E23G ADVICE
Required Readings: the required readings listed in the Reading Schedule usually take the form of essays are primary readings that must be read (preferably in the suggested order). The sources of particular essays are listed in brackets after each entry. At the very least, however, read them carefully and, where possible, in tandem with my notes. Do not depend solely on my handouts. Some students prefer to read the required readings ahead of a particular lecture while others do so afterwards in the wake of the lectures which often shed useful light on the topics in question . Either way is permissible but students must be prepared to read, reread and re-reread in order to grasp the assigned readings.
Critical Reading Skills: these are often very difficult readings, no two ways about it. You will need to read them several times--one reading is not sufficient. They call upon you to develop the ability to read critically. This is a very different set of skills from that which students of literature most often possess and which we ordinarily employ when we sink our teeth into a good novel and let ourselves be carried away in a rather uncritical fashion. Perhaps the best way to grasp difficult readings is to make a detailled précis thereof for oneself (i.e. summarise or jot down notes as you read). For some psychological reason, we assimilate knowledge better when we write notes on what we read. Another good way to prepare the required readings each week is to try to grasp the crucial points made by attempting the relevant seminar / tutorial questions ahead of time. All in all, to understand these kinds of texts calls for a great deal of effort, conscious deliberation and reflection and, above all, patience.
Recommended Readings: the recommended readings listed in fine print in the Reading Schedule usually take the form of essays and are secondary readings. They are designed to provide necessary background and clarification on the material covered each week. It is entirely up to you whether you choose to read them or not. You may find them especially useful, however, when it comes to assimilating the material covered in the lectures, writing term papers, and / or preparing for the exam.
Praxis: the readings listed under this heading are practical illustrations of the theories discussed applied to literary and other forms of text. It is entirely up to you whether you choose to read them or not but you would be well advised to do so as there is no better way to assimilate a theory than to view it applied.
Lectures: the lectures each week are devoted to carefully explicating, most often by means of detailled lecture handouts, the often difficult theories of literature and reading methodologies advanced in the required readings. Students should note that a good way to prepare for the lectures each week is to try to grasp the crucial points made in the required readings by attempting the relevant tutorial questions ahead of time. Perhaps the best way to grasp difficult readings, however, is to make a detailled précis thereof for oneself.
Tutorials: the tutorial each week is based on the lectures of the previous week. Sometimes it will involve discussing the questions provided on the material covered during that week. At other times, it will be devoted to applying to a particular literary work a specific reading methodology discussed in the lectures. Students should note that the tutorials offer them the opportunity to engage actively with the material delivered in the lectures. In the tutorials, we will often focus on specific topics with the final exam in mind.
Final Exam: given that the term paper tests the material covered in Module One, you should note that the final exam will test only the material covered in Modules Two and Three. For a sense of the type of questions which you may be asked in the exam, please click here. You should also note that whatever may be the final mark, departmental regulations decree that students must pass at least one question in the final exam in order to pass any course in Literatures in English. Students who fail the course in this way receive a FE (Failed Exam) on their grade slip.