The Digital Text: Literature and the New Technologies

Module Provider: English Literature
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: English Part 1 or A-Level (A*, A or B)
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Module version for: 2016/7

Summary module description:
Digital technologies are now an integral part of the publishing world and all aspects of the media. They have also transformed ways of analysing, editing, reading, and archiving literary texts. This module has been designed, in collaboration with third-year students, to introduce some of the key areas ? literary analysis and mapping, editing, and game theory ? in digital literary studies. It explores the critical issues raised by digital technologies for how literary texts are understood and analysed, as well teaching practical skills, and so is suitable for students with basic IT skills. Students will have the opportunity to combine the critical and the creative, and make their own digital text.

Aims:
This module aims to develop digital literacy and to enable students to critique material produced for the web, to understand the basics of editing literary texts, and how digital technologies have enhanced the analysis and representation of literary texts, through digital archives, editions, literary maps and games. It will teach students practical digital editing skills, such as mark-up languages and how to make texts searchable on the web, as well as editing theory. The module will introduce students to easy-to-use open source software that can be used to make digital texts, from simple literary maps to interactive fiction.

Assessable learning outcomes:
By the end of the module, students will be expected to:

? Demonstrate a knowledge of some of the methodologies used in digital literary studies;
? Show an awareness of some of the critical issues in digital literary studies;
? Demonstrate a familiarity with the range of digital literary material available on the web;
? Be able to distinguish between a digital archive and an edition;
? Understand the principles of editing literary texts for the web;
? Enhance their IT competence and digital literacy through the use of relevant resources and tools in a critically informed manner;
? Develop a critical vocabulary for analysing digital resources and the issues raised by digital technologies and the current ?media revolution?.
Additional outcomes:
? Oral and written communication skills will be developed, together with critical, interpretative and analytical abilities;
? The ability to work collaboratively and share knowledge and skills will be enhanced;
? Students will develop the confidence to apply technical skills to create and share new knowledge;
? The value of creativity and flexibility in learning and problem solving will be reinforced.
Outline content:
Students will be introduced to a series of topics in digital literary studies. These will include the use of digital technologies to identify, map and analyse changes in major literary genres, such as the novel, and to represent the social networks and places imagined in novels and poems through creating literary maps. Students will be introduced to the mark-up languages used in editing literary texts, the theoretical questions they raise, and their practical use in terms of making texts searchable. They will explore ?critical making?, in which building games is used to explore critical issues, by experimenting with simple open source software. Students will be encouraged to explore their own research interests through these tools and approaches.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Structured three-hour seminars, which will include discussion of the issues raised by the set critical reading, preparation for a practical task, and a workshop session in which students will be supported in their work for their practical tasks. Students will submit a portfolio of three tasks, with a 1500-2000 word report, and a 3000-3500 word critical essay based on a fourth task at the end of the module. Students are also entitled to a half-hour tutorial on their formative written work. With the consent of 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.

Contact hours:
Seminars 30
Tutorials 0.5
Guided independent study 129.5
Total hours by term 160

Summative Assessment Methods:
Method Percentage
Written assignment including essay 100
Other information on summative assessment:
Formative assessment methods:
Students will produce one formative exercise, of between 1500 and 2000 words. Feedback will also be provided on the assessed coursework.

Length of examination:
Requirements for a pass:
A mark of at least 40% overall.

Reassessment arrangements:
Re-examination in August. Coursework will be carried forward if it bears a confirmed mark of 40% or more. Otherwise it must be resubmitted by 22 August.