SEL1034 : Beginnings
- Offered for Year: 2026/27
- Available to incoming Study Abroad and Exchange students
- Module Leader(s): Dr Kate De Rycker
- Owning School: English Lit, Language & Linguistics
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Pre-requisite
Modules you must have done previously to study this module
Pre Requisite Comment
N/A
Co-Requisite
Modules you need to take at the same time
Co Requisite Comment
N/A
Aims
Every story must start somewhere. This core module will guide students on their first steps through medieval tales of monsters, fantastical voyages from the age of discovery, and introduce them to the radical working-class poets of the Enlightenment, laying the foundations for further literary studies in their degree. ‘Beginnings’ specifically addresses the emergence of English literature within the context of a multi-lingual Britain. Origin stories, travel, and self-discovery are themes throughout the texts we will be reading. By the end of this course students will have a better understanding of the evolution of English literature, and will have begun to practise their own ways of introducing academic topics through group presentations and essay writing.
Outline Of Syllabus
This module introduces students to key genres and forms from pre-1800 literature. Each week, we will be thinking about the creative ways authors lead their audience into their story, and the influence of popular oral culture on the written word, for example by looking at Shakespearean performance culture, medieval story-telling contests, and eighteenth-century ballads. We will also consider how the stories we tell about ourselves helped shape a sense of national identity, while also showcasing the linguistic diversity at the heart of early writing in English.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 20 | 1:00 | 20:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 60:00 | 60:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Directed research and reading | 1 | 93:30 | 93:30 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 3 | 1:50 | 5:30 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Student-led group activity | 11 | 1:00 | 11:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures will introduce the students to key literary texts, genres, concepts, and historical context.
Seminars will be used to practise the learning outcomes outlined above, to produce formative tasks essential for Portfolio 1 assessment, and to develop students' interpersonal and communication skills.
Student-led study groups provide students with the opportunity to discuss their weekly reading and to prepare for their weekly seminar tasks.
Workshops will be further opportunities for students to produce formative tasks under guidance from teachers, and to receive formative feedback. These workshops will also clarify what academic skills are needed at degree level.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 1 | M | 40 | Curated selection of 3 pieces based on formative tasks undertaken throughout the semester. 1,500 words. |
| Portfolio | 1 | A | 60 | A 2000 word essay + 500 word commentary |
Formative Assessments
Formative Assessment is an assessment which develops your skills in being assessed, allows for you to receive feedback, and prepares you for being assessed. However, it does not count to your final mark.
| Description | Semester | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research proposal | 1 | M | 250-500 word essay plan + peer review of another student essay plan. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Portfolio 1 consists of a curation of 3 writing and presentation tasks which will have been undertaken during the semester. Students will revise and expand upon the initial seminar tasks based on formative feedback. Seminar tasks (e.g. presentations, close readings, historical research) will develop module knowledge and skills outcomes, while the mid-module tests these skills and encourages students to think of academic writing and research as a process of revision.
Portfolio 2 consists of an essay which engages conceptually with the set texts, and tests students' ability to write a coherent and persuasive argument. The accompanying commentary is intended for students to demonstrate their research process, and reflect on their development.
The formative assessment prepares students for Portfolio 2 by asking them to develop a preliminary essay plan. This proposal will be workshopped during seminar time, and students will be taught how to conduct a peer review.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- SEL1034's Timetable