Comparative Textual Media Subfield Profile *Graduate Students Only* (15%)

Graduate students in this class will complete a paper that describes a subfield that is part of or related to comparative textual media. This paper will lay out the key texts in this subfield, the research questions that define it, the key figures in the field, and how it relates to a comparative textual media approach to research.

Annotated Bibliography (5%)

Due October 24

The first step in your profile will be a detailed annotated bibliography. Each entry in the bibliography should include an MLA formatted citation (I'd recommend using citation software like Zotero to generate these) as well as a brief paragraph that summarizes the source and describes its significance. These bibliographies should have at least 20 sources, but their length will likely differ based on the subfield you are profiling.

When grading bibliographies, I will be asking the following questions:

  • Does the bibliography show evidence of extensive research?
  • Does the bibliography include the key research in the subfield being researched?
  • Do the entries include a properly formatted citation and a succinct summary of the citation and its significance?

Profile of the Subfield (5%)

Due November 14

In a 1500-2500 word paper, you will profile your assigned subfield by discussing its history, key figures, major research questions, and methods. This should offer a detailed account of what kind of research is conducted in this area or subfield. While this profile will certainly draw upon the work you've done in the annotated bibliography, it should also extend that work. Rather than just cataloging sources, this profile should be identifying trends and key research questions.

When grading these papers, I will be asking:

  • Does the paper provide a detailed account of the subfield's history, key figures, major research questions, and methods?
  • Does the paper gesture toward the key trends and research questions in the subfield?
  • After reading the paper, is it clear to the audience what it means to conduct research in this area?
  • Is the paper well-written, carefully revised, and within the word limits?

Comparative Textual Media Paper (5%)

Due December 5

In a 1500-2500 word paper, you will explain how your subfield is related to a comparative textual media approach. Hayles and Pressman argue that the CTM approach can and should be the way forward for humanities research, and some of the fields and subfields have more obvious connections to that approach than others. Some are already making the shift, and others are not. Your task in this paper is to lay out how the subfield you have researched and profiled is related to CTM. For some, this paper will document the research already happening in the area and how we might classify it as CTM, and for others this may mean describing how research in the area could more explicitly take up a CTM approach.

When grading these papers, I will be asking the following questions:

  • Does the paper demonstrate detailed research into the subfield?
  • Does the paper provide evidence that the author understands how this subfield is related to the comparative textual media approach?
  • Does the paper demonstrate that the author understands the comparative textual media approach and its significance?
  • Is the paper carefully written, and does it observer the word requirements?