Undergraduate

HU.29 ENGLISH

Note: Credits cannot be obtained for English 1A and 1B as well as English 1C and 1D except with the special permission of the Executive Dean.

English 1A ENG1AA1 NQF level: 6 NQF credits: 16

Content:

An introduction to literary studies and writing essays. An introduction to short fiction and an introduction to the novel.

Purpose:

To introduce students to the field of English literary studies, to the distinguishing characteristics and techniques associated with fiction, and the fundamental critical thinking and essay writing skills required in literary analysis.

Outcomes:

Upon completion of this module students should be able to: recognise a limited range of narrative techniques common in fiction; demonstrate basic skills in essay planning and writing; present the main ideas of a critical analysis, by means of close reading of passages from narrative texts.

English 1B ENG1BB1 NQF level: 6 NQF credits: 16

Content:

An introduction to poetry. An introduction to drama.

Purpose:

To introduce students to the field of English literary studies, to the distinguishing characteristics and techniques associated with poetry and drama, and to the fundamental critical thinking and essay writing skills required in literary analysis.

Outcomes:

Upon completion of this module students should be able to: recognise a limited range of poetic techniques common to poetry; recognise a limited range of dramatic techniques; demonstrate basic skills in essay planning and writing; present the main ideas of a critical analysis, by means of close reading of passages from poems and dramatic texts.

English 1C ENG0CA1 NQF level: 6 NQF credits: 16

Content:

• Academic style, register and genre
• Topic statements and paragraphing
• Summarising and paraphrasing
• Referencing and plagiarism
• Finding and evaluating informative sources
• Dictionary work and interpretative strategies
• Basic analytical skills
• Essay structure

Purpose:

To introduce students to the conventions and disciplines of academic writing, and to develop their reading, writing, information retrieval and thinking skills.

Outcomes:

Upon completion of this module students should be able to:

Identify and use the features of academic writing and conventions of formal academic style.

Distinguish between types of academic texts and their purposes.

Write a summary and paraphrase

Distinguish between facts and opinions in texts and write objectively.

Find suitable sources of information, both on the internet and in the library.

Integrate the ideas of others with your own and avoid plagiarism by using the Harvard referencing style.

Structure an expository essay – structure research on a specific topic into an objective, coherent and cohesive informative text, written according to the conventions of academic style.

English 1D ENG0DB1 NQF level: 6 NQF credits: 16

Content:

• Stylistic conventions in writing an academic argument essay
• Finding supporting evidence, integrating and referencing sources
• Critical thinking in the humanities
• Making an argument in an academic essay
• Essay structure

Purpose:

To introduce students to the conventions of academic argument, the analysis of source material and to support the further development and strengthening of their critical reading, writing and thinking skills.

Outcomes:

Comprehend a written argument, debate issues and respect different viewpoints.

Engage critically with academic texts.

Develop an argumentative thesis statement – find a specific, provable angle on a topic.

Structure an argumentative essay – state and prove your viewpoint on a specific topic in a coherent text that uses appropriate evidence and is written according to the conventions of academic style.

English 2A ENG2AA2 NQF level: 7 NQF credits: 16

Content:

Introduction to South African literary and cultural texts.

Purpose:

To introduce students to the distinguishing characteristics of, and dominant concerns reflected in, selected South African English literary and cultural texts; to develop their skills in the analysis and discussion of literature and cultural texts. Training in essay writing skills is a feature of all modules offered by the English department.

Outcomes:

Upon completion of this module students should be able to: recognise how South African historical contexts have influenced the production of literature in the country; identify the main themes that are presented in a range of literary and cultural texts about South Africa; demonstrate an ability to plan and write an academic essay.

English 2B ENG2BB2 NQF level: 7 NQF credits: 16

Content:

The Bildungsroman genre

Purpose:

To introduce students to the coming-of-age narrative.

Outcomes:

Upon completion of this module students should be able to: understand what is meant by the term “Bildungsroman”; identify common themes, narrative techniques and conventions of the Bildungsroman genre; be able to identify and discuss Bildungsromane that break with the traditional form of the Bildungsroman; discuss the extent to which context influences the production of literature; demonstrate an ability to plan and write an academic essay.

English 3A ENG3AA3 NQF level: 7 NQF credits: 22

Content:

Colonial and Postcolonial literature

Purpose:

To introduce students to the distinguishing characteristics of, and dominant concerns reflected in, colonial and postcolonial literature, in a range of literary forms. Training in close reading and essay writing skills is a feature of all modules offered by the English department

Outcomes:

Upon completion of this module students should be able to: understand how historical contexts influenced the production of colonial and postcolonial literature; identify some of the main themes that are presented in colonial and postcolonial literature; demonstrate an ability to plan and write an academic essay.

English 3B ENG3BB3 NQF level: 7 NQF credits: 22

Content:

World literature

Purpose:

To introduce students to a range of texts from World Literature. Training in essay writing skills is a feature of all modules offered by the English department

Outcomes:

Upon completion of this module students should be able to: understand how historical contexts influenced the production of literature around the world; identify the innovations and perspectives that can be discerned in different texts from different contexts; demonstrate an ability to plan and write an academic essay.