This assessment provides an opportunity to explore the foundations of literary theory by engaging with Barry (2017). It is designed as a “shallow end” task, helping you to practice identifying, comparing, and critiquing key concepts before moving to more complex applications in later assessments. The Coordinator will lead a discussion on what theories you are interested in, what you have learned so far, and what issues you might focus on in subsequent assessments. You might discuss what you found easy or difficult to learn and how you believe you can apply theory to literary and popular texts and/or real-world situations.

The informal, one-to-one Zoom meeting with the Unit Coordinator will involve discussion of the excerpts from Barry:

'Ten Tenets of Liberal Humanism' (pp. 19–23)
'Some Recurrent Ideas in Theory' (pp. 33–38)

A means to book a meeting at a convenient time in Week 5 will be found on the Moodle site.

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence agents (Gen AI)

Within this assessment, the use of Microsoft Copilot, Chat GPT or other Gen AI agents is as follows: 
•  You may use AI for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas. Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity.
 

Your discussion will be assessed against the following criteria:

1. Reflection and critical thinking: a demonstration of the ability to question, compare, and evaluate rather than merely describe.

2. Engagement with ideas and concepts: show an understanding of the key concepts of liberal humanism and literary theory, with evidence of thoughtful reading.

3. Use of examples: use of appropriate literary or cultural examples to illustrate points and strengthen arguments.

4. Clarity of expression: discussion is clear, structured, and coherent.

Annotated Bibliography

The annotated bibliography provides you with the opportunity to critically engage with major theoretical texts in preparation for your final essay (Assessment 3). It is designed to develop your ability to summarize, evaluate, and contextualize scholarly sources — skills essential at postgraduate level and directly transferable to research, thesis writing, and professional practice.

You will select five (5) primary theoretical texts (not Beginning Theory) relevant to one of the essay topics for Assessment 3. If you wish to develop your own essay topic, you must consult the Unit Coordinator. For each of your five primary theoretical texts, provide a full Harvard-style bibliographic reference followed by an annotation of approximately 300 words. In your annotation, respond to the following four guiding questions:

1. Main idea / thesis / argument: What is the central claim of the text?

2. Purpose: Why is the theorist making this argument? What problem, assumption, or cultural issue are they addressing?

3. Evidence and reasoning: What examples, evidence, or reasoning does the theorist use to support their case?

4. Relevance and significance: How does this text relate to its school of theory, to literary theory more broadly, and to contemporary cultural or social life?

OR

Short Paper Journal

Each week you are required to address one of the Discussion Forum Topics as found in the weekly modules. Post your piece to the forum and then respond to another student's post (optional). The purpose of this activity is to learn through dialogue and to build a community of inquiry. Subsequently, in Week 9 collate your best five [5] pieces into a Word doc. and upload for assessment. Each post should be approximately 250-300 words, incorporating theoretical concepts relevant to the topic, analysis or argument. Use examples from literary/popular texts to support your position.

Important information about Word Count:

The word count is considered from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion. It excludes the cover page, abstract, contents page, reference page and appendices. It includes in-text references and direct quotations.

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence agents (Gen AI) Within this assessment, the use of Microsoft Copilot, Chat GPT or other Gen AI agents is as follows: 
• You may use AI for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas. Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

The Annotated Bibliography will be marked using the following evaluation criteria:

1. Relevance of source selection to Research Essay topic;
2. The extent to which you have addressed the 4 questions effectively;
3. Critical analysis and evaluation of sources, including consideration of social, historical, aesthetic, and political contexts;
4. Presentation and scholarly writing style (including spelling, grammar, and punctuation);
5. Correct use of Harvard (author-date) referencing style.

The Short Paper Journal will be marked using the following evaluation criteria:

1. Coherence of argument in relation to the Discussion Forum topic;
2. Ability to interpret the significance of literary/cultural texts using theoretical concepts;
3. Critical analysis and evaluation of sources, including consideration of social, historical, aesthetic, and political contexts;
4. Presentation and scholarly writing style (including spelling, grammar, and punctuation);
5. Correct use of Harvard (author-date) referencing style.

The Research Essay is the culmination of your work in this unit. It builds directly on your annotated bibliography (Assessment 2) by requiring you to transform your engagement with primary theoretical texts into a sustained, coherent argument. Alternatively, if you choose the Short Paper Journal option there needs to evidence that you have developed and synthesized your forum responses.

Your essay must:

• Respond to one of the topics below developing a coherent theoretical argument.
• Draw on at least five primary theoretical texts from your annotated bibliography.
• Demonstrate how a selection of literary and cultural texts can be analyzed through theoretical frameworks.
• Show your ability to synthesize theory, critique assumptions, and apply ideas to practice

 
Essay Topics

Choose one of the following:

1. Castle (2006 p. 5) describes how the aim of literary theory is to interrogate the discursive framework of an 'Enlightenment thinking, characterized by a universalized subject of knowledge, an empirical orientation to phenomena, and a belief in the universality and instrumentality of reason'. Discuss how at least two schools of theory critique these sweeping humanist assumptions. Use literary/popular texts to exemplify your argument.
2. Culler tells us that literary theory comprises a way of thinking about the 'nature of literature and the methods for analysing it' (1997, p.1). Choose two [2] literary theorists (or schools) and test (by comparing and contrasting) how they analyse literature or literariness. Use literary/popular texts to exemplify your argument.
3. Culture is both a means of domination, of assuring the rule of one class or group over another, and a means of resistance to such domination, a way of articulating oppositional points of view to the dominant hegemony. Discuss using literary/popular texts to exemplify your argument.
4. Contemporary critical practice calls into question traditional claims about literature and art’s ability to produce certain kinds of truths and values. Discuss in the context of the postmodern critique of Enlightenment humanism. Use literary/popular texts to exemplify your argument.
5. According to Terry Eagleton (2007, p. 14), 'the mark of modernist thought is the belief that human existence is contingent – that it has no ground, goal, direction or necessity ... no unimpeachable foundation for what we are and what we do’. This may be seen as liberating or threatening (or both). He goes on to say that: ‘This may make our finest moments even more precious or it may serve to drastically devalue them.’ Discuss these issues using concepts from of relevant literary theories. Use literary/popular texts to exemplify your argument.
6. In the words of Whitla (2010, p. 217) literary theories 'challenge fundamental assumptions about how language works and about how we know about the world, [and] they also question deep-seated sites of political and intellectual authority.' This can be seen as both empowering and disconcerting for people in the contemporary world. Discuss using literary/popular texts to exemplify your argument.

NOTE:  Your essay should put forward an argument or position in relation to the topic, drawing on relevant theoretical concepts and supported by proper scholarly sources. More topics may be added and/or you may develop your own topic in consultation with the unit coordinator.

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence agents (Gen AI) Within this assessment, the use of Microsoft Copilot, Chat GPT or other Gen AI agents is as follows: 

• You may use AI for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas. Any misuse or lack of disclosure regarding AI tools will be considered a breach of academic integrity.
   

Your essay will be evaluated on:

1. Argument and coherence: a clear, sustained, and convincing thesis supported by evidence.
2. Engagement with theory: high-level understanding of key theoretical texts, debates, and concepts.
3. Application to texts and effective use of literary and/or cultural examples to test and illustrate theoretical insights.
4. Scholarly writing: clear and correct written expression, logical essay structure, accurate grammar and punctuation.
5. Proper acknowledgement of all sources, with consistent use of Harvard (author-date) style.