject should not be confused with the UNITS in the Handbook, also called MODULES. This table will help you establish their correspondence:

SUBJECT

HANDBOOK
Unit 2 (Contemporary English fiction: The literary novel today) (CAT2)

Units (or Modules) 4 & 5

Unit 3 (Popular Narratives of the 19C) (CAT3)

Units (or Modules) 3 & 4

Unit 4 (English poetry: A panoramic view) (CAT4)

Units (or Modules) 1 to 5

Unit 5 (Shakespeare) (CAT5)

Units (or Modules) 1 & 2

Methodology

Reading the Literary Texts: Work on the literary texts forms a major part of the Continuous Assessment (CA). It is, therefore, compulsory to read them all very carefully, always in their original English version.

Contribution to Forum and Debate: Students' participation in the Debate is an OBLIGATORY part of Continuous Assessment. The Forum may be used freely by students.

Teacher's Notice-board: Students should check the notice-board regularly for general teaching instructions and other information.

Queries: The teacher will answer all queries regarding the content of the subject, except those which can be solved by using a dictionary.

Returning the Exercises: The Teacher-Consultor returns all the corrected exercises to the Forum so that students can have free access to their own and their classmates' exercises.

Plagiarism: All work submitted for Continuous Assessment MUST be original. This means: 1) Any work submitted for Continuous Assessment must be the student's own, 2) Students may quote from other sources but MUST NOT present fragments, sentences, or even parts of sentences copied from these other sources as if they were their own words, 3) Where relevant, original sources must ALWAYS be quoted. Footnotes should be included to identify the source of the words being quoted (e.g. a book, a website).

Plagiarism is a very serious offence and may mean that the student will not be allowed to continue CA.

Plagiarised exercises are automatically marked Fail (D).

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El procés d'avaluació es fonamenta en el treball personal de l'estudiant i pressuposa l'autenticitat de l'autoria i l'originalitat dels exercicis realitzats.

La manca d'autenticitat en l'autoria o d'originalitat de les proves d'avaluació; la còpia o el plagi; l'intent fraudulent d'obtenir un resultat acadèmic millor; la col·laboració, l'encobriment o l'afavoriment de la còpia, o la utilització de material o dispositius no autoritzats durant l'avaluació, entre d'altres, són conductes irregulars que poden tenir conseqüències acadèmiques i disciplinàries greus.

D'una banda, si es detecta alguna d'aquestes conductes irregulars, pot comportar el suspens (D/0) en les activitats avaluables que es defineixin en el pla docent –incloses les proves finals– o en la qualificació final de l'assignatura, sigui perquè s'han utilitzat materials o dispositius no autoritzats durant les proves, com ara xarxes socials o cercadors d'informació a internet, perquè s'han copiat fragments de text d'una font externa (internet, apunts, llibres, articles, treballs o proves d'altres estudiants, etc.) sense la citació corresponent, o perquè s'ha practicat qualsevol altra conducta irregular.

De l'altra, i d'acord amb les normatives acadèmiques, les conductes irregulars en l'avaluació, a més de comportar el suspens de l'assignatura, poden donar lloc a la incoació d'un procediment disciplinari i a l'aplicació, si escau, de la sanció que correspongui.

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Per aprovar l'assignatura has de superar l'avaluació contínua (AC) i fer una prova de síntesi (PS).

La qualificació final (QF) de l'assignatura es calcula d'acord amb el següent:

  • Si superes l'AC i a la prova de síntesi obtens la nota mínima necessària, la nota final es ponderarà d'acord amb els valors establerts en el pla docent.
  • Si superes l'AC però no obtens la nota mínima necessària a la prova de síntesi, la nota final serà la qualificació numèrica obtinguda a la PS.
  • Si superes l'AC i no et presentes a la prova de síntesi, la nota final serà un No presentat.
  • Si no superes l'AC, la nota final serà la nota de l'AC.
  • Si no et presentes a l'AC, la nota final serà un No presentat.


Ponderació de les qualificacions

Opció per superar l'assignatura: AC + PS

Nota final d'assignatura: AC + PS

AC = 70 %

PS = 30 %

Notes mínimes:

· PS = 3,5

Quan la nota obtinguda a la PS sigui inferior als mínims establerts per a cada fórmula, la qualificació final de l'assignatura serà la nota obtinguda a la PS.

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Activities and assessment

Activities

  • Reading literary and academic texts.
  • Reflection on and discussion of the main concepts related to the works and different periods of English Literature.
  • Textual analysis of literary and academic texts in English.
  • Identification and production of different types of academic texts in English.

Assessment

[VERY IMPORTANT!! ALL students registered in this subject, both 'GRAU' and 'LLICENCIATURA', must follow Continuous Assessment followed by a Final Exam (Prova de síntesi).]

All tasks must be submitted in English, except for the recording in Unit 4 (CA4). This may be written and recorded in English, Catalan or Spanish; the choice of language will not affect the mark at all. The Validation Test must be written in English (students may use an English or English-Spanish/Catalan dictionary).

