Literature Speaker Series Online Events

The Literature Speaker Series is proud to announce two upcoming talks by Joseph North (Yale) and Grace Lavery (Berkeley). These online events aim to help the SELLL community think critically about the value of literature and to reflect on the big questions animating the field of literary studies. Please join us for what promising to be two exciting discussions.

Undergraduate SELLL students can check their Canvas enrichment page for the Zoom joining details for the following events:

Joseph North (Yale), “In Praise of the Mob” – Thursday 25th February, 11.00-12.00

Grace Lavery (Berkeley), “Some Objections to the Anti-Pornographic Reading of The Old Curiosity Shop“ – Thursday 4th March, 16:00-17:00

15th February 202118th June 2021

SELLL UG Fortnightly News 7

Monday 15th February to Sunday 28th February 2021

Welcome to the seventh Edition of our SELLL UG News, for a fortnightly round up compiled by Caroline Ede, with contributions from Professional Services (PS) colleagues in the School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics.

Some new items below for this edition and important dates for your diary and please note that this section of the news is now included within the email. The regular Student Wellbeing and Support section is now a separate attachment to the email.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

SELLL UG Town Hall Style Event on Zoom with our new Head of School Professor Jo Robinson

Monday 15^th February, 5.30-6.30pm AND Monday 22^nd February, 5.30-6.30pm
As a newcomer to Newcastle and the School I’m keen to find out what you’ve enjoyed, and what has been more challenging – with the awareness that these have not been the easiest times this year!

I’ll be joined by Dr Adam Mearns, who is the School Director of Excellence in Learning and Teaching. If you’d like to come along, please book a slot for one of the following times via the link here, and if you want to send any questions through in advance please send these to english@ncl.ac.uk.

PEC submission deadline for BoE in Semester 1
Friday 19^th February 2021 by 12 noon
All students are able to advise the Board of Examiners of any Personal Extenuating Circumstances (PEC) that may have affected their performance in their studies, during the Semester 1, 2020-21 academic year. Please submit your PEC through S3P in the usual way.

Next Girl’s Club Meeting on Zoom
Wednesday 24^th February 2021, 6-7.30pm (full details below)

End of Semester 1 Module Marks and Feedback
Available from Thursday 25^th February 2021
If you have had a PEC extension your marks and feedback may be released a little later.

ACTIVITIES & MEETINGS INFO

Book a study space at Marjorie Robinson or Walton Library
If you want to book a quiet place to study at the Library, book your space here.

Give It A Go
Give It A Go is NUSU’s activity programme for ALL Newcastle students! With fun activities all year round from crafts, to cooking and baking, learning languages, fitness sessions, mindfulness and yoga, and exciting events with our many societies and clubs – there really is something for everyone.

Give It A Go is a great way to try something new, gain experiences and meet people. All our activities are delivered safely online this term meaning you can get involved from wherever you are!

Zoom Girl’s Club Meeting – 24^th February, 6-7.30pm
The new theme for this semester is girls club: on consumption and the text for this month is the very brilliant recent television series It’s a Sin available to watch online at Channel 4/4od.

No problem if you don’t have time to watch the whole series, everyone is still very welcome to pop by for a chat! It is a really informal space for us all to get together, have a chat and spill the tea (or wine). And to clarify it is not a girl’s only reading group – everyone is welcome!

Any questions, comments or concerns please do email Tamsin at t.rees1@ncl.ac.uk

Online Meditation for Relaxation Sessions in February & March
These gentle guided mindfulness sessions will help you chill out and recharge your batteries.

Sport & Fitness – Free virtual fitness classes until 28^th February 2021
Virtual can never replace the thrill and excitement of a real class, but it’s the next best thing. Register now and unlimited usage of our on-demand class library will be free of charge until 28^th February 2021.

SOCIAL MEDIA

INSTAGRAM, BLOGS & TWITTER – SELLL Student Leadership Programme

For exciting content from your Student Bloggers (Hattie, Leanna & Tom) make sure to follow the School’s Instagram account @NCL_English, where you’ll find loads of tips on how to engage in the SELLL community. Why not also check out the Student Bloggers recent posts on The SELLL Careers Blog? Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out on any internship opportunities or future posts. Did you know that the School has its own Twitter account too? Follow @NCL_English to see what we’re tweeting!

