Student Handbook - The School of Language, Linguistics and Film

Modules in the degree programmes are organised into four major areas: modules on
literature/culture, modules on linguistics, modules on film, and language modules. Nonlanguage
modules in the degree programmes are taught at three different levels, with
benchmarks for each of the levels; language modules are taught at six different stages, also
with benchmarks for each of the stages. Benchmarks tell you what you should know and do
at each level or stage. This includes knowledge and skills which are specific to the
disciplines and/or the language(s) you are studying as well as knowledge and skills which
are transferable to other spheres. Marks for undergraduate work are judged relative to the
level or stage at which the modules are taught. When marking, examiners bear in mind
these benchmarks in conjunction with the grade criteria. Benchmarks are provided below for
each of the three major areas:
Level benchmarks for modules on literature/culture
Level 4: At this level students are expected to demonstrate:
• Basic factual and conceptual knowledge of the field of study
• Command of the essential terminology
• Basic research, analytical and problem-solving skills
• Basic awareness of the complexity of the subject, and of issues and implications of
tasks set
• Awareness of the basic historical, theoretical and/or critical approaches to the
subject
• Capacity to apply this knowledge, with guidance, to the tasks set
• Capacity to analyse primary texts or other relevant cultural products and to put them
into context
• Basic awareness of the formal attributes of primary texts and cultural products
• Capacity to synthesise findings and to communicate them effectively and concisely,
and to present them in a format appropriate to the discipline
• Ability to construct a coherent argument
Level 5: At this level students are additionally expected to demonstrate:
• Detailed knowledge of major discipline(s) and awareness of a variety of relevant
concepts/contexts/frameworks
• Capacity to analyse a range of texts/cultural products and to place them in their
contexts with minimum guidance
• Awareness of the complexity of the subject and of the tasks set, ability to identify key
issues and to discern the most appropriate approaches
• Ability to work within major theories/critical frameworks of discipline
• Capacity to distinguish between these theoretical/critical approaches, to compare
them and their implications
• Ability to synthesise a range of ideas and to re-think them in the light of a given task
• Capacity to challenge received opinion and to begin to develop own criteria and
judgement
• Awareness of the formal attributes of primary texts and cultural products
• Capacity to communicate findings effectively and in a format appropriate to the
discipline
• Ability to construct a coherent argument
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