Charles J. Stivale
361 Manoogian, 577-0970
C_Stivale@wayne.edu
In conjunction with French 777, eight meetings will be held for discussion about the broad topics of professional issues and literary and cultural criticism, with 8 sessions of approx. 90 minutes each.
Please note and communicate to graduate student colleagues: these supplementary meetings are open to all students in language and literature. Extending a pro-seminar led in Winter 1993 by myself and John Eipper, then developed further in FRE 874 in Fall 1994, this forum is aimed at de-mythifying and explaining some important issues, practices and procedures that face language professionals as you continue to develop tools for coping with "the profession."
In this series of eight meetings, we will follow two formats:
a) discussion of professional issues related to research, conferencing,
the job market and criticism (Jan 19, Feb 16,
Feb 23, March 1, March 29); and
b) readings of texts by and discussion with three author/scholars,
dealing with the broad topic of "literary and cultural studies
in the 1990s" (Feb 2, March 22, April 12).
Meeting 1 - Jan 19: Reading the Scholarly Article, Strategies: "Hands-on" practice for critically reading the scholarly essay.
Meeting 2 - Friday, 2/2, 3:30 PM: Discussion with Prof. Karen Jankowsky (Dept. of German and Slavic, WSU): reading to be distributed
Meeting 3 - Feb 16: Producing Publications: Conferencing, Journals
and Beyond: Discussion of the step-by-step process for
developing publishable scholarly work: pursuing the initial research
idea, calls for papers and the conference abstract, protocols
of the conference paper, revisions and preparation of journal
formats, the essay for publication.
Meeting 4 - Feb 23: Market (Un)Realities: The Job Search, I: Discussion of the apparatus developed through the MLA for conducting a job search in foreign languages: the Job Information List (and other sources); responding to a job announcement: preparing the cover letter, the c.v., the placement file; at the MLA convention; the follow-up: protocols of the campus visit, the wait, the offer, the "end-game".
Meeting 5 - Mar 1: Market (Un)Realities: The Job Search, II: Continuation of previous session
Meeting 6 - Friday 3/22, 3:30 PM: Discussion with Prof. Ann Larabee (Dept. of American Thought & Language, Michigan State U): reading to be distributed
Meeting 7 - March 2: Negotiating Critical Theories: Discussion
of the array of critical theories that inform scholarly papers
and
publications as a means to help new professionals situate themselves
in readings and writings and conference participation.
Meeting 8 - Friday April 12, 3:30 PM: Discussion with Shawn Wilbur (Dept. of American Culture Studies, Bowling Green State U)
Each session will last approximately 90 minutes, with handouts
available, when appropriate, prior to each meeting at the front
desk (pick-up drawer) of the Department of Romance Languages (487
Manoogian).