ENGL 715 Seminar in British Literature

Extensive knowledge is expected at the doctoral level to show the breadth of expertise in each major area of studies in English, resulting in scholarly exploration, critical analysis, valuable insights, as well as a broadening of one’s intellectual outlook.

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (4)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to compose a thread in response to the provided prompt for each discussion. The thread should be at least 500 words. In addition to the thread, the student is required to craft at least two replies to classmates’ threads. Each reply should be at least 250 words. For the thread and in each reply, the student must support his/her assertions with citation(s) to the assigned readings in the class, properly citing them in MLA format. These discussions are designed to encourage deep reading, analytic writing, and a collegial atmosphere. (CLO: A, B, D)

Article Critique Assignments (2)

The article critiques will require students to carefully evaluate recent scholarship related to British literature. For each critique, students will select an article, write a comprehensive summary, assess the methodology and argument being made, and consider the piece in the context of the scholarship in the field. Each critique will be 700-800 words and composed in MLA format. (CLO: B, C, D)

Conference Paper Project: Proposal Assignment

The capstone assignment of the course, the conference paper project will require students to identify a conference of interest related to the course readings and compose a potential paper for presentation. For this preliminary assignment, students will submit a proposal appropriate to a call for papers, including an abstract, brief biography, and a list of at least five sources in MLA format. (CLO: B, C, D) 

Conference Paper Project: Annotated Bibliography Assignment

This preliminary assignment for the conference paper will help to further develop the major project in the course, requiring students to submit an annotated bibliography of 12-15 sources in MLA format. A mix of primary and secondary sources will be required. (CLO: B, C, D)

Conference Paper Project: Final Draft Assignment

The capstone assignment of the class, the conference paper will be an eight-page paper written in a manner suitable for delivery in a scholarly setting. The subject, though at the discretion of the student in consultation with the instructor, will be focused on the literary area covered by the class and will be selected with contemporary scholarship in mind. The paper will engage deeply with relevant scholarship, featuring at least ten secondary sources, and will be composed in MLA format. (CLO: B, C, D)