School of English Undergraduate Handbook 2014-15 www2.uk/departments/english STUDENT HANDBOOK 2014 -15 2 ENGLISH UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMMES VERSION 1.2 Table of Contents Welcome/Introduction. 4 Using this Handbook. 4 For International Students. 5 Staff List and Key Contacts.
6 Student Communications and Personal Details. 7 Programme and Module Specifications. 7 ERASMUS Exchanges, Years Abroad, Industrial Placements. 9 Essay/Assignment Submission Dates.
9 Change of Course/Module .12 Summary of Courses .12 First-Year Modules .33 Second-Year Modules .39 Third-Year Modules .48 Third-Year Special Subjects for 2014 - 15 .55 Third-Year Special Subjects: Semester 1 .58 Third-Year Special Subjects: Semester 2 .72 Learn at Leicester .86 Student Learning Development .87 Students’ Union Education Unit (ED) .87 Languages at Leicester .89 Neglect of Academic Obligations .89 Marking and Assessment Practices .89 SCHOOL OF ENGLISH UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER STUDENT HANDBOOK 2014 -15 3 ENGLISH UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMMES VERSION 1.2 Feedback and the Return of Work from Staff .89 Progression and Classification of Awards.90 Referencing and Academic Integrity .90 Plagiarism and collusion .90 Avoiding Plagiarism and Poor Academic Practice .91 Notification of Ill Health and Other Mitigating Circumstances .91 Ethical Approval of Student Projects (if applicable) .91 Personal Support for Students .91 Departmental Student Support Arrangements .92 University Student Support Arrangements .92 Health Care and Registering with a Doctor .94 Careers and Employability .94 Career Development Service .94 Personal Development Planning .95 Feedback from Students.95 Student Feedback Questionnaires .95 Student Staff Committees .95 The English Society .95 Safety and Security .97 Complaints and Academic Appeals Procedures .97 SCHOOL OF ENGLISH UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER STUDENT HANDBOOK 2014 -15 4 ENGLISH UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMMES VERSION 1.2 Welcome/Introduction As Head of the School of English at Leicester, I am delighted to welcome you (or to welcome you back). Ours is among the best u n i v e r s i t y E n g l i s h d e p a r t m e n t s in the country, a n d offers an excellent grounding in English literature and language from all periods as well as in creative writing for those students who opt to study it. The lecturers who will be teaching you are internationally renowned scholars and our undergraduate teaching is informed by our cutting-edge research and publications (the School blog will help you keep up with the work we’re currently doing: http://staffblogs. The variety of modules on our course is one of its greatest strengths: it will stretch and challenge you in ways that you can’t yet imagine.
Employers value the skills that Leicester’s English graduates develop in their undergraduate studies, and you are assured excellent opportunities in the world of work through your choice of degree. Don’t forget to take up the support offered by the Career Development Service in the three-year long process of acquiring skills and experience that will help you move into your future career. The English Society, run by students for students, organises all manner of events (notably the annual May Ball) in which the President, Chris Hiam, warmly encourages you to participate. The School’s Student-Staff Committee provides a forum for interaction and discussion, and nominated student representatives are the voice for their peers at School level.
We strongly encourage you to attend or get involved with the 6th annual Literary Leicester Festival, 12-15 November 2014, organised by the School of English, during which world-renowned writers will give public lectures and workshops. Make the most of the many extra-curricular events taking place during your time in Leicester by checking the events listing on our website (http://www2.uk/departments/english/news/events) or by liking us on Facebook (University of Leicester School of English) or following us on Twitter (UolEnglish). You might also choose to participate in the University’s student drama and literary societies, in its newspaper, Ripple, or to represent the student perspective at Open Days. Leicester has a professional theatre (The Curve), media centre (Phoenix Square), outstanding libraries (especially the University’s David Wilson Library) and major cultural festivals (International Music Festival, Caribbean Carnival, Comedy Festival and one of the biggest Diwali celebrations outside India).
Make the most of the city while you’re here! Professor Julie Coleman Head of School of English Using this Handbook We hope you find this Handbook u s e f u l , i t aims to provide you with the basic information you will need during your degree. It is not designed to be exhaustive, but to signal where you can go to find specific pieces of information you may need. It is supplemented by the School of English Study Guide, which contains information about presenting and submitting work, as well as assessment in general. Please note that the Handbook is updated regularly and a new edition issued each year, since the School’s syllabus is under constant review.
Induction A programme of induction events will be organised for incoming students; schedule details will be mailed out before the start of term. SCHOOL OF ENGLISH UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER STUDENT HANDBOOK 2014 -15 5 ENGLISH UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMMES VERSION 1.2 For International Students All International Students receive a ‘Guide to starting at Leicester’ handbook which explains what to expect on arrival and during the first weeks. For a pdf of this document see http://www2.uk/study/international/documents/EssentialGuide2014.pdf Information on how and when to register including visa check points can be found here http://www2.uk/study/international/offer-holders/registration If you arrive in Leicester after the beginning of induction week you should contact Registry; registry@le. You should also contact the department; Englishug@le.uk telephone 0116 252 2620 Department Details The University of Leicester has one of the most distinguished and established schools of English in the country, as English has been taught at Leicester for over 80 years.
The University, founded in 1921 as a college of the University of London, appointed its first lecturer in English, Arthur Collins, in 1929. Throughout its long history the School has maintained a balance between tradition and innovation, as its curriculum focuses equally on canonical literature from the medieval to modern periods and on emerging fields, such as English language, drama, literary theory and the ‘English’ literature of America and the rest of the English-speaking world. This combination of tradition and innovation is one of the factors that makes the School of English at Leicester world class. The School is located on floors 13-16 of the Attenborough Tower, with the School Office in room 1514.
