TLT318 Folk Literature
TLT318 Folk Literature
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Sep 09, 2025
Turkish language and literature, Teaching
Dženana Bračković
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course aims to teach students folk literature at an introductory level. In the course, information will be given on topics such as the concepts of folk and folk literature, the history of folklore studies, the history of folklore studies in Europe, the history of folklore studies in Turkey, the main sources of folk literature, oral sources and compilation methods, written sources, and applied folklore research.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Oğuz, M. Öcal, vd. (2020). Türk Halk Edebiyatı El Kitabı. Ankara: Geleneksel Yayıncılık.
Additional Literature
Cocchiara, Giuseppe. (2017). Avrupa’da Folklor Tarihi. Çev. Yerke Özer), Ankara: Geleneksel Yayıncılık. Çobanoğlu, Ö. (2009). Halk Edebiyatına Giriş 1-2. Anadolu Üniverstiesi Açık Öğretim Fakültesi. Mehmet Ali Yolcu, vd. (2022). Türk Halk Edebiyatı El Kitabı. Çanakkale: Paradigma Akademi Yayınları. Mustafa Aça, vd. (2016). Halk Bilimi El Kitabı. Konya: Kömen Yayınları. Abdurrahman Güzel & Ali Torun - Türk Halk Edebiyatı El Kitabı. Ankara: Akçağ Yayınları. Boratav, Pertev Naili (1994). 100 Soruda Türk Folkloru. İstanbul: Gerçek Yayınları. Boratav, Pertev Naili. (1995). 100 Soruda Türk Halk Edebiyatı. İstanbul: Gerçek Yayınları. Elçin, Şükrü. (2004). Halk Edebiyatına Giriş. Ankara: Akçağ Yayınları. Kunos İgnacz (Haz. Tuncer Gülensoy). (1978). Türk Halk Edebiyatı. İstanbul: Tercüman 1001 Temel Eser.Teaching Methods
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Folk and Folk Literature Concepts / Content and classification of folklore | |
| 2 | History of Folklore Studies / Evaluation of Guiseppe Cocchiara's book “History of European Folklore” | |
| 3 | History of Folklore Studies in Europe (First Studies, First Trends / First Association of Folklore / First Use of the Term Folklore in Europe) | |
| 4 | History of Folklore Studies in Turkey I (First Attention to the Source Person: Ibrahim Şinasi / Namik Kemal, the Poet of the Homeland / Herder of Turkey: Ziya Pasha / Ziya Pasha - Poetry and Composition / Ahmet Vefik Pasha and the First Use of the Term “Folklore” in Ottoman Turkey / Towards Ziya Gökalp / Ziya Gökalp - Towards the Folks) | |
| 5 | History of Folklore Studies in Turkey III (Mehmet Kaplan and the Return of Folklore to the University / Folklore at DTCF / The First Institute of Folklore / The First Institute of Folklore / Şükrü Elçin and Hacettepe University / Fikret Türkmen and the Institute of Turkish World Studies / Saim Sakaoğlu and Selçuk University / Abdurrahman Güzel and Gazi University / The Establishment of the Council of Higher Education and the Rise of Folk Literature / Recent Translation Activities / UNESCO and the Protecti | |
| 6 | History of Folklore Studies in Turkey II (Fuad Köprülü and Folklore / Rıza Tevfik: Theorist and Practitioner / The New Name and Address of Folklore: Turkish Folklore Association / From “Turk Ocağı” to “Halk Evi” or from “Turan” to “Anatolia” / Boratav and Towards Scientific Folklore) | |
| 7 | Main Sources of Folk Literature - Oral Sources and Compilation Methods | |
| 8 | Mid-term | |
| 9 | Main Sources of Turkish Folk Literature - Written Sources I: Chinese Sources - Orkhon and Yenisey Inscriptions - Old Uighur Texts - Kutadgu Bilig - Dîvânu Lügâti't-Türk | |
| 10 | Main sources of Turkish Folk Literature - Written Sources II: Codex Cumanicus - Atabetü'l-Hakâyık - Dede Korkut Stories - History Books - Tale Books | |
| 11 | Main sources of Turkish folk literature - Written sources III: Joke Books - Proverb Books - Epic Books - Poetry Books - Menâkipnameler - Mesnevi Books - Cönkler and Mecmualar | |
| 12 | Main sources of Turkish Folk Literature - Written sources IV: Travelogues (Ibn Fazlan/Fadlan Travelogue - Abu Dülef's “Risâle” - Ibn Battuta Travelogue - Rubruk Travelogue - Evliya Çelebi Travelogue) | |
| 13 | Applied Folklore Studies / Text-Centered Folklore Theories and Methods | |
| 14 | Stith Thompson and the Use of Motif Index of Folk Literature | |
| 15 | Overview |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TLT318.1 | Course | Tuesday 09:00 - 11:50 | B F2.8 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 12:00 - 14:00 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Presentations
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Active Tutorials
