Bachelor Paper in English (American) Literature and Culture I
Undergraduate course
- ECTS credits
- 10
- Teaching semesters Spring
- Course code
- ENG266L
- Number of semesters
- 1
- Teaching language
- English
- Resources
- Schedule
Course description
Objectives and Content
In English literature and culture at 200-level, students take the same course as either ENG226L (school exam) or ENG266L (term paper).
The course gives a critical and theoretical introduction to literature in English, or to a topic in cultural studies. The course focuses on a historical period or genre in English literature, or on a literary, cultural, or interdisciplinary topic.
The course aims to provide the student with extended knowledge of the literature and/or culture in English-speaking countries, and to train students to have a critical and independent understanding of main questions connected with the study of literature and/or culture. The course also aims to give students a strong command of written and spoken English.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of the course the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence:
Knowledge
The student
-has gained further knowledge on the aspects that characteristic of the literature and/or culture that the course focuses on
-has a critical and independent understanding of main questions that are tied to the study of literature and/or culture generally.
Skills
The student
-is capable of reflecting on the theoretical questions that the course raises.
General competence
The student
-can express themselves in correct academic English.
ECTS Credits
Level of Study
Semester of Instruction
Place of Instruction
Required Previous Knowledge
Recommended Previous Knowledge
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
Access to the Course
Teaching and learning methods
Seminars: up to 20 hours (normally 2 hours per week for 10 weeks).
In the case that fewer than five students register for a course, the organized teaching may be adapted to fit the number of students. If this occurs, students will be informed at the start of the semester, and before the registration deadline February 1/ September 1.
Students are expected to consistently and actively participate in the scheduled teaching. This expectation is also the basis for the preparation towards the exam.
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
Attendance is obligatory. Students must be present in at least 80% of the seminars.
In order to take the exam, students must complete and pass two different obligatory assignments given in connection with the seminars. These are a combination of one individual oral presentation, and/or oral presentation in groups of two or three students, and/or a response to oral presentation, and/or short written assignments on site in the seminars with peer review, and/or submission of short written works of 300 words, and/or leading discussions in seminars. The exact combination of assignments and their deadlines will be announced on Mitt UiB at the beginning of the semester.
The students must also submit a draft of their term paper of minimum 1000 words. Supervision can be given individually or in groups. Students have the right to supervision in working with the term paper. Supervision is obligatory and must be completed at least 2 times. Students must submit a draft of their term paper, attend supervision, and follow guidelines and meet deadlines set by the Department and the course teacher. Students who fail to meet these requirements may not submit their term paper for assessment.
All obligatory assignments must be completed in the same semester.
Approval of obligatory assignments are valid for the teaching semester and the following semester.
Forms of Assessment
The exam is a supervised term paper of 4500 words (±10%), where the student, in a separate chapter of approximately 1000 words (±10%) on theory, data and methods, presents their thoughts on the theoretical and methodological approach chosen in the term paper. The student chooses the topic of the term paper in agreement with the course instructor. The bibliography and attachments are not included in the word count.
In addition, there is an oral exam, in which the students are tested on the entire reading list as well as the term paper. The oral exam may adjust the grade for the written work by one grade. Both parts of the exam must receive a passing grade in order to get a passing grade in total, and both parts must be completed in the same term.
The term paper fulfills the requirements for an independent piece of research that can be part of a Bachelor degree.
Grading Scale
Assessment Semester
Reading List
The reading list is comprised of selection of literary texts, non-fiction texts and theoretical texts.
The reading list will be available by December 1 for the spring semester.