Thesis Writing and Methodology

Professor Stewart

Purpose

Our focus will be on writing of the kind you are expected to do as MA students, both in your course papers and thesis. Beginning with a brief review of the means and ends of academic writing, we will address topics such as clarity, thesis formulation, how to sustain coherence and interest over a long argument, how to research a topic and acknowledge existing work, and how to incorporate theory and historical content in your interpretive writing. Grades will be based on participation (20%), research assignment (30%), and research paper (first draft 20%, final 30%).

Assignments

  1. Each student will do a research assignment on the general topic of affect. You will pick from a list of subtopics and prepare (a) a bibliography, (b) 4 written overviews (one sentence, a short paragraph [5 sentences], a long paragraph [10 sentences], 2 pages),and (c) a 15 minute presentationon (1) your topic itself and (2)your method of researching it (sources, search strategy, etc.). You will provide hard copies of your bibliography and summaries to members of the class before the day of presentation. After, you will email us revised digital copies of these documents.
  2. Final Paper: 12 pages / 4,000 words minimum; topics must combine the special topic (affect) and one of the following texts: Beloved (Morrison 1987), Huo Yuan Jia(Fearless) (Yu 2006), Uncle Tom’s Cabin (Stowe 1851); Invasion of the Body Snatchers (Siegel 1956). Week 12, students will provide the class with an abstract (100-200 words) of the paper you are working on and be prepared to answer questions on your topic and discuss problems you are having. Week 13 you will distribute copies of your completed first draft to class members. In weeks following each student will present his or her paper for discussion and advice. Other class members will have read it before and prepared a 1-2 page summary of their suggestions, one copy for the author, one for the instructor.

Texts: The two main texts are both available in Taiwan (i.e., Bookman or books.com) or they can be ordered from Amazon at approximately the same price.

  1. Williams, Joseph. Style: Toward Clarity and Grace. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1995.
  2. Booth, Wayne C. (et al). The Craft of Research. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2003.
  3. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Sixth Edition. (Or some other recent guide to MLA citation method.)
  4. We will use Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence as a common text to provide examples (available on my website).
  5. Five readings to be used as examples will be made available in digital form.

Weekly Schedule

  1. Introduction
  1. Style: Clarity
  1. Style: Cohesion and Emphasis
  1. Style: Coherence 1 and 2
  1. Style:Concision, Length (Elegance, Usage)
  1. Craft of Research, Part One: Aims

Research Assignment Presentations

  1. Craft of Research, Part Two: Topics

Reading:Jane Tompkins (from Sensational Designs) “Introduction: The Cultural

Research Assignment Presentations Work of American Fiction”

  1. Craft of Research, Part Three: Claims and Evidence

Reading:Jane Tompkins “Sentimental Power”

Suggested: Jane Tompkins “The Other American Renaissance”

Research Assignment Presentations

  1. Craft of Research, Part Four: Drafting and Revising

Reading:Katie Lin “Saving the Greatest Generation” (draft and final)

Research Assignment Presentations

  1. Craft of Research: Theory

Readings:“What is Marxist Criticism,” Terry Eagleton: “Myths of Power”

Research Assignment Presentations

  1. Craft of Research: History

Reading: “What is Cultural Criticism,” Nancy Armstrong “Emily’s Ghost”

Suggested: Carol Smith-Rosenberg “Domesticating Virtue”

Research Assignment Presentations

  1. Abstract Presentations
  1. Final Paper Due (first draft)
  1. Discussion of Draft Papers
  1. Discussion of Draft Papers
  1. Discussion of Draft Papers