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Midterm exam study
20 hours ⏳ (1 week × 20 h)
Final Exam study
25 hours ⏳ (1 week × 25 h)
Home study
15 hours ⏳ (15 week × 1 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [TLT318] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Sep 09, 2025 | International University of Sarajevo
Print Syllabus
Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| TLT318 | Folk Literature | 2 | 1 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Dženana Bračković | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Tuesday: 12:00-14:00 |
|||||||
| dzbrackovic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course aims to teach students folk literature at an introductory level. In the course, information will be given on topics such as the concepts of folk and folk literature, the history of folklore studies, the history of folklore studies in Europe, the history of folklore studies in Turkey, the main sources of folk literature, oral sources and compilation methods, written sources, and applied folklore research. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Oğuz, M. Öcal, vd. (2020). Türk Halk Edebiyatı El Kitabı. Ankara: Geleneksel Yayıncılık. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
| Teaching Methods | ||||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Folk and Folk Literature Concepts / Content and classification of folklore | |||||||||
| Week 2 | History of Folklore Studies / Evaluation of Guiseppe Cocchiara's book “History of European Folklore” | |||||||||
| Week 3 | History of Folklore Studies in Europe (First Studies, First Trends / First Association of Folklore / First Use of the Term Folklore in Europe) | |||||||||
| Week 4 | History of Folklore Studies in Turkey I (First Attention to the Source Person: Ibrahim Şinasi / Namik Kemal, the Poet of the Homeland / Herder of Turkey: Ziya Pasha / Ziya Pasha - Poetry and Composition / Ahmet Vefik Pasha and the First Use of the Term “Folklore” in Ottoman Turkey / Towards Ziya Gökalp / Ziya Gökalp - Towards the Folks) | |||||||||
| Week 5 | History of Folklore Studies in Turkey III (Mehmet Kaplan and the Return of Folklore to the University / Folklore at DTCF / The First Institute of Folklore / The First Institute of Folklore / Şükrü Elçin and Hacettepe University / Fikret Türkmen and the Institute of Turkish World Studies / Saim Sakaoğlu and Selçuk University / Abdurrahman Güzel and Gazi University / The Establishment of the Council of Higher Education and the Rise of Folk Literature / Recent Translation Activities / UNESCO and the Protecti | |||||||||
| Week 6 | History of Folklore Studies in Turkey II (Fuad Köprülü and Folklore / Rıza Tevfik: Theorist and Practitioner / The New Name and Address of Folklore: Turkish Folklore Association / From “Turk Ocağı” to “Halk Evi” or from “Turan” to “Anatolia” / Boratav and Towards Scientific Folklore) | |||||||||
| Week 7 | Main Sources of Folk Literature - Oral Sources and Compilation Methods | |||||||||
| Week 8 | Mid-term | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Main Sources of Turkish Folk Literature - Written Sources I: Chinese Sources - Orkhon and Yenisey Inscriptions - Old Uighur Texts - Kutadgu Bilig - Dîvânu Lügâti't-Türk | |||||||||
| Week 10 | Main sources of Turkish Folk Literature - Written Sources II: Codex Cumanicus - Atabetü'l-Hakâyık - Dede Korkut Stories - History Books - Tale Books | |||||||||
| Week 11 | Main sources of Turkish folk literature - Written sources III: Joke Books - Proverb Books - Epic Books - Poetry Books - Menâkipnameler - Mesnevi Books - Cönkler and Mecmualar | |||||||||
| Week 12 | Main sources of Turkish Folk Literature - Written sources IV: Travelogues (Ibn Fazlan/Fadlan Travelogue - Abu Dülef's “Risâle” - Ibn Battuta Travelogue - Rubruk Travelogue - Evliya Çelebi Travelogue) | |||||||||
| Week 13 | Applied Folklore Studies / Text-Centered Folklore Theories and Methods | |||||||||
| Week 14 | Stith Thompson and the Use of Motif Index of Folk Literature | |||||||||
| Week 15 | Overview | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | Not Allowed | ||
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 30 | Not Allowed | ||
| Presentations | 1 | 30 | Not Allowed | ||
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Active Tutorials | 3 | 15 | 45 | |||
| Midterm exam study | 20 | 1 | 20 | Final Exam study | 25 | 1 | 25 | |||
| Home study | 1 | 15 | 15 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 19/09/2025 | |||||||||
