EL1100 - Critical Reading

Credit points:	03
Year:	2009
Student Contribution Band:	Band 1
Administered by:	Discipline of English

This subject provides both a conceptual introduction to, and practical training in, the generic reading skills necessary to the study of literary and other complex texts at tertiary level and instruction on how to organise an essay about such reading. In the first half of the subject students are introduced to such concepts as story and plot, metaphor and symbol, analogy and allegory, first and third person narration, reliable and unreliable narration and modes of irony and to ways of placing texts in cultural contexts, with reference to a selection of short prose pieces and poems. In the second half of the subject these skills are put into practice with reference to a sequence of texts.

Learning Outcomes

• acquire a detailed knowledge of each of the texts set for study;
• develop an understanding of the concepts of plot, metaphor, analogy, reliable and unreliable narration and irony and of how they relate to each other in the reading of texts;
• develop the capacity to plan, articulate and explain a reasoned critical argument in a limited timeframe;
• develop the capacity to plan, organise and articulate an argument grounded in accurate critical reading;
• develop the skills of comprehension, informed interpretation and critical evaluation in students new to the university;
• learn to explore ideas in small group discussion.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments;
• The ability to define and to solve problems in at least one discipline area;
• The ability to speak and write logically, clearly and creatively;
• A coherent and disciplined body of skills, knowledge, values and professional ethics in at least one discipline area;
• The ability to reflect on and evaluate learning processes and products;
• The ability to learn independently and in a self-directed manner;
• A commitment to lifelong learning and intellectual development.

Availabilities
Townsville, Internal, Study Period 1
Census Date 27-Mar-2009
Coord/Lect:	Dr Greg Manning.
Contact hours:	26 hours lectures 10 hours tutorials
Assessment:	end of semester exam (40%); tutorial attendance and participation (20%); essays (20%); assignments (20%).
External, Study Period 1
Census Date 27-Mar-2009
Coord/Lect:	Dr Greg Manning.
Method of Delivery:	WWW - LearnJCU and Printed materials
Assessment:	end of semester exam (40%); assignments (40%); (20%).
Cairns, Internal, Study Period 1
Census Date 27-Mar-2009
Coord/Lect:	Assoc. Professor Richard Lansdown.
Contact hours:	26 hours lectures 10 hours tutorials
Assessment:	end of semester exam (40%); tutorial attendance and participation (20%); essays (20%); assignments (20%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.