Course Catalogue

The Bleeding Edge: Contemporary narratives of illness and medicine ENGLIT5104

  • Academic Session: 2026-27
  • School: School of Critical Studies
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Either Semester 1 or Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

This course offers study of contemporary illness and medical narratives across a variety of genres, such as memoir, science fiction, thriller, graphic novel and young adult fiction.

Timetable

1x 2hr seminar per week over 10 weeks

Requirements of Entry

Standard entry to Masters at College level

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

 The standard assessments for this course are: 

■  Encyclopaedia-style explanation of key term or concept (1500 words): 20% 

■ Essay (3500 words): 80% 

 

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available: 

■ There are no alternatives to the assessments, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (Students should follow the usual process for extensions). 

 

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.  

Course Aims

This course will provide the opportunity to:

• study a range of contemporary illness and medical narratives

• theoretically analyse the contemporary flourishing of illness and medical narratives

• consider illness and medical narratives in a variety of genres, including popular literature and reportage

• develop independent research skills through formulating and researching essay topics with appropriate guidance

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

• apply relevant theories of illness and medical narrative to contemporary texts

• comprehend the contemporary cultural significance of illness and medical narrative

• analyse and evaluate particular narrative materials

• communicate responses to the material studied on the course in written form through coherent and sustained argument at an advanced level

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

No exceptions