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English and Comparative Literary Studies

Term 1

This page outlines how English modules will be taught in term 1. It's important you also keep up to date with the University's pages on returning to teaching in the autumn. If you're registered on a joint degree, including English and History and English and Theatre, please visit this page.

How will teaching be organised in term 1?  

The current plan is for all teaching in the university to adopt a 'blended' approach. This means a mixture of online and on-campus teaching.

Lectures

Because lectures gather lots of people together in one room, they pose the biggest problem in terms of keeping everyone safe. For this reason all of your lectures will be available as online videos that you can watch in your own time. Module convenors will be in touch to let you know the form these lectures will take: modules will deliver lectures dependent on what suits the material you're learning. There may be audio material that supplements them.

Seminars

Seminars will take place online or on campus. They will be timetabled as normal, so whether they're online or on campus they will take place on the same day, at the same time, each week. There are three general rules to help you understand what's going on.

1. Most of your teaching is online for weeks 1, 2 and 3.

This way, you and your tutors can get into the swing of digital learning and we can all stay safe during a critical period of the term. The department's Welcome Week events will also be online.

2. From week 4 onwards, most modules will have three seminars that take place on campus.

These will alternate across the remaining weeks of term. We want to make sure you get some on-campus seminars where possible, so our staggered approach is carefully designed to ensure the safety of both you and your tutors. This means that if you're doing four modules in the English department this term, it's likely you'll have 12 seminars that will take place on campus.

3. Your seminars that aren't on campus will take place online.

This will be a mixture of recorded lectures and 'live' seminars that take place in Microsoft Teams, as well as other activities to keep you engaged in each module. See 'How will online teaching work?' below for more information.

There are some exceptions to these rules, though. Some of your tutors will be teaching entirely online because of individual circumstances (just as some of your fellow students need to learn entirely online this term). Where your tutor is doing that, they'll be in touch with more detail. You'll also need to pay special attention to any modules you're doing outside the English department, as other departments will have their own approach to blended learning.

Don't worry if this seems difficult to keep track of at first. Tabula will clearly show you which weeks the teaching will be online and which weeks the teaching will be on campus. Your tutors on each of your modules will reiterate this, and make surely it's clear on the module webpage. You will be able to see exactly which days you'll be in across all of your modules.

How will the online teaching work?

Apart from the recorded material that you can watch or listen to in the times and places that suit you best, your online seminars will take place in Microsoft Teams. You'll be expected to turn up and take part in discussion just as you always would. There may also be assigned tasks for you to work on outside of the seminar, either on your own or with others (we want to make sure you get the chance to work collaboratively as well). You'll still be directly engaging with your tutors and your peers.

While teaching and learning online is different than what you're probably used to, your tutors have designed a range of resources and activities to ensure you get the best possible experience of digital learning. We'll cover the same material and you'll read the same books; you'll learn exactly the same things as you would have done under 'normal' circumstances. Online learning opens up certain possibilities and opportunities that are just not possible in a physical classroom, so we hope you'll find this a new and enriching experience that will develop your digital literacy and confidence.

We know that technology can sometimes let us down, though, so we'll make sure you're not disadvantaged if that happens.

How will I access the online teaching?

You will need a computer and internet access. The university has set out some of the minimum IT requirements for this term, and launched a support fund for those that need help with purchasing hardware.

For some of the recorded elements that you consume in your own time -- like lectures and podcasts -- you'll be able to access these on tablets and phones if that's your preference. The live seminars that happen in Microsoft Teams will be best experienced on a computer or a tablet with a reasonably sized screen.

What will the contact hours be? 

We have planned for all your module learning hours to remain the same. While seminars will vary in length, there will be more activity built in around them to ensure you're getting the best possible experience. The balance of activities will differ between modules and tutors will also be providing extra support and resources.

How will I be assessed? 

Assessment for most modules is not changing. However, we have removed summer exams. Where your module assessment included a summer exam, your tutor will let you know how that's been replaced (and all the information will be online).

I have been away from studying for some months, how will the Department support me?  

The Department recommends all students complete the Warwick Online Learning Fundamentals moodle course (for second year students this is available as a certificate). This course offers useful advice to support your learning in a blended environment. We have also designed some elements just for students in the English department. 

Your personal tutor will be meeting with you (online) at the start of term. As usual there will be further personal tutor meetings throughout the year to check on your progress and wellbeing and provide academic and pastoral support.

You can also contact the Senior Tutor, Liz Barry, who will help if you have any issues with personal tutoring or need more information about pastoral care and wellbeing.

How will I access Library resources? 

The Library has put together some  guidance regarding the use of their collections and available online resources. You can view the list of the library's online resources, which can be searched to be subject specific. The Library has an information page on plans for re-opening and access to their collections.

It may help to know that more than 50% of the Library's books, and 75% of its journals, are available digitally.

If you have any questions about the library's collections or provision you can contact the English Academic Support Librarian, Kate Courage, for advice and guidance. 

How will attendance be recorded?  

Attendance at seminars and engagement with your other online teaching is compulsory. It will be recorded by tutors on Tabula. If you are unable to attend a class or participate in online activities you must email your tutor in advance to inform them of the reason so your absence can be recorded as ‘authorised’. There are monitoring points throughout the year which are again recorded on Tabula. Some of these will be attendance at seminars but others may be meeting your personal tutor or submitting an assessment. 

What happens if there is a return to lockdown? 

Please look out for communications from Emma Mason, the Head of Department, if there are further local or national lockdowns.

    What happens if I have to self-isolate?

    If you have to self-isolate and cannot attend classes on campus, please fill in the form here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/english/currentstudents/reportselfisolation

    You should also contact your personal tutor and your seminar tutors as soon as possible to let them know. You will still have access to all the recorded material from your modules, and you can still join online seminars in the weeks they're happening. Your tutor will be able to discuss your missed on-campus activities in office hours.

    Just as when you fall ill under normal circumstances, you can put forward evidence on the mitigating circumstances portal explaining how you have been affected and apply for extensions to your assessments.

    What about safety on campus?

    The university is continually revising its plans for safety on campus. Some buildings are already open and detailed risk assessments have been carried out to ensure the campus is safe. For full details, see the Safety on Campus pages. You can also read the Risk Assessment documents for the buildings in which in-person teaching will take place.