English 601 English Department CSU, Chico Introduction to Graduate Research: Seminar in Bibliography and Methods of Research Time: Thursday, 3:30-6:20 p.m. Classroom: Taylor Hall, Rm. 206 Instructor: Dr. Aiping Zhang Office: Taylor Hall, Rm. 216; Phone: 898-5289 Office hours: T/W/Th, 11:00-12:30; F, 12:30-2:00; or by appointment. This course will introduce you to the principles and methods of graduate-level scholarly research. Through various readings and exercises, you will learn the basic terms and skills regarding textual scholarship, especially paleography, bibliography, and textual criticism. Guest lecturers will offer their expertise by describing how research is conducted in their particular fields. The course will also examine the latest developments in the profession of English and demonstrate ways of exploring the textual and electronic resources available both on and off campus. You will have an opportunity to experiment with what you learn by doing a research project for your thesis or a seminar/conference paper. Required Texts D.C. Greetham, Textual Scholarship: An Introduction. New York: Garland Publishing, Inc., 1994. Richard D. Altick and John Fenstermaker, eds., The Art of Literary Research, 4th ed. New York: Norton, 1993. Recommended Texts Wayne C. Booth et al, eds., The Craft of Research. The Un. of Chicago Press, 1995. James L. Harner, Literary Research Guide, 2nd ed. New York: The Modern Language Association, 1999. Joseph Gibaldi, MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 5th ed. New York: The Modern Language Association, 1999. Stephen Greenblatt and Giles Gunn, eds., Redrawing the Boundaries: The Transformation of English and American Literary Studies. New York: The Modern Language Association, 1992. Another useful book on the profession of English and American literary studies and teaching in colleges is Gerald Graff's Professing Literature: An Institutional History (The University of Chicago Press, 1987). I did not order the book, but anyone who might want to take a look at it can borrow it from the library, or me. Assignments 1. Some bibliographic exercises (a “warm-up”). 2. An oral and written report on editing a medieval text. 3. A short assignment on multiculturalism and postcolonialism. 4. An exercise on the 18th-century texts.25. A proposal for a research paper/project---“the final project.” 6. A presentation of your project in class. Grading The course grade is accumulative. Your grade will be based on all the assignments, your attendance, and your contributions to the class discussions. The "proposal," the last assignment, can be a research paper for another course, or a conference; it can also be a preliminary outline for your thesis. For presentation, you may either do it at the annual English Graduate Student Symposium around mid-November or in class. I will discuss this project with you individually once during the semester and again two weeks before the end of the semester when you bring in the physical results of your project: a narrative, an outline, and a bibliography. Tentative Schedule of Readings and Discussions Aug. 25 Aiping Zhang, "Introduction to Bibliographical Studies and Research” The assignment of bibliographic exercises Reading: Greetham's book: pp.1-46; Altick's book: pp. 1-21 Sept. 1 Jim Dwyer/Aiping Zhang, “Library and Electronic Resources for Research in English" (Meriam Library, Rm. 226, a.k.a. the LER): a). An interactive session; b). A tour in Meriam Library. Reading: Greetham's book: pp. 47-168; Altick's book: pp. 22-119. Sept. 8 Aiping Zhang, "Textual Studies (I): The Making and Reading of the Text." Reading: Greetham's book: pp. 169-270; Altick's book: pp. 119-204. Sept. 15 Aiping Zhang, "Textual Studies (II): Evaluating and Editing the Text." Reading: Greetham's book: pp. 271-372; Altick's book: pp. 205-255. The “warm up” exercise is due; oral reports on bibliographic exercises. Sept. 22 Aiping Zhang, “Producing Your Texts: Preparation, Citation (MLA and Chicago), Presentation, and Publication” Sept. 29 Harriet Spiegel, "Editing Medieval Manuscripts." Reading: Greetham's book: pp. 373-417; Altick's book: pp. 255-331. Oct. 6 Lynn Elliott, "Renaissance and Shakespearean Scholarship." Oct. 13 Lois Bueler, "18th-Century Scholarship." Oct. 20 Aiping Zhang, "Research in American Literature." Harriet Spiegel: Reports on editions of medieval texts Oct. 27 Aiping Zhang, Individual meetings to discuss final projects (all day) Tracy Butts, “Research in Ethnic Literature.” Lynn Houston, “Ethnographic Research in Literary Studies.” The assignment on multiculturalism Reading: start reading The Craft of Research as you think about your project. Nov. 3 Chris Fosen, "Research in Composition." Mark Hall, “Teaching Composition.” Nov. 10 Karen Hatch, “Research in Comparative Literature and Translation.” The assignment on multiculturalism is due in class. Nov. 17 Rob Davidson, "Research in Creative Writing." Dec. 1 Saundra Wright, "Research in Linguistics."3Dec. 9 Aiping Zhang, Individual conferences about the final project (all day) Roger Kaye, “Studies in Literary Theory” (3:30-5:00). Dec. 15 Aiping Zhang (moderator), Presentation of your final project The written copy of your final project due in