Gaeilge

English Literature

First Year English Literature Course

This course is designed to inspire a love of literature and to encourage students as readers. It will also assist students with written expression.
There are no set texts for this course. Students will study modern poetry, excerpts from modern novels and plays.

Aims of course:
• To increase students’ confidence in their oral and written English.
• To develop students’ critical abilities in analysing poetry, prose and other pieces of writing.
• To improve standards in writing style, punctuation, grammar and spelling.
• To increase awareness of how to structure a piece of writing.
• To introduce students to academic writing and referencing.
• To identify and scaffold individual students who need additional support in developing their writing skills

Format of classes

Seminar style. Collaborative work done on texts and oral feedback from students.
Some lectures given on specific topics such as essay writing, critical analysis and referencing.
Work done on poetry, prose, drama, creative writing and writing competency.

Second Year English Literature

This course introduces students to many of the central concepts and motifs found in both myth and story. It explores the significance of such universal themes as the notion of the quest, the concept of transition, the different ways in which the hero can be defined and the journey towards self-discovery that is at the core of many stories. The fairytale genre is examined in some depth from a number of critical perspectives Following from a general study of the significance of myth and story and in light of the key concepts and motifs discussed, the students will explore a range of prescribed literary texts.

Third year English Literature – Children’s Literature

This course on children’s literature is a logical development of the second year course on myth and story. It seeks to draw connections between material studied in second year and literature for children. The course combines a broad perspective of children’s literature with close examination of specific texts from a range of genres.
The course can be divided into three broad sections: picture books, classic children’s fiction and modern literature for children. Although a number of core texts are recommended, students are encouraged and expected to read outside of the texts listed.
This is a research based course, in which students are required to research an aspect of children’s literature of their choice in consultation with the lecturer.
The course also includes a workshop with a children’s author on aspects of writing books for children.

Postgraduate English Literature

This course combines elements of the second and third year English literature courses and takes as its focus children’s literature. It combines a broad perspective of children’s literature with close analysis of specific selected texts from a wide range of genres. While there is some exploration of the value of literature in the education of children, the main emphasis of the course is on the development of the students’ own linguistic and literary skills through the study and critical appreciation of children’s literature in its own right. The following is a brief outline of the course:

Introduction – brief history of children’s literature
Picture Books
Poetry
Traditional Story (with an emphasis on folktales and fairytales)
The Classics
Modern Fiction (This section will include one lecture on Irish children’s literature).

The course is designed to facilitate active student participation. Students are required to prepare material in advance of lectures with a view to engaging in class, group and / or paired activities. It is expected that students will participate in at least one workshop with a children’s author on aspects of writing books for children. Students will also give a brief presentation on an aspect of the course which they have researched.

Elective Creative Writing Course - Teacher as Writer (Fiction)

This course aims to enrich students' imaginative lives, liberate their creative energies and develop their writing skills through the experience of writing fiction and having their work helpfully reviewed by a working writer and editor, and their peers. While the emphasis will be on fiction writing, students with an interest in poetry, picturebooks or drama may be accomodated. The course will take the form of writing workshops and may include an outing to a literary exhibition and a workshop with a poet and/or book illustrator. The course will help students develop a disciplined approach to writing that will see them through to the completion of writing tasks involving dialogue, descriptive passages, action passages, narrative discourse, first-person accounts and third-person accounts.

The course tutor, Siobhán Parkinson, is one of Ireland's leading authors for children and young adults. Several of her books have won awards and honours including Sisters - No Way! (Bisto Book of the Year, 1997), The Moon King (Bisto merit award and 2001 IBBY Honour Book), Four Kids, Three Cats, Two Cows, One Witch (Maybe) (Bisto Merti Award) and Something Invisible (2008 IBBY Honour Book). Her most recent book is an Irish language novel, Dialann Sár- Rúnda Amy Ní Chonchúir.

Course Tutor : Siobhan Parkinson

Course Co-Ordinator: Ciara Ní Bhroin