Approaches to Graduate Approaches to Graduate StudiesStudiesDr. ThompsonDr. Thompson

English 7000English 7000

Fall 2008Fall 2008

So you want to be a scholar?So you want to be a scholar?

Basic ConsiderationsBasic Considerations Graduate SchoolGraduate School & & English ProgramEnglish Program

RequirementsRequirements Determine your Determine your emphasisemphasis..

LiteratureLiterature, , TheoryTheory,, RhetoricRhetoric & & CompositionComposition..

Choose an appropriate committee asap.Choose an appropriate committee asap. Graduate FacultyGraduate Faculty status. status. English Graduate FacultyEnglish Graduate Faculty and specific expertise. and specific expertise.

Thesis or Comprehensive examsThesis or Comprehensive exams?? When to get started: NOW. When to get started: NOW.

Basic BA English SkillsBasic BA English Skills Able to read for ideas, to go beneath the surface.Able to read for ideas, to go beneath the surface. Essay Writing:Essay Writing:

Thesis: essay offers an answer to a question at issue.Thesis: essay offers an answer to a question at issue. Methodology:essay uses a critical lens.Methodology:essay uses a critical lens.

Minimal plot summary of the literary text(s).Minimal plot summary of the literary text(s). Essay develops the idea of the thesis.Essay develops the idea of the thesis.

Research: essay uses relevant critical works.Research: essay uses relevant critical works. Essay defines key terms as it applies them.Essay defines key terms as it applies them. Analysis & proof: text and argument provide support and Analysis & proof: text and argument provide support and

elucidate essay’s main point.elucidate essay’s main point. Conclusion: nothing is left hanging.Conclusion: nothing is left hanging. Proper use of citation and accurate works cited.Proper use of citation and accurate works cited.

Graduate-level Research & Writing Graduate-level Research & Writing

Quality ResearchQuality Research What is What is textual criticismtextual criticism??

A seminal work on the subject: A seminal work on the subject: A. E. HousemanA. E. Houseman

Using Sources: Using Sources: Primary, Secondary, TertiaryPrimary, Secondary, Tertiary Primary Sources: What is Primary Sources: What is textual scholarshiptextual scholarship??

Debates in Textual Scholarship.Debates in Textual Scholarship. Why do I need a “Why do I need a “definitivedefinitive” edition” edition? ?

Secondary Sources: what is literary Secondary Sources: what is literary criticismcriticism and and theory theory? ? Good scholars locate, read and use “Good scholars locate, read and use “seminalseminal” works.” works. Innovative thinkers ALSO use a “lens,” I.e. deconstruction.Innovative thinkers ALSO use a “lens,” I.e. deconstruction.

Tertiary sources: how do I know what I need?Tertiary sources: how do I know what I need? Broad range of Broad range of Tertiary ReferencesTertiary References MLA MLA Literary Research GuideLiterary Research Guide Oxford Companions toOxford Companions to… … Norton AnthologiesNorton Anthologies Norton Critical EditionsNorton Critical Editions

Do I also need to read recent Do I also need to read recent scholarship? Yes you do.scholarship? Yes you do.

I want to save time: The Internet.I want to save time: The Internet. OWL: Evaluating SourcesOWL: Evaluating Sources Quality Check: Peer-Review Quality Check: Peer-Review

Bibliography of the Modern Language Bibliography of the Modern Language Association Association

JSTORJSTOR Group recent scholarship into categories.Group recent scholarship into categories.

For example: psychological approaches, For example: psychological approaches, rhetorical approaches, historical / biographical….rhetorical approaches, historical / biographical….

Determine which works relate most to Determine which works relate most to youryour approach and why.approach and why.