ENG4500 – British and American Political Literature in the Eighteenth Century

Course description

Course content
Learning outcome
Admission
Teaching

Examination
Evaluation

Schedule, syllabus and examination date

Course content

This course teaches you how to analyse and contextualise British and American political literature of the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries: the Age of Revolution and Enlightenment.

To a great extent, British and American political writings of this period spring out of a shared literary culture, and this course provides an opportunity to study keystones of political thinking from both sides of the Atlantic, including classic texts by John Locke, Adam Smith, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, Edmund Burke, James Madison, and others.

While the primary texts on the syllabus will be subjected to close rhetorical analysis, they will also be situated in their immediate historical context and understood in light of their reception in subsequent political discourses. A main focus in the course is on the development of ideas pertaining to system of government.

Learning outcome

After completing this course, you:

have a working knowledge of eighteenth-century political history on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as of the ideological traditions and political discourses that shaped the primary texts
have an understanding of the development of political ideas in Britain and America over the course of the eighteenth century, with a particular focus on arguments for different forms of government

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.

Students enrolled in other Master's Degree Programmes can, on application, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

Teaching

Seminars, 2 hours per week for 10 weeks. 20 hours in all.

Obligatory activities:

Attendance at least 8 out of 10 seminars. Additional absences must be justified by documentation. Read more about rules concerning valid excuses and how to apply for approved absences or postponements here. Please note that absence exceeding 50 % of all seminars may not be approved, regardless of any excuses.
A first draft of the term paper turned in by a stated deadline. You will be offered draft supervision. You either choose the topic from a list provided by the seminar leader, or you make your own topic. Individually set essay topics must, however, be approved by the seminar leader.

Both the obligatory activities must be approved in the same semester for you to sit the exam. Fulfilled course requirements are only valid the semester you attend the course.

Examination

The final grade is set on the basis of a written term paper (7 standard pages à 2,300 characters, 70% of the grade) and a school exam (2 hours, 30% of the grade).

A pass mark is required on both parts. You have to take both examination parts in the same semester.

Previously given exam assignments and assessment guidelines

Written examination

The written examination is conducted in the digital examination system Inspera. You will need to familiarize yourself with the digital examination arrangements in Inspera.

Submission in Inspera

You submit your assignment in the digital examination system Inspera. Read more about how to submit in Inspera.

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.

Macmillan Dictionary will be offered in the digital examination system Inspera.

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.

Explanations and appeals

Explanation of grades and appeals

Resit an examination

For those who want to retake their exam: Since this exam includes a term paper, you must follow the classes and write a new paper in order to qualify. Admission depends on capacity.

If it's just the written exam you have missed because of illness, it is possible to apply for a postponed exam. Please contact the exam consultant for more information.

Withdrawal from an examination

A term paper or equivalent that is passed may not be resubmitted in revised form.

If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline, this will be counted as an examination attempt.