EN3BAV: British Black and Asian Voices: 1948 to the Present

Module code: EN3BAV

Module provider: English Literature; School of Humanities

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Cato Marks, email: cato.marks@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Nicola Abram, email: n.l.abram@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): Before taking this module, you must have at least 40 credits of EN-coded modules at Part 1 (except for visiting students). (Open)

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 examines a range of British texts (poetry, drama, novels, short stories, films) by writers of Black and Asian descent. Beginning with 1948 and progressing to the present day, we discuss what might constitute the ‘Black British’ literary tradition. ‘Black British’ because ‘Black’ was (and sometimes still is) used by some immigrants of Asian and African descent as a political term of solidarity in the face of racism in Britain. The module reads its set texts alongside theoretical and historical material examining issues of cultural capital, national identity, and minority communities. Documentary footage, blogs,and contemporary reportage will also be examined in order to trace the pressures that the terms ‘Black’ and ‘British’ have exerted on each other in a variety of historical, social, and cultural contexts.

Aims:

This module introduces students to texts and debates that have animated Black British and British Asian writing and criticism during the post-war era. Using theoretical tools informed by postcolonial theory, the module aims to explore the issues of decolonisation, immigration, settlement, and transnationalism, as well as identities of solidarity and struggle. Students will be encouraged to discuss the way in which these texts –and the critical agendas and educational practices that respondto them –are also inflected by the politics of gender, class, and sexuality, and informed by changing cultural and political imperatives.

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Demonstrate broad, deep, and coherent knowledge of English literature in its principal modes and genres: across poetry, prose, and drama; covering a range of historical periods; and comprehending the regional variety and global reach of the English language
2. Undertake autonomous learning, enquiry and research within the discipline of English literature, applying their mastery of relevant knowledge, skills and methods
3. Recognise what and how they have learnt, through self-reflection and through constructive dialogue with other people
4. Value personal, social, civic, and global perspectives, looking beyond any immediate task or question to its wider contexts.

Module content

Texts for study may vary from year to year, but are likely to include work by Sam Selvon, Hanif Kureishi, Gurinder Chadha, Bernadine Evaristo, Zadie Smith, debbie tucker green, Courttia Newland andHelen Oyeyemi.Writing Black Britain 1948-1998: an interdisciplinary anthology(Manchester University Press, 2000), edited by James Procter,will be the course reader.  

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Three seminar hours weekly, for which students are required to do preparatory reading. Students will also be required weekly to watch and respond to a recorded conversation of 5-10 mins on the set texts and themes between module teachers. Students are also entitled to a half-hour feedback tutorial on their formative work. In consultation with the module convenor, students may also undertake a placement, through which they will learn how to apply the knowledge and skills gained in studying for this module in a professional context outside the University. 

Study hours

At least 33 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 first five weeks’ Learning Journal entries (each 450-500 words, up to a total of 2,500 words) perform a formative function. Students will receive individual one-to-one feedback on this work. 

Reassessment

Additional costs