You will choose or be assigned two or
three primary texts on which you will present an oral, in-class report.
There is considerable flexibility for the form of this report . . . from
an informal discussion which incorporates dialogue with and questions to
the class to a more formal presentation which is followed by discussion
with the class.
You will
be required to write a long (at least 20 pages) seminar paper and
present a 15-minute talk on your work. Ideally, this paper should
reflect an understanding of, and be situated within, current criticism
on your text and topic and should advance an original reading of your
subject. A briefly annotated bibliography of significant material
relevant to your research for your final paper will be made available to
the class. (One or two students may choose instead to compile an
electronic bibliography of on-line research sources connected to the
class.)
The
central topics of discussion in this course should develop to reflect
our interests, and to this end each member of the seminar is expected to
contribute to class discussion by raising issues in response to the
readings and by responding to students’ class reports.
