Dissertation Prospectus Writing Workshop (496-0-1)

Instructors

Emily Maguire
847/491-2340
3-125 Crowe

Meeting Info

Kresge 3535 Span & Port Sem Rm: Wed 2:00PM - 4:50PM

Overview of class

This course seeks to impart to students the knowledge necessary to answer the questions: what is a dissertation, and how do I write one? In the spirit of a workshop, we will work as a group to foster and cultivate the skill sets necessary to formulate and articulate an organizing question adequate to the charge of a significant, independent, multi-year research project. We will call this first stage the prospectus, and we will figure out what it is and how best to write it. We will also try to distill multiple and often conflicting statements, expectations, and/or fears about what the dissertation is so we can effectively undertake its preparation and writing. Students must be in their second year or beyond of a PhD program in literature/cultural studies and should be preparing their qualifying exams and/or drafting the dissertation prospectus.

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to answer the question: what is a dissertation, and how do I write one?
They will identify a central research question and refine that question in terms of focus and methodology.
They will identify the central debates of their proposed research field and situate the proposed contribution of their research relative to that field.
They will learn the compontents of a dissertation prospectus, they will finish the quarter with a viable 10-12-page prospectus that may subsequently be tailored to suit the requirements of the departmental doctoral requirement, as well as grant applications.

Class Materials (Required)

Eric Hayot, The Elements of Academic Style: Writing for the Humanities. New York: Columbia University Press, 2014. ISBN: 978-0231168014.

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Please contact the department of Spanish & Portuguese to request a permission number, spanish-portuguese@northwestern.edu.