This document outlines the aims and activities of a session on research methods for postgraduate literary studies. The session aims to increase awareness of practical and conceptual skills in postgraduate research, understand how to apply essential literary research methods and theoretical approaches, and appreciate the relationship between the researcher, topic, and methods used. During the session, participants will explore their default working style on a text, work with others using an established methodology, and present their findings in a group, considering how best to communicate their approach and analyze its strengths and weaknesses.

1. EN5535: Research & Study Methods for English
Working Practices
Session 2:

2. Session Aims  Increased awareness of the practical and conceptual
skills required for postgraduate literary studies
 Understanding of the application of essential literary
research methods, analytical techniques and theoretical
approaches
 Appreciation of the dynamic relationship between the
researcher, the research topic and the methods employed

3. What sort of researcher are you?
Or, why do you
read and think in
the way you do?

4. Ideological Methodological
Education
and previous
training
Personal Theoretical
Social views and
perspectives
Bias
Political Cultural

5. Methodological
Ideological Close
Socialist Reading
Education
and previous
training
Social Personal Theoretical
Working Feminist
views and
Class
perspectives
Bias
Freudian
Political Cultural cynic
Liberal North
American

6. Ideological Methodological
Education
and previous
training
Personal Theoretical
Social views and
perspectives
Other
factors
Bias
Political Cultural
Unidentified
preferences

7. i.e. we think critically... What do we do when we
research literature?
Analyse
Interpret
Evaluate
Communicate

8. Area Studies New Historicism
Gender Studies Marxism
Queer Theory Deconstruction
Psychoanalysis Postmodernism
Postcolonial ...
Theoretical Methodologies

9. Part 1:
Textual Work
45 minutes individual scholarship
working with a primary text
Exploring your “default” working style
 What assumptions are you making as you work?
 What approaches are you employing?
 What research questions are raised by this text?

10. Part 2:
Research Groups
45 minutes working with other
researchers
Testing an established methodology and collaborative techniques
 Do you share an understanding of the text?
 How will the nominated theoretical framework change your
approach?
 How will you present this as a viable research option?

11. Part 3:
Communicating Findings
10 minute group presentations
Synthesising and evaluating reading and discussion
 Consider how best to use your allotted time –who will
speak, what will they say?
 What are the most convincing and useful aspects of this
approach?
 Are there weaknesses and limitations to looking at a text from
this perspective?

12. Summary  Critical analysis requires analysing, synthesising
and evaluating (not describing) primary and
secondary materials
 Ask questions of your material and of your own
approach to it
 Consider whether different approaches and
methodologies might be required

13. Next Session
Session 3:
Dissemination
Week 12