Coming from the perspective of an educational developer who works in post-secondary education, advising instructors on their own course designs, I feel confident in saying you've got a robust plan going here! What I noted in particular was the way in which you are reflecting the disciplinary discourse purposefully and through your syllabus design. I also liked how you've structured your assignments to 'choose one'. This is really strong, flexible design that gives the learner (you) choice depending on what you're inspired to create.
Do you mind if I include this post in a mini, informal analysis project I'm working on? I'm interested in studying posts about personal curricula to see what the common themes are, the process of development, and so on. All with the goal of sharing back what I learned here on Substack :)
Absolutely! I'd be happy for you to include my post and cite/link back to my Substack in your project! That's a cool study you are doing! Excited to see what you find in these personal curriculum!
Also, I'd like to get some feedback on my assignments. After completing the curriculum drafting, I was skeptical about the assignments covering the breadth and depth of texts/works studied for the module. If you may, I would appreciate your feedback on the assignments bit particularly...
Hi Yana, Your request for this feedback brought me a lot of joy - in that, for the first time, I'm taking what I do for a career and extending it in ways that are really fulfilling to me. So thanks! Here are some thoughts:
First, what stands out to me is your expressed final outcome. This is what you're working towards. All your smaller assignments should be an opportunity to a) practice the skills of structuring a critical dialogue, b) build your knowledge and familiarity with Babel, the cannon, and the central theoretical debates, and/or c) develop your thinking towards your Oxford goal.
With that in mind, I turn to the essay options you've outlined for yourself. Now - a caveat - I'm not an English Lit disciplinary. I think there's something to be said of the ability to analyze how your readings, guiding questions, and assignment topics all connect. As a disciplinary outsider, I see connections but this remains a superficial observation without better disciplinary expertise. I think this is something you can watch out for as you make your assignment choices. When you're choosing between a close reading, comparative essay, contextual essay, etc. and then the topic of focus - how does your select engage your guiding questions.
For additional guidance, look back to your objective as you are making your assignment choice, to ask yourself: which of my guiding questions am I most drawn to, knowing that my objectives were to explore the origins of English literature in its oral, allegorical, and courtly traditions, study early patterns of heroism, morality, and narrative authority, and examine how questions of performance, gender, and community shaped medieval texts? Which assignment format stands out to me as the best approach to achieving this objective and guiding question?
Finally, returning to the idea that the overall goal is your final outcome, I imagine it will benefit you to switch up your assignment choices between modules. Maybe one type of assignment comes naturally, feels easy - go with this at first. But then a couple modules in, check in with yourself as to what is going to challenge you and switch it up. It seems exploring a diversity of outputs will best serve your goal of building a portfolio.
Hi Wren! Firstly, appreciate you taking time to share your feedback. I really liked two things from what you said.
When I drafted my guiding questions for the curriculum, I specifically named them as guiding questions so they help me not lose track while reading any texts. But I never thought of using them for assignment choices. Surely, going to consider it.
After finishing the drafting, I looked at the assignments and made some pre-notion choices of what assignments I am likely going to pick, and now if I remember, I went with the choices that I was familiar with. But what you said really made sense, the purpose of these assignments and the power of choice I am giving myself should reflect me challenging myself with a diversity of forms and outputs.
I am currently working on an online university course specific to reading, and I plan to start my curriculum this December. Will check-in and let you know in between modules, how it is going. Just so if it helps for the study you are doing! Once again, thank you! ♥️
Your plan is beautifully done! I would love to hear more about how you put it together. (I would love to do something similar for American literature.)
I wanted to understand your process of creating this curriculum. I’ve been thinking about creating one for myself. How did you go about the research of topics you wanted to add to this or what methods did you use to land here, with such a detailed and effective program for yourself?
I’m currently studying part time for a BA in Eng Lit with the OU. I’m on year 4 of 6. My up-coming module is all about how literature connects to identity, the environment, the imagination & escape, and importantly, how it speaks back to power. I therefore found many aspects of your curriculum echoed the approach that I will need to be taking - it was fascinating to read how thoroughly and insightfully you had formed your guiding questions and essays. To be honest, it seemed to be of a much higher level of study than a BA - more like an MA - your knowledge of the subject already seems very impressive. Reading your curriculum was like reading some of my tutors’ work in my textbooks, or the academic essays I am always reading. Needless to say, I am very impressed! I am going to use your examples of guiding questions to help me with my studies - as there is significant overlap with my course. Thank you for sharing this with us!
And Babel… my sister bought me the hardback when it was first published, as the synopsis intrigued me. It is still sitting on my bookshelf unread. I think NOW is the right time to take it down, and read it alongside my module …
I did an OU B.A in English Lit. twenty five years ago, whilst working full time and raising teenagers, and loved every single minute of it. Looking back I realise it gave me the depth and breadth I felt I was lacking in my reading and I reckon, once the dust settled and I knew what was useful, that knowledge has been alongside me and has informed my reading ever since.
Reading this Personal Curriculum has also made me realise that I’ve done it, in a lesser way, ever since and without realising it. I almost feel those old study stirrings and will definitely read some of the choices here. Chaucer especially.
