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SLC2: Russian: Text and Culture

This paper is available for the academic year 2023-24.

 

This paper offers the opportunity to engage with advanced use of the Russian language in stimulating and intellectually challenging ways, through the analysis of various texts of different types and genres under the topic of Identity.

Aims and objectives: 

This course aims to develop advanced use of written Russian through the analysis of various texts of different genres and styles. By the end of the course you are expected to be able to:

  • demonstrate a nuanced understanding of the text;
  • define the principal themes and ideas of the text;
  • locate the text in its Russian historical, cultural or political context;
  • identify ironies or subtexts that might be present;
  • formulate and develop a clear argument of your own;
  • comment on formal features of the text and point out the most salient linguistic devices used by the author (word choice, syntax, figures of speech and tropes);
  • write in Russian fluently, with a high level of grammatical accuracy, employing a wide range of stylistically appropriate idiom.
Course materials: 

All course materials, including the course schedule, suggested reading, texts, and internet links to texts and video materials for discussion in class and in supervisions, are available on SLC2 Moodle site.

Teaching and learning: 

Teaching for this paper will consist of fortnightly seminar classes (10 classes in total: four in MT, four in LT and two in ET), conducted entirely in Russian. You may also have up to 4 individual supervisions on your written work for the paper. Texts will be discussed in detail. You will be invited to analyse the content and the style of the texts, and to construct critical responses to both the subject and the form of the material under discussion. You will be required to submit up to 6 pieces of written work per year, two for the class and four for supervisions.

Assessment: 

The examination Paper will consist of two texts in Russian, each around 700 words, relating to the topics discussed in class. You will be required to analyse critically one of these texts in an extended essay.

Course Contacts: 
Dr Ksenia Zanon
Dr Elena Filimonova