Course syllabus

Jump to today

Campus Borlänge

 

Welcome to GEN379 Literature in English for Teacher Students @ Dalarna University

(This module is ONE OF FOUR OBLIGATORY MODULES within the GEN379 English I for Teacher Students 30 credit course packet)

(Please read everything carefully)

 

What is THIS Module about? 

Aim of Module: 

Increase your knowledge of literary studies as well as literature in education through focused reading of a range of literature works and cultural content from the English-speaking world. 

Seminars 

  • Seminars are Mondays 1030 - 1200 & 1300 - 1430.   
  • The first seminar is on Monday 26th January in zoom room 109.  (see below on how to access the zoom room). 

A full schedule will be available in the coming days. 

Seminar Groups. 

There are two seminar groups: 1030 and 1300.  You will be randomly assignment to one of the two groups; this group will be your group for the course.  If there is an issue with the group to which you are assigned,  then please contact the  module coordinator Anita Purcell-Sjölund, aps@du.se 

What books  do I need for THIS Module? 

You are required to read seminar material before every seminar.  This means you must have access to the literature discussed in this module.  You are responsible for making sure you can access the literary texts.  Some texts are provided.

  • Traditional print versions,  e-book text versions as well as pdf versions are accepted forms of literary texts. 
  • Audio versions cannot be used as literary texts in the course (see the learning outcomes above).     

The course literature: 

  • Demos-Brown, Christopher. (2019). American Son.   United States. Samuel French. ISBN: 9780573708022  (Play.   Provided in the course) 
  • Griffiths, Paul. (2023). Let me Tell You. Henningham Family Press. ISBN: 9781916218666   (Novel.  Provided in the course)
  • Itäranta, Emmi. (2015). Memory of Water. United Kingdom: Harper Collins. ISBN: 9780007529940   (Novel,  any English language edition)
  • Jiang, Ai. (2023). I Am AI. Shortwave Media. ISBN: 9781959565093.   (Novelette.  Provided in the course)
  • Orwell, George. (2021). Nineteen Eighty-Four. New York: Harper Collins.  (Novel,  any edition)
  • Park, Linda Sue. (2012). When My Name was Keoko. U.S.A.: Clarion Books.  (Novel, any edition)
  • Additional texts are provided in the course. 

NOTE: Some of the novels in the list above have been adapted as films of which I (Anita) have seen as an academic/researcher specialising in media studies, cultural studies, and literature.   There is the temptation to avoid reading the literature by watching film adaptations.  The learning outcomes above make it clear that one of the skills is to demonstrate reading of a literary text through analysis, argumentation, etc.   First, film adaptations do not necessarily follow the original literary texts.  Second, film is a different genre with  its own "language".  Studying film is a completely different academic field.   

Learning outcomes that you must successfully demonstrate throughout this module  (key skills are highlighted)

On completion of this module, students will be able to:

  1. read, describe and discuss a selection of literary works, genres and forms from the English-speaking world
  2. analyse literature from the English-speaking world using relevant literary terminology
  3. argue, both orally and in writing, for their own interpretations of the literary works studied
  4. describe and exemplify aspects of culture, society and ideology in the literary works studied
  5. read and discuss research on literary studies and on literature education and discuss the uses of literature in English language education.

Your lecturers 

Learning outcomes 1-4 deal with literature studies  ( the study of texts, genres, historical contexts, theories, and critical interpretations—to understand how literature reflects, shapes, and challenges culture, language, and ideas).  

Learning outcome 5 deals with literature educatioin. 

Most of this module will deal with literature studies (equal to 7.5 credits).   The rest of the 1.5 credits is for literature didactic. 