This is a fantastic curriculum! I am curious as to why you’re undertaking this prior to your Oxford studies? As these eras would be studied in depth within most English literature degrees
Hey Aurora! I come from and work in engineering, and whatever reading I do has been mostly out of love for it during my free time. Yeah, most of it will be taught in the lit degree. But before I get to that, I want to prepare myself and get into the habit of reading this kind of literature, so I could lean into it more when it's taught in depth.
Wow, I like your ambition! I've read quite a few of these, and I plan on reading quite a few more. I may use this outline as a reading guide, if that's okay with you, as it has a great breadth of authors and reading styles that I'm sure would be amazing to explore.
Of course, please do! I'd be happy for you to use it. This is exactly what I hoped this detailed curriculum would spark. I'm curious to hear how you might customize it to suit your preferences or maybe even rethink it entirely! If you come across any other aspects of guiding questions, assignments, and areas of research for the modules, I'd love to discuss.
Probably philosophy or universal literature. I am already studying English philology and would like to go on and do another degree (once I finish this one) of any of those options. I’ll definitely let you know if/when I do a curriculum <3
Very very interesting! I have formal education and work experience in engineering, and my heart is with humanities and arts. Especially anything to do with English literature, intellectual history, and philosophy. So I’m trying to learn them formally/informally on my own. I look forward to your curriculum! 🖤
This is really helpful! I've been trying to do a similar thing myself, but figuring out essay questions is the hardest part. I look forward to reading more of what you post about this. Maybe it might help me fight my own severe block I've now got for writing about my reading here on Substack.
I’ve long made myself personal curricula, though typically over 12-week periods since I’m doing it for personal pleasure rather than for an application like yours. I’m curious: how did you arrive at your guiding questions? And how did you decide what to include in the curriculum itself - what was your selection process for texts and the overall structure?
I was looking for an online course to study English literature because I never did it during my time at university. This is such a detailed list that I could potentially use this and start my own learning.
Coming from the perspective of an educational developer who works in post-secondary education, advising instructors on their own course designs, I feel confident in saying you've got a robust plan going here! What I noted in particular was the way in which you are reflecting the disciplinary discourse purposefully and through your syllabus design. I also liked how you've structured your assignments to 'choose one'. This is really strong, flexible design that gives the learner (you) choice depending on what you're inspired to create.
Do you mind if I include this post in a mini, informal analysis project I'm working on? I'm interested in studying posts about personal curricula to see what the common themes are, the process of development, and so on. All with the goal of sharing back what I learned here on Substack :)
Absolutely! I'd be happy for you to include my post and cite/link back to my Substack in your project! That's a cool study you are doing! Excited to see what you find in these personal curriculum!
Also, I'd like to get some feedback on my assignments. After completing the curriculum drafting, I was skeptical about the assignments covering the breadth and depth of texts/works studied for the module. If you may, I would appreciate your feedback on the assignments bit particularly...
Hi Yana, Your request for this feedback brought me a lot of joy - in that, for the first time, I'm taking what I do for a career and extending it in ways that are really fulfilling to me. So thanks! Here are some thoughts:
First, what stands out to me is your expressed final outcome. This is what you're working towards. All your smaller assignments should be an opportunity to a) practice the skills of structuring a critical dialogue, b) build your knowledge and familiarity with Babel, the cannon, and the central theoretical debates, and/or c) develop your thinking towards your Oxford goal.
With that in mind, I turn to the essay options you've outlined for yourself. Now - a caveat - I'm not an English Lit disciplinary. I think there's something to be said of the ability to analyze how your readings, guiding questions, and assignment topics all connect. As a disciplinary outsider, I see connections but this remains a superficial observation without better disciplinary expertise. I think this is something you can watch out for as you make your assignment choices. When you're choosing between a close reading, comparative essay, contextual essay, etc. and then the topic of focus - how does your select engage your guiding questions.
For additional guidance, look back to your objective as you are making your assignment choice, to ask yourself: which of my guiding questions am I most drawn to, knowing that my objectives were to explore the origins of English literature in its oral, allegorical, and courtly traditions, study early patterns of heroism, morality, and narrative authority, and examine how questions of performance, gender, and community shaped medieval texts? Which assignment format stands out to me as the best approach to achieving this objective and guiding question?
Finally, returning to the idea that the overall goal is your final outcome, I imagine it will benefit you to switch up your assignment choices between modules. Maybe one type of assignment comes naturally, feels easy - go with this at first. But then a couple modules in, check in with yourself as to what is going to challenge you and switch it up. It seems exploring a diversity of outputs will best serve your goal of building a portfolio.
Hi Wren! Firstly, appreciate you taking time to share your feedback. I really liked two things from what you said.
When I drafted my guiding questions for the curriculum, I specifically named them as guiding questions so they help me not lose track while reading any texts. But I never thought of using them for assignment choices. Surely, going to consider it.
After finishing the drafting, I looked at the assignments and made some pre-notion choices of what assignments I am likely going to pick, and now if I remember, I went with the choices that I was familiar with. But what you said really made sense, the purpose of these assignments and the power of choice I am giving myself should reflect me challenging myself with a diversity of forms and outputs.
