Please note that you are not required to take your module exam immediately in the semester in which you are taking the course that you want to base your oral exam topics/ paper topic on. Generally, you have up to 3 semesters to register for your module exam on a topic related to a course you have taken. However, different rules may apply, if instructors are associated instructors (Lehrbeauftragte), or if their contracts are ending, so if you plan to push back your oral exam or paper one or two semesters, make sure to discuss your plans with your instructor to ensure that they will still be available.

Do NOT register for the examination on KLIPS until the semester you are actually planning to turn in your work or take the oral exam. By registering on KLIPS (and not de-registering on time) you set a deadline that you must meet.

Here are some important deadlines for exam registrations at the department of English I (ES I):

• Start of registration: 12 weeks before the KLIPS examination date or the official paper/ portfolio deadline

• End of registration: 6 weeks before the KLIPS examination date or the official paper/ portfolio deadline

• Start of de-registration: 12 weeks before the KLIPS examination date or the official paper/ portfolio deadline

• End of de-registration: 2 weeks before the KLIPS examination date or the official paper/ portfolio deadline

• After the de-registration deadline, you need a medical certificate (Attest) to step back from an exam

Please note that the NAS de-/registration deadlines can differ from the ones listed above because most of the NAS modules are administered by the Institute of History.

Please also note that the KLIPS examination date for oral exams is only a stand-in that we need for technical purposes. It determines the registration and de-registration deadlines, but it does not determine the actual date of your oral exam, which is determined by your instructor, either via the scheduler or some other means. The due dates for the list of primary sources (Leselisten) and thesis statements (Thesenpapiere) you have to submit in preparation for regular oral exams are determined by your actual exam date (not the KLIPS examination date). The official paper and portfolio deadlines at the ES I are March 15 for the winter term and September 15 for the summer term.

Check out this handout for further information on module exams.

If you have to complete a portfolio, you have the choice between 5 different types of tasks. You can...

• write a short analysis (4 pages) of a primary material of your choice that engages with secondary sources; if you submit a very good analysis focused on the topic of melodrama, you have the option of publishing it as part of the project "Based on a True Story:" American Melodrama and Cultural Analysis.
• write a conference/workshop report (4 pages) about two panels/ keynotes at a conference or about a workshop on the topic of American literature/ culture/ history; if the conference/ workshop of your choice is not held at the U of Cologne, please get it approved by Prof. Rauscher (if in doubt about your choice of conference/ workshop, send an email to JProf. Rauscher for feedback)
• write 2 short reports on two different guest lectures on the topic of American literature/ culture/ history (2 pages each) organized at the U of Cologne or at other universities (if in doubt about your choice of guest lectures, send an email to JProf. Rauscher for feedback)
• submit an annotated bibliography (5-8 scholarly sources, including at least one scholarly monograph, with commentary on each source) on a topic of your choice; the topic can be your prospective thesis topic or any other research interest of yours.
• write a scholarly review of an academic monograph or collection of essays (3-4 pages) with an added short annotated bibliography (2-3 pages) featuring 3-4 additional scholarly texts on a similar topic; if you submit a very good review focused on a monograph published in the past 2-3 years in the field of gender and queer studies, you will have the option to publish the review in Gender Forum: An Internet Journal for Gender Studies.
• submit an alternative (creative) scholarly contribution that is not mentioned here; proposals for alternative contributions must be approved by your instructor

M.A. North American Studies

In the M.A. North American Studies (NAS), the independent study portion of the research module is meant to prepare the M.A. thesis. Please note that this is different from the 'Selbstständige Studien' that students in other courses of study complete. NAS students are expected

• to research a scholarly topic of your own choice
• produce an exposé that presents (preliminary) reflections on the planned M.A. thesis project
• to meet the required length of a term paper (i.e. 20 to 25 pages, font size 12, 1.5 spacing)

Please talk to me about your plans for your independent study before you start your research, since it makes sense to complete the independent study with the professor who supervises your M.A. thesis.

Other Courses of Studies

Students in the other courses of study required to complete "Selbstständige Studien" are encouraged to complete a scholarly project of their own. If the resulting product is a written text, it should amount to 3 pages in the B.A. and 6 pages M.A. (font size 12, 1.5 spacing). You can write

• a short analysis of a primary material of your choice that engages with scholarly sources; if you submit a very good analysis focused on the topic of melodrama, you have the option of publishing it as part of the project "Based on a True Story:" American Melodrama and Cultural Analysis.
• an annotated bibliography on a topic of your choice (5-8 scholarly sources, among which at least one monograph, with commentary on each source)
• a review of a scholarly monograph or essay collection; submit a scholarly review of an academic monograph or collection of essays; if you submit a very good review focused on a monograph or essay collection published in the past 2-3 years in the field of gender and queer studies, you will have the option to publish the review in Gender Forum: An Internet Journal for Gender Studies.
• a (mock) encyclopedia entry that cites scholarly sources
• a (mock) journalistic text or opinion piece that engages with scholarly sources
• a (mock) blog entry for a specific blog of your choice that engages with scholarly source
• a report on an academic conference or workshop

If you do not want to submit a written text, you have alternative options. You can

• prepare a short podcast (+ short outline) on an American Studies topic that engages with scholarly sources
• prepare a short video analysis/ essay (+ short outline) on an American Studies topic that engages with scholarly sources
• conduct an interview (via email or recorded + list of questions) with an American/ Canadian author of your choice
• submit an alternative (creative) scholarly contribution that is not mentioned here; proposals for alternative contributions must be approved by your instructor

I am looking forward to your ideas and projects.

