Literature Examination in the English Department at Mouloud Mammeri University of Tizi-Ouzou:A survey

Abstract

The present dissertation deals with literature examination. It attempts to identify how English literature is examined in the English Department at Mouloud Mammeri University of Tizi- Ouzou .it aims at identifying if the three literary genres; prose fiction, drama, and poetry and all their aspects are included in the exam questions and whether teachers favor one genre over the others. Our research has relied on the theoretical frameworks of Edgar V. Roberts and Roberts Zweig ‘Literature an Introduction to Reading and Writing’. As concerns data collection, we have collected thirty-three (33) literature exam papers from the English Department at MMUTO which we delivered for students of licence degree during three successive years (2014-2015,02015-2016, and 2016-2017) and we have analyzed them. In addition, we have conducted five (05) structured interviews with teachers of the same Department. The study has adopted a mixed method research combining quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative data are analyzed using the Descriptive Statistical Method and they are presented using the rule of three. The qualitative ones are analyzed using Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA). On the basis of the results of the study, we conclude that teachers favor prose fiction over the other literary genres. Concerning the aspects of each genre, an emphasis is placed on some of them. For prose fiction character and setting, point of view, and idea/theme. For drama: character, plot, and thought/idea. Concerning poetry, tone and prosody.