I am currently working on an online university course specific to reading, and I plan to start my curriculum this December. Will check-in and let you know in between modules, how it is going. Just so if it helps for the study you are doing! Once again, thank you! ♥️
I’d love to see the output of this as well! Are you are doing some sort of meta—analysis of what you find?
Your plan is beautifully done! I would love to hear more about how you put it together. (I would love to do something similar for American literature.)
Thanks Hannah! I’ll be sharing a post soon on this! Have been getting similar questions on the process.
Ack! I want to do this with you!
We have a group, 3 of us, going to start studying together. You wanna join?
I’d love to
Join the discord group here - https://discord.gg/NufkTzjTQr
I wanted to understand your process of creating this curriculum. I’ve been thinking about creating one for myself. How did you go about the research of topics you wanted to add to this or what methods did you use to land here, with such a detailed and effective program for yourself?
What an incredibly considered curriculum! Looking forward to hearing about your thoughts
I am currently reading Tolkiens Beowulf translation. I plan to read the monster and critique essay and in the to write an essay on Beowulf on Substack
I would love to read your essay! I’ve written one on Seamus Heaney’s translation here, but not critically analyzed.
Such fun! I’ve just created my own personal curriculum too ☺️
Hi Saiyana
I’m currently studying part time for a BA in Eng Lit with the OU. I’m on year 4 of 6. My up-coming module is all about how literature connects to identity, the environment, the imagination & escape, and importantly, how it speaks back to power. I therefore found many aspects of your curriculum echoed the approach that I will need to be taking - it was fascinating to read how thoroughly and insightfully you had formed your guiding questions and essays. To be honest, it seemed to be of a much higher level of study than a BA - more like an MA - your knowledge of the subject already seems very impressive. Reading your curriculum was like reading some of my tutors’ work in my textbooks, or the academic essays I am always reading. Needless to say, I am very impressed! I am going to use your examples of guiding questions to help me with my studies - as there is significant overlap with my course. Thank you for sharing this with us!
And Babel… my sister bought me the hardback when it was first published, as the synopsis intrigued me. It is still sitting on my bookshelf unread. I think NOW is the right time to take it down, and read it alongside my module …
I did an OU B.A in English Lit. twenty five years ago, whilst working full time and raising teenagers, and loved every single minute of it. Looking back I realise it gave me the depth and breadth I felt I was lacking in my reading and I reckon, once the dust settled and I knew what was useful, that knowledge has been alongside me and has informed my reading ever since.
Reading this Personal Curriculum has also made me realise that I’ve done it, in a lesser way, ever since and without realising it. I almost feel those old study stirrings and will definitely read some of the choices here. Chaucer especially.
This is a fantastic curriculum! I am curious as to why you’re undertaking this prior to your Oxford studies? As these eras would be studied in depth within most English literature degrees
Hey Aurora! I come from and work in engineering, and whatever reading I do has been mostly out of love for it during my free time. Yeah, most of it will be taught in the lit degree. But before I get to that, I want to prepare myself and get into the habit of reading this kind of literature, so I could lean into it more when it's taught in depth.
Ahh I see, thank you for answering, that’s wonderful! Best of luck to you, you’ll have a lot of fun along the way with these novels 🙂
Wow, I like your ambition! I've read quite a few of these, and I plan on reading quite a few more. I may use this outline as a reading guide, if that's okay with you, as it has a great breadth of authors and reading styles that I'm sure would be amazing to explore.
Of course, please do! I'd be happy for you to use it. This is exactly what I hoped this detailed curriculum would spark. I'm curious to hear how you might customize it to suit your preferences or maybe even rethink it entirely! If you come across any other aspects of guiding questions, assignments, and areas of research for the modules, I'd love to discuss.
I found this so interesting, and may (try to) do one for myself! Great idea :)
I’d love to see your curriculum if you do one! Btw, on what theme or goal, do you plan to work towards?
Probably philosophy or universal literature. I am already studying English philology and would like to go on and do another degree (once I finish this one) of any of those options. I’ll definitely let you know if/when I do a curriculum <3
Very very interesting! I have formal education and work experience in engineering, and my heart is with humanities and arts. Especially anything to do with English literature, intellectual history, and philosophy. So I’m trying to learn them formally/informally on my own. I look forward to your curriculum! 🖤
This is really helpful! I've been trying to do a similar thing myself, but figuring out essay questions is the hardest part. I look forward to reading more of what you post about this. Maybe it might help me fight my own severe block I've now got for writing about my reading here on Substack.
I’ve long made myself personal curricula, though typically over 12-week periods since I’m doing it for personal pleasure rather than for an application like yours. I’m curious: how did you arrive at your guiding questions? And how did you decide what to include in the curriculum itself - what was your selection process for texts and the overall structure?
This is so interesting Yana. Thanks for being so generous and sharing it with us. I’m
Going to use snippets for my own personal curriculum. 🤎
I was looking for an online course to study English literature because I never did it during my time at university. This is such a detailed list that I could potentially use this and start my own learning.