On this module, 

  • Anita Purcell-Sjölund will teach literature studies.  
    • Any questions regarding the literary texts,  assignments regarding the study of these texts, etc please contact Anita Purcell-Sjölund, aps@du.se 
  • Katherina Dodou will focus on the literature English.   
    • Any questions regarding literature didactic,  contact Katherina Dodou, kdo@du.se 

Assessment Options for this 9 credit Module

  • Active participation in seminars
    • while not specifically stated in the syllabus,  the implication is regular seminar attendance and consistent effort in demonstrating the key skills highlighted in the learning outcomes 
    • Missing too many seminars  will affect your final course grade
  • Written assignments
  • Oral assignments
  • Oral presentations

Assignment for Anita's part of the module. 

  • For the literary studies element of this module,  you will  write an essay of 1000 words using the Toulmin model is a framework for analysing and constructing arguments to write an argumentative-analytical literary essay using deductive logic .   The essay assignment will be divided into a process-based writing structure.  The essay will be discussed in more depth during the course. 
  • Regarding the essay:  AI can be a helpful tool in research  for example,  as an active tool to search for sources which you then assess for reliability and relevance.  But IT CANNOT BE USED TO FORM YOUR ARGUMENTS ABOUT A TEXT FOR YOUR ESSAY AS WELL AS TO WRITE YOUR ASSIGNMENTS. 
  • For the essay assignment,  I use 3 tools to check for AI-generated text.  While there are margins of error in checking for AI-based writing,  if all three tools give the same results for a written piece of work,  then it will fail.     
  • The learning outcomes explicitly state "students" should demonstrate the learning outcomes NOT AI. 

Information regarding assessment assignments for the literature didactic is coming soon. 

How do I access  ZOOM? 

All seminars are zoom seminars.    All literature seminars are in  ZOOM 109 .   You must log in using your university user name and password.    The zoom  room and log in instructions can be found through the following links:

To use Zoom,  you must download the zoom app, have a working camera and microphone/headphone.  The following links will lead you to instructions on how to install zoom as well as information about the zoom platform. 

Where do I find my university email address  to contact my lecturer for this module?  

Dalarna University uses Office 365 for all emails. As a registered student you will be given a university ID and password.  Your university ID will form part of your email address which would be something like  h25abcd@du.se       

Please  use your university email address for all matters related to your study. 

To access Office 365 email, 

image.png

Click on "Webmail" and you will be taken to the "Email" page.  https://www.du.se/en/student-web/services-and-tools/study-tools/email/

Once in the email page (see screen shot below),  click "Email in Office 365" and follow the online instructions. 

image.png

 

Access to Microsoft Office 365

If you do not have Office on your computer, use your student access to Office.   You can  access Microsoft Office 365 through the following university web links

 

 

To access the full course syllabus for the literature module (9 credits) and the entire GEN379 30 credit course package,  please click
Dalahorse

https://www.du.se/en/study-at-du/kurser/syllabus/?code=GEN379  English version 

https://www.du.se/sv/utbildning/kurser/kursplan/?code=GEN379  Swedish versio

 
indicates that you can upload a photo

To access the reading list, please click on the following link  https://www.du.se/sv/utbildning/litteraturlistor/?applicationcode=V3PPW

Your Lecturers for this module  & GEN379 Coordinator
Literature Studies part of module. 

 

Anita Purcell-Sjölund, aps@du.se 

I am responsible for the module regarding course content and  seminars or any inquiry regarding assignments. 

 

 

  • do not use  the canvas email messaging option. Email me  directly using email in Office 365
  • Use your du.se university address NOT your personal email address. 
  • I work 80% here.  Therefore, I answer emails within working hours 0900  - 1600 during Mon-Thurs. Please note this if you email me outside working hours or the working week.  
  • I cannot answer all emails immediately as I am either teaching,  at meetings,  or doing research.  The maximum time I have to answer your email enquiry is three working days.  However,  I do try to answer emails as quickly as I can.  
Literature Didactic part of this module. 

Katherina Dodou 

kdo@du.se 
GEN379 Coordinator 

Marcia Markus , mmk@du.se  

Responsible for enquiries regarding the coordination of the entire 30 credit course package. 
Admission, registration  or technical/zoom issues 

support@du.se 

 

Course summary:

Course Summary
Date Details Due