English at Edge Hill University
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A book must be the axe for the frozen sea within us.
Franz Kafka
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Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.
Love Reading? I loved reading George Orwell's Down and Out in Paris and London (1933), because it opened my eyes to social injustice, and is just as relevant today as when it was first published.
Rob Spence Associate Head of Department
Harry S. Truman
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Welcome to English at Edge Hill University If you’re fascinated by words, if you love to read, if you want to use your talent for writing, then a degree in English is the programme you’re looking for. The study of English has a distinguished history at Edge Hill University, and our department is now larger and more diverse than ever. You can take specialist degrees in either English Language or English Literature, or study on the general English degree, which combines both. Flexible courses ensure that you cover all the essential themes in your chosen field, and also have ample opportunity to specialise. The award-winning Ormskirk campus is an ideal place to read, think, discuss and imagine. We also encourage an international perspective, and there are opportunities for you to take part of your degree at a partner university overseas, in Europe or North America. Our department is a dynamic and welcoming community. We share a belief in dialogue, free discussion, and collaboration, and a commitment to the personal development of our students. We aim to provide you with a stimulating university education, so you can begin your career with ambition and confidence. If you choose to study here you will also be joining one of the UK’s most respected departments which prides itself on its dynamic and modern programmes and has been awarded an 85% overall satisfaction rating in the 2011 National Student Survey. If you’d like to find out more, please get in touch, using the contact details at the back of this guide. We look forward to hearing from you. Professor Michael Bradshaw Head of Department
A richer literary experience English covers both language and literature, and is for anyone who wants to be challenged, to extend their knowledge, and broaden their horizons. You will develop communication skills, independent thinking and self-expression, and be stimulated by a modern and dynamic programme.
Love Reading? I loved reading Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s The First Circle (1968) because it offers an acidly amusing expose of the absurd attempts of those in power to micromanage individual behaviour. I loved its subtle revelation of the power of underground resistance. The then Soviet government did not.
Clive Grey Senior Lecturer in English Language
Choosing the right programme for you “Read, read, read,� William Faulkner advised. Whether it’s a well-thumbed edition of a favourite novel or something downloaded onto your e-reader, the English programmes are for anyone with a passion for literature and language, and how they shape and influence our understanding of life, the universe and everything. We offer single, joint and combined honours degrees. In a joint degree you will study a programme comprising around 50% in each subject area. In a combined degree you study two subjects throughout the three years of your programme, with your major subject taking 75% of your study time, the chosen minor taking the remainder.
Transferable skills
Embarking on an academic degree is a major commitment for you and your family, and we take our responsibility to prepare you for your chosen career very seriously. English graduates develop some of the most versatile and sought-after skills in the graduate job market. You will learn how to conduct focused research, from both electronic and print sources; you will learn how to develop strong arguments based on the right evidence; and you will become a better communicator, both verbally and in writing.
BA (Hons) English
Covering both language and literature, this programme is for those who want to be challenged and develop communication skills, independent thinking and self-expression. You will develop a good foundation in your first year, before fine-tuning your interests, and choosing from a range of modules from British Telefantasy and the intriguing Shakespeare Problem to Language and Identity, Sexuality or Conflict in Europe. Programmes include: BA (Hons) English BA (Hons) English with Creative Writing BA (Hons) English with Film Studies BA (Hons) English with History BA (Hons) Creative Writing and English BA (Hons) Drama and English QW34 BA (Hons) English and Film Studies BA (Hons) English and History BA (Hons) English and Media
Q301 Q3W8 Q3W6 Q3V1 WQ93 WQ63 QV31 PQ33
Love Reading? I always remember books in relation to where I was when I read them, sometimes because the location fits – Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting (1993) on a slow train journey to Scotland, and sometimes because it's completely incongruous – Umberto Eco's wintry medieval murder mystery The Name of the Rose (1980) on a sun-drenched Mediterranean beach. Michael Bradshaw Head of Department
BA (Hons) English Language
