MA Essay Program

 

The most extended piece of written work required of an MA student in our Department is the MA Essay, which develops an extended argument over 25-30 pages. Sometimes, the MA essay is expanded from a seminar paper written in the fall semester; often, it is a wholly original academic essay.

The Role of the Associate DGS

All students completing the MA Essay Program must register for ENGL GR5005: MA Essay Tutorial, which is offered every spring, with the Associate DGS listed as instructor of record. The Associate DGS (ADGS) will also advise you on your choice of MA Essay Sponsor, monitor your progress through the MA Essay Program, and assign the second reader for your Essay.

Working with Your Sponsor

Although the ADGS administers the MA Essay program, you will work most closely with an MA Essay Sponsor of your choice, who should have academic expertise relevant to the essay topic. The Sponsor also decides the grade for ENGL GR5005 that will appear on your transcript. 

Grading

You will receive two letter grades for the MA Essay Program:

Program: Your Program/ Grade is assigned by the Sponsor and reflects your overall accomplishment in the MA Essay Program, including the quality of your writing and argument, the depth and extent of your research, your responsiveness to feedback, etc. This grade appears on your transcript as your grade for ENGL GR5005: MA Essay Tutorial.

Essay Grades: You will receive two Essay Grades, one from your Sponsor and one from a second faculty reader assigned by the ADGS. These grades more narrowly reflect the scholarly merits of the MA Essay itself and are sometimes different from the Program/Transcript Grade. The two MA Essay Grades do not appear on your transcript. In the event that your Sponsor and the second reader disagree significantly about the merits of the MA Essay, a third evaluation will be provided by another faculty member chosen by the ADGS.

Requirements

The MA Essay Program has the following requirements:

  • Attendance at the Fall semester MA Essay workshop led by the DGS or ADGS
  • Securing a faculty sponsor before the late January deadline set by the ADGS
  • Regular advising meetings with sponsor, to a schedule satisfactory to the student and sponsor
  • Submission (with sponsor’s approval) of an MA essay proposal by the February deadline set by the ADGS
  • Submission (to sponsor’s satisfaction) of a 20 page essay draft by a March deadline set by the ADGS
  • Submission of a final essay draft by the late spring semester deadline set by the ADGS

Final deadlines for each year's MA essay program will be distributed the prior Fall. Failure to complete any of these requirements will result in an “F” for this required course, with the result that the student will not receive the MA degree.