The goals of the Independent Study are:
1. To enable the student to formulate and develop a research topic.
2. To help the student search, assess, and summarize essential primary and secondary literature on the chosen topic.
3. To assist the student in extending his/her knowledge of the research topic and the range of analytical, historical, and theoretical approaches which can be utilized.
By the end of the course, students should:
1. Formulate a valid research topic for the M.A. thesis and draft a complete preliminary thesis proposal; for some students not yet proceeding to the thesis proposal stage, they must complete equivalent work on their chosen topic (i.e. write a paper or series of essays or compile a bibliography or do other relevant work).
2. Have a clear historical or theoretical research framework for the proposed topic.
3. Complete a thorough review of the relevant literature.

The goals of the Independent Study are:
1. To enable the student to formulate and develop a research topic.
2. To help the student search, assessment, and summarize essential primary and secondary literature on the chosen topic.
3. To assist the student in extending his/her knowledge of the research topic and the range of analytical, historical, and theoretical approaches which can be utilized.
By the end of the course, students should:
1. Formulate a valid research topic for the M.A. thesis and draft a complete preliminary thesis proposal; for some students not yet proceeding to the thesis proposal stage, they must complete equivalent work on their chosen topic (i.e. write a paper or series of essays or compile a bibliography or do other relevant work).
2. Have a clear historical or theoretical research framework for the proposed topic.
3. Complete a thorough review of the relevant literature.

1. The instructor assists the student in formulating a research topic on the area the student is interested in.
2. The instructor assists the student in searching, assessing, summarizing, integrating, and synthesizing essential reviews of literature on the chosen topic.
3. The instructor assists the student in relating current research to prior related research.
4. The instructor assists the student in designing an appropriate research methodology for the topic.
5. Regular meeting time will be scheduled for the instructor to monitor the student’s progress.

1. The instructor assists the student in formulating a research topic on the area the student is interested in.
2. The instructor assists the student in searching, assessing, summarizing, integrating, and synthesizing essential reviews of literature on the chosen topic.
3. The instructor assists the student in relation current research to prior related research.
4. The instructor assists the student in designing an appropriate research methodology for the topic.
5. Regular meeting time will be scheduled for the instructor to monitor the student’s progress.

A number of primary and secondary materials related to individual research projects will be collected by the students with guidance from the teacher. Additional useful readings may be discussed in individual and progress report sessions.

Student 1: Hung-Chih Chen
Exploring a topic in children’s literature, particularly focused on representations of special needs children in young adult fiction.

Hung-Chih Chen will collect, read, and study a wide variety of primary young adult novels related to special needs characters in order to find a number of texts to consider for further in-depth study and analysis. At the same time she will be reading theoretical background studies on special needs in general and in young adult literature. Theoretical perspectives useful for the study of special needs characters in young adult literature will be explored. At the end of the project Hung-Chih will either come up with a proposal for her dissertation on special needs characters in young adult literature and/or write an extended essay on the topic special needs children in young adult literature.

Student 2: Emily Chan
Exploring a topic in the field of children’s literature, particularly fairy tales.

Emily Chan will collect, read, and study a wide variety of classic fairy tales and modern adaptations of these classic fairy tales in order to find a number of texts to consider for further in-depth study and analysis. At the same time she will be reading theoretical background studies on fairy tales in general and on theoretical approaches that could be useful for a study of fairy tales. At the end of the project Emily will either come up with a proposal for her dissertation on a comparative study of classic and modern fairy tale adaptations and/or write an extended essay on the topic of adapted fairy tales.

A number of primary and secondary materials related to individual research projects will be collected by the students with guidance from the teacher. Additional useful readings may be discussed in individual and progress report sessions.

Student 1: Hung-Chih Chen
Exploring a topic in children’s literature, particularly focused on representations of special needs children in young adult fiction.

Hung-Chih Chen will collect, read, and study a wide variety of primary young adult novels related to special needs characters in order to find a number of texts to consider for further in-depth study and analysis. At the same time she will be reading theoretical background studies on special needs in general and in young adult literature. Theoretically perspectives useful for the study of special needs characters in young adult literature will be explored. At the end of the project Hung-Chih will either come up with a proposal for her dissertation on special needs characters in young adult literature and/or write an extended essay on the topic special needs children in young adult literature.

Student 2: Emily Chan
Exploring a topic in the field of children’s literature, particularly fairy tales.

Emily Chan will collect, read, and study a wide variety of classic fairy tales and modern adaptations of these classic fairy tales in order to find a number of texts to consider for further in-depth study and analysis. At the same time she will be reading theoretical background studies on fairy tales in general and on theoretical approaches that could be useful for a study of fairy tales. At the end of the project Emily will either come up with a proposal for her dissertation on a comparative study of classic and modern fairy tale adaptations and/or write an extended essay on the topic of adapted fairy tales.