Further information can be found at the School’s website, http://www2.uk/departments/english Departmental Communications The School will make information available to you through several channels. Tutors will l i k e l y contact you by email and many important announcements will be made during lectures and seminars. However, most important notices — details of examinations and results, for example, as well as messages about seminar or lecture changes — will be posted on Blackboard, https://blackboard.uk/webapps/portal/frameset. Students should also consult Blackboard regularly for information about modules, including reading lists and lecture material.
You can also use the pigeonholes to contact members of staff. Each tutor and administrator has their own allotted pigeonhole on the 15th floor of the Attenborough Tower; please pass any correspondence you wish them to receive onto the receptionist in Att 1514. If you wish to speak in person to an academic member of staff, consult the Blackboard Admin site for details of office hours (at other times, you will need to make an appointment). Alternatively, you can contact staff by telephone or email: details appear on the School website, on Blackboard and also on the 14th-floor notice board.
Tutors will normally reply to emails within a 3-4 day period, but this may take longer at busy times of the year, such as admission or assessment periods. Please do not expect tutors to reply to emails over weekends or after 6. During University vacations tutors are occupied with research and administration, so you may have to wait longer for a reply at these times. As a general rule, please remember to observe formal modes of address in all correspondence.
The School Office is located in Att 1514 and is open from 9.00pm, Monday to Friday. The telephone number is 0116 252 2620 and the email address is englishug@le. SCHOOL OF ENGLISH UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER STUDENT HANDBOOK 2014 -15 6 ENGLISH UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMMES VERSION 1.2 Staff List and Key Contacts A full list of current staff-members, along with descriptions of research interests and contact details, can be found on the School’s website, at http://www2.uk/departments/english/people. Room Telephone Email Head of School Prof Julie Coleman 1401 252 2635 jmc21@le.uk Academic Director Dr Felicity James 1507 252 2199 fj21@le.uk Tutors Single Hons English Dr Felicity James 1507 252 2199 fj21@le.uk Joint English/History Dr David Clark 1408 252 2636 dc147@le.uk Joint English/American (S1) Dr Catherine Morley 1305 252 1068 cm260@le.uk Studies (S2) Dr Mark Rawlinson 1306 252 2639 mjr1@le.uk Change of Address: Update and check details at registry@le.uk Registry http://mystudentrecord.uk Academic Director Dr Felicity James 1507 252 2199 fj21@le.uk Change of programme, contact: Head of School Prof Julie Coleman 1401 252 2635 jmc21@le.uk Equal Opportunities Officer Dr Jonathan Taylor 1513 252 2778 Jt265@le.uk Examinations Officer (S1) Dr Claire Brock 1512 252 2533 cb178@le.uk (S2) Dr Lucy Evans 1510 252 2626 lae9@le.uk ERASMUS (Incoming Students) (S1) Dr Sonia Suman 1601 252 2143 sds8@le.uk (S2) Dr Mark Rawlinson 1306 252 2639 mjr1@le.uk ERASMUS (Outgoing Students) Dr Mary Ann Lund 1312 252 5262 maejl1@le.uk Year Abroad in the USA, Professor James 1613 252 2583 jmc62@le.uk contact Year Abroad Tutor Campbell Student-Staff Committee Dr Harry Whitehead 1604 252 3357 hdw5@le.uk Teaching, contact: Director of Teaching Dr Felicity James 1507 252 2199 fj21@le.uk Programme Administrator / Mr Simon Poole 1514 252 2622 englishug@le.uk SCHOOL OF ENGLISH UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER STUDENT HANDBOOK 2014 -15 7 ENGLISH UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMMES VERSION 1.2 AccessAbility Officer Departmental Safety Officer / Mrs Carol Arlett 1504 252 2792 cja26@le.uk IT Contact The English Society www.com/#!/groups/127463170647632/ School of English Freshers’ https://facebook.com/groups/391074020992535 Facebook Group Careers Tutor (S1) Dr Richa Dwor 1512 252 5337 rgd5@le.uk (S2) Dr Holly Furneaux 1511 252 2742 hf35@le.uk Dr Kate Loveman is the point of contact for English-related enquiries for students taking a joint degree in Modern Languages and English, Film Studies and English, or History of Art and English.
She can be contacted via her email kate.uk, or telephone (0116) 252 2627. Student Communications and Personal Details The University keeps a record of your personal details such as your full name, addresses i. home address and term-time address, telephone numbers, personal email address and your emergency contact details. It is important to keep your details up to date as this will help you to receive information about your studies and exams and also ensure that official documents are provided to you with the correct name details.
You can check and update your details by logging-in to MyStudentRecord http://mystudentrecord.uk using your University username and password. Click on the My Details tab and you will then be able to review and change your personal details. It is important that you check your University email account frequently to ensure that you do not miss any important communication from the University. Course Details Programme and Module Specifications View the programme and module specifications for your course via www.uk/sas/courses/documentation In the programme specification you will find a summary of the aims of your course of study and its learning outcomes, alongside details of its teaching and learning methods and means of assessment.
The programme specification also identifies the core modules that make up the course and any choice of optional modules. Each module has its own specification that formally records that module’s aims, teaching and learning methods, assessment components and their percentage weighting. ERASMUS Exchanges, Years Abroad, Industrial Placements ERASMUS is a cultural and educational exchange scheme run and funded by the European Union. Students and staff from all around the EU take advantage of it to live and work or study in another country.