NORAM2305 – Literature and Society in the United States and Canada

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.

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.

Reports from periodic evaluations (in Norwegian)

Facts about this course

Credits
10
Level
Bachelor
Teaching
Spring 2017
Examination
Spring 2017
Teaching language
English