BA GERMAN STUDIES AND COMPARATIVE LITERATURE QR22

What is Comparative Literature?

ML1COMP

DR John McKeane

This module will introduce students to some of the major critical and theoretical issues in the study of Comparative Literature, as well as to important methodologies for studying literature in a comparative context. Approaching a cluster of texts from different cultural and historical traditions, students will be encouraged to reflect on the practices and consequences of reading transnationally. 

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Thinking Translation: History and Theory

ML1TRANS

DR Daniela La Penna

This module introduces students to the history of translation as a literary practice, as well as to the main theoretical approaches to it and the influential concepts that have been used to reflect on translation practice.

Assignment 90%, Report 10%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Persuasive Writing

EN1PW

DR Mary Morrissey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE3lKNVIqhk

This module develops students’ ability to write in a range of non-fictional genres of writing, such as letters, reports, reviews, newspaper and journal articles and online material, all of which have in common their practical purpose. We will concentrate on the composition of short pieces of writing in these forms while introducing students to themes associated with the study of formal rhetoric. We will engage with the long-running debate about the role of language in persuasion, for good or ill.

Assignment 65%, Report 35%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Twentieth-Century American Literature

EN1TCL

PROF David Brauner

Summary module description: Twentieth-Century American Literature presents students with a challenging range of work, bringing together canonical texts with the less familiar; engaging with work by white and African-American writers; and covering a number of genres and sub-genres, from poetry, the short story and drama, to crime fiction. Students will develop their skills in the close reading of literary texts; they will acquire and demonstrate an ability to respond to shifts in modes, styles, and preoccupations across the period; they will learn about and begin to debate ideas of cultural, ethnic, class and racial difference in relation to the US national identities.

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Research and Criticism

EN1RC

DR Nicola Abram

This module provides a secure foundation in both the practical skills and theoretical literacy needed for the degree-level study of literature. It combines advanced training in reading, research, and academic writing with an introduction to debates around the core concepts of ‘reader’, ‘author’, and ‘text’. The set texts – a selection of short stories and literary essays from across the world – invite students to reflect on the complexities of these critical terms and to become more independent and more questioning as readers. A series of online screencasts equip students with subject-specific skills such as writing a critical precis and plot summary as well as general academic good practice like referencing and incorporating quotations.

Assignment 100%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Poetry in English

EN1PE

PROF Steven Matthews

This module provides students with training in skills of close reading that are foundational to the study of English, as well as an overview of the history of poetry in English. Students will be introduced to major movements and ideas in key periods from the early Renaissance up to the present; and to a range of genres including love poetry, political poetry, pastoral, elegy, satire, the sonnet, the ode, and the dramatic monologue. Poems studied will also be drawn from the wider English-speaking world, including Ireland, the Caribbean and North America, and will include a diversity of voices in terms of gender and sexuality.

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Genre and Context

EN1GC

DR Chloe Houston

This module is designed to provide knowledge and understanding of two formative pairings of historical moment and genre: the Renaissance stage and the Victorian novel. In the first term, students will study four Renaissance plays, with an emphasis on drama as a distinct genre with its own particular conventions, and with attention to key aspects of the Renaissance stage, from playing spaces to the use of stage props. In the second term students will study three major Victorian novels, engaging with contextual issues of urbanisation, gender, sexuality and identity. In both cases, students will be encouraged to analyse literature in relation to genre and context and will gain an understanding of their intersections at particular historical moments.

Assignment 100%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Introduction to Creative Writing

EN1CW

DR Conor Carville

This module allows students to develop their skills in creative writing across a range of genres. They will be introduced to practical and theoretical issues involved in the activity, and will develop skills in the composition, criticism, revision, and polishing of creative work. Building on ideas from the lecture course, students will produce a portfolio of creative writing for discussion in seminars and contribute to the discussion of presented work. Students will also produce a critical essay derived from the subjects studied in the lecture course in consultation with seminar leaders.

Portfolio 100%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Icons of Modern Germany

GM1IMG

DR Ute Wolfel

An introduction to aspects of the culture and history of post-1945 Germany.

Exam 60%, Assignment 40%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

German Texts and Genres

GM1TG

DR Ellen Pilsworth

This module aims to build and enhance students’ text analysis skills in order to make as effective as possible their work and engagement with a range of primary and secondary texts which they will encounter during the remainder of their study programme. 

Exam 60%, Assignment 40%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Advanced German Language I

GM1L3

MISS Elisabeth Koenigshofer

This module aims to develop the language skills of students who have already achieved Advanced Level or equivalent in German . Students with an excellent AS Level qualification in German may also be considered for this module.
The course will provide the necessary basis for the study of German to Honours degree level, but will also be an effective study and career tool for students who are not intending to continue with German after Part 1. 
Students who successfully complete this module will have achieved a level of competence in German comparable to level B1/B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference.

