EN0EH: Environmental Humanities

Module code: EN0EH

Module provider: English Literature; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Foundation Level

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Professor Gail Marshall, email: g.marshall@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Michael Lyons, email: m.lyons@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module will introduce students to the concept and practice of environmental humanities. Students will explore the ways in which literary texts and digital media help us to understand the relationships between human beings and the physical environment, through examining representations of nature, and people’s impact on it in texts drawn from English and world literatures. This module is multidisciplinary and will be of interest to all students who want to know more about environmental questions. It will form an important basis for working on degree-level modules in any disciplines that concern development, sustainability, the eco-system, human and natural rights, questions of human responsibility and agency, and literary representation.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Apply discipline-specific practices of close reading, interpretative analysis and critical argument
2. Undertake autonomous learning, enquiry and research within the discipline of English Literature, applying their mastery of relevant knowledge, skills and methods
3. Make sound judgments on complex and culturally sensitive issues, and communicate them in an appropriate and effective manner
4. Value personal, social, civic, and global perspectives, looking beyond any immediate task or question to its wider contexts

Module content

This is a team-taught module that draws on the research strengths of a range of colleagues from across the School of Literature and Languages and is designed to appeal to all students across the University with an interest in the environment.  Students will be introduced to ecolinguistics, ecopoetics, digital media and environmental activism, as well as founding texts of the modern ecological movement.  

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be taught through 1 weekly lecture and 1 weekly seminar, complemented by 5 peer-assisted learning hours, 2 of which will be taken up with formative presentations. 

Study hours

At least 22 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

1 x 400-word reflection on a text/topic to form the basis of a presentation on a topic of the student’s choice (from weeks 1-5 of the module) to a small (5-6) group of peers outside the seminar. These presentations will happen in week 6. 

Reassessment

Additional costs