The English language is versatile, subtle, entertaining and infuriating in equal measure. Our well-established English Language course immerses you in the story of English, its past, present and future. You will acquire the skills to analyse linguistic data and learn how to apply different theoretical perspectives in researching English Language. You will discover the diversity of English, both spoken and written, and appreciate how language contributes to the identities of its users. You will achieve a thorough grounding in the history, structure and use of English, the world’s foremost international language, before moving on to analyse the working relationship between the language we use and our social identity. You can undertake field research, gathering data responsibly, before analysing and communicating your findings. You can learn about the role of English in a rapidly changing world, and how language relates to gender, class, age and sexuality; you can discover how language is acquired, or learn to teach English to speakers of other languages. Programmes include: BA (Hons) English Language BA (Hons) English Language with Creative Writing BA (Hons) English Language with Film Studies BA (Hons) English Language with History BA (Hons) Creative Writing and English Language BA (Hons) Drama and English Language BA (Hons) English Language and Film Studies BA (Hons) English Language and History
Love Reading? Suzanne Romaine’s Bilingualism (1994), opened my eyes to the ways in which languages co-exist throughout the world, acting as resources for societies and speakers. Suddenly I could see this all around me! It began a lifelong fascination for me – one which I love to share with my students. Jo Shoba Senior Lecturer in English Language
Q140 Q1W8 Q1W6 Q1V1 WQ83 QW43 QP33 QV3C
BA (Hons) English Literature
In English Literature you will study different forms of narrative, not just read them, embracing the narrative form in the 21st Century, looking at books alongside other media, such as film and film adaptations, graphic novels, and interactive electronic media. You will be introduced to theoretical and critical approaches as well as being offered a range of modules that include different periods, genres and topics. You will have the opportunity to study ‘classic’ texts, such as Defoe, Byron, Milton, Keats, Shakespeare, and the Brontës, alongside popular genres, such as vampire fiction and science fiction. Programmes include: BA (Hons) English Literature BA (Hons) English Literature with Creative Writing BA (Hons) English Literature with Film Studies BA (Hons) English Literature with History BA (Hons) Creative Writing and English Literature BA (Hons) Drama and English Literature BA (Hons) English Literature and Film Studies BA (Hons) English Literature and History
Q200 Q2W9 Q2GN Q2V1 QW38 QWH4 QP3J QV3D
Love Reading? I loved reading Susan Hill’s ghost story The Woman in Black (1983), because of the darkness and the sheer force of the physical and psychological power Jennet Hunfrye wielded, and, for me, still wields, almost 30 years after its publication. I also love it because it took Hill six weeks of mornings to write, whilst juggling childcare; proof that great things can be achieved under pressure. Mari Hughes-Edwards Senior Lecturer in English Literature
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We read to know we are not alone. C.S. Lewis
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Student satisfaction If you choose to study here you will be joining one of the UK’s most respected departments, with dynamic and modern programmes, and which has been awarded an 85% overall satisfaction rating in the 2011 National Student Survey, placing us within the top third of English courses nationally.
Reasons to choose English at Edge Hill University
- English rated 4.14 out of 5 by students in the 2011 National Student Survey (NSS 2011) - Of the 93 universities in England, Edge Hill University is second only to Oxford for Personal Development, and in the top three in the country for Assessment and Feedback. (NSS 2011) - Our Creative Writing programme is rated third in England for overall student satisfaction (NSS 2011) - Scholarships are available in the Creative Arts for those who demonstrate determination, commitment and achievement in areas of creative expression, such as writing and film-making. - Students can nurture career ambitions by getting involved with the Students’ Union. Working on the student magazine, campus tv channel EdgeTV, or L39, the University’s radio station, is an introduction to working in the creative industries for many of our students.
What our students say Carl Shaw BA (Hons) English Language “I’ve always loved the English language. I find it fascinating and the opposite of what a lot of people often suggest – that it’s boring. After studying here you really do feel knowledgeable, helped by the amazing tutors and their passion and drive. “Every day studying English language there’s a case of ‘Wow! We really do that with our language, don’t we?’ It’s amazing how much is actually going on, especially during discourse analysis where we basically deconstruct “talk”. At Edge Hill we’re taught that how we use language to manipulate thought and emotion is a rich power, and one that should be celebrated. “Once I graduate I plan to see the world, followed by further study in a more complex field, such as contact-induced language change. With enthusiasm and a desire to succeed, studying at Edge Hill is a great path to take. It isn’t easy, but with the right amount of commitment you can make it what you want it to be, and be richly rewarded.”
Love Reading? Khaled Hosseini’s A Thousand Splendid Suns (2008) went a long way in raising awareness of what life is like in different cultures; especially as some are so different from our own. Social norms are completely different, and a book like this opens your eyes to the brutality and subjectivity that other cultures deem to be acceptable practice. The book is fantastic.
