Essay Instructions
You are asked to choose ONE of the below questions and write a 5,000 word essay. Whichever question you choose, you will be expected to refer to a wide body of relevant literature and make connections with your own experience.

Question 1: ‘Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope’. Kofi Annan
Drawing on the material covered in this module, critically reflect on the above quote and discuss the extent to which you agree with the sentiment of this claim.

Question 2: ‘Many languages do not have a word for literacy’ (Janks, 2010)
Can the word ‘literacy’ be defined? With reference to the material covered in this module, consider issues arising when attempting to define the term ‘literacy’.

Question 3: How is literacy related to constructs of power?

Question 4: What are some of the research questions that you feel should be asked in the field of literacy at the moment? Drawing on the literature, justify why these questions are important and present
an overview of proposed research to answer these questions.

Question 5: “Any researcher […] who seeks to find out what literacy may mean to an individual or a group, has to go beyond mere observation of what could be called “literacy behaviour”; for while such observation can tell us some things, there is much it cannot” (Jane Mace, Playing With Time, p. 15). Drawing on material covered in this module, explore to what extent you agree with Jane Mace and why.

Question 6: Notions of being an effective reader/writer may vary depending on the domain within which the literacy event is taking place. Discuss this statement with reference to at least two life domains.
Your essay should explore the topic in depth, incorporating a critical review of the recent and relevant literature and the methods of relevant studies.

The final assignment should not exceed the permitted word length by more than 10%. Do not go too far over or under the required word-length for your final assignment. Only references are not included in the word count. There should be no need for appendices in your essay. Work that exceeds the word count (or is under the word count) by more than 10% will be reduced by one grade (no more than one grade will be deducted). The mark will not be reduced below grade C/pass. In the case of coursework that is submitted over- or underlength and is also submitted late, the greater of any penalties will apply.

The assignment will be assessed according to the UCL Institute of Education grade-related criteria that are outlined in the handbook. You should not label your final assignment with your name, this is to ensure that your assignment is marked anonymously. Your final assignment will be first marked by a module tutor and may be sample second marked by another tutor. Although your work is submitted and marked anonymously, it is inevitable that because we have worked closely with you in class, we have come to know you and your work.
Therefore, anonymity cannot be guaranteed in our summative assessment.
Please refer to the academic manual for more information about marking and moderation for summative assessment.