• Students will work with the instructor toassemble a group of texts that will allow students to meet the objectives and specifications of the course. No specific texts are required.

• Guided investigation of a topic not addressed by regularly scheduled courses.  Students must propose a detailed plan of readings, articulating precise learning objectives, and secure the written consent of both a supervising instructor and of the department chair.  Not more than one (1) Independent Study may count toward the M.A. in English without the chair's permission.
• A further specific description pertaining to this section of the course may be added.

Graduate Course Goals

•  Depending on the proposed area of inquiry, students will achieve appropriate and specific learning outcomes as established contractually with a supervising instructor.
•  Students will recognize how their primarily self-directed and self-taught investigation complements their learning in other courses taken within the major.
• Students will reveal in both oral and written work a discipline-specific critical facility through convincing and well-supported analysis of course-related material.
• Students will display their command of academic English and of the tenets of sound composition by means of thesis-driven analytical prose, including at least 12-15 pages of research-based writing.
• Students will be capable of conducting independent and meaningful course-related research and of synthesizing it in the form of a correctly documented research paper prepared according to current professional standards.

Graduate Program Goals

• This course prepares students to complete successfully the comprehensive oral examination that is required for all M.A. degree candidates.
• This course provides students with literary, historical, and critical contexts related to texts on the department's required reading list.
• Oral presentations in the course strengthen students' presentation skills and prepare them further for the oral comprehensive examination which is required for the M.A. degree.
• Gaining further knowledge of texts in this area strengthens students' content area knowledge, prepares them for taking nationally recognized standardized examinations (such as the advanced GRE subject examination in English), and further prepares them for careers in teaching, writing, and business or advanced graduate-level study.

• To be determined by instructor.

• To be determined by instructor.

• Departmental plagiarism policies
• Other policy statements specific to this class should be included on the syllabus.
• A detailed calendar of readings and assignments should be made available to the class at the first class meeting. A copy should be posted electronically and kept on file in the English department office.
• Students should be expected to come to class, prepared and able to participate.
• MLA style should be emphasized and required on out-of-class essays.