Continuous Assessment (AC)

CA consists of 5 tasks.  CA is considered incomplete and no marks are given unless all the exercises are handed in. Students must meet the deadlines for the exercises. In case of unavoidable delay, the teacher should be informed well in advance (one week). The teacher will return corrected exercises with comments except in the case of the Debate. For the Debate, the teacher will address her comments to the class in general, via the relevant virtual space.

 Final Exam (PS)

The final exam is a written exercise (45-60 minutes) based on one of the main points covered in the course. The question asked in the final exam is always similar to those discussed throughot the course; the student's answer should be similar to a long contribution to the Debate. 

Final Exam Model: Taking into account the Debate and the written exercises you have done for Continuous Assessment, write a brief text (maximum. 250 words) expressing your opinions and conclusions regarding the question of why writers in English such as Hanif Kureishi, Arthur Conan Doyle and William Shakespeare have a universal appeal.

 NOTE: If for whatever reason you decide not to take the final exam, you must notify the Consultor.

Continuous Assessment Tasks 

Continuous assessment consists of 5 tasks:

  •      Participation in 1 Debate (minimum 2 contributions to each Debate on different days, 100 words each contribution)
  •      1 critical essay (350 words)
  •      2 written exercises based on answering questions (200 words each answer)
  •      1 recorded critical commentary (350 words)

             CAT 1: Debate (Unit 1)

            CAT 2: Two-question exercise (Unit 2)

            CAT 3: Essay (Unit 3)

            CAT 4: Recorded critical commentary (Unit 4)

            CAT 5: Two-question exercise (Unit 5)

PLEASE, ALWAYS BEAR IN MIND THE ADVICE OFFERED IN THE DOCUMENT 'ACADEMIC WRITING IN ENGLISH' FOR EACH TYPE OF EXERCISE

 These are the EXERCISES 

CAT1: Unit 1. Literature in English: Definitions and debates

  • CAT1: Participation in the Debate 'What is Literature?' Minimum of 2 contributions on different dates (100 words each contribution). The contributions must contain new ideas and not only reflect or comment on those offered by other students.
  • IMPORTANT: The Debate is based on the readings for Unit 1. In the first part of the unit, when the Debate begins, students should read the selection of quotations. In the following 2 weeks, as the Debate is in progress, they should read the book La Literatura, available from the resources section in the classroom. 
  • Please make sure you refer to the texts and authors when commenting on them.
  • Read carefully the dossiers "Writing about Literature" and "Analysing Literature." There you will find specific information and instructions on how to go about CAT1. 

CAT2: Unit 2. Contemporary English fiction: The literary novel today

  • CAT2: Written exercise based on the novel White Teeth (400 words). Students answer TWO questions, in each case commenting on a passage (10 lines maximum) which they have chosen from the novel. (200 words each answer, passage apart.)

Note:

  • Being selective and capable of synthesising your thoughts is extremely important for this and for all other exercises. Do not exceed the maximum word limit but do not write less than required.
  • Focus on ONE passage and copy it before you begin writing your commentary, adding the page number. Focusing on more than ONE passage is unnecessary and will NOT result in higher marks.
  • Make sure you comment on the words in the passage for your answer.

 This is the exercise:

Question 1. Find a passage (maximum 10 lines) in White Teeth which, in your opinion, explores the significance of "history" and "family roots" in Irie's search for identity. Comment on the passage.

Question 2. Find a passage (maximum 10 lines) in the novel White Teeth which, in your opinion, eitherconforms to the conventional distinction between "the English" as white, and "the non-English multi-culture" as the other, or which suggests a more complex representation of ethnic and national identities. Comment on the passage.

CAT3: Unit 3. Popular narratives of the 19th century 

  •  CAT3: Critical essay (350 words) on ONE of the following short stories by Arthur Conan Doyle ("A Scandal in Bohemia", "The Final Problem" and "The Adventure of the Empty House"), developing a thesis about it. This essay must include quotations from the selected story. You will find a sample essay in the document 'Academic writing in English'

This is the exercise:

Choose ONE of the following stories and write a 350 word critical essay on the given topics:

  1. Think about the role of Irene Adler in "A Scandal in Bohemia;" does the character reinforce or challenge Victorian gender ideology? If so, how? (Consider the following questions: Why does Adler's lifestyle need to be explained in detail to make it believable? What values do Holmes and Watson seem to attach specifically to female gender?
  2. Professor Moriarty, Holmes' archenemy in "The Final Problem," is regarded by many as the "Sherlockian Doppelgänger." In what ways are Holmes and Moriarty mirror opposites?
  3. "The Adventure of the Empty House" recounts Holmes' escape from death at the Reichenbach Falls followed by an exotic journey of imperial exploration and conquest. How do the British colonies appear in relation to England? (Consider these questions: What is the analogy between the colonies and the world of London criminals? Does imperial adventure have an evil influence on Moran, "the second most dangerous man in London"?)

