ENG4391 – Writing a Thesis on a Literary Topic

Course content

The course focuses on some of the main topics a student will need to know about when writing a thesis on academic topics in general and a literary topic in particular:

  • methods and practices in writing a thesis in literary studies,
  • building a bibliography,
  • principles of textual criticism, and
  • the ethics of literary research.

Learning outcome

After completing this course you will have:

  • learned to examine and evaluate basic prerequisites, ideals and conditions of literary research;
  • acquired knowledge of key methods and practices involved in the writing of your master thesis;
  • learned how to write a thesis proposal for your master thesis
    project.

Admission

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

Admission to the European and American Literature Studies program or LeP.

Prerequisites

Formal prerequisite knowledge

The student must have been accepted into the master's degree program in literary studies. Admission to the course is required.

Recommended previous knowledge

No specific requirements. Normally graduate students in English-language literature will take this course in the same semester as the course "Introduction to Anglo-American Literary Theory," that is to say, in the first or second semester of their master's degree.

Overlapping courses

5 credits overlap with LIT4000 – Litteraturvitenskapelig forskningspraksis

Teaching

Seminar, two hours per week for seven weeks in the second half of the semester.

Instruction in bibliographical searches is conducted in collaboration with the University Library (UB).

Attendance is obligatory at least 5 out of 7 seminars. Additional absences must be justified by documentation given to the exam coordinator.

Second part of the semester. Teaching starts after ENG4310 is finished.

Access to teaching

A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.

Examination

Portfolio assessment: every student turns in a portfolio (“mappe”) that contains final v