AM4001 - Introduction to American Studies

The module will be taught by a mixture of lectures and seminars. In lectures you will be introduced to key concepts and approaches within American Studies. Seminars will provide you with the opportunity to explore your own ideas and opinions through small-group exercises, presentations, and debate. Set reading and instructions for seminar preparation will direct your learning, helping you to examine and evaluate the ideas and approaches outlined in lectures.
In addition to learning during contact hours with the tutor and directed learning through seminar preparation, you will be expected to undertake independent learning. Independent learning generally will take the form of further reading and investigation, the consolidation of seminar notes, and revision/preparation for the assessment of the module. Assessments will allow you to develop both your knowledge of the discipline and skills that will help you make the transition to undergraduate level study. All assessments are designed to help you develop your critical, research, analytic and evaluative skills.

Lectures will introduce you to practical, historical and theoretical concepts and contexts that will help you to develop your understanding of American Studies as a discipline and offer direction for further reading and research. The e-learning portal will provide helpful information about the module that you can draw on at any time. There you will find the module guide, which provides details of lectures, seminars, assessments and learning aims. You will also have access to the assessment criteria, a digital reading list, advice on how to present your written work, and all the presentation slides and handouts from lectures and seminars. The e-learning portal also contains information on the module tutor’s contact details and office hours. If you have any queries of concerns about the module or assessments you can speak to the tutor during lectures and seminars and also book an individual tutorial. Individual tutorials designed to help you prepare for your Independent Research Essay are built into the module programme in Semester 2.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Knowledge of the major developments and key concepts in American Studies as an evolving international field of interdisciplinary study

2. An understanding of the intellectual demands and expectations associated with scholarship in the Humanities in general, and in American Studies in particular

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

3. The ability to produce work in different formats which conforms to the intellectual and presentational standards expected of undergraduates

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

4. Development of curiosity through completing the 'un-essay'
5. Development of global awareness through an understanding of the international dimensions of American Studies

- 1 x Oral presentation on a topic set by the tutor. Guidance will be given on how to handle the presentation and what kind of audiovisual resources are expected. All students will have to prepare a slide with a bibliography (which will include all the materials, primary or secondary, cited in the presentation) using the required referencing style (weighted at 30%)
- 1 x Un-essay OR 1x 2,000 words Independent Research Essay.
The final assessment can either be an un-essay (see description below) or a 2,000-word independent research essay on a topic of their choice (with tutor’s prior approval).
The non-essay is about developing alternative ways to answer a prompt (which will vary from year to year, but which could be something like: ‘How has music influenced American political history?’). Students will use their skills, talents and strengths to engage with the prompt and develop a sustained thesis or ‘take’ on the particular American Studies topic at stake. This could take the shape of a collage, song lyrics, a video, a poem, an idea for a play, a letter, a short fictional story, an analysis of various (but connected) primary sources, a short podcast, a comic book, a poster, an idea for a memorial or sculpture or public monument, a sewing project, a walking tour, etc. In addition to the ‘unessay’ students will submit a 500-word statement which will 1/ justify their choice of medium 2/ establish how their unessay demonstrates a particular thesis or take on the prompt 3/include a detailed bibliography (not included in word count) listing the sources used to develop the un-essay. You will receive guidance in class and regular feedback on your ideas from the instructor.
This assessment addresses all five MLOS, but has special relevance for MLO 4, as it is designed to foster the intellectual curiosity required to sustain longer pieces of independent research at Levels 5 and 6. (weighted at 70%)

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Please find details of this module in the other sections provided.