New M

New M.A. Exam (ENG 6966) Process:

The new M.A. Exam process will enable students to make conceptual links between courses and will integrate the exam more fully into our programs of study.

Students beginning the M.A. Program in English in Fall 2005 and thereafter will use the following process in taking the M.A. Exam (ENG 6966). Students who already have begun the M.A. Program in English before Fall 2005 but have not yet reached their fifth courses are strongly encouraged to use the following process but may opt instead to use the process that was in place when they started the program. Students who already have passed their fifth courses in the program should plan to take the exam according to the process that was in place when they started the program, though they also may wish to meet with the Coordinator of the M.A. Program, Dr. Gabbard, to discuss options.

* While enrolled in the fifth of the required eleven courses in the M.A. Program,

(a) meet with the graduate coordinator to discuss the M.A. exam essay;

(b) ask a faculty member to be the primary reader of your exam essay;

(c) talk with your primary reader about a topic that you intend to track through your readings in the M.A. Program. You will base your M.A. exam essay upon this topic at the end of your M.A. studies.

* In your graduate courses and outside them, read with an eye toward your topic:

(a) develop reading notes on primary texts;

(b) develop notes on relevant critical and theoretical texts;

(d) meet regularly with the faculty member serving as your primary reader to discuss your work-in-progress.

* During or after the semester in which you complete all other program requirements,

enroll in ENG 6966, a one-credit course titled The M.A. Exam. The graduate coordinator’s permission is necessary before you can register for the course. Also register to graduate at this time.

* Fulfill the pre-exam essay requirements:

(a) with the help of your primary reader, decide on a critical question upon which you will write your exam essay, as well as an estimated essay length (at least ten pages and no more than thirty before Works Cited);

(b) ask another graduate faculty member to serve as a second reader;

* Write your exam essay, making use of texts from your annotated bibliography:

(a) give a copy of the essay to your primary and secondary readers;

(b) revise the essay to your own and your readers’ satisfaction.

* Finish your exam essay:

(a) write a one-page abstract of your essay and give it to the graduate coordinator, who will make it available to graduate program faculty;

(b) give an extra copy of your approved essay to the graduate coordinator, who will make it available to graduate program faculty; these other faculty members may respond to your essay, but may not request revisions;