Institute of English and American Studies, University of Debrecen

Institute of English and American Studies, University of Debrecen

Introduction to Literature and Visual Culture

(BTAN22002BA-K3, BTAN2203OMA)

Credits:3 (seminar, 2 hrs, graded)Instructor: Kőrösi Márta

Study period:Fall Semester, AY 2016/2017E-mail:

Classroom:Room 55, Main Bld.Office hours:Monday, 15:45–16:45,

Time:Monday, 12:00–13:40Room 105

Monday, 14:00–15:40

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The aim of the course Introduction to Literature and Visual Culture is to familiarize students with some basic terms and approaches that they can use in the interpretation of literary and visual texts. After an introduction to the concept of culture, the first half of the course will be dedicated to key terms in the analysis of narrative and rhetoric (such as plot, character, narrative voice, point of view, setting, figures of speech, etc.), while the second half will focus on some crucial critical ideas and approaches to literary and visual texts. We will discuss these terms and ideas by way of reading/watching and analysing a selection of texts of various types such as short stories, poems, movies or music videos.

REQUIREMENTS

Presence at classes: no more than three absences are allowed. In the case of a longer absence (either due to illness or official leave), the tutor and the student will come to an agreement of how to solve the problem.

Assigned reading/viewing:the students are required to read/watch the assigned works for class, since the seminar sessions will be based on the discussion of these texts.

Participation in classroom discussions: the students are expected to take part in classroom discussions, as this activity contributes to their final seminar grade.

Small tests on the assigned texts can be expected at each seminar (plot-related questions on the assigned texts, or questions on the terminology we have covered during the seminar sessions). The result of these tests contributes to the seminar grade.If you do not achieve 60% in these small tests, your seminar is a failure (the grade is a one). You’ll be granted, though, one chance to make up for the failure (or missing) of these minor tests as agreed with your course tutor (unless you also fail or miss either the mid-term essay or the end term test, because in that case you fail the entire course).

Mid-term in-class essay: an essay of 400-600 words (cca. two pages) written in class based on the material covered in the first half of the semester, and concerning the generic, thematic and/or interpretative aspects of the texts we have discussed. You will be able to use the primary (printed) texts, but no additional material can be used when writing this essay. You will be given a list of possible themes and topics that may come up in the mid-term essay.

End-term test: an objective test on the works and concepts discussed during the term. The test must be written at the time scheduled in the syllabus. Failing to do so or not achieving 50% of the total score will count as course failure, and only one re-sit test will be scheduled to make up for the failure. If you fail both the minor tests and end-term test, the grade is a one as it is possible to rewrite only one of these.

Themid-term essays will be assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

• the articulateness of the thesis of the paper;
• the clarity of the position you take;
• the quality of the arguments;
• the coherence of the structure;
• the level of your language.

The essays will not be evaluated on the basis of what your tutor’s position is in a certain issue, so feel free to elaborate your own ideas – but do it in a sophisticated way.

NB! Please note that each and every course component above is obligatory: the failure to meet any of these requirements (class attendance, small tests, in-class essay, end-term test) will jeopardise the completion of the course. Out of three course components – small tests, in-class essay, end-term test – only one re-sit will be granted; if you fail more than one of these components, you fail the course, since you can only retake one of them. Please also note that there is no make-up for insufficient class attendance.

Grading Policy

COURSE OUTLINE AND ASSIGNED READING/VIEWING

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