Areas of Exploration
The SSST course is structured around three areas of exploration: Readers, writers and texts; Time and space; and Intertextuality. This section describes what these areas mean and include six questions for each area that are meant to help you understand how to approach the course.
Throughout the SSST course you will be reading a number of selected texts. However, the focus is not merely reading them but rather analyzing them, thinking critically and considering broader questions of the area of exploration. It could be helpful to consider using some of these as prompts to develop in your learner portfolio.
Throughout the SSST course you will be reading a number of selected texts. However, the focus is not merely reading them but rather analyzing them, thinking critically and considering broader questions of the area of exploration. It could be helpful to consider using some of these as prompts to develop in your learner portfolio.
Readers, Writers and Texts
Through this area of exploration you will look at the ways in which texts are produced, read, interpreted, responded to and performed, and reflect on the role of literature. You will focus on the words on the page, their literal meaning, the type of literary text being read, the plot, character, setting, word choice and stylistic features.
The six guiding conceptual questions of this area are:
1. Why and how do we study literature? 2. How are we affected by literary texts in various ways? 3. In what ways is meaning constructed, negotiated, expressed and interpreted? 4. How does language use vary among literary forms? 5. How does the structure or style of a literary text affect meaning? 6. How do literary texts offer both insights and challenges? |
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Time and Space
All literary texts are written by authors who are real people living in the real world. Though this may seem obvious, it is important to remember that texts are affected by a wide variety of contexts such as the life of the author, the times in which they lived, historical conditions reflected in the text and many other real- world factors. In this area of the course you will study texts that allow you to consider how history, culture, geography and many other external factors are all important to fully understand a literary text.
The six guiding conceptual questions of this area are:
1. How important is cultural/historical context to the production and reception of a literary text? 2. How do we approach literary texts from different times/cultures? 3. To what extent do literary texts offer insight into another culture? 4. How does the meaning/impact of a literary text change over time? 5. How do literary texts reflect, represent cultural practices? 6. How does language represent social distinctions and identities? |
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Intertextuality: Connecting Texts
The area of exploration focuses on the connections between and among diverse literary texts, traditions, creators and ideas. You will explore further aspects of meaning, literary form, approach and chronological development. This section focuses on the comparative study of literary texts to gain a deeper understanding of unique characteristics of individual texts and interesting connections between different texts.
Connections between literary texts can be established in a variety of ways, such as through the study of a group of texts from the same literary form—for example, fiction, the sonnet, a tragedy; an exploration of a topic or concept as represented across literary texts—for example, power, heroism, gender; or an investigation into one of the seven concepts in studies in language and literature, such as representation or perspective.
Connections between literary texts can be established in a variety of ways, such as through the study of a group of texts from the same literary form—for example, fiction, the sonnet, a tragedy; an exploration of a topic or concept as represented across literary texts—for example, power, heroism, gender; or an investigation into one of the seven concepts in studies in language and literature, such as representation or perspective.
Consider the six guiding conceptual questions in this area of exploration:
1. How do literary texts adhere to/deviate from conventions?
2. How do conventions and systems of reference evolve over time?
3. In what ways can diverse literary texts share points of similarity?
4. How valid is the notion of a classic literary text?
5. How can literary texts offer multiple perspectives of an issue, topic or theme?
6. In what ways can comparison and interpretation be transformative?
1. How do literary texts adhere to/deviate from conventions?
2. How do conventions and systems of reference evolve over time?
3. In what ways can diverse literary texts share points of similarity?
4. How valid is the notion of a classic literary text?
5. How can literary texts offer multiple perspectives of an issue, topic or theme?
6. In what ways can comparison and interpretation be transformative?