Type of Credit: Required
Credit(s)
Number of Students
This course is intended to familiarize students with some of the goals and methods of literary research and some of the skills needed to write research papers about literature.
能力項目說明
The main goal of this course is to help students develop the ability to formulate a topic and write an academic paper about literature. This ability includes the ability to read and analyze literary works and criticism about them.
| 教學週次Course Week | 彈性補充教學週次Flexible Supplemental Instruction Week | 彈性補充教學類別Flexible Supplemental Instruction Type |
|---|---|---|
Students will be expected to attend and be prepared for every class session. Generally, assignments will alternate weekly between reading a critical essay and writing part of a paper or a textbook exercise. Two short papers (3-5 pages) and one long paper (10-15 pages) will be required.
class 1: introduction to course; goals of literary research. reading assignment: Brooks, "Keats's Sylvan Historian"
class 2: finding and developing a thesis. writing assignment: write thesis statements
class 3: supporting a thesis. reading assignment: Showalter, "Representing Ophelia"
class 4: proof-reading; tools of the trade; citations. assignment: library visit
class 5: summarizing; quoting. reading assignment: Vendler, "Stevens' Secrecies"
class 6: summarizing; quoting (cont'd). writing assignment: rough draft of first paper
class 7: using previous research. writing assignment: first paper
class 8: using background and historical information. reading assignment: McGann, "Byron's Twin Opposites"
class 9: using theory. reading assignment: identify and analyze theories
class 10: style and rewriting. reading assignment: Knight, "Brutus and Macbeth"
class 11: comparison/contrast. writing assignment: second paper
class 12: aspects of style. reading assignment: Vaughan, "Global Discourse"
class 13: rhetorical schemes. writing assignment: revisions with schemes
class 14: writing introductions and conclusions. reading assignment: Booth, "Doctrinal Questions"
class 15: textual and linguistic description. writing assignment: third paper
class 16: abstracts, notes, queries, proposals. reading assignment: book reviews
class 17: book reviews; writing assignment: revision of passages from paper(s)
class 18: proposals
Students' grades will be based on their written papers (60%), and on their preparedness and class participation (40%).
Recommended texts:
Joseph M. Williams, _Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace_ (any edition)
Wayne C. Booth, Gregory G. Colomb, and Joseph M. Williams, _The Craft of Research_ (any edition)