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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2018/2019

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Divinity : Theology and Ethics

Undergraduate Course: Literature of the Islamic World (THET10054)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Divinity CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course looks at some of the most significant types of literary and religious output from the Islamic world.
Course description Academic Description:
The course will be based largely on the study of select primary sources in translation. These texts will range from a wide range of literary genres - scriptural, biographical, legal, political, belle-lettres and the modern short story. The course will span from the classical to the modern period.

Syllabus/Outline Content:
Each week there will be a main topic with relevant reading for class discussion and one reading which will form the basis for the student led seminar discussion. The readings are fairly short extracts but are helpfully accompanied by an introduction to the individual scholars and the theme with some further bibliographical suggestions. The readings will be in the form of a course reader available to the students.

Student Learning Experience Information:
The aim is for students to deepen their knowledge of the variety of literature in the Islamic world and the kinds of themes which occupied the writings of classical and contemporary thinkers. Their assessments are through essays and seminar presentations in which they will show evidence of a critical engagement and appreciation of the weekly reading.The student learning experience is enhanced by class engagement and seminar like discussions.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements Some prior knowledge of Islam or Islamic history is desirable.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesVisiting students should have at least 3 Divinity/Religious Studies courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses.
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2018/19, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1, Revision Session Hours 1, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 172 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 80 %, Practical Exam 20 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Two Class essays - 80%
One seminar presentation - 20%

Essay 1 - 35%. A 3000 word essay from a choice of essay titles based on the themes from weeks 1-6; submission date Monday of Week 8.
Essay 2 - 45%. A 3500-4000 word essay from a choice of essays based on the themes from weeks 7-11 including 2 essay titles of a more general nature reflecting the course overall. The second essay will carry a higher percentage of marks on the basis that students will be further along in their course with respect to their reading and essay writing skills. Submission date Monday of Week 1 of the Examination diet. By the submission date for the second essay, students will have already received feedback on their first essay and on one short piece of written work (not formally assessed).

Seminar - 20%.
Each student will be expected to deliver a seminar presentation on a class reading and subsequently submit it in written form. Students will be informed at the outset that marks for this section of the course will be awarded for general and consistent class participation; this will ensure that all the students come to the class having prepared their readings.
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Understood some of the key literary styles of the Islamic world from the earliest to contemporary times and engaged critically with primary texts and by judicious use of secondary sources, learnt to appreciate the continuing importance of understanding the different genres of writing both religious and secular within the Islamic world.
  2. Deepened their knowledge of Islamic literature and the kinds of themes which occupied the writings of classical and contemporary thinkers.
  3. Enhanced class engagement through presenting to their colleagues one prepared oral seminar, participated constructively in discussion and shown ability to appreciate class and lecturer feedback to improve their written seminar.
  4. Gained a much deeper and more nuanced insight into the varying kinds of literature that reflect the Islamic world of the past and the present.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsIslam,literature,theology,politics,stories,poetry and contemporary writing.
Contacts
Course organiserDr Omar Anchassi
Tel: (0131 6) 50 8953
Email: omar.anchassi@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryDr Jessica Wilkinson
Tel: (0131 6)50 7227
Email: Jessica.Wilkinson@ed.ac.uk
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