English MA Program Outcomes

Students will

• explain accurately the literal meaning of a work or works of literature at an appropriate level of complexity
• discuss effectively the literary aspects of a prose work or works, such as tone, point of view, characterization, imagery, etc.
• offer persuasive and technically accurate close readings of poetry, including analysis of prosody and other formal features
• employ technical language and appropriate literary terminology in service of a clear, effective treatment of material discussed
• analyze a work or works effectively from the perspective of genre
• analyze a work or works effectively from the perspective of the cultural issues it addresses (gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, class, etc.)
• analyze a work or works considering accurately their engagement with relevant historical periods
• construct an effective analysis of a work or works informed by the tenets of a literary theory