ENG1505L – British Civilisation for the teacher education programme
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
This is a broad-based survey course which gives an introduction to British history, culture and present-day British society. It has two main components, one historical and one contemporary. The historical part of the course charts the development of the British Isles from 1066 up to the end of World War 2, with a main focus on political history. The contemporary part focuses on the emergence of the modern British state and modern British society after 1945, as well as central institutions in present-day Britain.
A main theme in the course as a whole is the relationship between the four "historic nations" of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland, past and present. We study this relationship both with respect to the gradual unification of the four nations into one British state, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; the subsequent division of this state into the UK and the Republic of Ireland; and the many and varied challenges facing the British state and British society today. In the contemporary part of the course we look at the UK after the partition of Ireland, which means Great Britain and Northern Ireland (not the Republic of Ireland).
The course provides students with a foundation for further studies of the British Isles as an area.
The lectures and the final exam are the same as for ENG1505 - British Civilisation, but the seminars are particular to the teacher education programme ("lektorprogrammet").
Learning outcome
After completing this course, you:
- have knowledge and understanding of British culture and society in a historical perspective;
- can analyse central themes in the historical development of the British state, and British society;
- can analyse important questions and problems facing British society today;
- have knowledge and understanding of central institutions in present-day Britain;
- can demonstrate English language skills;
- can demonstrate essay writing skills.
Admission to the course
This course is reserved for students on the teacher education programme ("lektorprogrammet").
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Lectures are open to the public. Seminar teaching requires admission to the course.
Recommended previous knowledge
The course assumes a good proficiency in written and oral English.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with ENG1505 – British Civilisation.
Teaching
Lectures, 2 hours weekly for 14 weeks, and seminars, 2 hours 8 times during the semester. 44 hours in all.
?
An essay of 5 standard pages (a standard page consists of 2,300 characters) submitted by a stated deadline. References and bibliography comes in addition. You will get written feedback on the essay. Read more here about rules concerning valid excuses and how to apply for postponements. Information about guidelines for obligatory activities.
It is obligatory to show up for a minimum of 60% of the teaching. In this course you have to attend 5 of 8 seminars. The requirement is absolute.
The allowed absence limit will cover all absences, including illness. You will not be granted valid absences with documentation, even when the absence is due to something beyond your control.
If the course has in-person teaching, and you are signed up for an in-person seminar group, you are to attend the teaching in the location found in the schedule.
If the course has digital teaching, and you are signed up for a digital seminar group, you must attend via Zoom with your camera on.
In certain circumstances, i.e. serious or chronic illness, you could apply for special needs accomodations.
All obligatory activities must be approved in the same semester for you to sit the exam. Once the course requirements have been fulfilled, they remain valid for the current and the next two semesters that the course is taught.
?
As a full-time student you are expected to spend at least 12 hours a week studying for this course.
In the weeks with tutorials, two of those hours will be spent in groups with your teacher, two hours are spent attending lectures, and eight hours are free for your own studies. In non-tutorial weeks, two hours are spent attending lectures, while the remaining 10 hours are free for your own studies. These hours should be spent reading, making notes on, and reflecting on the syllabus texts; exploring secondary texts, and preparing to contribute your own viewpoints and ideas to class discussions at the tutorial groups. You may also want to spend some of this time working on your essay writing skills and discussing the course material with other students.
You are expected to come prepared to each group session. This means that you have completed the assigned reading, and worked on the exercises posted on Canvas by the teacher ahead of the tutorial itself.
ENG1505L consists of lectures, in which we will address the themes covered by the course, and tutorial groups, which consist mainly of student-driven discussions of exercises relating to the lectures. This means that while you may prefer just to listen in, you should nevertheless be prepared to contribute to discussions throughout the term. The more of your week you spend exploring the syllabus texts yourself (or in conversation with classmates), the more you will get out of the tutorials.
ENG1505L requires you to study secondary literature relating to the obligatory essay you are due to submit. Over the course of the semester, you should take time to associate yourself with the resources provided by the University Library, both the material which is physical available on-site, and the Library online-resources. Both will help you to find relevant secondary literature.
Examination
The form of assessment is a 4-hour written examination.
Examination support material
You are allowed to use an English-English dictionary.
An online dictionary will be made available in the digital examination system Inspera.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
The results from the exam will be found on the StudentWeb within three weeks after the exam.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.