ENGL 300: THEORY
ADVANCE EXAM ESSAY TOPICS
WINTER 2012
Of the five essay topics listed here, THREE (3) will appear on the exam. You will choose ONE (1).
On the exam proper, each "XXX" will be replaced with specific theorist. The specified theorists will be
those we have studied since the midterm. You will choose a second theorist to include in your answer.
This second selection may be made from the entire syllabus.
These topics were generated by the students who attended the review session in the last class of the term.
If you did not attend this session, you owe your colleagues your gratitude.
INSTRUCTIONS:
PART B of the exam will ask you to write an essay on one of three specified topics. Your essays should
be unified with a clear thesis and should be supported with detailed examples from the course materials.
Do not simply describe the theories. Explain how the two theorists/theories are in dialogue with each
other and how their insights interact to influence your understanding of the themes and relationships
specified in the essay topic. Also, you will need to address the significance of these insights, themes, and
relationships to literary theory and criticism as a whole.
Because these are general themes, they encompass a number of related concepts. Be sure to use
appropriate terminology and to define and incorporate any relevant subsidiary concepts. Part of
your grade will be based on the density of concepts and terms in your answer. Those essays that can
incorporate and show the relationships within a significant range of relevant concepts will do better than
those that focus solely on one concept. That said, be sure to fully illustrate all of your ideas; don't
sacrifice clarity and significance just to load up your answers with undigested terms and concepts.
1. Discuss the relationship among LITERATURE, LITERARY THEORY and MORALITY
with reference to XXX and one other theorist we have studied this term.
2. Discuss the relationship among LITERATURE, LITERARY THEORY and WORK with
reference to XXX and one other theorist we have studied this term.
3. Discuss the relationship between the FUNCTION of LITERATURE and the FUNCTION of
CRITICISM with reference to XXX and one other theorist we have studied this term.
4. Discuss the relationship among LITERATURE, LITERARY THEORY and HABITS OF
MIND with reference to XXX and one other theorist we have studied this term.
5. Discuss the relationship among LITERATURE, LITERARY THEORY and HISTORY or
POLITICS with reference to XXX and one other theorist we have studied this term.