Adele Jewell MA English “Having had such a wonderful experience while studying at Edge Hill during my English degree, it seemed only natural to continue my postgraduate studies at the University. “The MA in English follows a similar format to the undergraduate course, but what is different is that the work is not as guided; there’s a greater expectation for you to work more independently. “There are core modules, but then you also specifically choose what you want to study. This means that you are developing your own knowledge and ideas in areas that are of particular interest to you. “This course has allowed me to maintain a level of learning that is both interesting and challenging, while at the same time giving me the chance to gain experience as a teaching assistant. The workload requires a great deal of organisation and commitment, but I know this course will help me in my future career, enabling me to use the skills I’ve learnt and apply them in a teaching context. “Ultimately I’d like to work in a specialist primary school supporting children with additional educational needs, as this is something that’s very close to my heart.”
Love Reading? I was inspired to read Susan Hill’s The Small Hand (2010) having loved The Woman in Black (1983). It grabs you from the outset with a haunting that becomes increasingly alarming and dreadful, at times it feels as though you’re experiencing the haunting yourself. The suspense is brilliantly created and keeps you guessing. When the story reaches its climax, you definitely do not see it coming. A terrifying ghost story that will keep you awake at night!
Research at Edge Hill University Whether you study English, English Literature, English Language, or a degree combining these with Creative Writing, Film Studies or History, you will be at the centre of our thriving research community. Every department academic is a published author or acclaimed international researcher in their own right. We publish books, articles, plays, poetry and drama. Much of our English and History research was assessed as ‘world-leading’ in the latest UK Research Assessment Exercise, and we positively encourage research into uncharted literary territory. Staff-members have been successful in winning national research awards from bodies such as The British Academy, The Arts and Humanities Research Board and The Leverhulme Trust. Dr Ben Brabon, Senior Lecturer in English Literature, is a founder of the North Gothic Network, dedicated to the exchange of knowledge and research on the Gothic movement. Ben is also Reviews Editor on the Manchester University Press journal Gothic Studies, where he gets his teeth into the latest academic opinion. He is author of Postfeminist Gothic: Critical Interventions in Contemporary Culture (Palgrave Macmillan 2007), and Gothic Cartography: A Literary Geography of Haunting (Palgrave, 2011). Ben Brabon: “We offer a range of modules with a Gothic flavour, such as Gothic romanticism, vampire fictions, Victorian Gothic and Trans-Gothic, analysing literary expressions of the Gothic and the cultural anxieties these texts explore. Students have the opportunity to study everything from eighteenth century classics, such as Walpole's The Castle of Otranto and Dracula, to the contemporary vampire fiction of the Twilight saga.” How the English language is used and how it is evolving is equally important to the department. Senior Lecturer in English Language Dr Jo Shoba, whose international British Academy project, Language Practices and Values among Young People in Contemporary Ghana, fosters linguistic diversity and creativity internationally, explores the ways English is used across the world and its effects on the identity formation of young people in an age of global connectedness.
The Gender and Sexuality Research Group is an interdisciplinary group which promotes academic debate on gender and sexuality studies, running workshops on subjects such as masculinities, feminisms, gender theories, LGBT and/or queer studies, sexuality and subversion. Recent seminars included a look at celebrity masculinities, featuring Bill Clinton, Monica Lewinsky and David Beckham.
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Dr Mari Hughes-Edwards, Senior Lecturer in English Literature and chair of GenSex: “We're all too aware of the scandals surrounding the private lives of celebrities, but the academic study of their lives and stories helps us to read their experiences in terms of wider global gender politics." The Department offers a range of MA courses, including English and Creative Writing, and has a growing community of independent research students working on PhD theses.
Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and speculation at a standstill. Henry David Thoreau
Partnership and collaboration We have very close links with colleagues in Creative Writing, Film Studies and History, which provides a great opportunity to develop interdisciplinary interests, and push the research envelope. In a recent example of this interdisciplinary approach to research, Edge Hill University hosted the first UK student conference dedicated to the work – and provocative lifestyle – of Lord Byron, one of the great English poets and a leading figure of the Romantic movement. Organised as part of the ‘Romanticism at Edge Hill' research forum, and in conjunction with the Byron Centre at The University of Manchester, undergraduate students and postgraduate researchers presented their work to an audience of nternationally-renowned Byronists and Romantic scholars. The theme was on Byron as romantic icon, and papers were delivered on topics such as Byron and Coleridge, Byron and scandal, and Byron and religion. We regularly invite speakers to the department who we feel will inform and enlighten our students. They come from a diverse range of backgrounds, hopefully sparking interest in underexplored avenues of academic investigation. Recent speakers include: Carol Ann Duffy, Poet Laureate Stuart Maconie, Journalist, author and broadcaster Khaled El Hagar, Award-winning Egyptian film-maker Jennifer Saunders, Comedian and writer Peter Salmon, Director of BBC North
What our students say Martin Palmer BA (Hons) English and Creative Writing “I chose to study the English and Creative Writing degree as it combines my passion for literature and language with my dream of becoming a writer. “The tutors here are excellent and they are always there to lend a hand and offer friendly support above and beyond the call of duty. As well as this, through the variety of guest lectures and extracurricular events held on campus, I’ve gained further perspectives and understanding from a range of significant writers which I hope will serve me well in the future. “Becoming a student blogger was a good way for me to use my English skills to help communicate to future students what is available to them, as well as informing applicants about what is happening at Edge Hill. “For anyone thinking of undertaking a writing course my advice would simply be to come to Edge Hill with an open mind, you’ll soon discover hidden strengths and passions that you previously didn’t know existed.”
Love Reading? Reading books 'tailored for my age level' when I was eleven or twelve was so uninspiring, so I took a chance on Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1979). For me, the irreverent science fiction novel was the first one that mixed brains with a wicked sense of humour. It really made me hungry to read the rest of the series and get stuck into more literature.
Nicola Cowling BA (Hons) English “When I reached 30 I made the decision that a new career as a primary school teacher was what I wanted. I made enquiries, and the staff at Edge Hill were really supportive. They tailored a study pathway I could follow to help make my dreams become a reality. “My English degree is everything I hoped it would be, and I’m really enjoying it, even though getting back into the routine and discipline of studying while also having a family can be difficult at first. For me, the best thing has been learning new things all the time and broadening my knowledge in so many areas. If you’re looking to study a subject that is interesting and challenging at the same time then you should consider English. “Accomplishing this new challenge, meeting new people and embracing new experiences has given me so much more confidence. Studying at university was an opportunity that was never really open to me previously, so this has been the chance for me to do something different with my life and gain the qualifications I need. “I’m now looking forward to continuing my teacher training.”
Love Reading? Sophie Kinsella’s Confessions of a Shopaholic is a light-hearted book that really does relate to most aspects of daily life, and got me interested in reading. In my first year I wrote an essay on this book, exploring the novel’s feminism and perceptions of society. She’s written several sequels, exploring different issues faced by the main character, such as finding the perfect job, and never giving up on your dreams.
Plan your future with us Our students go on to become professional writers, work in the public and voluntary sectors, work in broadcast media, and enter the teaching professions. Others pursue their academic interests to doctoral level and become university academics themselves. All English students have the opportunity to broaden their academic horizons through the ERASMUS European exchange programme, allowing them to study in France, Germany or Spain. Literature students also have the option of studying in the USA. Although some jobs require specific skills and qualifications, you will find some key skills are needed for almost any career path you follow, including communication and negotiation, leadership and teamwork, problem-solving and decision-making, adaptability and flexibility, innovation and creativity, and commercial and selfawareness. In your second year at Edge Hill University, there is an opportunity to apply academic skills in a workplace setting, such as a library, a museum, a newspaper, or a publishers, but all our degrees offer you the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills which will prepare you for careers in: Arts administration; Corporate communications; Library work; Marketing; Managerial work; Media; Journalism; Public and voluntary sectors; Public relations; Publishing; Speech therapy; Teaching (at home and abroad).
Love Reading? The first play that made me want to be a scriptwriter was The Crucible by Arthur Miller (1952). We had read it for A level, but when it came to life in a promenade performance I saw by the RSC, it was the most emotionally draining and theatrically thrilling experience I'd ever had. Kim Wiltshire Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing
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Choose an author as you choose a friend. Sir Christopher Wren
Our alumni Stuart Maconie BA (Hons) English and Social Science Honorary MA Stuart Maconie studied here in the early 1980s, drolly documented in his autobiography Cider with Roadies. Since graduating, he has been deputy editor of NME, written several other books, including Pies and Prejudice, Adventures on the High Teas, Hope and Glory – The Days that Made Britain, and biographies of the bands Blur and James, and been crowned GQ Man of the Year. He currently copresents BBC 6 Music's Radcliffe and Maconie Show and The Freak Zone, and has columns in the Daily Mirror and Country Walking. The best-selling author, broadcaster and “national treasure” presented his latest work, Hope and Glory, to a packed Edge Hill audience. His witty tales were well-received, as he recounted his search of the places, people and events that have shaped modern Britain. “I was a student here for three years…and I never thought when I left that I’d be coming back under these circumstances. It was much smaller when I was here, but I have very fond memories of it, and I had a really good time here. And appalling though it sounds… I loved my course, which was on 20th Century literature, which I guess stood me in good stead for later in life.”
