Critical Reading

Programme details

The course is broken down into 10 units over 10 weeks, each requiring approximately 10 hours of study time. The following topics are covered:

1. Introduction: what is literature?

2. Close reading and criticism

3. Comparing literary texts

4. Narrative

5. Description and devices

6. Analysing Poetry

7. Writing critically

8. Developing as a writer and reader

9. Other approaches

10. Endings… and what comes next

We strongly recommend that you try to find a little time each week to engage in the online conversations (at times that are convenient to you) as the forums are an integral, and very rewarding, part of the course and the online learning experience.

Level and demands

This course is open to all and no prior knowledge is required.

This course is offered at FHEQ level 4 (i.e. first year undergraduate level) and you will be expected to engage in independent study in preparation for your assignments. Our 10-week Short Online Courses come with an expected total commitment of 100 study hours.

English Language Requirements

We do not insist that applicants hold an English language certification, but warn that they may be at a disadvantage if their language skills are not of a comparable level to those qualifications listed on our website. If you are confident in your proficiency, please feel free to enrol. For more information regarding English language requirements please follow this link: https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/about/english-language-requirements

Course aims

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

• Have an enhanced understanding and enjoyment of literary texts.
• Understand and apply basic concepts of the critical idiom
• Distinguish between opinions and appreciations, and analysis.
• Produce close critical analyses of prose and poetry.
• Have a working knowledge of some critical and theoretical arguments about literature and literary analysis.
• Make effective use of online resources in English literary studies.
• Begin to build a personal reading list.

IT requirements

This course is delivered online; to participate you must to be familiar with using a computer for purposes such as sending email and searching the Internet. You will also need regular access to the Internet and a computer meeting our recommended minimum computer specification.

Programme details

The course is broken down into 10 units over 10 weeks, each requiring approximately 10 hours of study time. The following topics are covered:

1. Introduction: what is literature?

2. Close reading and criticism

3. Comparing literary texts

4. Narrative

5. Description and devices

6. Analysing Poetry

7. Writing critically

8. Developing as a writer and reader

9. Other approaches

10. Endings… and what comes next

We strongly recommend that you try to find a little time each week to engage in the online conversations (at times that are convenient to you) as the forums are an integral, and very rewarding, part of the course and the online learning experience.

Teaching methods

• Introductory section
• Reading required and recommended
• Online forum
• Guided note-taking and critical reflection
• Posted short responses to literary extracts and exercises
• Tutor responses to forum and exercises
• Assessment and feedback

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course you will know:

• Basic concepts of the critical idiom.
• Key arguments relating to literary value.
• Key arguments relating to the methods and function of literary analysis.
• Your own position and interests as a critical reader.
• Differences between opinions and appreciations, and analysis.

Assessment methods

You will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first of 500 words is due halfway through your course. This does not count towards your final outcome but preparing for it, and the feedback you are given, will help you prepare for your assessed piece of work of 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.

Jenn Dunn

Dr Jennifer Dunn holds a doctorate from the University of Oxford and taught English literature at several Oxford colleges from 2002-2009. She is Departmental Tutor at Oxford Lifelong Learning, where she also holds the roles of Supervisory Tutor (online flexible courses in literature and creative writing) and Assessor in English for the Certificate of Higher Education. She has published on twentieth-century and contemporary fiction, women’s writing and literary theory. Her research and teaching interests also include ecocriticism, literary representations of nature and place, and intertextuality.

Assessment methods

You will be set two pieces of work for the course. The first of 500 words is due halfway through your course. This does not count towards your final outcome but preparing for it, and the feedback you are given, will help you prepare for your assessed piece of work of 1,500 words due at the end of the course. The assessed work is marked pass or fail.

Level and demands

This course is open to all and no prior knowledge is required.

This course is offered at FHEQ level 4 (i.e. first year undergraduate level) and you will be expected to engage in independent study in preparation for your assignments. Our 10-week Short Online Courses come with an expected total commitment of 100 study hours.

English Language Requirements

We do not insist that applicants hold an English language certification, but warn that they may be at a disadvantage if their language skills are not of a comparable level to those qualifications listed on our website. If you are confident in your proficiency, please feel free to enrol. For more information regarding English language requirements please follow this link: https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/about/english-language-requirements

Fees

Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form.