Approval

The course was established 2007-10-11. This syllabus was approved 2008-10-10 by the Board of Studies at Faculty of Culture and Society. The syllabus is valid from 2008-09-01.

Stage

The course can normally be included as a part of a general degree at undergradate level.

Entry requirements

English II or equivalent.

Learning outcomes

There are two possible options within English III: Literature and Cultural Studies (modules 1-2, 5) and Language and Linguistics (modules 3-4, 5). Students choose either option. Within each option, it is possible to replace one of the modules with an internship.

Module 1: Postcolonialism (7.5 credits)
The aim of this module is to introduce students to some of the key issues of postcolonial studies. It focuses on how colonialism and its legacies have affected representation and, consequently, the ways of seeing and understanding that inform cultural production.

Knowledge and understanding
After finishing module 1, the student:

• has knowledge of central themes, concepts and issues in postcolonial theory;
• has knowledge of how colonialism, imperialism, decolonisation and globalisation interact with representations of race, ethnicity, nation, class and gender in cultural texts (particularly literature), and
• can show knowledge of Malmö University’s perspectives: International Migration and Ethnic Relations, Nature and Resource Management, and Equality and Gender.

Skills and ability
After finishing module 1, the student:

• can perform basic analyses of literary and cultural texts from a postcolonial perspective;
• can summarize some of the key critical concepts involved in the field, and
• can apply knowledge of Malmö University’s perspectives on postcolonial issues.

Critical skills and approach
After finishing module 1, the student:

• can reflect on how ideological and social processes affect our view of the world, and
• can reflect on the significance of postcolonial discourse as a way of thinking about cultural production.

Module 2: Contemporary Cultural Theory 1 (7.5 credits)
The aim of this module is to give students an understanding of important concepts in literary and cultural theory, and to develop their critical and analytical skills in reading, understanding and discussing complex theoretical texts.

Knowledge and understanding
After finishing module 2, the student:

• understands a range of theoretical concepts employed in literary and cultural studies;
• has knowledge of major theoretical approaches and thinkers, and
• can show knowledge of Malmö University’s perspectives: International Migration and Ethnic Relations, Nature and Resource Management, and Equality and Gender.

Skills and ability
After finishing module 2, the student:

• can carry out theoretically informed literary and cultural analysis;
• has a fair command of the skills required to approach theoretical texts;
• can analyse and discuss theoretical texts, and
• can apply knowledge of Malmö University’s perspectives to issues pertaining to literature and culture.

Critical skills and approach
After finishing module 2, the student:

• can reflect on the theoretical underpinnings of cultural systems, institutions, and norms, and
• can link cultural practices to larger theoretical frameworks

Module 3: Language Evolution and Change (7.5 credits)
In this module we explore the extent to which we can find empirical evidence for how and why the complex system that is human language evolved, and how and why languages constantly change. A particular challenge lies in the question: how does the language faculty come to play in our social and cultural behaviour?

Knowledge and understanding
After finishing module 3, the student will:

• be familiar with recent findings relating to the evolution of language, and
• understand how and why languages change.

Skills and ability
After finishing module 3, the student can account for:

• the converging evidence from cognitive science, primate evolution, and archaeology which allows us to make hypotheses about the origins of human language, and
• the way in which human cognitive faculties drive language change.

Critical skills and approach
After finishing module 3, the student should be able to critically evaluate:

• the human language faculty in relation to social and cultural behaviour, and
• their own, further readings in the field.

Module 4: Empirical Methods in Language Analysis (7.5 credits)
This module is concerned with the tools and methods used in language analysis, in particular corpus linguistics and discourse analysis.

Knowledge and understanding
After finishing module 4, the student will be familiar with:

• available corpora and software tools for their investigation (online and in-house), including database construction, and
• the foundations of discourse analysis.

Skills and ability
After finishing module 4, the student will be able to:

• create their own small, specialized corpus,
• carry out a corpus based discourse analysis.

