NORAM2305 – Literature and Society in the United States and Canada
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
This course tries to show how a selection of American and Canadian novels can be studied as a means to gain insight into a number of important aspects of contemporary American and Canadian society. The primary focus will be on the ways in which these texts both reflect and produce discourses related to race, class, gender, sexuality, and species at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st century.
Learning outcome
After completing this course you will have:
- acquired insight into various aspects of complex and multi-faceted North American societies;
- developed your skills in literary and cultural analysis, with close engagement with key texts, while connecting those texts to theoretical debates related to race, class, gender, sexuality, and species;
- developed your skills analyzing literary texts in relation to dominant discourses and historical and cultural contexts;
- improved your ability to handle written and spoken (American) English.
Admission
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Prerequisites
Recommended previous knowledge
The course assumes a good proficiency in written and oral English.
Overlapping courses
10 credits overlap with NORAM4305 – Literature and Society in the United States and Canada (discontinued)
Teaching
Seminar, two hours per week for 10 weeks, 20 hours in all.
Attendance is obligatory at least 8 out of 10 seminars. Additional absences must be justified by documentation given to the exam coordinator.
The seminar format assumes active student participation in the discussion of the texts.
Examination
The exam form is a portfolio, which consists of a five-page essay and a two-hour classroom exam.
You must submit your final paper in Fronter. Read about the submission procedures
Use of sources and citation
You should familiarize yourself with the rules that apply to the use of sources and citations. If you violate the rules, you may be suspected of cheating/attempted cheating.
Examination support material
English-English dictionary.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
The results will be found on the StudentWeb three weeks after the exam is completed.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.