VICM1113 - Approaches and Methods for Victorian Studies

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1 demonstrate critical awareness of the processes involved in carrying out and writing up research on a specific topic in Victorian Studies whether this results in an essay for an option module; an extended essay, a research report or a dissertation.
2 engage an appropriate range of theoretical approaches and research methodologies to systematically locate, use and critically analyse primary sources or literature for research in Victorian Studies.
3 sustain a sophisticated written argument which evaluates and develops critiques of relevant historiography, literature or literary theory.
4 use appropriate high-level research methodologies and historical or literary evidence
5 plan an advanced research project in Victorian Studies

Content:

This module explores the theoretical and methodological approaches required to research Victorian Studies in an interdisciplinary way. Sessions will explore factors such as how to produce a secondary bibliography, read and write about theoretical approaches to Victorian Studies, locate, use and analyse sources for research – whether these are historical or literary sources. In addition to this there will be a number of sessions on literary theory, approaches to analysing Victorian Art and Architecture, and the Victorians’ writings on themselves.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Small group seminars; workshops and seminar papers. Students will provide a short presentation on the topic they plan to research and how they will carry out this research.

Seminars / workshops
Contact hours: 6 x 2 hours

Individual tutorials
Contact hours: 20 mins for each student

Assessment: