ENGL 600–Materials and Methods of Research in English (Fall 2011)

6:30-9:15 M

Owens 209

Dr. John Bird

Office:  260 Bancroft

Phone:  323-3679

e-mail:  birdj@winthrop.edu

birdj1@peoplepc.com

Web Page: http://faculty.winthrop.edu/birdj

Office Hours: MW 2:00-3:30

M 5:00-6:30

or by appointment

 

DESCRIPTION:  A course to acquaint graduate students with advanced research materials, methods, and techniques to familiarize them with other major critical approaches to literary study. 

 

ENGLISH GRADUATE PROGRAM AND COURSE GOALS:

I.        Content Knowledge--The student will demonstrate knowledge of

A.     various forms of written texts (including fiction, poetry, drama, essay, and other literary genres)

B.     major periods in the history of English, American, and world literature in terms of cultural contexts, styles, dominant genres, language, and subject matter

C.     major similarities and differences among British, American, and other national literatures

D.     professional standards of grammar, mechanics, and usage accepted in the scholarly community

E.      standard reference tools, methods, and forms of documentation used in scholarly research

F.      the standard terminology of literary analysis used in scholarly writing

G.     various critical approaches such as the formalist, structuralist, and post-structuralist approaches

II.     Skills in Analysis, Writing, and Communication--The student will

A.     present orally the findings of research and critical analysis

B.     demonstrate the correct use of standard reference tools, the proper handling of primary and secondary sources, and proper documentation of all sources

C.     write research papers and critical analyses on appropriate topics from language, literature, or pedagogy

D.     demonstrate a publishable level of critical, creative, or pedagogical material

See English Department goals at http://www2.winthrop.edu/english/EGS/GraduateGoals.htm

 

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

•         Students will be able to explain the historical, literary, and cultural contexts of various critics and critical approaches.

•         Students will demonstrate mastery of major critical approaches.

•         Students will be able to identify major theories, critics, and critical concepts.

•         Students will be able to create, support, and defend their own critical arguments and analyses about critical theories.

•         Students will master advanced literary research tools and methods

•          Students will demonstrate the ability to find and use appropriate secondary material in support of their own critical arguments

•         Students will demonstrate the ability to document the use of borrowed information in MLA style

 

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES POLICY

Winthrop University is dedicated to providing access to education. If you have a disability and require specific accommodations to complete this course, contact Services for Students with Disabilities at 323-3290. Once you have your official notice of accommodations from Services for Students with Disabilities, please inform me as early as possible in the semester. If you have questions about accessibility statements or other accommodation issues, please contact Services for Students with Disabilities. Information about services and accommodations is also available on the Services for Students with Disabilities Web site: http://www2.winthrop.edu/hcs/DS.htm

 

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT STATEMENT

As noted in the Student Conduct Code: “Responsibility for good conduct rests with students as adult individuals.”  The policy on student academic misconduct is outlined in the “Student Conduct Code Academic Misconduct Policy online:  http://www2.winthrop.edu/studentaffairs/handbook/StudentHandbook.pdf

 

APPROPRIATE USE OF HAND-HELD AND WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY

I will follow the College of Arts and Sciences policy regarding cell phones, laptops, and other electronic devices: 

http://www2.winthrop.edu/artscience/AppropriateUseApprovedPolicyMar2010.pdf     

 

GRADING SYSTEM

94-100 A

91-93   A-

88-90   B+

84-87   B

81-83   B-

78-80   C+

71-77   C

0-70     F

 

FORMAT AND REQUIREMENTS:

This course will be conducted as a seminar, involving discussion, presentations, and group activities.  Activities and requirements have been chosen to give students experience and practice in the kinds of work they will encounter in graduate study and in subsequent professional careers.  Several of the assignments are designed as a sequence, leading to the writing of a paper that might be delivered at an academic conference.  Other assignments give practice in research, oral presentations, and using critical approaches.

 

Papers and Assignments: All papers will be typed and formatted according to MLA form.  Students should try to present all work as professionally as possible.  I will give more detailed instructions on all assignments later, but here is a preliminary overview: