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Module

SEL2205 : Fictions of Migration

  • Offered for Year: 2021/22
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Emily Murphy
  • Lecturer: Mr Marco Medugno, Dr Jack Webb, Professor Neelam Srivastava
  • Owning School: English Lit, Language & Linguistics
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Semester 2 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0

Aims

To introduce students to some of the major world fictions of movement and migration across the twentieth century. To provide students with a critical and theoretical vocabulary for the discussion and analysis of this fiction. To expose students to the diverse ways in which notions of exile, diaspora, empire, neo-colonialism, post-colonialism, globalisation, tourism, terrorism, and so forth, have marked twentieth century literature. To allow students to think beyond the sedentary categories of national literatures (e.g. British literature) associated with traditional canons.

Outline Of Syllabus

The syllabus will cover one novel/ short story collection per week. Lectures will locate these works in terms of key themes, issues and debates of the module (e.g. globalisation, gender and sexuality, terrorism).

Texts typically include:

Jamaica Kincaid, A Small Place
Jean Rhys, Wide Sargasso Sea
Toni Morrison, Beloved
Maxine Hong Kingston, The Woman Warrior
T Salih, Season of Migration to the North
Hari Kunzru, Transmission
Kamila Shamsie, Home Fire

Teaching Methods

Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture112:0022:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion148:0048:00N/A
Structured Guided LearningStructured research and reading activities181:0081:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching111:0011:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study138:0038:00N/A
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures introduce students to the knowledge outcomes. Seminars develop this knowledge through small group dialogue.

Assessment Methods

Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Portfolio2A20One portfolio which will consist of a collection of participation & engagement activities completed throughout the semester.
Essay2A80One 3,000 word essay
Formative Assessments
Description Semester When Set Comment
Written exercise2MOne 1000-word textual commentary
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The 1000 word mid-semester essay (formative assessment) will involve a close reading of an extract from one of the set texts. It will allow students to reflect on their progress at an early stage, and provide them with feedback they can build upon in the end of semester essay. The 3000 word end of semester essay will require students to engage comparatively and conceptually with the set texts. Students will have to select texts from both the first and second half of the module to ensure engagement does not tail off in the final weeks. Finally, the portfolio will consist of a collection of participation and engagement activities completed throughout the semester, which will give students a chance to apply the knowledge learned in lecture and seminar and develop skills for the final essay.

Reading Lists

Timetable