1. Tutor:
Monika Wolanin
[email protected]
Reality reflected in art and literature.
Level: C1
Course description: The course is designed for PhD students and those interested in the subject
matter. It is based mainly on primary sources as well as academic and critical papers. Special
attention is given to comparative analysis. Topics covered in the course include: literature, art,
religion, history, philosophy, politics and heavily depend on students’ choice. It teaches critical
reading and the skill of interpretation of literary texts and performative art. Additionally, it touches
upon contemporary social and cultural issues in relation to academic discourse. Another essential
aim of the course is to practise delivering speeches of varying length and level of formality including
conference presentations.
Course objectives
The course aims to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
familiarize students with selected aspects in art, literature, film and stage productions, etc.
improve students ability to compare and contrast ideas in aforementioned fields of study
develop students’ ability to construct their presentation in a clear, easy-to-follow way
encourage students to actively participate in academic debates and panel discussions
enhance students’ confidence in public speaking
develop students’ academic vocabulary
Learning outcomes
Having completed the course, a student can:
1. deliver speeches of varying length and level of formality in different academic settings –
seminars, conferences, workshops
2. read critically – interpret and analyse academic texts
3. actively participate in academic and panel discussions
4. write an abstract and a critical review.
Course topics
Topics will vary from year to year depending on students’ choice and following current development
in humanities. The following topics were discussed in previous years.
1. Political and moral authorities of the 20th century:
a. Mahatma Gandhi and his non-violent struggle through civil disobedience. Reading
excerpts from his Autobiography. The Story of My Experiments with Truth
b. Nelson Mandela and his involvement in the fight with apartheid.
2. Brief history of colonialism and post-colonialism.
3. Post-colonial Africa today- a literary example.
4. African-American literature – selected examples.
5. Modern society – contemporary social phenomena.
6. The Theatre of the Absurd – reading excerpts, text analysis, watching stage productions –
comparative analysis
7. Definitions and boundaries of art – selected issues
8. Morality and censorship in art.
9. An attempt at writing a critical review
10. An attempt at writing an abstract.
Grammar & Lexis
The course aims at elimination of students’ recurrent grammatical mistakes, as well as revising or
introducing relevant grammar structures.
1. Emphatic structures:
a. negative inversion, e.g.: never have I heard such a controversial statement.
b. cleft sentences, e.g.: What I need is a two-week break .
c. emphatic do/does and did, e.g.: She did tell the truth.
2. Linking devicesto express result, reason, purpose, contrast
3. Distancing the facts:
a. seem/appear
b. passive structures: It is believed…, It was said…
4. Modal verbs to express speculation, necessity, probability
Functions
1. Expressing opinion, approval, disapproval, disbelief, etc.
2. Discussing controversial issues
3. Asking for clarification
4. Expressing probability and certainty
5. Expressing speculation and deduction
6. Comparing and contrasting
7. Describing cause and effect
8. Being persuasive
9. Using cautious language (hedging), softening the message
10. Describing processes
Assessment
Students will be assessed on the basis of:
1. completing one individual assignment in a form of an oral presentation in each semester – 30
points
2. preparing mini-speeches for group and panel discussions - 20 points
3. delivering a written assignment – 20 points
4. regular attendance and active participation in class - 10 – 20 points
Pointsranges
0-59% – niedostateczny
60-67% – dostateczny
68-75% – dostateczny plus
76-83% – dobry
84-91% – dobry plus
92-100% – bardzo dobry
Resources
1.
2.
3.
Crafts H., The Bondwoman’s Narrative, Virago, 2002.
Fletcher J., Samuel Beckett, Faber and Faber, 2000.
Gandhi M. K., An Autobiography or The Story of My Experiments with Truth, Navajivan Publishing
House, 1998
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Hunter J., Tom Stoppard, Faber and Faber,2000.
Keane F., All of These People, Harper Perennial, 2006.
Keane F., Season of Blood. A Rwandan Journey, Penguin Books, 1996.
Morrison T., Beloved, Vintage, 2005.
Naismith B., Harold Pinter, Faber and Faber, 2000.
Pinter, H., Plays One: The Birthday Party, Faber and Faber,1991.
Pressburger, C., (ed.), The Diary of PetrGinz, Atlantic Books, 2007.
Wilde O., The Picture of Dorian Gray. (The Preface), Penguin Books, 1994.
Online sources
Adichie, C., N., We should all be feminists [online], TEDxEuston in
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg3umXU_qWc, access 20th February 2015.
Adichie, C., N., The Danger of a Single Story[online], TED Talks in
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Ihs241zeg, access 22nd February 2015.
Barnett, M., Why a good book is a secret door[online], TED.com
inhttps://www.ted.com/talks/mac_barnett_why_a_good_book_is_a_secret_door, access 25th
February 2015.
Audio-visual resources
Friedkin, W., The Birthday Party, UK, Continental Motion Pictures Corporation, 1968.
Ives, K.,The Birthday Party, UK, BBC, 1987.
Stoppard, T., Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, USA, Cinecom Pictures, 1991.