MA Comprehensive Examination
Fall 2007 Sample MA Comprehensive Exam
2005-06 Reading List for Comprehensive Exam
2006-07 Reading List for Comprehensive Exam
2007-08 Reading List for Comprehensive Exam
2008-09 Reading List for Comprehensive Exam
2009-10 Reading List for Comprehensive Exam
To prepare for the exam, students are encouraged to read all of the texts on the Reading List, reflect on the readings, and discuss the texts with fellow students. Reading scholarship about the texts may also be helpful.
The reading list, which will be changed by the Graduate Committee each year, has two parts. The first part consists of two works of literary theory and two works of rhetorical, professional writing, composition, and/or literacy theory. The second part consists of one work from each of five or six key genres, varying from year to year, including drama; fiction; poetry (one long work or a collection of poems); the essay; and/or literary memoir.
An anonymous three-person committee, including, if possible, at least one person whose primary interest is in rhetoric and composition, professional writing, or literacy studies and one who is well-versed in literary theory writes exam questions and evaluates student responses. The members of the committee are appointed by the Graduate Coordinator and serve for one academic year.
The examination is distributed on a Friday afternoon between 4:00 and 5:00 in the English Department office. Students prepare their typed, proofread responses to the questions over the weekend and return them to the department by noon on Monday.
Students will write two essays, each at least 1500 words long. The prompt for the first essay asks the student to explicate a single theoretical work. The second prompt asks students questions related to the primary texts on the reading list. Students will choose one out of four questions and each of the questions pairs two primary texts on the list. Students may use whatever critical/theoretical tools seem appropriate in order to answer the questions.
The two essays are graded Pass/Fail by the examination committee, with a consensus of two members needed for a decision. Grading is done anonymously, with student names removed from papers. Students will be informed in writing by the Graduate Coordinator about whether or not they have passed the examination. In accordance with Graduate School policy, a student who does not pass must wait at least three months before retaking the examination. No student may take the exam a third time without permission of the Graduate Coordinator, the Department Chair, and the Dean of the Graduate School.
Unless there are charges of racial, sexual, or other forms of discrimination, or charges of improper procedures, which allegedly have led to a failed examination, students may not appeal until they have retaken the exam. Appeals made after a second failure of the examination will be handled in keeping with policies established by the Graduate Council and approved by the Dean of the Graduate School and the Provost.