Exam 30%, Practical 40%, Oral 20%, Class test 10%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Modernisms & Mythologies

FA1MM

DR James Hellings

This module will provide a broad, introductory survey of key developments in the history, theory and criticism of art during the modern period. Its starting point will be theories of the development of modernity and its social, political and economic components, and the ways in which modern art functions in and on its historical contexts. It will continue to look at the retrospective modernist critical and theoretical accounts of modern art's development.

Assignment 100%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Introduction to Management

AP1SB1

DR Yiorgos Gadanakis

This module provides a contemporary and comprehensive introduction to management science and its relevance to businesses. Through the lectures students will learn techniques to inspire teamwork in an organisation context, learn the importance of strategic management design to achieve organisations goals and understand the roles of the manager and the responsibilities this carries. It also provides students a range of opportunities to gain hands on practising decision making through case studies. Furthermore, will enable students to discover leadership skills to motivate and guide a team towards the achievement of an organisation’s objectives. 

Describing the four management functions and the type of management activities associated with each is of a priority as well as explaining the difference between efficiency and effectiveness and their importance for optimal organisational performance. Furthermore, students will develop a deep understanding of how the general and the task environments affect and organisations ability to survive and thrive and they will also be able to explain the strategies that managers use to help firm to adapt to an uncertain and/or turbulent future environment. The module will also discuss the fundamental characteristics of organising, including concepts such as work specialisation, chain of command, span of management and centralisation versus decentralisation. Furthermore, it will teach students how to use various management tools such as SWOT, PEST and Stakeholder analysis to evaluate the firm’s current status and positioning in the market. It will also define the components of strategic management and discuss the levels of strategy. Moreover, will identify and explain innovative techniques for decision making including brainstorming, evidence-based management and after-action reviews. Furthermore, it will focus on the importance of human resource management and its link to strategic development of an organisation, and explain how organisations maintain a workforce through training and performance appraisal. Other areas discussed within the classroom are leadership, marketing strategy and financial management of the organisation.  

Class test 100%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Introduction to Marketing

AP1EM1

MS Sandra Preciado

This module will introduce students to key concepts of marketing and encourage them to critically relate these to contemporary practice. It will cover traditional approaches to marketing such as strategic marketing, segmentation, targeting and positioning as well as the marketing mix, whilst introducing issues arising within marketing theory and practice which bring into question some of the foundational principles of the discipline. Within the lectures and readings, and through the analysis of case studies, the latest thinking within the marketing academy will be addressed.

Exam 70%, Class test 30%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

The Economics of Climate Change

EC110

DR Stefania Lovo

The module will offer an economic perspective on the causes and consequences of climate change. It will provide an introduction to key theoretical concepts, such as externalities and public goods, and to the policy tools available to devise adequate responses to climate change, such as command and control measures, taxation and subsidies. The module will also introduce national and international policy approaches in dealing with climate change and provide an overview of their implications for economic development.

Assignment 60%, Class test 40%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Economic Policy and Social Problems

EC111

DR Vivien Burrows

This module will help students to understand the ways in which economic thinking can be applied to a variety of social issues.

Assignment 50%, Report 50%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Economy, Politics and Culture from the fall of Rome to the rise of feudalism

EC119

DR Ken Dark

Understanding the period from the end of the Roman Empire to the end of the ‘Viking Age’ in Europe and the Middle East, and its relevance to studies of long-term political, cultural and economic change and to contemporary societies and economies. 

Exam 80%, Assignment 20%"

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Latin 1 (C)

CL1L1

MRS Jackie Baines

This module aims to teach students some elements of the Latin language and give them skills to read Latin at an elementary level.

Exam 30%, Class test 70%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Ancient Song

CL1SO

PROF Ian Rutherford

This module introduces students to the lyric poetry of ancient Greece and Rome, studying authors from both civilisations and considering a range of thematic approaches to the surviving corpus of poetry. It is intended to be suitable for beginners and for those who have studied some ancient literature before; there is no language requirement, but there will be an opportunity for students who do have relevant skills to employ them in their coursework and exams.

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Texts, Readers, and Writers

CL1TR

PROF Eleanor Dickey

This module explores the history of texts, reading, and writing in the Greek and Roman worlds. We shall cover different types of literature and scholarship as well as non-literary documents. Attention will also be given to ancient writing materials and technologies. No knowledge of Latin, Ancient Greek, or the ancient world more generally is required. 

Exam 50%, Assignment 40%, Set exercise 10%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Roman History: the rise and fall of the Republic

CL1RH

DR Andreas Gavrielatos

This module investigates the mid- and late Republican history of Rome (2nd century BC to late first century BC), a period marked by profound socio-political changes which ultimately led to the crisis of the Republican institutions. It introduces students to the main types of evidence for ancient history and to modern methodological approaches.

