ENG31420 Reading Digital

Academic Year 2016/2017

Digital approaches to reading and textual analysis are important and exciting tools for the humanities and sciences. This module is concerned with close reading and distant reading and how to use the digital in human-centric approaches to texts, from literature to official texts.

This module will offer students the chance to conceptualise and work through digital humanities (DH) challenges. The module will address current text analytic techniques, explore research questions generated by DH methodologies and offer a series of case studies for students to see DH in practice. This module will, in particular, consider how digital methodologies can combine with research in the arts and humanities.

Digital methodologies enable researchers to work on larger scales, to create new platforms for literary work, and to ask new research questions of material, both old and new. The module will consider a range of material, from archival documents to literary texts. Students will learn about current text analytic techniques, and each week, lecturers will give examples of concepts and approaches, and give examples in relation to a current project. Topics will include: engaging with a range of different texts, network analysis, text analytics, pattern analysis.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this module, students will have:
- Gained insight into the types of digital methodologies and technologies available to arts and humanities researchers
- Gained an understanding of/experience with text corpora and text analysis
- Studied a range of material, periods and digital approaches
- Capability to express critical judgement clearly and effectively
- Become an effective researcher in this area, able to locate appropriate sources of information and to evaluate and use this knowledge in their oral and written work
- Worked independently and collaboratively
- Gained practice in working on digital cultures project
- Completed an assignment on generating research questions and identifying problems and solutions
- Written either a 3000-word essay or completed a final text analytics project.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

16

Specified Learning Activities

36

Autonomous Student Learning

48

Total

100

 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.



Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
Reading Digital (ENG41880)

 
Description % of Final Grade Timing
Assignment: Essay or Practical Assignment

50

Coursework (End of Trimester)
Continuous Assessment: < Description >

40

Unspecified
Attendance: < Description >

10

Unspecified

Compensation

This module is not passable by compensation

Resit Opportunities

In-semester assessment

Remediation

Students who fail this module will need to repeat or resit the module depending on the availability of the module in the following semester. If you have failed, please contact the module coordinator for information on how to remediate the module. If you are taking this module as an option or an elective, you may be able to substitute another module. Check with your Programme Office if this is possible.

Name Role
Professor Mark Keane Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Susan Leavy Lecturer / Co-Lecturer