Entry requirements

60 credit points in English A+B+C.

Aims

The course aims to provide students with in-depth knowledge of one of the fields of American Literature (D1A), English Literature (D1E) or English Linguistics (D1S), a certain degree of familiarity with methods and problems of literary criticism or linguistics, and the ability to write a scholarly paper with a high degree of independence.

Content

The course comprises two modules and is given in three elective variants: American Literature (D1A), English Literature (D1E), or English Linguistics (D1S).

Instruction

D1A and D1E: Module 1. Literature in English and Literary Criticism, 10 credits

The module comprises a survey of research methods in literature and an in-depth study of literature in English. Selected literary texts written in English are treated and commentated in interaction with texts in literary theory. Group sessions.

Students are examined in the form of written and/or oral examinations, either individually or in connection with teaching.

Module 2. Methods Course and Degree Project, 10 credits

The module comprises discussion, individually or in a group, of suitable scholarly methods in the prospective subject area for the degree project and advice in choosing a topic.

Students are examined in the form of the production and defence of a degree project comprising an independently executed research assignment in some aspect of American (D1A) or English (D1E) Literature, or of English Linguistics (D1S), presented in the form of an essay in English observing conventional formal principles. The scope should be about 25 A4 pages. Moreover, every student must perform a critique of another student's project.

Assessment of degree projects should primarily be based on the student's ability to deal independently with a problem complex and to systematically present the research field, structuring, execution, and findings and, secondarily, the form of the degree project in terms of satisfying formal criteria and correct use of language. Work assigned the grade of Pass with Distinction must meet criteria of scholarship and linguistic expression associated with excellent work.

Assessment

Examinations are both oral and written as well as by continuous assessment. Grades are fail, pass, and pass with distinction.

Students who fail regular examinations will be offered make-up examinations within a reasonable period of time.

Students who fail an examination twice have the right to apply to the head of department for permission to change examiners or examination forms.

Other regulations

To be awarded a pass with distinction for the entire course, a student must have gained a pass with distinction for module 2.

For admission to the doctoral programme in American literature, a student must have completed the whole course with at least a pass grade and a D-level degree project in English.

Transitional provisions

If the syllabus or literature of a module changes, the student has the right to be examined according to the original syllabus or literature on two further occasions in the following semester. Subsequently, this right generally no longer applies.

For provisional regulations relating to changes in the course syllabus, please contact the student counsellor.

Results for modules which are at least five years old are normally no longer valid if the syllabus for the module has changed.