Academic Programmes

MA (Entire English) and/or MPhil (English) with a minimum of 55% marks in the aggregate at the External Examination conducted by the University. Admissions are based on Entrance Test, Interview and merit. Applicants with NET-JRF/NET-L/GSET/GATE, MPhil etc are exempted from the Entrance Test. Applicants securing 50 per cent marks in the PhD Entrance Test conducted by the Department once a year in July called for an interview with the members of the PhD Research Advisory Committee (RAC) in the Department. Each of them is required to make a short oral presentation on a topic related to his/her research area/interest, giving a clear idea of ‘why’ and ‘how’ the research proposed to be undertaken is important and the amount of work they might have already put into it thus far. They are required to bring with them Six copies of the text of their presentation for the members of the PhD RAC in the Department, and take questions on it during the interview.

 The PhD RAC takes into account (1) the available vacancies, (2) the available specialisation/s, and (3) the applicant’s research interest as evident in his/her presentation and the research supervisors’ current research interest, to decide finally on (a) the wording and/focus of each of the accepted research topics, and (b) the allocation of a research supervisor to each one of the applicants selected for admission, taking care to adhere to the reservation policy of the Government of Gujarat, to the extent it may be possible. Once admitted, all scholars other than those with an MPhil degree are required to complete one semester of obligatory coursework in Research Methodology.

Coursework
Courses
Paper-I: Research and ICT Skills

Credits: 3; Weighting: 100 marks; Internal Evaluation: 30; University Examination: 70

Unit-1: Basics of Research

1. Meaning of research, purpose of research, and types of research
2. Definition of a research task, using information seeking strategies, locating and accessing information, analysing and synthesising it systematically, and evaluating the product
3. The centrality of the research proposal to research, the organisation and management of research, the function of a good, and a coherent synopsis
4. Domains of research ethics: integrity, collegiality, protection of subjects (in case of experimental research), institutional integrity, and social responsibility

Unit-2: ICT Skills in Research 

1. Computer as a generic tool (e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
2. The World Wide Web and relevant search engines/sites for accessing relevant sites, and use of hotlinks/cross-references to other texts/sources
3. Learning to distinguish between relevant/dependable and irrelevant/questionable information and data
4. Creating notes by printing selected pieces of text and highlighting/annotating them; and synthesizing and summarising information under sub-headings

Unit-3: Library and Compositional Skills

1. Using research skills for locating primary and secondary sources on the topic, and developing an understanding of the forms and features of different text types; Using contents and the index pages to identify relevant pieces of information and selection of relevant material from books, journals etc for identification and cross-referencing
2. Using key language to screen out unnecessary information; and distinguishing between fact and opinion, bias and objectivity; Extracting relevant information quickly and efficiently through skimming and scanning, note-taking and note-making; and learning to quote appropriately; awareness of copyright issues
3. Underlining and marginal glossing, summarising specific information in print on specific points, and taking and making good notes; Determining the purpose of a written presentation keeping the occasion and the audience in mind, selecting and narrowing the subject matter, anticipating and answering all possible questions
4. Preparing a working annotated bibliography for self-use and use by others, offering comments on the relative importance of books and reference material; Writing the research report following the MLA Stylesheet conventions, with appropriate endnotes and works cited sections

Essential Reading

1. Richard D Altick and John J Fenstermaker. 1993. The Art of Literary Research. 4th edition. New York: W. W. Norton. 
2. FW Bateson. 1972. Scholar Critic: An Introduction to Literary Research. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul. 
3. George Watson. 1972. Literary Thesis. London: Oxford University Press. 
4. Ralph Berry. 1996. How to Write a Research Paper. London: Pergamon Press. 
5. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 2009. Seventh edition. New Delhi: Affiliated East-West Press with Permission from Modern Language Association of America. 

Paper II: Literary Theories and Criticism

Credits: 3; Weighting: 100 marks; Internal Evaluation: 30; University Examination: 70

1 Anglo-American New Criticism and Russian Formalism

1. Tradition and the Individual Talent: T S Eliot
2. Literary Criticism: Poet, Poem and Reader: Cleanth Brooks
3. Art as Technique: Victor Shklovsky
4. Linguistics and Poetics: Roman Jakobson

2 Modern Psychoanalytic and Feminist Criticism

1. The Insistence of the Letter in the Unconscious: Jacques Laçan 
2. Poetic Origins and Final Phases: Harold Bloom
3. Feminist Criticism in the Wilderness: Elain Showalter 
4. Femininity, Narrative and Psychoanalysis: Juliet Mitchell

3 Reader Response and Other recent Theories

1. Structure, Sign and Play in the Discourse of Human Sciences: Jacques Derrida 
2. The Resistance to Theory: Paul De Man
3. The Frankfurt School and After: Adorno & Benjamin 
4. Structuralist Marxism: Goldmann, Althusser and Macherey; and New Left Marxism: Williams, Eagleton and Jameson

References

1. Modern Criticism and Theory: A Reader. Edited by David Lodge. Pearson
2. A Reader’s Guide to Contemporary Literary Theory: Raman Selden, Peter Widdowson, and Peter Brooks. Pearson
3. Modern Literary Theory. Edited by Ann Jefferson and David Robey. Barnes & Noble Books, Totowa, New Jersey
4. Reception Theory: Robert C Holub. Methuen, London and New York

Paper-III: Research-Oriented Practical Work

Credits: 3; Weighting: 100 marks; Internal Evaluation: 30; University Examination: 70

1. Preparation and submission of a reasonably good research proposal
2. Review of literature available on the research topic during the semester
3. Submission of a coherent plan for the research including strategies during the semester 
4. An individual seminar on the research plan and undertaking necessary corrective measures to overhaul the strategies planned initially
5. Two assignments or short projects on relevant topics set by the PhD RDC 
6. Three unannounced quizzes based on the course content
7. Submission of two Mini Projects based on the research topic
8. Preparation of the outline of the chapters 

Evaluation

The coursework done by the research scholar registered for the doctoral degree shall be evaluated by the PhD RAC. It shall be treated as pre-PhD preparation. The university shall issue appropriate certification on the recommendation of the PhD RAC. A decision on the continuance or otherwise of the research student shall depend on passing the coursework with 55% marks.