Critical skills and approach
After finishing module 4, the student:

• can make informed decisions as to which research method is appropriate for a specific research question,
• can select and analyze data appropriately, and
• is aware of the advantages – and limitations – of empirical language research.

Internship
In both options, one of the modules may be replaced by an internship. This offers the student an opportunity to gain work experience in area of possible employment and establish valuable contacts.

Knowledge and understanding
After finishing the internship, the student will be able to

• use the knowledge from the course in short analyses of a particular social, cultural or linguistic context.

Skills and ability
After finishing the internship, the student will be able to:

• analyse the social, cultural or linguistic aspects of his or her internship placement

Critical skills and approach
After finishing the internship, the student:

• can reflect critically on his or her own role in the internship and its connection to his or her studies in English.

Module 5: Bachelor Research Paper (15 credits)
The aim of module 5 is to allow the student to focus on a research topic within the field of English Studies, perform an independent, supervised research into the topic, present it in writing, and defend it in an academic seminar.

Knowledge and understanding
After finishing module 5, the student:

• understands and can show knowledge of what independent academic work entails;
• can show knowledge of theories and methods pertaining to the study of language, literature, or culture, and
• can show knowledge of Malmö University’s perspectives: International Migration and Ethnic Relations, Nature and Resource Management, and Equality and Gender.

Skills and ability
After finishing module 5, the student:

• can formulate a research issue in the field of language, literature, or culture;
• is able to link the research issue productively to a relevant theory or theories;
• can search, select, evaluate, read, and refer to primary and secondary material/literature/
• can engage with relevant methods and methodological problems;
• can perform a linguistic, literary, or cultural analysis and draw conclusions from the analysis;
• can present the research in a paper which follows pertinent conventions of presentation and language;
• can, recognising their own competence, finish the research within the agreed time frame;
• can critically and constructively respond to another student’s paper in an academic seminar, and
• can apply knowledge of Malmö University’s perspectives to issues pertaining to language, literature, or culture.

Critical skills and approach
After finishing module 5, the student:

• can reflect on their knowledge academically

Assessments

Module 1: Postcolonialism (7.5 credits)
Module 1 is examined through a written exam.
Students who do not pass the regular course exams have the minimum of two re-sit opportunities. Re-sits follow the same form as the original exams, apart from re-sits for group work, which take the form of individual written assignments.

Module 2: Contemporary Cultural Theory 1 (7.5 credits)
Module 2 is examined through two course papers and a final paper. The course papers are worth 20% each and the final paper is worth 60% of the total grade. In the course papers, students will apply their theoretical knowledge to an analytical task (film and text analysis). In the final paper, students relate their knowledge of the field of literary and cultural theory (as studied in the course) to their term paper (C-uppsats).

The papers are graded in the ECTS-scale.
If the student fails a paper, a new paper can be submitted at a later time, specified by the teachers.

Module 3: Language Evolution and Change (7.5 credits)
Module 3 is assessed through a combination of the following:

• Participation in discussions and collaborative in-class activities (50%)
• Critical review of a chapter or article from a selection of specialist books and articles beyond the mandatory course literature (50%)

Re-sits take the form of extended written assignments.

Module 4: Empirical Methods in Language Analysis (7.5 credits)

• Participation in discussions and collaborative in-class activities (50%)
• Research project presented as a Powerpoint (50%)

Re-sits take the form of extended written assignments.

Internship
After finishing the internship, students write a 10–12 page report.

Module 5: Bachelor Research Paper (15 credits)
Module 5 is examined through an independently produced Bachelor Research Paper, which is defended in an academic seminar. The student also has to oppose another student’s paper in a seminar.

