• The instructor will assemble a group of texts that will allow students to meet the objectives and specifications of the course. No specific texts are required.

• An in-depth investigation of the defining traits of a specific literary genre within its theoretical and cultural contexts.  Typical offerings may include Social History of the Novel, Contemporary Poetics, and Theater of the Absurd.  May be repeated for credit as topic varies.
• A further specific description pertaining to this section of the course may be added.

Graduate Course Goals

• Students will develop detailed and in-depth understanding of a literary genre according to its defining characteristics.
• Students will develop the ability to apply theoretical argument to the conditions that shaped the genre's production.
• Students will recognize the implications of different critical and theoretical readings as culturally invested products.
• Students will understand the points of congruence between literature and other disciplines.
• Students will recognize the implications and applications of the ideas and methods of the seminar and will reveal their understanding by demonstrating both oral and written facility in applying the seminar material to the critical analysis of literary and cultural texts.
• Students will be capable of conducting independent and meaningful course-related research and 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.