If you have to complete a written exam (Klausur) at an advanced stage of your studies, you are most likely a student in the M.A. English Studies. Because this type of examination is rare, all students take the exam together. Each student receives questions from the instructor of the course they have registered for. During the exam, you will have two topics/ questions to choose from. Your task will be to write an essay on one of the topics/ questions presented to you.

Under normal circumstances, the exam takes 120 minutes. As long as the exams are done online, you have 150  min to complete the task.

Regular Oral Exam, Combinatory Exam

If you decide to take an oral exam with JProf. Dr. Judith Rauscher, make sure to read the respective information on oral exams here and on the department website. There are two types of oral exams administered by JProf. Rauscher:

• regular oral exams (30 min of questions/ discussion based on one (B.A.) or two (M.A.) exam topics)

• combinatory exams (10 min presentation + 20 min discussion)

If you are preparing for a regular oral exam in your B.A. studies, please choose one exam topic based on the course taught by the instructor you are taking the exam with. The first part of the oral exam will focus on the class as such (10 min); the second part will consist of a discussion (20 min) based on the observations/thesis statements (Thesenblatt) you submit for your chosen focus topic and chosen primary materials. With your list of observations/thesis statements (Thesenblatt) you demonstrate that you are able to discuss your focus topic in a scholarly manner and show that you know how to analyze source materials with the help of suitable theoretical/critical concepts. See more information on how to choose topics and on how to prepare your list of thesis statements (Thesenblatt) below.

If you are preparing for a regular oral exam in your M.A. studies, please choose two exam topics. One topic must be based on a course you have taken with JProf. Rauscher, the other one can be based on the same course, another course (ideally one also taken with JProf. Rauscher), or your own research interests. The exam will consist of a discussion (15 min for each topic) based on the observations/thesis statements (Thesenblätter) you submit for your chosen focus topics and chosen primary materials. With your list of observations/thesis statements (Thesenblätter) you demonstrate that you are able to discuss your focus topic in a scholarly manner and show that you know how to analyze source materials with the help of suitable theoretical/critical concepts. See more information on how to choose topics and on how to prepare your list of observations/ thesis statements (Thesenblatt) below.

If you are preparing for a combinatory exam (M.A.), please pick a topic for your presentation that is similar in scope and depth to a topic you would pick for a term paper. Your presentation should present a scholarly argument about a selected primary work/set of primary works and discuss contextual information as well as theoretical approaches/critical concept(s) relevant for your argument. In most courses of study, the topic for the combinatory exam should be based on a course you have taken with the instructor you want to take the exam with. In some courses of study (f. ex. M.A. NAS) the topic of the combinatory exam should be based on the prospective topic of your final thesis (M.A. thesis).

Whether you want to take a regular oral exam or a combinatory exam, make sure to discuss your choice of topic/s with JProf. Rauscher/your chosen instructor via email or in her/his/their office hours as early as possible in the semester in which you plan on taking the exam. For JProf. Rauscher's office hours, you can book a slot via the scheduler.

Choosing Topics, Choosing Primary Materials

The topic/s you choose for your regular oral exams should be adequately focused. Topics like "Nature in American Literature," "Immigration in American Culture" or "Science Fiction Film" are too broad. Topics like "Human-Nature Relations in Modernist Fiction," "The Representation of Immigrant Children in American Culture," or "Violence in 21st Century Science Fiction Film" are better suited and more manageable. The lists of primary materials can draw on course syllabi, but they should also expand on the materials discussed in class.

The two topics you choose for your the M.A. exam should be sufficiently different from each other. In most cases, there should be no overlap between the chosen primary materials. The topics "20th-Century Literary Utopias" and "20st-Century Literary Dystopias" are too similar, as are the topics "Black Women's Poetry" and "Motherhood in African American Women's Literature" or "Masculinity in American Science Fiction" and "Masculinity in American Science Fiction Film." When choosing your topics, try to aim for different periods, a mix of genres and media as well as for topics that require you to think about different critical concepts and theoretical approaches.

