Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2011-2012 (archived)

Module RUSS3311: RUSSIAN WOMEN'S WRITING OF 20TH CENTURY

Department: Modern Language and Cultures (Russian)

RUSS3311: RUSSIAN WOMEN'S WRITING OF 20TH CENTURY

Type Open Level 3 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2011/12 Module Cap None Location Durham

Prerequisites

  • Russian Language 2A (RUSS2191) OR Russian Language 2B (RUSS2012) OR an equivalent qualification to the satisfaction of the Chairman/Chairwoman of the Board of Studies in MLAC or his/her representative.

Corequisites

  • Modern Languages, Combined Honours and all Joint and 'with' programmes: Russian Language 4 (RUSS3031) OR Russian Language 4 following Year Abroad (RUSS3211). Others: see Chairman/Chairwoman of the Board of Studies in MLAC or his/her representative.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • to familiarise students with the principal themes and directions of Russian literary texts of the Soviet and post-Soviet periods in the context of Russian narrative discourse through the stylistic analysis of original texts
  • to provide a factual background against which individual works will be perceived in their proper historical, cultural and stylistic context.
  • to help students to achieve their maximum potential through one-to-one tutorials and personal guidance on essay subjects and further reading

Content

  • the course will offer a 20th-century history alternative/complement tothe other final-year course on offer
  • designed for students with an intermediate knowledge of Russian language and intermediate reading skills in Russian
  • Students will study the basic texts in English translation with particular attention to stylistic analysis of the key fragments in Russian.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • Concentrating on individual works and original texts gain an understanding of the main trend in the development of Russian narrative discourse of the Soviet and post-Soviet period (Stalin's Terror; the 60s and the 70s; Perestroika and Glasnost; Post-Socialism and Post-Modernism) in a broad historical and cultural context.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Develop techniques of textual analysis of literary sources, understanding of critical assessment and build on the skills introduced in year two.
Key Skills:
  • Skills in writing literary essays on the topics of their choice.
  • Express own ideas written form.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Fortnightly seminars will be used to read, examine and analyse texts and visual media relating to the literary text of the week and will also involve continuing development of presentation skills.
  • Independent learning will be structured around the preparation for seminars and research for the summative essay.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lecture 21 Weekly 1 hour 21
Seminar 10 Fortnightly 1 hour 10
Student Preparation and Reading Time 169
Total SLAT hours 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Summative Essay 1 Component Weighting: 15%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Summative Essay 1 1000 words 100% No
Component: Summative Essay 2 Component Weighting: 25%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Summative Essay 2 2000 words 100% No
Component: Examination Component Weighting: 60%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Examination 2 hours 100% No

Formative Assessment:

None


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University