ENG41960 Introduction to Literary Research Methods 1

Academic Year 2020/2021

This module introduces students to the advanced methods and skills required for your postgraduate studies. It is taught through a course of monthly seminars/workshops which will address research resources, textual criticism, approaches to literature, methodology, critical writing and argumentation, methods of information retrieval and evaluation, evidence in literary scholarship, and practical issues of research and thesis writing. This module is core for the MA Anglo-Irish Literature and the MA Literature and Culture (including the strands: American Literature, Gender, Sexuality & Culture, Medieval Literature, Modern and Contemporary Literature, and Renaissance Literature). It is also core for new doctoral students who have not had prior experience of literary research.

Students on the MA Literature & Culture and the MA Anglo-Irish Literature must take both ENG41960 Introduction to Literary Research Methods 1 (Autumn) and ENG41970 Introduction to Literary Research Methods 2 (Spring).

Course Schedule (provisional - subject to change):
The module will meet once a month on Fridays for 3-hr seminars/workshops spaced over the course of the academic year. Please pay special attention to dates, as the academic calendar has required some irregularity in the spacing of sessions. Readings for the workshops will be distributed at least one week in advance.

22 Sept. Introduction to Postgraduate Research and Critical Methodologies (Dr Anne Mulhall)

20 Oct. Using the Library: Electronic Resources and Special Collections (Jenny Collery and Evelyn Flanagan)

10 Nov. Preparing Your Topic and Proposal (Dr Sharae Deckard)

30 Nov Editing Workshop (Dr Lucy Collins and Dr Naomi McAreavey)

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completing this module, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a clear grasp of key issues in literary and textual research methods including citation, bibliographical skills, proofreading, critical terminology, and critical methodologies
2. Understand the theory and practical implications of literary editing.
3. Retrieve information about resources, methods, and skills necessary to their chosen specialised field of postgraduate studies in English.
4. Understand the skills and techniques required for the writing of research proposals, dissertations, and other career oriented applications.
5. Identify their own needs in terms of the pursuit of advanced literary research.
6. Develop and articulate key skills and capacities that can be used in multiple fields outside academia through specific skills-based tasks (e.g. giving presentations, research skills, proposal writing, peer assessment) and through engagement with the Career Development Centre.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Seminar (or Webinar)

12
Specified Learning Activities

44
Autonomous Student Learning

44
Total

100
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Discussion-based seminar with practical components 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
ENG40760 - Literary Research Methods, ENG42060 - Research Methods


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Continuous Assessment: Contribution Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

10
Continuous Assessment: In-class exercises, worksheets and other short assignments will be assigned over the semester. Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

90

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Assoc Professor Lucy Collins Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Sharae Deckard Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Margaret Kelleher Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Naomi McAreavey Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Anne Mulhall Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Emilie Pine Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Katie Mishler Tutor