Module Descriptors
THE EMPIRE WRITES BACK: POSTCOLONIAL IDENTITIES PART ONE
ENGL50510
Key Facts
School of Digital, Technologies and Arts
Level 5
15 credits
Contact
Leader: Melanie Ebdon
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 36
Independent Study Hours: 114
Total Learning Hours: 150
Assessment
  • ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY weighted at 40%
  • ESSAY weighted at 60%
Module Details
INDICATIVE CONTENT
This module deals with postcolonial literature and theory. The legacy of imperialism in (ex-)colonised cultures is fundamental to our study, but the main focus here is the role that literature and culture can play in resisting that legacy and helping in the construction of new, 'postcolonial' identities. We will focus upon a variety of (ex-)colonial contexts and literatures in order to examine both this issue and also, in turn, the problems posed to these 'national identities' by factors such as class, gender and migrancy. Primary texts may include works such as:
The God of Small Things – Arundhati Roy
In a Free State – V.S.NaipauL
ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENT DETAILS
An annotated bibliography, 1000 words weighted at 40% [Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 4]
An end of semester essay, 1500 words weighted at 60% [Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4]

Key Information Set:
100% coursework
LEARNING STRATEGIES
Contact teaching will be a mix of lecture, workshop and small-group discussion. Students will be expected to work both independently (on research and preparation for both classes and assessments) and as part of a team (on some class exercises and presentation work).

Key Information Set:
15% scheduled learning and teaching activities
85% guided independent learning
TEXTS
Secondary critical and theoretical works will be selected from a 'reader' such as:
Ashcroft et al (eds) (2006) The Post-Colonial Studies Reader. 2nd edition. London: Routledge.
RESOURCES
PC projector
Video
Library
Internet
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available (where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. DEMONSTRATE AN UNDERSTANDING OF SOME OF THE KEY ISSUES AND DEBATES AROUND POSTCOLONIAL LITERATURE.
Knowledge & Understanding

2. APPLY SECONDARY SOURCE MATERIAL.
Application

3. DEMONSTRATE SKILLS OF ANALYSIS OF CONTEMPORARY TEXTS AND THE ABILITY TO CONSTRUCT A COHERENT ARGUMENT.
Analysis
Contemporary Analysis

4. COMMUNICATE AN ARGUMENT CLEARLY, PRECISELY AND ACCURATELY IN WRITING. Communication
Reflection