To equip the department's postgraduate students with the necessary research skills to make effective, critical interventions in the study of English Literature.

To equip students with the necessary presentational skills for advanced study in English Literature, including bibliographic and referencing conventions.

To equip students with para-academic professional skills relating to the development of materials for a public audience.

To equip students with the knowledge and confidence to reflect critically and creatively on the practices, contexts and real-world applications of literary study.

(LO1) Students will have a comprehensive and practical understanding of techniques for accessing electronic and bibliographic sources.

(LO2) Students will have the ability to use scholarly referencing and bibliographic conventions appropriate for advanced literary scholarship.

(LO3) Students will acquire new skills fostering continued independent learning and a critical appreciation of complex issues within the broader context of the Arts and Humanities.

(S1) Students will gain a systematic knowledge and critical awareness of current debates and new insights within the field of literature and its contexts.

(S2) Students will gain an advanced critical and analytical skills in relation to diverse forms of discourse.

(S3) Students will gain advanced literacy, interpersonal and communications skills, and the ability to present sustained and persuasive written and oral arguments to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

(S4) Students will gain a systematic knowledge and critical awareness of current debates and new insights within the field of literature and its contexts.

(S5) Students will gain the ability to comprehensively understand and apply a variety of theoretical approaches to literature.

(S6) Students will have the ability to handle complex information and argument in a critical, creative and self-reflective manner.

(S7) Student will gain practical research skills to retrieve information, assemble bibliographic data, and critically evaluate, sift and organize material independently.

(S8) Students will gain the ability to use IT and other relevant tools and resources to present written and oral work to a professional, scholarly standard.

(S9) Student will have advanced skills and experience in selecting and using electronic and/or archival resources for planning and undertaking research and writing.

A typical syllabus may include sessions focusing on some of the following topics: archival research inside and outside the University; academic writing skills; current issues in international Higher Education; presenting research to different audiences; reviewing.

This is the first of three core MA English modules designed to furnish students with key academic and para-academic skills. It is followed in the second semester by ENGL701 Dissertation Preparation Project and, in the summer, ENGL702 Dissertation.

Library resources will be accessible through the module reading list, other key learning resources will be accessible through VITAL.

Students may be required to read some selected resources in the reading list. They will need to find their own supplementary resources when, for instance, completing assignments.

Students may be expected to complete independent reading and/or research in preparation for seminars.

Teaching consists of 11 seminars, in which students participate in group discussion. Self-directed learning will consist of (a) reading material germane to the course, some of which may be required in preparation for specific seminars (b) preparing for assessments and (c) continuous reflection both on HE and academic practices and the student’s own learning journey.