11th February 202111th February 2021

Scriptwriting – Student Work

Students on QW38: English Literature with Creative Writing will have the opportunity in their first year to write in different forms, before specialising in their subsequent years. Students will choose between:

Prose
Poetry
Theatre Script
Screenwriting

One undergraduate student has kindly allowed us to share their script. Joint depicts a tense scene between a mother and son.

Joint-Download

5th February 20215th February 2021

LGBT Histories of Newcastle – Student Exhibition

Lots of our modules offer opportunities to delve into local archives and collections, housed right here in the Newcastle University Special Collections. Digital exhibitions transform physical archives into online spaces that you can enjoy online.

One SELLL student took this opportunity to raise awareness for Newcastle-upon-Tyne’s LGBT History. LGBT Histories draws attention to the people and places who have helped shape the region as a liberal space. The exhibition features items on literary legend Jane Gomeldon and suffragist Ethel Williams, as well as local LGBT spaces such as the nightclubs on Newcastle’s Bigg Market.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this insight into the exciting work our students have been creating.

If you have any questions about Newcastle University School of English Literature, Language & Linguistics with email english@ncl.ac.uk.

5th February 20215th February 2021

Poetry, Creative Writing – Student Work

Poetry is a thriving Creative Writing discipline in the School of English Literature, Language & Linguistics. Through the Newcastle Centre for the Literary Arts (NCLA) the School provides a site for enhancing the public understanding of poetry. The NCLA hosts a popular and wide-ranging programme of regular visiting poets from around the world.

Poetry is another popular Creative Writing strand available to QW38: English Literature with Creative Writing students.

Holding Hands Among The Hedgehogs Download

‘Holding Hands Among The Hedgehogs (available to download above) is an example of poetry written by a QW38 student who has kindly given permission for us to share their work.

5th February 20215th February 2021

Prose, Creative Writing – Student Work

Creating Writing is an important subject in the School of English Literature, Language & Linguistics. QW38: English Literature with Creative Writing students have the opportunity to try different forms and genres of writing before specialising in Stages 2 and 3. Prose is a popular writing strand, focusing on short stories, novellas and chapters within longer pieces of fiction.

A Journey Download

A Journey (available to download above) is an example of prose written by a QW38 student who has kindly given permission for us to share their work.

5th February 20215th February 2021

William Corbett’s Bookshop – Student Exhibition

In Newcastle University School of English Literature, Language & Linguistics there are growing opportunities to present your research in a multimedia format. Digital exhibitions introduce students to the principles of textual editing for digital platforms, as well as writing for an online audience. Digital exhibitions are also a great way of promoting your research, gaining a wider online audience and drawing attention to lesser known archival material and special collections.

In 2014/15, English Language and Literature student Claire Boreham, created the William Corbett’s Bookshop website as part of the UTLSEC Innovation Fund project Making the Archives Public: Digital Skills, Research and Public Engagement. The project was devised and convened by Dr Ruth Connolly and Dr Stacy Gillis.

5th February 20215th February 2021

Between the Acts: English Theatre, 1660-1737 – Student Work

As you progress through your degree, you will increasingly specialise your topics of interest and research. This means at Stage 1 you will do broad modules that will likely cover a huge breadth of time and geographical space. By Stage 3 the modules are increasingly specialised, meaning you will gain an in-depth knowledge (as well as the breadth of knowledge you gained in your previous years).

SEL3392: Between the Acts: English Theatre, 1660-1737 is a Stage 3 module, currently run by Dr James Harriman-Smith, than focuses on Restoration and eighteenth-century drama. In this module students look at lots of different genres from the time period, including tragedies and comedies, but also pantomimes, burlesques, satires and more. They will also examine texts that describe performance, such as the first English acting manuals, early theatre reviews, and legal and business records about the stage.

4th February 20218th February 2021

The Nature of Language – Student Work

In Newcastle University School of English Literature, Language & Linguistics there are lots of opportunities to get creative with your assessments – from podcasts to film, digital exhibitions to posters, you will have lots of scope to learn new skills and get creative.

One of our first year modules SEL1008: The Nature of Language asks students to submit “anything but an essay” to demonstrate the Linguistics work they’ve been learning in the first semester. This is a really exciting project that allows students to get creative.

Here are some examples of work students submitted in 2020.