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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "EN 197"
COURSE NAME: "Literary Research Methods"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2025
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Alessandra Grego
EMAIL: agrego@johncabot.edu
HOURS:
TBA
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
15
CREDITS:
1
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite:EN 110 with a grade of C or above. This class carries one credit.
OFFICE HOURS:
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This is a one-credit course in research methodology and practices for the development of a thesis in English Literature. The course is intended for English literature majors in their penultimate term. Students will be introduced to the practicalities of thesis writing. Starting with the identification of a viable research topic, students will learn to articulate their research question/s, will identify and assess scholarly material to formulate a literature review, will engage with appropriate theoretical frameworks, and produce an annotated bibliography. Students will present and critique each other’s thesis proposal, research methodology and choice of material. They will also prepare an oral presentation of their proposed thesis topic. By the end of course students will possess the research foundations that will allow them to write their thesis.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The object of this course is to instruct English majors on how to prepare the preliminary material and begin their research so as to start their final term with the skills and knowledge of how to proceed to write their final capstone project. Because English majors are well used to writing research papers, this course focuses on preparation and organization of a more ambitious research project. We meet once a week at a time to be agreed. Students will work under the instructor’s supervision to define a thesis topic, identify an appropriate theoretical approach and organize the material into chapters and will receive guidance through the production of an annotated bibliography and literature review. An essential part of the course is peer review and constructive peer criticism. This means that everyone has to engage in and evaluate each other's work.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students will be guided through the process of assembling the necessary preliminary material to write an effective thesis. Students will learn how to articulate a research question and narrow a topic to a manageable size for an undergraduate dissertation; how to search for and interrogate critical sources; how to develop a thesis outline; how to write an annotated bibliography and a literature review. Students will also receive practical guidance on time management and organization, selection of first and second reader, and completion of thesis form. By the end of the course students will have completed the foundational aspects of their thesis research and will be poised to begin the writing under the guidance of their first reader. In the final class, they will submit a carefully edited portfolio of the materials assembled over the term. An oral presentation of each students' intended research to the English Department faculty and students concludes the coursework.
By the end of the course students will be able to:
- articulate a research question for an extended topic
- identify appropriate sources for their research
- compare sources to track trends in current research and evolution of theoretical approaches
- write foundational research documents (annotated bibliographies, literature reviews, methodology assessments, etc.)
- Locate their study within various theoretical frameworks
- Apply literary/linguistic theory and methodology to their research
- Use the research to develop a strong argument
- Approach thesis readers with a solid plan for writing
- Present their research to their peers and professors
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TEXTBOOK:
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Thesis Statement | | 20% |
| Preliminary Bibliography | | 20% |
| Annotated bibliograhy | | 20% |
| Literature Review | | 20% |
| Outline of thesis content | | 20% |
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-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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| Session | Session Focus | Reading Assignment | Other Assignment | Meeting Place/Exam Dates |
| week 1 | Introduction - Choosing a topic, narrowing a focus, forming a research question, setting up a timetable. | | Come prepared with a topic and a few ideas - bring materials from a class that particularly interested you. | |
| week 2 | Zotero - bibliographies- research and identification of appropriate scholarly sources | | Bring a draft of a thesis question to present to the class for peer review | |
| week 3 | Structuring ideas and theoretical approaches to topics | | Select primary and secondary texts and explain your selection criteria | |
| week 4 | Conducting research, source interrogation and evaluation. | | Thesis topic due – one paragraph only Peer review | |
| week 5 | Identification of appropriate theoretical frame.
Identify an appropriate theoretical frame
| | Explain your choice of theoretical frame and discuss in class. | |
| week 6 | Annotated bibliography an literature review | | | |
| week 7 | Test on general knowledge of English Literature: questions on periodization, authors, genres, critical theory. | | | |
| week 8 | Draft of thesis statement and bibliography (20 sources) | | Library session to prepare draft bibliography - each student must book their own | |
| week 9 | | | | |
| week 10 | | | | |
| week 11 | | | | |
| week 12 | | | | |
| week 13 | | | | |
| week 14 | final revision of portfolio | | | |
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