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English Literature and Creative Writing

Join Professor John Holmes as he looks at developing skills within English Literature, thinks about how you read, and explores the notion of expanding consciousness, with a focus on literature and diversity. He also considers literature and the environment, discussing how studying literature can help us to think through major global issues, before offering a deep dive into Shakespeare. Here, John explores the different ways in which an English degree might help you understand and enjoy a specific author.

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Remarkable & relatable academics

Learn from some of the UK’s finest and most decorated academics as they give you a genuine, insightful and engaging experience of studying their courses at their universities.

Interactive quizzes and activities

Have a go at fascinating interactive quizzes and activities, then get meaningful and intuitive feedback from the academics to see how you’ve done.

Certificate of completion

You’ll receive a certificate of completion to evidence your learning - why not add this to your CV and university applications to show your dedication to your future pathway!

About this Subject Spotlight

Join Professor John Holmes as he looks at developing skills within English Literature, thinks about how you read, and explores the notion of expanding consciousness, with a focus on literature and diversity. He also considers literature and the environment, discussing how studying literature can help us to think through major global issues, before offering a deep dive into Shakespeare. Here, John explores the different ways in which an English degree might help you understand and enjoy a specific author.

Episodes

1. Developing skills: perception, analysis, argument

In episode 1, John looks at developing skills within English Literature, including the art of perception, analysis and argument. There is a focus on how we actually read, how we interpret texts and how English will help your entry into a range of interesting careers.

2. Expanding consciousness: literature and diversity

2. Expanding consciousness: literature and diversity In episode 2, John thinks about literature and diversity, and how literature enables us to entertain ways of understanding the world other than our own - different perspectives, voices, codes, customs, and cultures.

3. Engaging with the world: literature and the environment

In episode 3, John considers literature and the environment, discussing how studying literature can help us to think through major global issues, like climate change and the wider environmental crisis.

4. Deep dive: Shakespeare

In episode 4, John wraps up the Spotlight with a deep dive into Shakespeare, and gives a sense of the different ways in which an English degree might show you how to understand and enjoy a particular author, and to exhibit The University of Birmingham’s strength in the study of Shakespeare.

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What is a Subject Spotlight?

Subject Spotlights fuse education and entertainment to bring you the new way of researching your university options.

Entirely free and available on-demand, you can choose to engage with the content in the way that best suits you - whether that’s in bite-sized chunks or in binge-sessions!

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Get a real, representative impression of what pursuing a subject at university is actually like, so that you can make the right decision for you.
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Stand out from the competition by completing a Subject Spotlight to gain the most relevant references and evidence for your personal statement.

Who is this Subject Spotlight for?

This subject spotlight is made for students aged 16 and above, that are considering applying to University, particularly to study the subject in the title, or similar areas.

However, the ages mentioned on our programmes are more of a guideline than a strict limit. As such, we more than welcome older students to apply as well!

How should I talk about completing a Subject Spotlight on my personal statement?

Completing a Subject Spotlight shows the university you're applying to that you've taken time outside of school to engage with relevant content.

The easiest way to include it would be to briefly mention one or two things you learned from it and how/why those learnings have furthered your desire to study the subject. We don't want to prescribe an answer because it's your personal statement but this is a good starting point!

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