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Ancient Greek 1

CL1G1

PROF Amy Smith

This module aims to teach students some elements of the Ancient Greek language and give them skills to read Ancient Greek at an elementary level.

Exam 30%, Class test 70%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Greek History: war, society, and change in the Archaic Age

CL1GH

DR Emma Aston

This module will introduce students to a period of Greek history too often neglected in first-year study, one which established the foundations of the Classical World and saw the emergence of political and social forms still influential today. Starting in the eighth century BC and ending with the Persian invasions of Greece in the early fifth, the module tracks the upheavals, innovations and conflicts of the age, across Greece and beyond.

Exam 50%, Assignment 40%, Class test 10%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

English Language and Society

LS1ELS

DR Christiana Themistocleous

The course aims to provide a broad introduction to English Language and Society, and a basis for further in-depth study of the field in parts two and three of the degree in English Language.

Exam 60%, Assignment 40%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Globalization and Language

LS1GL

DR Tony Capstick

In this module students will explore the role of language in globalization. They will examine the reasons for the spread of languages around the globe historically and in the future (especially in the context of political developments such as Brexit, and the increasing importance of World languages such as English). They will also explore debates about linguistic imperialism and the political dimensions of language use and language policies. Finally, they will explore the effects of technology and migration on the linguistic situation in Latin America, New Zealand and the Middle East, including how urban centers are becoming increasingly multilingual and ‘superdiverse’, and the political and social consequences of this. Teaching is drawn from across the School of Literature and Language.

Set exercise 10%, Project 90%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Codes and Code Breaking

MA115

DR Basil Corbas

To introduce contemporary methods for the secure transmission of data and messages and justify the need for such new methods by analysing the shortcomings of traditional techniques. To illustrate how simple mathematical ideas can be used to solve practical problems in a context very different from the ones which mathematics are traditionally associated with.

Exam 80%, Set exercise 20%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Law & Society

LW1SOC

MRS Amanda Millmore

This exciting and challenging course offers students a chance to consider the ‘big picture’ of how the law has developed, and its role in every facet of society. Students will learn that the law is not just a matter of arcane rules and procedure, rather it often reflects a nation wrestling with its conscience. From the abolition of the slave trade, to the recent Supreme Court decision on joint enterprise, the law changes and develops at a rapid pace. This course will also consider the new challenges in the law posed by the rising use of social media, and how the law has impacted upon the changing role of women in society.

Students will have the opportunity to develop their presentation and research skills and to work in small groups as part of their assessment. The course will be engaging, challenging and encourage student participation through a range of hands-on activities.

Exam 50%, Practical 20%, Oral 30%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Student Enterprise

MM1F10

DR Lebene Soga

This is a dynamic module introducing students to key concepts of business start-up. Students work in a team to identify and develop a new business opportunity, and then seek to test their idea through ‘lean start-up’ experiments. Students will be introduced to key concepts of entrepreneurial management including design thinking, business model creation, entrepreneurial finance and marketing. This is a highly interactive and practical module, with a focus on experiential learning.

This module is delivered at University of Reading and University of Reading Malaysia.

Oral 18%, Set exercise 2%, Project 40%, Class test 40%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

The Making of Modern Europe: 1789 to the Present

ML1EU

DR Athena Leoussi

Explore the key events, movements and ideas that have shaped modern Europe from the French Revolution to the present day. Through the study of historical documents and small group discussions and debates, this module examines first how relations between European nations have been influenced by revolution, competition, war and ideology. The Spring Term then focuses on the divisions within Europe post-1945 (East/West but also North/South) but also on the factors that have motivated European integration and the related tensions.

Exam 50%, Assignment 30%, Set exercise 20%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Introduction to Linguistics

ML1IL

DR Federico Faloppa

This module aims to familiarise students with principles in general linguistics, and to give students an overall picture of what a language is, how it works, and what its main structures are, with a particular focus on French, German, Italian and Spanish. It will also provide useful meta-linguistic competence which can be applied to the study of any other language.

Assignment 40%, Oral 20%, Set exercise 40%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Greats of European Cinema

ML1GEC

PROF Julia Waters

The aim of this module is to provide students with an understanding of the ways in which European Cinema articulated the experience of the individual within the changing political, social and cultural climate of the twentieth century. The course is designed to introduce students to key features of film analysis and to develop their ability to apply them to the films studied.

Exam 40%, Set exercise 60%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Presenting the Past

MC1PP

DR Nicola Pickering

Exam 50%, Assignment 40%, Report 10%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

The Science of Climate Change

MT1CC

PROF Nigel Arnell

This module provides an introduction to the science of climate change, aimed at students who do not necessarily have a scientific background.

