Undergraduate

The art of English

On this page

• What you will study
• Entry
• If you have a disability or additional requirement
• Study materials
• Teaching and assessment
• Students also studied
• Future availability

The art of English looks at creativity in the English language: from everyday language use (conversation, children’s language, letter writing, online chat) to ‘high culture’ literary language and new kinds of media texts. You’ll consider how ‘verbal art’ works in a wide range of texts, and the extent to which the seeds of literary creativity may be found in more routine uses of English. The course has an international dimension too, enabling you to explore language use in different parts of the English-speaking world, and should help you consider your own daily experiences of the English language.

Course facts

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What you will study

The course is relevant to anyone with a general interest in the English language and how it is used by speakers, writers and producers of multimodal texts such as illustrated books and film; or in specific areas of language study such as language and literature; language and media; or children’s language. It is also relevant to teachers and others with a professional interest in English. Unless you have previous experience of studying the English language, or linguistics, language and literature or some other branch of language studies, you are advised to take this course after studying the Level 2 course Worlds of English (U214).

The course is divided into two main sections, organised as two main teaching texts, with accompanying study guides and CD-ROMs. The study guides (one for each main section of the course) link all the components of the course, including audiovisual activities. The course also makes use of two set books, the details of which are given below.

Everyday creativity – The first part of the course looks at everyday creativity or verbal art in both spoken and written English. It examines how speakers routinely use forms of language often associated with literary texts in their everyday talk, for instance in language play, jokes and other forms of verbal humour, metaphorical imagery, narratives of personal experience and everyday performances in interaction with others. We also examine creative uses of written English varying from graffiti and text messages to letters, diaries and blogs, and consider how everyday textual creativity is related to particular cultural contexts and historical moments. Our focus here is on the functions and meanings of linguistic creativity in people’s lives and the ways in which speakers of English use different kinds of reading and writing to construct and express aspects of their identities.

Literary creativity – The second part of the course looks at texts designed for public consumption, including: poetry, plays and novels, picturebooks, performance art, e-literature, and adverts. What distinguishes some of these texts as high quality literature while others are dismissed as ephemeral and of little lasting value? How are new types of technology enabling or even challenging our understanding of literary creativity and its different forms? And how far does considering the processes involved in reading and authoring literary texts help to illuminate these issues? This section of the course explores the idea that more ephemeral texts make creative use of a shared literary and cultural heritage. It also explores social and ideological issues, and the influence of historical processes and different cultural contexts on what counts as literary language and how this is understood.

In exploring creativity across a range of genres and social contexts, this course provides a lively introduction to stylistic, sociolinguistic and multimodal analysis. It draws on work in literature and performance studies as well as English language studies.

Entry

This is a Level 3 course. Level 3 courses build on study skills and subject knowledge acquired from studies at Levels 1 and 2. They are intended only for students who have recent experience of higher education in a related subject, preferably with the OU. You are expected to have some knowledge of language study, and the course is particularly appropriate if you have taken our course Worlds of English (U214).  

If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.

If you have a disability or additional requirement

The set books are available in a comb-bound and DAISY Digital Talking Book format. The printed study materials are available in the DAISY Digital Talking Book format. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.

If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our publication Meeting Your Needs.

You can also find information about accessible study materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.

Study materials

What's included

Course books, study guides, CD-ROMs, course guide, other printed material, website.

Computing requirements

This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave. Some of your course software will be provided on disk.

You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new Windows computer since 2005 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual. Please note that you cannot use an Apple Mac or Linux computer unless it is running Windows using Boot Camp or similar dual-boot system.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. We may also be able to offer group tutorials or day schools that you are encouraged, but not obliged, to attend. Where your tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the course. 

Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.

You must use the online eTMA system to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) and end-of-module assessment (EMA).

Assessment is an essential part of the teaching, so you are expected to complete it all. You will be given more detailed information when you begin the course.

Students also studied

Students who studied this course also studied at some time:

• Children's literature (EA300)
• The arts past and present (AA100)
• Creative writing (A215)
• English grammar in context (E303)
• The nineteenth-century novel (AA316)

Future availability

The details given here are for the course that starts in October 2012. We expect it to be available once a year.

Fees 2012

See fees and funding options for study from September 2012.

Study explained

Financial support

- find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.

Study explained

- all you need to know about distance learning with the OU.

A taste of OU study

Student Reviews

This course was without a shadow of doubt my favourite OU course to date. The course materials were engaging and ...
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E301 was the last module on my Open BA hons, and I chose it to complement my creative writing courses. ...
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