ENL 6256 TEXT & IMAGE IN LATE-VICTORIAN SEXUAL POLITICS

The course will try specifically to organize your efforts around developing tangible professional skills, particularly the production of a publishable professional article.

To facilitate these ends, within the first two or three weeks of the course each of you (with assistance from me) will choose a clearly defined and manageable project with the specific idea of turning the results into a journal article on a particular work or aspect of a figure’s work.

 During the term you will be responsible for, and your grade will be based on, the following specific work:

 (1)  assembling and working through an appropriate bibliography relevant to the chosen project;

 (2) submitting and discussing with me a skeletal rough draft of the resulting term paper;

 (3)  producing the final 10- to 25-page term paper;

 (4)  submitting, separate from the term project, weekly reading-notes/critiques of the assigned reading that week.

 (5) for one or possibly two weeks (which you choose well ahead of time), organizing several of the main points from your reading notes into a three- to four-page (1000-word maximum) class presentation (distributed to the class at least one day before that week’s seminar), which will form the basis for initiating the discussion of that week’s reading.

Naturally, you will also be evaluated on your preparation for and participation in discussions of the scheduled course material.  Categories 1, 2, and 3 above will together count toward approximately 50% of your grade (with the final term paper comprising by far the most important element).  Categories 4 and 5—most particularly the weekly preparation for and participation in class sessions—will together count toward the remaining approximately 50% of your evaluation and grade.
 

SEEK HELP AND ADVICE

I am not referring in this heading to the widespread belief that graduate school invariably drives students into psychotherapy.  I have, however, often observed an unspoken assumption that anyone who has made it into a nationally-ranked graduate program should be wise enough to already know “the ropes,” and if he/she doesn’t, then calling attention to one’s naïveté only alerts the faculty to the fact that they have made a grave error in admitting you.  Of such self-deception much paranoia springs.  Don’t fall prey to it.  If you are confused or uncertain about virtually anything to do with either this course or your graduate studies in general, I HOPE YOU WILL FEEL FREE TO SPEAK WITH ME AT ANY TIME— PARTICULARLY (AND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE) IF YOU ARE HAVING ANY PROBLEM.  Part of my job is to not only teach you something about the Victorian period specifically, but also try to help you survive the process generally.

My office is in 4336 Turlington Hall.  My scheduled office hours this term (except when the inevitable unexpected diversions intervene) will be during 11th period (6:10–7:00 PM) on Tuesdays and 7:10 PM–8:00 PM on Thursdays.   I’ll also try to be available immediately after class.  If you cannot see me during my office hours, please telephone or e-mail me for an appointment at another time.