If you choose to study on campus delivery will be primarily via student-led seminar discussion, facilitated by a tutor. If you choose to study by distance learning you can complete the module via a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), populated with on-line learning materials. Whether you are on-site or distance learning you will study the same texts and have access to the same materials. On-site students are encouraged to take part in the discussion boards by way of building a cohort with the distance learning students. The assessment for both on-site and distance learning students is the same combination of non-assessed and assessed e-tivities (on-line tasks). You will be expected to undertake both directed and independent learning. Directed learning generally will take the form of preparation for seminars for on-site students and weekly reading guidance for the distance learning students, where you will be expected to contribute to discussion whether this is in the seminar or through the VLE. Independent learning generally will take the form of further reading and investigation, and revision/preparation for the assessment of the module. Assessments for all students taking this module will include a portfolio of e-tivities that have two roles. First, e-tivities will include non-assessed assessments that ensure the student has the technological capacity in terms of hardware and digital literacy to complete the module. Second, the e-tivities will include the assessed assessments that test the student’s aptitude in relation to the learning outcomes.

Campus-based students: By attending and participating in seminar discussions and activities, you will receive oral feedback on your ideas from your tutors, guidance on the content of the module and on the assessment tasks. Further one-to-one support from your tutors is available via advertised scheduled ‘office hours’ throughout the semester or by emailing to make an appointment or for advice. You are strongly encouraged to share your ideas for your assignments with your tutor in advance of submitting your assessed work.
Distance-learning students: By engaging and participating in the e-tivities, preparation tasks and online discussions, you will receive online feedback from tutors. You are strongly encouraged to share your ideas with your tutor before submitting assessed work. The VLE will be in every way comparable to on-site delivery. In place of seminars will be weekly reading, guidance on how to approach the materials, and follow-up discussion via engagement with on-line discussion forums. Distance learning students are provided with the same opportunity to discuss, analyse and question their understanding of the reading material via the discussion forums. In addition, distance learning students will be supported by an Associate Tutor, who will moderate (rather than facilitate) the online discussions, thereby fulfilling the same role as the seminar tutor.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
• 1. You will have an advanced understanding of the relationship between Gothic texts and their social, political and cultural contexts

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• 2. You will be able to employ theoretical and critical material in relation to a range of literary texts and other media
• 3. You will have enhanced critical, analytical, and research skills
• 4. You will be able to present a cogent and independent argument in response to current critical debates

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• 5. You will have an increased awareness of cultural debates about space, race, gender, sexuality, and nationality

You will have three assignments.

The first is a 2,000-word critical comparison exercise. You will select two scholarly articles, both of which will deal directly with one of the module texts, and offer a critical comparison of them. This will allow you to expand your knowledge of the critical field and to begin to engage critically with current research. This is worth 30%. You will receive written feedback. (MLO 2, 3, 4)

The second is formative (i.e. will not form part of your grade). You submit an essay plan and bibliography for your 4,000-word essay. You will receive feedback on this from your tutors by email. It helps you prepare for the second essay. (MLO 2, 3)

The third is a 4,000-word essay. You will use your knowledge of theoretical, cultural and historical contexts to present an argument that engages with Gothic texts’ representations of ideas of space. This is worth 70%. You will receive written feedback. (MLO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

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

This module asks you to consider how Gothic texts make use of space, and how particular spaces can be rendered Gothic. You will consider Gothic texts from the birth of the Gothic novel in the aftermath of the French Revolution to contemporary texts in a range of media, including film, television and hypertext. You will learn about recent innovations in critical and cultural theory and use these to offer innovative readings of these texts. You will learn to reflect upon and query the extent to which the gothic’s complex construction of space might intervene in, and expand upon, ongoing debates about gender, race, nationality, and sexuality.