Love Reading? When I first came to Edge Hill I was treated like an adult for the first time, and I was encouraged to just enjoy reading. All the stuff I loved and read for fun – Pinter, Beckett, Hardy, Greene, TS Eliot – you studied in the first year at Edge Hill.
Jon Barnes Assistant Director Curriculum and Educational Services, ELC (Hong Kong) Ltd BA (Hons) English “Looking back, I can say that I made an excellent choice when deciding to study at Edge Hill. The tutors were incredible, and their passion for English encouraged me to get to where I am now. They pushed me to follow my love for English and provided me with role models and a glimpse of what I wanted to be. “I initially hoped to teach English Literature after graduation. I loved reading books and sitting in a classroom discussing them felt like the best thing in the world. I recommend to anyone who wishes to do the same that they should study hard and find what it is about teaching or English that they love. Find this passion, and then find a way to communicate that love to others. “I was offered the opportunity to teach in Hong Kong with ELC (HK) Ltd, who hired teachers to join their summer programmes. After two weeks of teaching in a secondary school, I fell in love with the city, the job, and a girl. After another summer placement, I pursued the study of world language – bilingualism – teaching English as a foreign language and graduated with a secured place with ELC.”
Love Reading? I enjoy fiction that questions what we perceive as real. Philip K Dick’s cerebral science fiction, A Scanner Darkly (1977), may leave you scratching your head, whilst the poetically surreal universe described in Haruki Murakami’s Kafka on the Shore (2005) offers a perplexing but oddly tranquil other-worldly experience.
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Poetry: the best words in the best order Samuel Taylor Coleridge
An award-winning campus Our award-winning 160-acre campus has enjoyed more than £130m of investment over the last decade. Amongst recent developments are the £5m Performing Arts Centre which includes two theatres, and several dance and drama studios. It also features a full range of production studios, as well as The Rose Theatre, a working performance space with a full year-round schedule of plays, readings, stand-up comedy, film screenings and music. Our Learning Innovation Centre (LINC) houses a bi-media newsroom, including sound and radio studios with post-production facilities, if you would like to pursue an interest in broadcasting. For those with an eye on televisual pursuits we offer a fully-operational TV studio. The latest addition to Edge Hill's campus is the £13.5m Hub, an innovative learning and communal space, at the heart of the University, in which students can eat, read, study, or chat. And for those looking to venture further afield, Liverpool city centre is just a half hour train journey away.
An alternative reading list
Must-read literature recommended by staff and students in the English department of Edge Hill University. Talk to our staff and students, your friends and relatives, and keep adding to your list – never stop reading.
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A Scanner Darkly by Philip K Dick (1977)
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A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (2008)
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Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella (2000)
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Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams (1979)
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Bilingualism by Suzanne Romaine (1994)
Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell (1933)
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami (2005) The Crucible by Arthur Miller (1952) The First Circle by Alexander Solzhenitsyn (1968) The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco (1980) The Small Hand by Susan Hill (2010) The Woman in Black by Susan Hill (1983) Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh (1993)
Contact us Trish Molyneux and Sheila Lewis Departmental Office Administrators T: 01695 650942 T: 01695 650944 E: english@edgehill.ac.uk Dr Steve Van Hagen English Literature Programme Leader E: hagens@edgehill.ac.uk Dr Deborah Chirrey English Language Programme Leader E: chirreyd@edgehill.ac.uk
DISCLAIMER Edge Hill University (EHU) makes every effort to ensure that the information contained in this prospectus (which was compiled in June 2012) is accurate at the time of printing. However, despite EHU’s best efforts, no guarantee can be given that the modules or programmes will be run in full or at all. Applicants are advised to read carefully all documentation provided before the start of their programme. EHU reserves the right to change or discontinue any course, programme, module or service or the specific content thereof, or to amend any other aspect of our provision described in this prospectus without notice. EHU does not accept any liability arising out of or in connection with such changes.
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