EN0FN: Film Narrative

Module code: EN0FN

Module provider: English Literature; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Foundation Level

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Professor Lucinda Becker, email: l.m.becker@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: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

EN0FN Film Narrative will help you explore different types of narrative in film through close analysis of film sequences and more discursive discussion of film narrative structures and their effect. The module will cover four areas of narrative: theatrical narrative (such as Othello), docudrama narrative (such as The Duke), unreliable narrative (such as The Sixth Sense) and complex narratives (such as Memento). 

Each week there will be a close analysis session on a film chosen by the convenor, and students will be invited to suggest other films to be included for analysis. Students will also be given the opportunity to produce their sequence analysis on a film on the module or another film of their choice. 

The module and its assignments will prepare you for tasks you will encounter later in your degree programmes, such as textual analysis, close analysis in a group situation, recording analysis in a logical way and presenting your ideas both through detailed fact sheets and an essay format. You will also see a clear line from your seminar work to your assessment tasks. 

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 viewing, interpretative analysis and critical argument. 
2. Undertake autonomous learning, enquiry and research, applying their mastery of relevant knowledge, skills and methods. 
3. Respond creatively and imaginatively to essay questions and research tasks, for the purpose of devising and sustaining arguments, and of reaching decisive judgements. 

Module content

The module will cover four areas of narrative. Each area will be exemplified by a set film chosen by the convenor, whilst students will be encouraged to explore other recommended films in each category. For example, within unreliable narration we might explore a film such as The Sixth Sense as a set film, but students would also be encouraged to consider films such as Knives Out or Fight Club in this category. In the theatrical narration category, a film such as Othello might be used as the set film, but other film versions of Shakespeare's plays could be recommended. In the category of docudrama, a film such as The Duke might be the set film, but television docudramas such as The Walk-in might also be explored by students. Complex narrative might be represented by a film such as Memento as a set film, but students might also like to explore films such as Love Actually or Inception. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching on the module will take the form of: 

• a guided viewing workshop for each of the set films on the module, intended to support our subsequent discussions of that film 
• lectures on film narrative, genre, film-making techniques, on each of the set films on the module, which will give students the tools necessary to conduct sequence analyses and to develop their own ideas 
• seminars in which close sequence analysis will be demonstrated and then carried out in groups, to support the assignments for the module. 

Study hours

At least 21 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.

The formative work for the sequence analysis sheet will be carried out by each student in class and immediate oral feedback will be offered.  

The sequence analysis sheet acts in part as the formative work for the essay, but the option of a formative essay of 500 words will also be offered to students. 

Reassessment

Additional costs