First Year

First-Year Reading List 2021/2022 

 First Year Reading List 2021/2022

Documents for First Year Students

First-Year Timetable UPDATED

First Year Booklet 2021-22 UPDATED

Plagiarism policy 2021-2022

Contact details for English Staff (15.09.2020)

First Year Extension form (2021/22)

First year essay plagiarism form 2021-22

CK109 Booklet and Documents 

CK109 First-Year Time Table 2021 2022 UPDATED

CK109 BA English First Year booklet 2021-22 UPDATED

Plagiarism policy 2021-2022

Visiting Students Booklet

Visiting 2021-2022 booklet Semester 1 (13.09.2021)

Visiting Student Extension Request Form

Skills Centre Sessions

If you are interested in improving your writing skills and developing related skills to help you with university study, such as note taking, time management, study skills, and exam preparation, you may be interested in the sessions offered by the Skills Centre, located in the Berkeley Centre, Q-1, Boole Library.

For details, visit: skillscentre@ucc.ie

Students can sign up here: http://skillscentre.ucc.ie/book-your-skills-session/

Second Year

Information Booklet for Second Year English 2021/22

Information Booklet for Second Year English 2021/22 (CK101) 16.09.21

Second-Year Reading List 2021/2022

Second Year Reading List 2021 (23.08.2021)

Documents for Second Year Students 

CK101 second year timetable 31.08.2021

Plagiarism policy 2021-2022

Second year essay plagiarism form 2021-22

Second Year Extension Request Form

Teaching Council (Essential Areas of Study)

PME - Essential Areas of Study (English)

CK109 2nd Year Booklet and Documents 

Information Booklet for BA English Second Year 2021/22 (CK109) 16.09.21

CK109 second year timetable 31.08.2021

Plagiarism policy 2021-2022

Third Year

Third-Year Information Booklet 2021/22

CK101 Third Year booklet 2021-22 (13.09.2021)

Third-Year Reading List 2021/2022

Third-Year Reading List 2021/2022 

Documents for Third Year

Plagiarism policy 2021-2022

Extension request form - 3rd year (2021-2022)

Third Year Essay Plagiarism Form 2021-2022

Teaching Council (Essential Areas of Study)

PME - Essential Areas of Study (English) 

CK109 3rd Year Documents

CK109 Third Year booklet 2021-22 (13.09.2021)

CK109 Third year timetable 31.08.2021

Plagiarism policy 2021-2022

Assessments and Examinations

The Department of English uses a variety of assessment methods, including take-home essays, in-class essays and end-of-year examinations.  In seminar courses you may also be assessed on presentations, group projects and exercises such as journals.  As a general rule, you will find that in second and third year, your year's work is in two parts. Lecture modules you take in Teaching Period 1 are assessed through one in-class test and one take-home essay. Lecture modules you take in Teaching Period 2 are assessed through an end-of-year exam in which, usually, you will answer two questions.  If you are taking seminar courses, you may take your module in TP1 or TP2, or as a whole-year module.  In seminar modules, attendance is compulsory and your participation will form part of your assessment and your overall mark.

Plagiarism Policy

The Department of English follows UCC’s Plagiarism Policy:

https://www.ucc.ie/en/media/support/academicsecretariat/policies/examinations/UCCPlagiarismPolicy-V3.0-May2021(4).pdf

What is plagiarism?

Plagiarism is the presentation of work for credit without appropriate attribution. Types of plagiarism include:

1. Presenting someone else’s work or ideas as your own without appropriate attribution.
2. Copying one’s own work for one assignment and resubmitting it for another module is known as ‘self-plagiarism’. Self-plagiarism is where a student’s assignment is identical to an assignment previously submitted as part of their university studies. Even if cited correctly, it is still presenting work for credit more than once and cannot be accepted. 
3. Collusion between students, where work is permitted to be copied and presented as the work of one individual.
4. Buying a paper from the Web or elsewhere and presenting it as your own work.

How to avoid it?

Be sure to     follow standard referencing practices for English as set out in the Handbook. Incorrect referencing in assignments may be construed as plagiarism: you MUST USE QUOTATION MARKS to indicate precisely what you are quoting from secondary sources listed in your Works Cited.

