Capstone Seminar & Comprehensive Examination

Capstone Seminar

The Capstone Seminar (En 410) prepares English majors for the comprehensive essay by an in-depth study of a few major authors chosen by the professor in relation to a critical theme. To enhance its effectiveness as comprehensive preparation, this seminar is usually taken in either of the last two semesters of an English major's program.

Comprehensive Examination (alias The Capstone Question)

As a final final requirement for graduation, English majors are expected to write a comprehensive essay demonstrating their mastery of clear purposeful prose and the tools of literary analysis; the essay must integrate insights from several periods and genres in English, American, and world literature.

The comprehensive essay is written during a three-hour, on-campus examination period, scheduled once during each fall and spring semester, and preceded by an optional, but highly recommended, review session with most of the English faculty for those seniors who will be taking the exam. In Spring 2004, the department introduced a limited option of writing the comprehensive essay on computer in a computer classroom (limited by the number of computers available during the exam period). A student whose comprehensive essay is judged inadequate by the English faculty will be permitted one retake.

Requirements for Capstone Question:

Objective:

The purpose of the Capstone Question is to guide the student through a review of the essential elements of his/her education in English literature. The outcome of this review will be an essay demonstrating the student’s grasp of these essential elements.

Preparation:

Select five works of literature from more than one genre, more than one country, more than one literary period.

Make notes comparing and contrasting these five works in relation to: the themes, styles, literary periods and/or movements each represents.

Study and reflect on your notes until you can compose a thesis to unify an essay about the literary values of each of the five works you have chosen, for example:

  • Its relationship to a literary era/movement
  • How its themes are communicated through specific elements of style and structure.
  • Narrative point of view
  • Characterization techniques
  • Imagery
  • Irony
  • Language

Caveat: Do not force your observations through the sieve of your thesis. The object is not to reduce 2000 years of literary art to the dimensions of one generalization, but to give you the best opportunity to “show off” how you have learned to appreciate the specifics of literature in ways that a math major might not. Therefore, do not compose your thesis until after you have completed the full preparation.

Compose an outline organizing your notes into a concrete demonstration of your thesis.

The Day of the Exam:

You may bring to the examination room no more than a single-sided 5x8 inch index card with your thesis and an outline for your essay.

There are a limited number of computers using the Secure Exam software. These are available to students, with advanced reservation.

Following your outline, write an essay comparing and contrasting the works you have chosen from as many perspectives as are relevant to your thesis.

Your essay must be completed during the scheduled three-hour on-site session.

**Your exam should read like the spontaneous response to an essay question, not like a memorized term paper.