This course encourages students to consider the different ways in which literary texts write about issues of health, illness, and embodiment. Students will examine such texts using both contemporary literary perspectives on such issues and theories of text, interpretation, rhetoric, narrative and genre.

Lectures: Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday at 10am over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus;

One hour seminar x 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus.

None

The standard assessments for this course are:

■ Seminar contribution (The seminar contribution will be marked using Schedule B) - 5%

■ Seminar presentation (The presentation will be marked using Schedule B) - 10%

■ Prospectus (200 words) and annotated bibliography (4-5 entries; 800 words) (1000 words total) (Schedule A) - 30%

■ Final Essay (2000 words) (Schedule A) - 55%

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

■ Written self-evaluation reflecting on seminar contribution OR written response to seminar material in advance or after seminar as an alternative to seminar contribution

■ Recorded presentation OR one-to-one presentation / discussion/Q&A with staff (where presentation would normally be in class) as an alternative to the seminar presentation

■ There is no alternative to the prospectus, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)

■ There is no alternative to the essay, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustments (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. 

This course aims to:

■ Introduce students to literary perspectives on issues of health, illness, and embodiment

■ Enable students to apply key concepts on text, interpretation, rhetoric, narrative and genre

■ Show textual connections to wider historical and cultural contexts

■ Encourage critical thinking about literary texts that deal with issues of health, illness, and embodiment

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

■ analyse texts using literary perspectives on issues of health, illness and embodiment

■ construct viable arguments about texts using theories of textuality and interpretation

■ adjudicate between alternative critical viewpoints on texts

■ employ contemporary methods of information retrieval and apply them to good effect in their written submissions

■ communicate responses to the material studied on the course both orally and in written form through coherent and sustained argument.

■ demonstrate resilience and time management through effectively planning, undertaking and submitting coursework.