If you are unsure about what plagiarism means or are confused by any aspect of the policy, please contact your lecturer prior to submitting any essays. You are responsible both for knowing what constitutes plagiarism and for ensuring that you have not plagiarised. You will be required to complete and submit a cover sheet with each essay declaring that your submitted work is in accordance with the plagiarism policy.

Procedures and outcomes

If a lecturer, examiner, invigilator, external examiner or other identifies a potential case of plagiarism, they will raise it with the Plagiarism Officer for consultation. The Department      then follows these steps:

1. If the Plagiarism Officer determines that the allegation does not amount to plagiarism, this will be notified to the student.
2. If the Plagiarism Officer suspects that a breach of academic conduct has occurred, s/he will inform the student, in writing, of the allegation and prior findings, if any, of plagiarism and provide the student with an opportunity to provide an explanation via a meeting (in person or online). The Plagiarism Officer will consider the allegation, any personal statement made and any information available, including the student’s examination records, to take one of the following options:

1. Make a full report in writing to the Student Records and Examination Officer, which will trigger the procedures for Breach of Examination Regulations and Procedures (see https://www.ucc.ie/en/media/support/academicsecretariat/policies/examinations/GuidetoExams-PGResearchAppealsupdate2021.pdf)

• Exercise discretion to pursue the matter independently of the Student Records and Examination Office, and impose an appropriate penalty, which will not exceed assigning a mark of zero for the piece of work to which the offence relates. Where a sanction results in a FAIL judgement for the module, capping will be applied to marks achieved at the Supplemental Examination.

1. If the student agrees with the sanction of the Plagiarism Officer, the student will formally accept the outcome as a final decision in writing, and all documentation will be forwarded to the Student Records and Examination Office.
2. If the student believes they have been treated unfairly then they have the right to formal appeal through the standard UCC Examination Appeals process. See Section 19 of University’s Guide to Examinations and Assessment for Staff and Students, found here: https://www.ucc.ie/en/media/support/academicsecretariat/policies/examinations/GuidetoExams-PGResearchAppealsupdate2021.pdf

You will find a video on Canvas that explains what plagiarism is and sets out the English Department’s expectations for clearly attributed and correct academic writing.

Supports and Services

‌‌Year Committees and Staff-Student Meetings

Within the Department, it is the responsibility of certain staff members to oversee each year group and to ensure that the teaching and assessment for all the courses in each year is administered and delivered efficiently and effectively.  The Year Committees also arrange for students to act as representatives for the year group by attending staff-student meetings.  Staff-Student meetings are an important way for students to voice their opinion and give feedback so why not consider becoming a rep?  And do always remember that you should find out who your reps are, and let them know of any issues you think are important and need to be brought to the attention of the Department.

First Year Committee: contact Dr Maureen O'Connor Maureen.OConnor@ucc.ie 

Second Year Committee: contact Dr Tom Birkett t.birkett@ucc.ie

Third Year Committee: contact Dr Ken Rooney k.rooney@ucc.ie

Teaching Officer

Dr Heather Laird (h.laird@ucc.ie) is the Teaching Officer, and one of her responsibilities is to advise students who may be having difficulty with their studies due to illness, family circumstances, etc. 

Disability Officer

Dr Maureen O’Connor (Maureen.OConnor@ucc.ie) is the Department's Disability Officer, and she liaises with Disability Support Services.

Help & Support

Within the university, there are also a number of places to find help and support:

Student Counselling and Development

Student Health

Students' Union

Student Advisor and Ombudsman

Disability Support Services

Lowercase Second Hand Book Service

Lowercase Bookshop Offer

Student Services Support Tree

UCC has many different supports in place for students who might be struggling in these difficult times. Our Support Tree shows the services available to students. 

Click the link below to view an interactive Support Tree infographic with links to relevant services

Support Tree PDF

Contact Us

All offices in the School of English, for academic and administrative staff, are located in the O’Rahilly Building (ORB) on the first floor.

Department Administrative Office: ORB 1.57

Office hours are restricted at present.  Opening times are as follows:

From Monday, 20 September 2021:  Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday, 9.30 am to 11 am and 2.30 pm to 4 pm

Enquiries can also be sent to englishdepartment@ucc.ie 

In all communications, please clearly identify your name, student number, and year. You should also check Canvas regularly for Department information and updates.