ENGL 4840 / ENGL 6840 Exploring the Gothic Dr. W. B. Gerard
Papers and Presentations
Brief Presentations
Brief presentations/papers will be assigned on a rotating basis for each class period based on the reading assignment for that session. All students will be responsible for three brief presentations over the course of the semester.
Each brief presentation will be approximately five minutes in length (a minute more or less is permissible) and can be offered from the student’s seat. Each will consist of concise observations of the text resulting from close reading (see below) including at least seven direct quotations (with page numbers cited using MLA style). The section that follows, “Devices of the Gothic,” may provide useful starting points.
A paper will be submitted with each presentation with a minimum length of two and a half pages (maximum four pages), typed double-spaced in 12-point Times Roman with 1” margins on all sides.
The first set of papers (Paper 1) are strictly close-reading exercises and no bibliography is necessary. The remainder (Paper 2 and Paper 3) must each include a critical outside text and a bibliography, formatted in MLA style.
Handouts for brief presentations are optional; computer presentations are permitted if the instructor is notified by noon of the day of the presentation.
If you expect to be absent for a brief presentation, you must make arrangements to switch dates with a classmate in order to receive credit for the presentation.
Presentation Schedule
8/25 Paper 1: Byrd, Hale-Phillips, Huck, Carden, Ernest
9/1 Paper 1: Johnson, Lawrence, Manning, North, Fischer
9/8 Paper 1: Price, Temple, Young, Isham, Ridgeway
9/15 Paper 2: Byrd, Hale-Phillips, Huck, Carden, Ernest
9/22 Paper 2: Johnson, Lawrence, Manning, North, Fischer
9/29 Paper 2: Price, Temple, Young, Isham, Ridgeway
10/6 Paper 3: Byrd, Hale-Phillips, Huck, Carden, Ernest
10/20 Paper 3: Johnson, Lawrence, Manning, North, Fischer
10/27 Paper 3: Price, Temple, Young, Isham, Ridgeway
Research Papers
All students are required to write a research paper that will be due at the last class meeting, December 1.
For this project students may pursue an approach suggested in “Devices of the Gothic” and/or an interdisciplinary investigation incorporating art, architecture, or music. Studies may also address parodies, Gothic-era writers not covered in this course (Radcliffe, Le Fanu, Poe, Collins, for example), or, in conjunction with texts on the syllabus, more recent authors (King, Rice). Papers may also explore textual connections to film with a primary focus on the written texts themselves. All papers must contain a significant element addressing Gothic or Gothic-style texts written between 1760 and 1890. It is recommended that you present a thesis paragraph to the instructor for feedback before starting the project (as hard copy or in the body of an email—not as an email attachment.)
Definition
An argument (or the need to substantiate an observation) is the core of the research paper. A clear thesis statement of a sentence or two laying out a roadmap of the paper itself must appear in the first few paragraphs: the theoretical construct you will be pursuing (animal symbolism or the definition of masculinity, for example) and its textual parameters (a text [say, The Monk or Vathek] or group of texts, sometimes grouped by author).
A research paper uses quotes from the primary text (or texts) as the fundamental evidence to advance this argument. Paraphrasing should be avoided since it can reveal misreadings of the text and provides poor evidence.
Suggestion: Build a strong argument using evidence from your primary text, then introduce secondary evidence (outside criticism). Don’t let other critics determine your direction.
Close Reading
Close reading is the foundation on which theoretical discussion (such as the narratological or deconstructive properties of a text) is based. Thus the preliminary stage of evaluation of a text involves close reading, a thorough and careful analysis of the text itself. The aim of close reading is to ascertain as comprehensive idea as possible of the intent of the uninflected or “bare” text. This frequently involves rereading passages and looking up individual words with the goal of complete comprehension (or as much as possible). “Reading with a pencil,” that is, making notes in margins to build on your reading, is often beneficial as well.
Citation and Research
Citations and bibliography will be formatted as per MLA style, detailed in many composition textbooks as well as the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.
Your discussion should incorporate scholarly monographs, anthologies, and journals; beyond preliminary stages of your paper, head notes, literary encyclopedias, and companion guides should used very sparingly. The goal is engagement with, and contribution to, a larger critical discussion, particularly for graduate students and advanced English majors.
A good collection of books on gothic literature is available on the shelves of the AUM Library. Try to borrow only those you need and keep them for a brief period so other students can access them and to avoid book recalls.
Do not use blogs, personal pages, or wikis as your sources. If you have any question about the quality of the source, ask the instructor.
Do not use block quotes over six lines long. Your job is to analyze the text, and the text needs to be in short enough sections to allow for a thorough analysis.
Drafting
As a substantial percentage of the final grade is dependent on the research paper, take every opportunity to ensure it is the best possible reflection of your efforts. Try to complete a draft before the due date with the intent of revision; you may wish to show it to an engaged peer or bring it to the Learning Center at 325 Moore Hall (you may either drop in or, preferably, make an appointment by calling 244-3470). Consult me with questions you may have as well; I will provide general feedback but will not proofread drafts.
Paper requirements
All papers must be typed, double-spaced, on standard white 8-1/2” by 11” paper with 1” margins on all sides. The type must be 12-point Times Roman. The body of the text should be aligned flush left—not justified. Use italics (or underlines—not both) only for emphasis, foreign words or phrases, or specific titles in the text. Boldface type is generally inappropriate for these assignments. Print out your paper only on one side of the sheet and staple on the upper left—do not submit loose or dog-eared sheets. Do not use report covers, folders, or other additional bindings.
Length:
Undergraduate papers must be a minimum length of 12 pages not including a bibliography of at least six sources; graduate papers must be 20 pages not including a bibliography of at least twelve sources.
Graduate presentations
Conference-length presentations (12-15 minutes in length plus questions) by graduate students will be scheduled in the last few class sessions of the semester. These presentations should be based on individual research papers and may optionally include handouts, posters, or computer components.
Grading
Papers will be evaluated according to the following:
1. Structure: Clear thesis and organized execution of discussion
2. Research: Use of primary and secondary texts (directly quoted in relation to thesis and supporting statements)
3. Technical detail: grammar, spelling, punctuation; citation and bibliography form; length; formatting
Copy editing symbols that appear on returned papers can be reference in a dictionary under “copy editing.”
Dual grades: If you receive a dual grade (e.g., B/B-), then your grade falls between the two, with a bias toward the first.
