SEL2218 : Research Project in English Literature and History
- Offered for Year: 2024/25
- Module Leader(s): Dr Kirsten MacLeod
- Co-Module Leader: Dr Fergus Campbell
- Owning School: English Lit, Language & Linguistics
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
- Capacity limit: 150 student places
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
This module gives students the opportunity to:
1. Apply the historical and literary-critical methodologies and approaches learned at stage one to the same source.
2. Acquire specialised knowledge of a range of primary sources and then to explore and write about one in depth using historical and literary-critical approaches.
3. Develop knowledge of significant archival collections and the skills to locate, handle and interpret archival material from both hard and/or digital archives.
Outline Of Syllabus
The Research Project guides students in the investigation of primary sources (which may be hard or digital; oral as well as written) which have significance for students studying both English Literature and History. The primary sources will vary according to the interests of staff members teaching from year to year. The module focuses on reading each source both as a object of historical information and as a literary text and asks students use their skills as historians and as literary critics to developing their own interpretation of the primary source text of their choice derived from the research theme on the module.
In addition, students will be directed in the processes necessary for handling and interpreting an archival collection (through hands-on research-skills workshops in an archival setting where required and on how to design a project that can be achieved within the specified time-frame.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 60 | 1:00 | 60:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 85 | 1:00 | 85:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 9 | 2:00 | 18:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 3 | 2:00 | 6:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Student-led group activity | 9 | 1:00 | 9:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Dissertation/project related supervision | 1 | 1:00 | 1:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 21 | 1:00 | 21:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Singly and co-taught workshops will be used to introduce students to the materials they will research through a mixture of teaching and, where possible, hands-on examination and to the key methodologies and concepts needed for interdisciplinary work. Workshops will involve training in working with archival sources -- databases and/or local archives. Student-led group activity in preparation for workshops ensure students practise the skills needed to work towards a specified task and deadline on a small-scale each week building up to the final assessment.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | 2 | M | 20 | Literature review (10 sources), annotated bibliography and in-depth response to two of the bibliography sources. |
| Case study | 2 | A | 80 | 3000 word (or equivalent) case-study centred on one item within the archival collection. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Each student will produce a 3000 word (or equivalent) case-study centred on one item which demonstrates their knowledge and application of the conceptual and methodological approaches of Literature and History. The report consists of a literature review of 10 sources, with an annotated bibliography, and a more in-depth critical response to two of the sources in the bibliography.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- SEL2218's Timetable