Topics in English: Critical Writing Workshop (1 credit course)

In Spring 2027, the Critical Writing Workshop will be centered on the theme of “Publishing the Academic Article.” In addition to workshopping seminar members' critical writing, each week will include a short discussion about some aspect of the article publication process. These discussions will include such subjects as developing a critical article, choosing a journal, submitting an article, handling readers’ reports, revision and more. We will also discuss the differences between critical journal articles and genres frequently produced in graduate school, including the dissertation chapter, the seminar paper, and the conference paper. Of course, seminar members will also receive feedback from the group on their work in progress. 

Students who have a piece of writing that they are hoping to develop into an article will find the course particularly useful, but it is not necessary for everyone to be working on a piece for publication. Those writing dissertations are also welcome. Publication will form a loose focus for our discussions, but it will not exclude other goals or kinds of feedback. In short, the seminar should help members to think about the relationships between writing produced to fulfill the requirements of a graduate program and published writing,  but publication need not be the writer’s immediate goal.