Universität Wien

128302 AR Research Methodology (MA / Literature) (2018S)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Thursday 08.03. 08:00 - 10:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Thursday 15.03. 08:00 - 10:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Thursday 22.03. 08:00 - 10:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Thursday 12.04. 08:00 - 10:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Thursday 19.04. 08:00 - 10:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Thursday 26.04. 08:00 - 10:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Thursday 03.05. 08:00 - 10:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Thursday 17.05. 08:00 - 10:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Thursday 24.05. 08:00 - 10:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Thursday 07.06. 08:00 - 10:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Thursday 14.06. 08:00 - 10:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Thursday 21.06. 08:00 - 10:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Thursday 28.06. 08:00 - 10:00 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This course provides students with a theoretical and practical toolkit for the writing of an M.A. thesis in literary and cultural studies. The emphasis of the course is not so much on the WHAT, but on the HOW of a research project, that is on the whole process of planning, organising and carrying out your thesis project.

Topics covered include, among others, the stages involved in a research process, research methodologies and critical approaches, information research and the use of databases, and formal aspects of a research paper.

We will discuss:
- how to find a topic and identify gaps in research about your material;
- the process of working from interest to topic to thesis statement;
- reading strategies for secondary and theoretical texts;
- argumentative patterns and the creation of a table of contents;
- methods for close reading;
- strategies for writing and how to deal with writer’s block;
- the relevance of editing, correcting and re-reading your own texts;
- the differences between projects from literary and cultural studies.

If participants already work on a thesis project, they will have the opportunity to present and discuss their work with the group.

Assessment and permitted materials

1. Regular attendance and preparation of session material (students may miss two sessions)
2. General participation in class, including individual contributions as well as work in groups
3. Expert group presentation on assigned readings or individual presentation of your thesis project
4. Four portfolio tasks in the course of the semester

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

- Active participation and contributions in class: 20%. This includes:
a) Writing assignments in class
b) Preparation of assigned texts & active participation in discussions
- Portfolio tasks: 50%
- Expert presentation or individual presentation: 30%

Students must attain at least 60% of each to pass the course.

Marks in %:
1 (very good): 90-100%
2 (good): 80-89%
3 (satisfactory): 70-79%
4 (pass): 60-69%
5 (fail): 0-59%

Examination topics

• Input phases combined with group work and classroom discussion
• Student input from your expert session or individual presentation
• Students' research projects (portfolio and expert presentation)

Reading list

Fabb, Nigel, and Alan Durant. How to Write Essays and Dissertations: A Guide for English Literature Students. 2. ed. New York: Routledge, 2005. Online Edition.
Dunleavy, Patrick. Authoring a PhD. London: Palgrave, 2003.
Lipson, Charles. Doing Honest Work in College. Chicago and London: University of Chicago Press, 2004.
Pope, Rob. Textual Intervention: Critical and Creative Strategies for Literary Studies. London and New York: Routledge, 1995.
Wisker, Gina. The Postgraduate Research Handbook. 2. ed. Houndmills: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008.
Relevant excerpts from these publications will be provided at the beginning of the semester.

As for primary texts and material, this depends on the participants' individual projects and will be decided upon with the group in the first sessions.

Association in the course directory

Studium: MA 844;
Code/Modul: MA3;
Lehrinhalt: 12-0116

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:33