LT109-4-SP-CO:
Contemporary Texts and Contexts

The details
2024/25
Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 4
Current
Monday 13 January 2025
Friday 21 March 2025
15
21 August 2024

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

BA PW38 Film and Creative Writing,
BA PW39 Film and Creative Writing (Including Placement Year),
BA PW88 Film and Creative Writing (Including Foundation Year),
BA PWH8 Film and Creative Writing (Including Year Abroad)

Module description

What is contemporary writing? What are the most urgent themes that writers are addressing now? How have digital culture and the internet affected literary forms and expression? How have theories of reading and criticism helped us to analyse contemporary writing in exciting new ways?


Don’t just study known “traditional” genres of literature. What about the emerging new genres of writing that are challenging readers, and defying literary classification, from podcasts to social media generated novels? This module focuses on contemporary English fiction, poetry, and drama produced within the last ten years, and it investigates the themes, forms, issues and language that are at the forefront of literary development right now.

Module aims

The aims of this module are:



  • To provide students with a critical overview of contemporary writing and the concerns reflected in this literature.

  • To acquaint students with a variety of forms or genres of contemporary writing and widen notions of what can be considered literary.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:



  1. Display a good knowledge of literature written in the last ten years.

  2. Demonstrate considerable critical awareness of the variety of genres and themes as represented by contemporary literature.

Module information

No additional information available.

Learning and teaching methods

This module will be delivered via:

  • A weekly 1-hour lecture
  • A weekly 1-hour seminar

Bibliography

The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's reading list.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Formative: Essay plan  21/02/2025  0% 
Coursework   Essay (2,500 words)  21/03/2025  95% 
Coursework   Essay (RESITWA students only)  21/03/2025   
Coursework   Close Reading and Key Scene Exercise (RESITWA students only)  09/05/2025   
Practical   Participation     5% 

Additional coursework information

This module includes an opportunity to hand in a draft of an essay introduction and essay plan for formative assessment. This formative assessment will not carry a module mark, but provides an opportunity for students to assess their performance on the module.

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Jak Peake, email: jrpeak@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Jak Peake
LiFTS General Office email liftstt@essex.ac.uk, 'phone 01206 872626

 

Availability
Yes
Yes
Yes

External examiner

Dr Doug Haynes
University of Sussex
Reader in American Literature and Visual Culture
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 1540 hours, 0 (0%) hours available to students:
1540 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s).

 

Further information

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