COLT 102 Graduate Tutorial
Faculty tutorial organized by the graduate director in consultation with individual MA students. The tutorial—i.e., intensive work with a faculty tutor on a Comparative Literature subject, offers an opportunity to read in a focused way the texts most relevant to the students’ winter presentation and spring essay. It is designed as an extended independent study. As soon as possible after beginning of the fall term and no later than than mid-October, each student will have chosen/been assigned a tutor in the area of interest. During the remainder of the fall term, both parties meet informally to discuss the student’s reading and to map out independent continued reading and writing for the winterim (break) and winter term. By late October at the latest, each student should have decided on the topic of their MA essays, on which they will concentrate for the remainder of the year.
During the winter term, the student and the tutor are expected to meet as mutually agreed upon (at least once every two weeks). Ideally, this tutor continues to serve as one of the two official advisors/primary readers for the rest of the academic year. The second advisor should also be secured by the end of the fall term (November 25) and notified of the student’s progress by the student. The Director of Graduate Studies retains a consultative and supporting role throughout.
While there is no specific writing component to the tutorial, the more the students write, the better. Writing may include notes for readings and short position papers that could serve as building blocks of the MA essay. The students will also use the Fall Ethics course to start compiling an annotated bibliography of primary and secondary sources relevant to their MA essay.
Students enroll in the Fall but the course is ongoing in Winter term.
Instructor
Biron