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English 6110: Seminar in American Literature I
Fall 2014
Dr. Patrick Erben
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SECONDARY SOURCE REVIEW/CLASS PRESENTATION
1) Goal of the assignment: This assignment is designed to familiarize you with paradigms,
questions, and arguments in the recently emerging field of transnational/translingual/multilingual
American literary and cultural studies. Thus, I would like for you to find one scholarly article or
book chapter that employs such critical methods, focusing on one of our topical units, such as
captivity, the novel, etc. Your essay/article/chapter of choice should read texts across linguistic,
ethnic, or cultural divisions. You may use sources that specifically treat one or more of the texts
we discuss in class, but you may also pick a source that uses other primary materials in the same
genre (e.g. captivity narrative).
While similar to reviews published in scholarly journals, your assignment does not require an
evaluation of the work in light of existing scholarship (thus, you don’t have to read everything
else published on the topic). However, you should emphasize how the work under review
illuminates our discussion of a specific text we read this semester. Look for an article in a
scholarly journal or an essay in a collection (or even chapter in a monograph) that opens up new
arguments, avenues for interpreting texts, reading texts in cultural or historical contexts, and
opening up ideas for linking the texts to present-day issues.
2) How to choose an article for review/analysis and your presentation:
- First, you will sign up for a specific day and focus area (see schedule).
- Next, I suggest reading the primary selections assigned for that day or week ahead of time.
This will help you determine your own specific interests and the critical questions raised by
the texts. Keep in mind that this assignment might help you work toward a final paper topic.
- Most importantly, you must choose an article from a peer-reviewed, scholarly journal in
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American literary studies (or generally in literary criticism) or an essay collection published by an
academic press. Please use no article older than circa 20 years to insure that your work reflects more
recent insights and developments in literary history and literary criticism. Your article must also be
of substantial length. You may not choose a book review (because that is in itself not original
scholarship) or anything from Notes and Queries (too short).
Excellent library databases to utilize for your search are MLA International Bibliography, Project
Muse, JSTOR, Worldcat, etc. Electronic articles must correspond to a printed, peer-reviewed
journal (thus, it is always best to look for links to PDF files in the respective databases).
3) Reading the Article/Essay
Thoroughly read the article several times, taking notes on the following questions:
a) What is the argument or thesis of the article?
b) What is the methodology (i.e. how does the scholar/the article use sources, interpret them,
connect them to historical contexts, etc.)?
c) What kind of evidence does the article use? Especially, what kind of research does the article
rely on? (primary, archival research vs. derivative, secondary research?)
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d) How does the article influence or change our reading/understanding of a text/author?
Specifically, what does the article reveal about the dialogue between different linguistic,
ethnic, and cultural traditions in early American literature? What does a
translingual/transcultural/comparative reading tease out that a more traditional,
Anglo-centric reading might not?
e) How does the text connect internal, literary, and formal elements (of a primary source) and
external, i.e. sociological, cultural, political, historical contexts?
f) What are the pay-offs of the argument and research?
g) How would you position the article in disciplinary terms? Does it follow a strict literary
approach? Does it use interdisciplinary tools, e.g. by drawing from history, American
studies, sociology, art history, anthropology, women’s studies, etc.?
h) What are the article’s limitations and drawbacks?
i) What kind of new/unexplored research or research topics does the article suggest for
you (or even the whole discipline)?
4) The Handout
Please assemble a 1-page (SINGLE-SPACED) handout, including the following elements (bring 14
copies to class or email me the handout for copying):
a) Your name
b) Bibliographic information of the article, following MLA style for Works Cited (including
electronic access information, if applicable)
c) An abstract or summary of the article’s main argument.
d) A description of the methodology/theoretical approach
e) Examples of evidence/argumentation
f) Responses to any of the questions above that you feel are most applicable.
5) The Oral Presentation (circa 10 minutes)
a. First pass around your handout; do not start speaking before everyone has the handout
ready.
b. Give a fluent and engaging oral presentation that is based on your handout, but not a
mere reading of its contents.
c. Make sure to speak, not read!
d. Think about ways in which the content of a potentially difficult and theoretical article can
be made understandable and digestible for your peers!
e. Speak about the article in ways that make it relevant to our reading and to your peers’
expectations.
f. Make sure you follow logical steps (e.g. do not talk about why you liked or didn’t like the
article before giving a summary of what it is about…)
g. Speak clearly, audibly, and not too fast.
h. Make sure to look professional in your dress, appearance, and demeanor.
6) DUE DATES: You must give your presentation on the date you signed up for on the precirculated list.