Exam 70%, Assignment 30%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Introduction to Political Ideas

PO1IPI

DR Rob Jubb

An introduction to political theory, covering central topics like the state and its authority, democracy, rights and liberty, ideological traditions like liberalism, socialism and conservatism, and some of the basic methods for understanding them all.

Exam 60%, Assignment 40%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Freedom

PO1FRE

DR Brian Feltham

This module provides an inter-disciplinary approach to the subject of freedom, with contributions from four different departments of the University: Classics, Law, Philosophy, and Politics. Students will explore a range of different perspectives on the idea of freedom, and will examine the different ways in which freedom is valued and regulated in a variety of settings. Students will work both individually and within groups to prepare their assignments, and there are a variety of written and oral assessments.

Assignment 30%, Oral 40%, Report 30%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Inequality

PO1INE

MR Yanos Soubieski

Inequality is everywhere around us: different individuals earn different salaries, people of different genders and backgrounds have access to different economic opportunities, and those at the top of the income distribution have radically distinct life chances than those at the bottom. What explains rising inequality, is it fair and what are the consequences? Should anything be done to reduce inequality, and if so, what?This course aims to answer these questions by providing students with the analytical tools and knowledge to understand and explain the evolution of earnings, racial and gender inequality over time and its variation across developed countries. It also considers the economic, normative and political implications of different forms of inequality, in particular gender and racial inequality. Is inequality at the top of the income distribution (i.e. the 1% v. the rest of us) the inevitable outcome of a well-functioning market system or does it suggest problems in the way our democracy work? Does inequality undermine democracy for instance by affecting political participation or increasing the appeal of non-liberal populist parties? Take the course and you will find out more about these fascinating questions and more!

Assignment 40%, Oral 10%, Project 50%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

British Society

PO1BRI

DR Dawn Clarke

The module draws on theories and approaches from Politics, Sociology, Psychology, History and Philosophy to consider some of the main contours of contemporary British Society. The module will explore a number of images of Britain including: Britain as a Welfare State, Multicultural Britain and Britain as a Class Society. It will also explore crime and deviance in Britain, the role of the mass media and the increasing power of the food industry. 

Exam 50%, Assignment 50%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

The Meaning of Life

PP1ML

DR Luke Elson

What is the meaning of life? This is perhaps the most important philosophical question we can ask. What is the answer? Indeed, what is the question really asking? In this module, we seek the answers. Along the way, we will consider a series of fascinating questions which promise to enlighten our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world. What makes life worth living? Does evolution render life meaningless? Is there no reason to fear death? Could life in artificial reality be more meaningful than life in the real world? This module investigates diverse philosophical answers to these questions, as well as drawing from fields such as Health care, Psychology, and biology. 

Reading:

Required readings will be posted online.

Assignment 70%, Oral 20%, Class test 10%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Radical Philosophy

PP1RP

PROF Maximilian De Gaynesford

From Plato and Marx to contemporaries like Judith Butler, Slavoj Zizek, Catharine MacKinnon and Giorgio Agamben, there is a long tradition of radicalism in philosophy. This course is about how radical philosophy can usefully question our deepest assumptions and challenge our deepest beliefs. Poets should be outlawed from our society! We can secure knowledge by doubting everything! Capitalism will be destroyed by the very forces it creates! It is not possible for us to live authentically! Gender is a social performance! We can never access the subjectivity of those we investigate! Pornography silences women! We are not responsible for migrants and other fringe groups of society who lack full access to citizenship! We must tolerate hate speech! Torture is permissible in extreme circumstances, e.g. post 9/11! We cannot hope for a perfectly reconciled and harmonious society! These are some of the claims this course investigates philosophically.Reading:Required readings will be posted online.Recommended:Thomas Nagel, Mortal Questions, Cambridge University Press, 2012

Assignment 70%, Oral 20%, Class test 10%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Reason and Argument

PP1RA

DR Jumbly Grindrod

This module enhances students’ ability to understand and construct complex arguments through the study of logic and the psychology of human reasoning. Reading: A module guide will be available. Recommended: Jamie Carlin Watson and Robert Arp, Critical Thinking: An Introduction to Reasoning Well, 2nd edition, Bloomsbury, 2015.

Assignment 90%, Class test 10%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Introduction to Psychology 1

PY1IP1

MISS Katie Barfoot

Exam 75%, Set exercise 25%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.

Introduction to Psychology 2

PY1IP2

DR Anthony Haffey

The aim of this module is to introduce students to the field of psychology, with particular emphasis on cognitive psychology and neuroscience approaches. While the module follows on from PY1IP1, it can also be taken as a stand-alone module. Through the lectures and recommended reading, students will learn about key psychology theories, and will be able to describe and evaluate these theories and their research evidence in an historical and contemporary context.

Exam 75%, Set exercise 25%

Please note that all modules are subject to change.
The information contained in this module description does not form any part of a student’s contract.