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EL 4055:Research Writing
Professor Amie Parry
Fall 2014
Time:Mondays 14:00-16:50
Place: A105
Office A218;extension 33215
amie.parry@gmail.com
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Course Description:
This course is designed for third year students who plan to do graduate study in literature, cultural studies, or related fields or are interested in challenging reading and writing assignments. The course has three objectives: 1) to familiarize students with the techniques of close reading and sharpen students’ interpretive skills in constructing their own sustained analysis of a literary text; 2) to teach students how to develop their reading as a response to academic discussions about relevant cultural practices and social issues, a process that includes learning to search for, evaluate and incorporate relevant research material; 3) to guide students in the use of the MLA format for writing academic papers.
Over the course of the semester each student will write a paper that involves framing independent research questions. Ideally, the resulting paper can be used as a model for writing samples and for later research writing projects. Our primary text is Marilyn Chin's Revenge of the Mooncake Vixen. Research materials include excerpts from Stuart Hall's Modernity and Judith Halberstam's "Queer Temporalities and Postmodern Geographies."
Course Policy:
Students will be graded on weekly reading and writing assignments, the final research paper and preliminary drafts, and lively class participation. Preliminary rewriting (and rethinking) will be done in class workshops, so attendance is mandatory. Up to three absences are permitted; if you miss more than three class meetings or more than three weekly homework assignments, you will be advised to withdraw. Not turning in weekly assignments regularly is grounds for failing the class, as is plagiarism. Grades will be calculated according to the following breakdown: weekly workshops (writing assignments, attendance and class participation): 50%; final paper and drafts: 50%. No late papers will be accepted.
Textbooks:
- Course Reader
- Revenge of the Mooncake Vixen
Schedule:
Part One
Research Issues, Cultural Practices: Space, Time and Modernity
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| W1 |
09-15 |
Course introduction: View videos on historical narrative, monstrosity and identity (Akomfrah, Hall). Read and analyze “Moon” for space and temporality. Short Guide to Writing about Literature (SG); “Writing about Fiction,” 139-141 (plot and character),146-152 (foreshadowing; setting and atmosphere; symbolism), 157-161 (point of view), 179-182 (checklist on how to brainstorm for fiction analysis), and 258-260 (checklist on how to brainstorm for interpreting poetry).
HW: Reading: Revenge of the Mooncake Vixen (RMV), 27-50 (through “Ax Handle”); SG,
Writing: First short paper.2 pages on how one of the above literary elements constructs the sense of space or time in your assigned chapter (“Round Eyes,” “Cake” and “Fish,” “Squab,” “Monologue” or “Ax Handle”).
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| W2 |
09-22 |
Sample student paper: Wang. Paper workshop.
HW: Writing: Revise first short paper. Turn both copies in together next week.
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| W3 |
09-29 |
Introduce “The Question of Cultural Identity.”
HW: Reading: M, 596-618; SG, “Taking Notes” and “What to Document: Avoiding Plagiarism.” Course Reader, Appendix 8 (on summaries).
Writing: Summary, M “The Question of Cultural Identity,” Part 1, 2 or 3.
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| W4 |
10-06 |
Workshop on summaries. Discuss M, 596-618.
HW: Reading: M, 618-32. Be prepared for timed in-class writing quiz.
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| W5 |
10-13 |
Quiz on reading assignment. Discuss M, 618-632.
HW: Reading: RMV, 53-105 (Parts 2-3). Be prepared for timed in-class writing quiz.
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| W6 |
10-20 |
Quiz on reading assignment. Discuss RMV.
HW: Reading: Finish RMV. Go over SG: “Remarks about Manuscript Form” 291-297.
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| W7 |
10-27 |
Quiz on reading assignment. Discuss RMV and M (review national narratives).
HW: Second short paper.
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| W8 |
11-03 |
Turn in papers. Introduce Halberstam. Decide on dates for W11 conferences: ______.
HW: Reading: Sample proposal; "Queer Temporalities and Postmodern Geographies" (QT), from In a Queer Time and Place: Transgender Bodies, Subcultural Lives, 1-11.
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Part Two: The Writing Process
“Brainstorm, Freewrite, Research, CHAOS, Freewrite, Outline, Draft, Outline, Revise, Edit”
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| W9 |
11-10 |
Special Surprise class.
HW: Paper topic, due online by 11-15.
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| W10 |
11-17 |
Discuss QT. Discuss topics.
HW: Final paper proposal, due online 11-22. (Refer to samples in our course reader).
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| W11 |
11-24 |
Conferences with instructor on proposal
HW: Outline (with copies).
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| W12 |
12-01 |
Outline workshop. Sample papers with questions: Wong, Ting. Definition of terms.
HW: Revised Outline (with copies).
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| W13 |
12-08 |
Revised Outline due. Workshop. Counterarguments.
HW: Logical fallacies website; prepare one brief presentation.
https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/home
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| W14 |
12-15 |
Logical fallacies presentations, manuscript form.
HW: First draft.
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| W15 |
12-22 |
First draft workshop. How to integrate secondary sources while building your own argument.
HW: Revision plan for final draft. (refer to sample)
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| W16 |
12-29 |
Revision plan workshop.
HW: Revised final draft due as hardcopy and online 1-12.
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| W17 |
01-05 |
Review and discussion. Title workshop. |
| W18 |
01-12 |
Revised final papers due. |
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