Global Challenges in English Contemporary Fiction, 7.5 Credits

Contents

We are all faced with global challenges within areas such as climate, equality, and democracy. At focus in this course is how authors regard these challenges and how they represent or imagine ways towards sustainability. Via discussions and analyses of realistic as well as speculative fiction, for both adults and young adult readers, students develop their knowledge about how sustainability challenges are examined in anglophone, contemporary literature. 

Module 1: Theory and materials 1, 5 credits 
Module 2: Climate 1, 5 credits 
Module 3: Social injustice 1, 5 credits 
Module 4: Human rights 1, 5 credits 
Module 5: Sustainable community building 1,5 credits 

Expected learning outcomes

To be awarded a Pass grade, the student should be able to: 
 
Knowledge and understanding 

• account for terms and themes in the sustainability discourse  
• show knowledge of reading and analysing texts from various literary perspectives  
• account for how global challenges are expressed in the course material 

Competence and skills 

• independently analyse primary and secondary materials and at an academic level, orally or in writing, communicate these analyses.  
• In writing, express themself with solid linguistic competence in English, following the rules of academic writing and with a good sense of relevant style level 

Judgement and approach 

• critically evaluate and reflect on the course literature as a representation or questioning of social, cultural and environmental norms 
• critically evaluate different kinds of standpoints in the material  

Required Knowledge

Form of instruction

The teaching consists of lectures, group discussions and teacher response to assignments. The student is expected to participate actively in discussions and complete assigned tasks. This must be done within given time frames. Otherwise, students are expected to interact with the course material via self-study. The language of instruction is English and knowledge of Swedish is not a requirement. 

Examination modes

Module 1 is examined through assessment of an individual quiz. Modules 2, 3, 4 and 5 are examined through assessment of individual written contributions in online discussion groups as well as individual written and oral submissions. All examination is conducted in English. 

The examiner can decide on deviations from the modes of examination in the syllabus for a student who has been determined eligible for pedagogical support due to a disability. Individual adjustments to the mode of examination will be made on the basis of the student's needs. The mode of examination will be adjusted in relation to the expected learning outcomes. Student in need of Individual adjustments to the mode of examination, should request this at the department no later than 10 days before the examination. The examiner makes a decision based on the request, and the decision is communicated to the student. 

The grades Pass (G) or Fail (U) are used for module 1. When examining modules 2, 3, 4 and 5, the grades Pass with Distinction (VG), Pass (G) or Fail (U) are used. For a Pass with Distinction on the entire course, a Pass with Distinction is required on three of the modules 2, 3, 4 or 5. 

A student who has been awarded a Pass grade cannot be re-examined. 
 
A student who has not received a Pass grade on an exam has the right to re-take the exam (a re-sit) on a course on which they have ever been registered. The first re-sit shall be offered no later than two months after the regular exam, but no earlier than ten working days after the result of that exam has been announced. For tests held in May or June, the first re-sit may be offered within three months of the regular exam. The date for the re-sit shall be announced no later than in conjunction with the regular exam. At least one more re-sit shall be offered within a year of the regular exam.  
 
In cases where an exam cannot be repeated according to the rules in effect regarding re-sits, it will be replaced with another task. The scope and content of such a task should be reasonably proportionate to the missed exam. 
 
An examiner may decide that a student who has not quite met the examination requirements, but is close to a Pass grade, be given the opportunity to take a supplementary examination to achieve the Pass grade. Such an examination shall be individually tailored to the goal(s) that the student has not met, and shall be arranged within two weeks after the result of the examination has been announced, but before the next examination session. A supplementary examination can only raise a Fail grade to a Pass grade; award of a grade higher than Pass is not allowed. If the student so wishes, they have the right to take a re-sit instead of a supplementary examination, which gives them the opportunity to achieve a Pass with Distinction. 

Other regulations

The final date for the submission/completion of assignments falls on the last day of the semester, unless otherwise stated by the teacher. All assignments need to be completed or submitted within the time frame set by the teacher in order to be considered for examination, otherwise they must be completed over again. 

In the event of a decision that the course will no longer be offered, or if the syllabus has been revised, students are guaranteed at least three exams (including the regular one) based on the previous syllabus during a time of no more than two years after the previous syllabus ceased to apply or the decision was made that the course no longer be offered.