English 6311 Bibliography and Methods of Research
Section 04362 Wed. 2:30-5:30 , Rm. 119 M
Fall Semester 2002

Instructor: David Judkins, Ph.D.
Office: 233C Roy Cullen
ph 743-2948
hours: 1:00-2:30 W
or by appointment
e-mail: DJUDKINS@UH.EDU
Web site http://www.uh.edu/~djudkins

 

Course Description:  As the title implies, we will focus on two major interests of study: bibliography, which concerns itself with the history of book production as it influences literary study; and methods of research, which includes applied means of professionally studying literary texts.  The class should be unlike other classes you have taken at the undergraduate and indeed graduate level.  At its best the class provides new insights to literary study giving students fresh perspectives and even new interests in ways of reflecting on literature.  I believe it is imperative for graduate students to be always mindful of the variety of opportunities available to those who have achieved the MA in Literature, and to my mind this class should open doors rather than narrow interests.

  The production of books is the way in which authors have traditionally conveyed their work to a wider reading public.  D.C. Greetham in his book Textual Scholarship: An Introduction, takes his reader through the history of books up to the early twentieth century.  We will try to go a bit beyond that discussing more modern means of book production as well.  During the semester we will systematically study Greetham’s text and try to supplement that study with specific examples, some of which will come from James Thorpe’s book, Principles of Textual Criticism.  Other examples will be brought to class by you, when you summarize and analyze specific bibliographic articles.  I will provide a list of articles from which to choose.

  Our inquiry into books will take us to the Special Collections Room of the library for a presentation by Ms. Pat Bozeman, Special Collections librarian.  We will also visit Houston’s Printing Museum, and we will have a presentation by Mr. Herman Detering, owner of Detering’s book gallery, the most serious used bookstore in Houston.

  Methods of research will not be limited to strictly bibliographic research, but will also include other ways of tracking down material particularly through online data bases as well as manuscript study.  Again, we must leave Roy Cullen to get connected for a proper demonstration.  This will take place in the library.  We will also investigate more traditional methods of locating materials for research projects.  In short this will be a busy semester, and I hope a very productive one.  The goal of the class is to challenge students and lead them to new information and new understandings on matters related to literary studies but touching on other related disciplines as well.

  Grading:  There will be a mid-term and a final exam.  The mid term will count 15% of your grade.  The final will count 35%.  You will make two seminar presentations and hand in short papers one week after the presentation.  Each presentation counts 15%. We will also be exploring the internet to locate productive sites for literary research.   The final 20% of your grade is determined by your participation in class. 

  Weekly Schedule:

  Week 1:  Introduction and Orientation.  Read from Textual Scholarship: “Introduction”  “Enumerative & Systematic Bibliography,”   Prior to class go
     to the library and have your Cougar 1 Card validated for remote online database access.  Go to the University of Houston
     M.D. Anderson Library website, establish your pen number, and become familiar with the electronic resources.

Week 2:  From Textual Scholarship “Manuscript Books,” “Making the Text: Bibliography of Printed Books.”  Video presentation.  First assignment on
     literary research. This will become a regular part of the seminar, but it is not noted on the weekly schedule.

Week 3:  Meeting at the Museum of Printing History

Week 4: , From Principals of Textual Criticism “The Aesthetics of Textual Criticism,” and “The Ideal of Textual Criticism." Turn in proposal for first
     seminar report.

Week 5:   From Textual Scholarship, “Describing the Text:  Descriptive Bibliography,” and “Reading the Text: Paleography.”

Week 6:   Mid-term Exam  Second half of the  period will be in the library for instructions in advanced searching.

 Week 7:   Presentation in Special Collections Room, M.D. Anderson Library 8th Floor

Week 8:   First Seminar Papers due and reports presented

Week 9: From Textual Scholarship “Reading the Text: Typography,” and from Textual Criticism, “The
     Province of Textual Criticism.”

Week 10: From Textual Scholarship, “Evaluating the Text: Textual Bibliography,”  and “Criticizing the Text: Textual Criticism." 
     Turn in proposal for second seminar paper

Week 11: From Textual Scholarship, “Editing the Text: Scholarly Editing.” From Textual Criticism, “Textual Analysis.”

Week 12: From Textual Criticism, “The Treatment of Accidentals” and “The Establishment of the Text.”

 Week 13:  Books as an investment:  Meeting at Detering’s Book Gallery

Week 14:  Submit seminar paper and present brief report.

Week 15 Review

Final Exam