IDENTIFYING DATA 2017_18
Subject (*) LITERATURE AND SOCIETY Code 12274009
Study programme
Bachelor's Degree in English Studies (2009)
 Cycle 1st
Descriptors Credits Type Year Period
6 Basic Course First 2Q
Language
Anglès
Castellà
Català
Department English and German Studies
Catalan Studies
Romance Studies
Coordinator
GALLARDO TORRANO, PEDRO
GIMENO PUYOL, MARIA DOLORES
ARITZETA ABAD, MARGARIDA
 E-mail mariadolores.gimeno@urv.cat
margarida.aritzeta@urv.cat
pere.gallardo@urv.cat
Lecturers
GIMENO PUYOL, MARIA DOLORES
ARITZETA ABAD, MARGARIDA
GALLARDO TORRANO, PEDRO
Web
General description and relevant information This course will discuss an array of written texts where science, technology and philosophy play a major role. Its main aim is to engage students in the analytical and comparative aspects of diverse literary texts and their cinematographic and musical adaptations in order to determine the mutual interaction between these texts and society.

Competences
Type A Code Competences Specific
 A2 Demostrar que coneix els corrents teòrics i metodològics de la literatura i la crítica literària.
Type B Code Competences Transversal
Type C Code Competences Nuclear
 C1 Have an intermediate mastery of a foreign language, preferably English
 C5 Be committed to ethics and social responsibility as citizens and professionals

Learning outcomes
Type A Code Learning outcomes
 A2 Comprèn tant la importància estètica de la literatura com el seu paper cultural, social i polític.
Comprèn la literatura com un espai de representació i de debat ideològic i de construcció de discursos socials.
Comprèn la importància social i política de la literatura en relació amb les preocupacions i els ideals estètics.
Type B Code Learning outcomes
Type C Code Learning outcomes
 C1 Express opinions on abstract or cultural topics in a limited fashion.
Explain and justify briefly their opinions and projects.
 C5 Respect fundamental rights and equality between men and women.
Be respectful of and promote human rights and the principles of universal accessibility, equal opportunities, non-discrimination and universal accessibility for th ose with special educational needs.
Be respectful of the values of a culture of peace and democracy.

Contents
Topic Sub-topic
Introduction
Myth, religion and science
Victorian science fiction and social paranoia
Production, consumption and human relationships
Pacifism, neo-colonialism and police states
Technoscience, violence and knowledge
Life-machine borderlands
Technoscientific power and late capitalism
Surrogate humans, cyborgisation and cloning
Utopia and the loss of innocence
Access to (control of) information
Marxist SF (?)
Identity and genetic manipulation
Science Fiction, science and religion

Planning
Methodologies  ::  Tests
  Competences (*) Class hours
 Hours outside the classroom
 (**) Total hours
Introductory activities
1 0 1
Seminars
A2
 52 82 134
Personal tuition
A2
 1 0 1
 
Extended-answer tests
A2
 2 4 6
Objective short-answer tests
A2
 4 4 8
 
(*) On e-learning, hours of virtual attendance of the teacher.
(**) The information in the planning table is for guidance only and does not take into account the heterogeneity of the students.

Methodologies
Methodologies
  Description
Introductory activities In-depth description of the contents of the course paying particular attention to historical elements and literary trends
Seminars In-class presentation and discussion of the most relevant features related to the list of topics specified in the Contents section
Personal tuition Students are welcome to use my visiting hours to discuss individually, in pairs or in groups any aspects related to the contents of the course.

Personalized attention
Description
Students are welcome to use my visiting hours to discuss course issues . The schedule will be available at the beginning of the term.

Assessment
Methodologies Competences Description Weight        
Extended-answer tests
A2
 2 exams with open questions about the texts and the theories dealt with in class
1 oral presentation 		35% + 35% of the final grade

Objective short-answer tests
A2
 Students will be given a short-answer test related to the topics discussed in class 30% of the final grade
Others  

A6
 
Other comments and second exam session

Students who fail the continuous assessment will have to take a final exam based on the material of the whole course. This exam will consist of several short and essay questions. The date of the exam will be announced in advance.

Sources of information

Basic

All materials required to follow the course regularly will be posted on Moodle. Alternatively, students will be given information on how to obtain those materials at the beginning of the course.
Complementary

Recommendations


 
Other comments
Students are expected to come to class with their readings done. Regular class attendance is a requirement. Class participation is highly encouraged.
(*)The teaching guide is the document in which the URV publishes the information about all its courses. It is a public document and cannot be modified. Only in exceptional cases can it be revised by the competent agent or duly revised so that it is in line with current legislation.