Course content

Communication in English III consists of two 7.5 credit modules and a 15 credit research paper. Two options are available, as follows:

Option: Literature and Cultural Studies (modules 1-2, 5)

• Postcolonialism (7.5 credits)
• Contemporary Cultural Theory 1 (7.5 credits)
• Bachelor Research Paper (15 credits)

Option: Language and Linguistics (modules 3-4, 5)

• Language Evolution and Change (7.5 credits)
• Empirical Methods in Language Analysis (7.5 credits)
• Bachelor Research Paper (15 credits)

Module 1, Postcolonialism, is an introduction to postcolonialism and the study of literature and culture from a postcolonial perspective. In a series of lectures, key issues will be presented. In follow-up seminars, a range of literary texts will be studied closely and discussed from a postcolonial perspective.

Module 2, Contemporary Cultural Theory 1, is an introduction to important contemporary cultural theories. Through a selection of seminal texts, the course explores how concepts and issues such as text, author, discourse, value, culture, gender and sexuality can be theorised within the field of literary and cultural studies. This module is entirely group work and seminar driven.

Module 3, Language Evolution and Change, explores the extent to which we can find empirical evidence for how and why the complex system that is human language evolved, and how and why languages constantly change. A particular challenge lies in the question: how does the language faculty come to play in our social and cultural behaviour?

Module 4, Empirical Methods in Language Analysis, is concerned with the tools and methods used in language analysis, in particular corpus linguistics and discourse analysis.

Module 5, Bachelor Research Paper, entails independent research into an issue, chosen and formulated in collaboration with the supervisor. The research performed is independent, but the student will receive feedback from a supervisor at various stages during the research process. The course will result in a research paper, defended in an academic seminar.

Learning activities

A combination of resources is available, including lectures, seminars, group work, self-study, library research, independent, supervised research, and a formal opposition seminar.

Grading system

Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG).
ECTS grading system can be used on students demand.

Reading list

Entire course
Module 1: Postcolonialism
Brontë, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000. ISBN 0192839659

Fraser, Nancy. Justice Interruptus. New York and London: Routledge, 1997. pp. 1−8. (copies will be provided)

Loomba, Ania. Colonialism/Postcolonialism. London: Routledge, 2005.
ISBN 0415350646

McLeod, John. Beginning Postcolonialism. Manchester: Manchester University Press, 2000.

Ngugi wa Thiong’o. A Grain of Wheat. London: Penguin, 2002. ISBN 0141186992

Rhys, Jean. Wide Sargasso Sea. London: Penguin, 2000. ISBN 0141182857
Said, Edward. Culture and Imperialism. London: Vintage, 1994. pp. xi-xiv, xxii-xxxi (copies will be provided)

-----. Orientalism. London: Penguin, 2003. pp 1−28, 284−328.

Additional material may be introduced in the course, but no more than 100 pages.

Module 2: Contemporary Cultural Theory 1
Leitch, Vincent B. The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. New York & London: Norton, 2001. ISBN 0393974294

Module 3: Language Evolution and Change
Deutscher, Guy. 2005. The unfolding of language. London: Arrow House.

Dunbar, Robin. 1996. Grooming, gossip and the evolution of language. London: faber and faber.

Lakoff, George & Johnson, Mark. 2003, 2nd edition. Metaphors We Live By. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Additional material to be chosed by students individually from an extended reading list.

Module 4: Empirical Methods in Language Analysis
Baker, Paul. 2006, 2nd edition. Using corpora in discourse analysis. London/New York: Continuum.

Fairclough, Norman. 2001. Language and power. Harlow: Pearson Education Limited.

Additional material to be chosed by students individually from an extended reading list.

Module 5: Bachelor Research Paper
Ramage, Bean and Johnson. The Allyn and Bacon Guide to Writing, 4th ed, 2006. ISBN: 0321291506

Primary and secondary reading for the research paper is selected in cooperation with the supervisor.

Course evaluation

Evaluation is an integral part of the course. A final written evaluation based on the learning outcomes is done at the end of the course. This evaluation is used as a starting point for an oral evaluation which includes a discussion of measures to be taken to develop the course. The result of the evaluation is summarized and made available in a report to be used as a basis for future courses.