The following handout summarizes the most important facts about regular oral exams, and it provides additional information about how many and which kinds of primary materials you need to select for each exam topic (usually 8-10). Please note that you have to prepare a list of primary materials and a list of thesis statements/arguable statements/interesting observations (Thesenpapier). You can find a few example lists of thesis statements below. They are based on lists submitted by students who ended up receiving good or very good grades for their exams. Please submit your list of primary sources roughly 3 weeks before your chosen exam period and the list of thesis statements roughly one week before your scheduled exam. Make sure to discuss your chosen topics and primary materials with JProf. Rauscher in her office hours as early as possible during the semester in which you want to take the exam, so you have enough time to produce the list of thesis statements.

• Facht Sheet Oral Exam (PDF)

• Example Thesenpapiere (B.A.)

• Examlpe Thesenpapiere (M.A.)

The first round of oral exams usually takes place during the week after courses end (i.e. in mid-February and at the end of July). The second round of oral exams commonly takes place shortly before the beginning of classes (i.e. at the end of March/ in early April and in early to mid-October). Please note, though, that the dates of exams can vary from semester to semester. Always make sure that you are aware of the exam dates of the current semester. A few weeks before the respective exam periods, you can find the exam dates and register for a time slot via the scheduler.

Finding a Topic, Developing a Thesis

If you decide to write a term paper with JProf. Dr. Judith Rauscher, make sure to discuss your ideas for the paper in one of the office hours. You can book a slot via the scheduler. In preparation for your appointment during office hours, please choose one or two possible topics for your paper and, if possible, the primary material(s) you would like to work on (a novel, a  set of poems, a play, a set of short stories, a film, two or three TV episodes, a comic, a set of photographs, a set of artworks, etc.). If you are confident about the topic and primary material you have chosen, start thinking about a working thesis. The following handouts will help you formulate a thesis statement/ working thesis and give some advice on how to structure your essay:

• From Topic to Thesis (PDF)

• Developing your Thesis (PDF)

• Five Part Essay (PDF)

Formatting

Check your module handbook for information on the expected length of the paper you are expected to submit. Your paper needs to be written in English. Please use the MLA Style Guide as a basis for your formatting with two exceptions: use 1,5 spacing instead of double spacing and grouped style (Blocksatz) instead of left-justified style (linksbündigen Text). You are required to use the official cover page provided by the English Seminar I, so your instructor has all the information to enter your grade into KLIPS.

► Unfortunately, the documents and links provided here are currently only available in German. We are currently working on translating them, but doing so may still take some time. If you are an international student and in need of any help or explanation, please contact our student assistants: american-studies[at]uni-koeln.de

Submission

The usual submission dates for term papers are March 15 for the Winter Semester and September 15 for the Summer Semester. Please hand in your paper via mail to: judith.rauscher[at]uni-koeln.de. As long as we have not returned to teaching in person you do not have to turn in a printed copy to the SIO.

In the B.A. English Studies program, AM 4 concludes with a report (6 pages /18.000 characters). The precise form of the report can vary and is dependent on the specific focalization of the Mittelseminar in the module. Lectures inform students during the seminar about the precise requirements. The main goal is that students delineate the sociocultural positioning of the research subject, develop an awareness about the sociopolitical relevance of their studies, and identify links to their potential work fields.

Examples of reports include

1. Research report: Students research (academic) texts, summarize, describe, and analyze them in detail, reflect on their choices, and reflect on and frame future research projects

• Research 8-10 publications on a particular topic (up to five of these can be introductions) in American studies or on American studies as a scholarly discipline
• Write a research report that clusters and evaluates the material
• This option is particularly well suited to
  • deepen your understanding of the discipline of literary studies, cultural studies, or American studies
  • become aware of the topics and the lingo of literary studies, cultural studies, or American studies
  • practice participating in the discourse
  • practice academic writing
  • practice summary and paraphrase

2. Event report: Students report on an academic event, for example a guest lecture or seminar. Styles can vary from objective and distanced to subjective and reflective.

3. Descriptive/Public Humanities report: Students describe their scientific research in a way that adequately addresses non-academic audiences, e.g. via journalistic or interview formats.

• Research 8-10 scholarly publications on a particular topic (up to five of these can be introductions) in American studies
• Compose a text on literary studies, cultural studies, or American studies that may serve students of other fields and/or people interested in cultural production as an introduction to the field
• This option differs from the research report in the style of writing: as a target audience, think of people who watch TED Talks, who read The New Yorker Magazine or the Feuilleton section in Die Zeit
• This option is particularly well suited for students who
  • wish to deepen their understanding of the discipline of literary studies, cultural studies, or American studies
  • become aware of the topics and the lingo of literary studies, cultural studies, or American studies
  • wish to work in public institutions that work in cultural contexts
  • wish to practice how academic knowledge can be transferred to the public

4. Free report: Students create a (journalistic) essay, podcast, or blog entry.

5. Erasmus report: Erasmus students report on the differences between their studies in Cologne and their home university, and may point out specific links to the seminar content.

Your choice of report type must be discussed with your examiner. All sources used must be formatted in MLA citation style.

For more info, see the overview by the Department of English I.