CAT4: Unit 4. English poetry: A panoramic view

  • Read the 20 poems in the document 'Poetry'. You will see that in some cases the poem is accompanied by a link, which allows you to listen to it being read and, in some cases, to see a video accompanying the words.
  • CAT4: Write a critical commentary (350 words) on the poem you have chosen
  • Record yourself  on camera reading of the poem (in English) and the subsequent commentary (in English, Spanish or Catalan). Submit both the video file and the written commentary. 

CAT5: Unit 5. Shakespeare   

  •       CAT5: Individual two-question written exercise.
  •      Being selective and capable of synthesising your thoughts is extremely important for this and for all other exercises. Do not exceed the maximum word limit but do not write less than required.
  •       Focus on ONE passage and copy this before you start your commentary, adding the act, scene and lines. Focusing on more than ONE passage is unnecessary and will NOT result in higher marks.
  •      Make sure you comment on the words in the passage for your answer, either by referring to them or by quoting them (i.e. copying little bits of the passage between quotation marks "xxxxxxx"). Identify passages by act, scene and lines (e.g. Act I.ii, 316-20)
  •       Please note that there is not a correct answer for the questions in CAT5. What is valued is, first, your ability to select passages appropriate for your answers and, second, your ability to argue your opinion convincingly.

 This is the exercise:

 Answer the following questions

Question 1. Find a passage (maximum 10 lines) in the play A Midsummer Night's Dream which, in your opinion proves that comedy is used to camouflage tragic content or which proves exactly the opposite. Comment on this passage. (Write a maximum of 200 words for each question, quotation apart)

Question 2. Find a passage (maximum 10 lines) in A Midsummer Night's Dream which, in your opinion, proves either that love results in happy, consensual relationships and not just in excess and lustful violence or which proves exactly the opposite. (Write a maximum of 200 words for each question, quotation apart)

Marking Scheme

The range of final marks for the Continuous Assessment is:

A (100):                   'Matrícula d'Honor'

A (9-9.5):                 'Excel.lent'

B (7-8.5):                 'Notable'

C+ (5.5-6.5):           'Aprovat'

C- (4-5):                  'Suspès'

D (-4):                     'Suspès'

N (N):                      'No Presentat'

The individual exercises are marked in the same way or with a combination of two letters and symbols (e.g. C+/B-). The teacher will also provide feedback commenting on students' exercises.  

Debate

All contributions are welcome but only those of at least 100 words will be considered for the final Continuous Assessment mark.

Contributions which reiterate other students' ideas without contributing anything new to the Debate will be disregarded.

Content and frequency of participation in the Debate will be assessed rather than the quality of the language used.

Two or more contributions sent on the same day will count as only ONE contribution.

The marking scheme teachers use for the Debate is as follows:

  • 2 contributions = C+ (B- or B if the contributions are outstanding)
  • 3 contributions = B-, B or B+ (A-) or A if the contributions are outstanding)
  • 4 contributions or more = A-or A

Programme

DATES

ACTIVITIES

 

15 Sept  - 24 Sept

 

 

Preliminary activities:

* Reading the 'Pla Docent,' planning the course, checking the contents of the Handbook.

* Obtaining the books from internet or local bookshops (except for the Handbook and La Literatura).

* Students are invited to introduce themselves and share their doubts and expectations about the subject, in a message sent to the Forum.

25 Sept - 14 Oct

Unit 1. Literature in English: Definitions and debates

READING:

* Selected quotations + Book: Sara Martín Alegre, La Literatura available from the resources section in the classroom.

* CAT1: Participation in the Debate 'What is Literature?' Deadline 14 Oct.

15 Oct -02 Nov 

Unit 2. Contemporary English fiction: The literary novel today

 READING:

* Novel: Zadie Smith, White Teeth

* Unit 4 & 5 (Handbook)

* CAT2: Written exercise based on two questions about the novel White Teeth (200 words each question). Deadline 2 Nov.

03 Nov-20 Nov

Unit 3. Literature and its market:

READING:

* Short stories: Arthur Conan Doyle, "A Scandal in Bohemia," "The Final Problem," "Adventure in the Empty House."

* Units 3 & 4 (Handbook)

* CAT3: Critical essay (350 words) written in English on ONE of 3 short stories based on the given topics. Deadline 20 Nov.

21 Nov- 9 Dec

Unit 4. English poetry: A panoramic view

READING (AND LISTENING):

* Selection of 20 poems of all ages in English

* Units 1 to 5 (Handbook) 

* CAT4: Recorded 350-word critical commentary (in English, Spanish or Catalan) on a poem freely chosen by the student. NOTE: Students should record themselves either on a voice recorder or on camera while reading the selected poem (in English) and the subsequent commentary (in English, Spanish or Catalan). Deadline 9 Dec.

10 Dec-23 Dec

Unit 5. Shakespeare

READING: 

* Play: A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare.

* Units 1 & 2 (Handbook)

* CAT5: Individual written exercise based on two questions about the play. Deadline 23 Dec. 

January

The teacher publishes the final marks for CA:  3 Jan.

The final exams will be held on 8, 9, 12, 15, 16 and 19 Jan. 

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The final mark for this subject will be calculated from your continuous assessment (70%) and the final test (Prova de síntesi) (30%).

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