English Studies (online)

Core modules:

Research Methods In English Studies

This, the core module for the MA in English Studies, will combine an introduction to electronic, microfilm, and paper tools with an in-depth exposure to the way in which close reading can be aided by consideration of reception history, literary theory, historical backgrounds, and stage history. Students will learn by way of and demonstrate skills in online discussions. Students who complete this module will have developed skills that are transferable to various employment situations, especially publishing. The module will be very useful for and interesting to secondary and post-16 English teachers, particularly those whose degrees are not recent.

30 credits

Dissertation (MA in English Literature)

The Dissertation is an independent research essay equivalent to around 15,000 words on a topic chosen by the student relating to their programme of study on either the MA in English Literature, MA in Creative Writing or the MA English Studies. It will be supervised by a member of staff with an academic interest in the topic, and student and supervisor will meet approximately three times. The dissertation should present an argument that develops over a series of chapters/sections. It should demonstrate an ability to carry out effective research using appropriate methods of enquiry, as well as expertise in writing and the communication of research discoveries, and in organisation.

60 credits

Optional modules may include:

Writing Identities: Nation, Race, Empire

This module explores literature from the nineteenth to the twenty-first centuries with a focus on the role that nation, race and imperialism have in constructing individual and shared identities. We will look at texts that foreground relations between the local and the global from the height of the colonial age to the current period of neo-colonial (or postcolonial) relations. Students will encounter writing from a range of geographical locations and across a broad spectrum of styles, themes and voices. By making use of relevant concepts from literary and cultural theory we will consider issues including citizenship, community and migration, gaining an understanding of how concepts of nationhood, racial identity and imperialism have shaped modern culture.

30 credits

Shakespeare and Early Women Dramatists

This module will deal with the literary dialogue that developed as Shakespeare pondered drama written by women (such as the Countess of Pembroke) and women dramatists (such as Margaret Cavendish) transformed what they found in Shakespeare's plays. Not surprisingly, women dramatists (such as Elizabeth Cary) sometimes deal with topics that are not explicitly discussed by Shakespeare, as with inability of wives to divorce their husbands and what grounds there might be for divorce. The module will be very useful for and interesting to secondary and post-16 English teachers, particularly those whose degrees are not recent.

30 credits

Introduction to Literary Linguistics

This module will introduce students to some of the ways in which linguistic analysis can be used to explore the language of literary texts. Topics covered will include: nouns and verbs; sentence structure; vocabulary and register; narrative and point of view; reporting speech and thought. The emphasis will be upon a practical approach, and texts studied will be predominantly drawn from contemporary literature. Students will also be introduced to some of the recent debates about the value of literary linguistics. Students who complete this module will have gained a good understanding of the language of literature.

30 credits

All MA students can take optional modules from the online course, with the agreement of their course tutor.