This degree, now entering its third year, focuses on the intertwined literatures of the USA and the UK: a story which began with travel accounts from the Americas published in the UK in the early 1600s, but which spilt into two streams with the establishment of the American republic. What would literature produced by these new men and women, Americans, look like? Would the vast spaces of the new continent produce a unique expression? How would it declare its difference from the UK and would it eventually influence its parent literature in significant ways?
The course is taught by a team of established experts in American literature, led by Dr Katie McGettigan and involving creative writers who are interested in (and indeed write) American literature: Ben Markovits, Doug Cowie, as well as other members of the staff including Tim Armstrong and Christie Carson. As is the case with our BA English Literature degree, the emphasis on creative practice within the department informs our teaching.
We use traditional teaching methods of lecture and seminar. Students deliver a variety of critical responses throughout the programme, for instance: critical précis, short essay, extended essay, individual or group seminar presentation, creative writing, dissertation.
We support you in all of these undertakings by offering individual consultations on all written work submitted, and by giving detailed written feedback on all essays. In Year 1, we support you with a series of fortnightly Foundation Tutorials held in small groups with your Personal Tutor. In Years 1 and 2, we also support you by the use of structured study groups; a forum for small group, student-led learning in which topics are set by staff, discussion is recorded on Moodle, the Virtual Learning Environment, and reviewed by a member of staff who offers feedback and constructive criticism. Formal assessment is by extended essay or examination.
We also have in place a Foundation Programme to help you from your entry to university to your graduation and beyond by supporting the transitions between the different stages of your academic career.
