The University of Adelaide
Course Outlines

ENGL 2048 - Adaptation

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2015

This course is designed to give students an understanding of issues involved in adaptation of literary works for the cinematic screen. In 2015, the focus will be on the adaptation of American prose narrative works. Students will be introduced to specific knowledge about the cultural, industrial, political, social, historic and technological circumstances surrounding the production and reception of the texts, and films featured on the course. The course will offer students an opportunity to reflect on questions of fidelity, textual authority and cultural prestige. Students will be introduced to key concepts and practices in the semiotic analysis of verbal and visual media. They will engage with theoretical debates informing the development of adaptation studies as a scholarly field. The course will be structured as a sequence of blocks allowing students to work in detail with a combination of literary and cinematic materials, critical materials, and theoretical readings, all focussed on a particular instance of adaptation.

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  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code ENGL 2048
    Course Adaptation
    Coordinating Unit English, Creative Writing, and Film
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites At least 12 units of level 1 undergraduate study
    Assumed Knowledge 3 units of Level I English, ENGL 1105
    Assessment participation, research-based seminar presentation, essay, exam
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Joy McEntee

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course, students will have demonstrated their ability to:
    1. Engage with, crtically analyse and evaluate a range of texts and films
    2. Engage with, crtically analyse and evaluate a range of secondary sources
    3. Consider, analyse, evaluate and respond constructively to an array of unfamiliar theoretical perspectives, applying them as appropriate
    4. Develop and conduct independent and/or team research projects on issues in literature / film adaptation
    5. Write analytically and critically about key course issues in a variety of genres appropriate to the discipline
    6. Work autonomously and/or in teams to lead oral discussions based on research, analysis, synthesis and high-level evaluation


    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1-6
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 1-6
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 1-6
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 4,6
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 1-6
    A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 3-6
    A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community. 4,6
    An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 1-6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Provisional.

    Prescribed texts: 

    Highsmith, Patricia. The Talented Mr Ripley
    King, Stephen. The Shining
    McCarthy, Cormac. No Country for Old Men
    Nolan, Jonathan. “Memento Mori.” (To be supplied through Digital Resources Management Centre).

    Prescribed Films: 

    Take careful note of director & date. Remakes can cause confusion.

    Memento (Dir. Christopher Nolan, 2000).
    The Shining (Stanley Kubrick, 1980)
    The Talented Mr Ripley (Anthony Minghella, 1999)
    No Country for Old Men (Joel and Ethan Coen, 2007)

    Recommended Resources
    To be announced.
    Recommended resources will be made available through Digital Resources Management Centre / MyUni as appropriate.
    Online Learning
    MyUni and other online resources, to be announced.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Teaching and learning modes may include lectures, seminars and online activities.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements. 

    Students will commit the equivalent of 156 hours per semester to study in this course.
    Learning Activities Summary
    Provisional. Learning activities may include lectures, face-to-face seminars, online activities, instructor-directed and student-directed research and assessment-for-learning tasks, including team tasks.
    Specific Course Requirements
    Due to Ratings legislation, students must be over 18 years of age. 
    For copyright reasons, this course is not available for non-degree enrolment. 
    It is strongly recommended that students complete Film Studies 1 and Introduction to English: Ideas of the Real before enrolling in this course.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    Provisional. The small group discovery experience may be developed in contact with the course convenor through lectures in weeks 3 and 11, as well as through student led discussions in face-to-face seminars throughout the semester. The small group discovery experience may include collaborative assessment tasks.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Provisional.


    Task Weighting Course Learning Objective
    Online journal entries / blog posts  10% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
    Lead seminar discussion 10% 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
    Essay 30% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Take-home exam 40% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
    Participation 10% 1, 2, 3, 4, 6
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Students must attempt all assessment requirements / all assessment items in order to pass the course. 
    Other assessment-related requirements will be ablt to be found in the Department of English and Creative Writing Policies and Procedures Handbook, and the Adaptation Course Guide.
    Assessment Detail
    Provisional. 

    Online journal entries / blog posts: students will respond to readings and research questions as directed. Students may also use journal entries or blog posts to prepare to lead seminar discussion and to reflect on discussion.

    Lead seminar discussion: once during the semester, each student will be required to prepare to lead seminar discussion. The discussion questions will be prepared in advance in consultation with a team of classmates, and will be based on research. 

    Essay: Students will write an analytic, research essay on a given instance of adaptation (a text/film pair). Questions will be supplied early in the semester. 

    Take-home exam. Students will write two analytic, research essays on two instances of adaptation (two text/film pairs; one pair each essay). Questions will be supplied during the exams period.  

    Participation. Participation marks may be based on quizzes among other measures of preparedness for seminar discussion.
    Submission
    Assessment submission is to be undertaken in the form prescribed in any instructions issued for individual assessment items. 

    Policies on deadlines and lateness are to be found in the Department of English and Creative Writing Policies and Procedures Handbook. 

    Provisionally and for example, submission formats may include: leading seminar discussions in class; online submission of written or other work; hard copy submission of written work to a prescribed place; completing a quiz, or sitting a conventional or a take-home exam. This is not an exhaustive list.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines

    This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.

  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.
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