Course Code: GSP168
Synopsis
This course enables students to approach works of literature as artefacts that are directly tied to real-world experiences and life lessons. The course will provide students with a set of integrated skills required to engage with literary texts confidently and critically. These skills, in addition to the engagement with materials in this course, will gear students towards appreciating the intricacies of narrative story-telling as an important aspect of cultural expression and analytical reflection.
Level: 1
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: EVERY JULY
Topics
- Three ways literature interacts with society
- Key themes in Singapore literature
- How literary forms (prose, poetry and plays) tell stories
- The purpose and practice of close reading
- Close reading how Singaporean prose interacts with society
- How to present close reading (prose)
- Close reading how Singaporean poetry interacts with society
- How to present close reading (poetry)
- Close reading how Singaporean plays interacts with society
- How to present close reading (plays)
- Key critical thinking skills for literary essays
- Key critical writing skills for literary essays
Learning Outcome
- Identify three ways literature interacts with society.
- Describe the key thematic concerns of Singapore literature.
- Discuss how literary forms shape the meaning of the text.
- Explain the purpose and practice of literary analysis.
- Identify common literary devices (narrative, poetic, dramatic) and explain their effect on the reader/audience.
- Demonstrate through close reading, how selected Singaporean prose, poems, and plays convey their thematic concerns and interact with society.
- Apply close reading techniques and write an essay based on close reading of selected texts.