Undergraduate Research and the Enrollment Crisis in English Literature

2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-60
Author(s):  
Brian Cooper Ballentine
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Research ◽  
English Literature ◽  
Academic Experience ◽  
Research Experiences ◽  
Curricular Intervention ◽  
Undergraduate Research Experiences ◽  
Stem Disciplines ◽  
Scholarly Identity ◽  
Incoming Students

Abstract Declines in undergraduate enrollments in English literature are well documented, and departments need to develop a coherent set of productive, practical responses to enrollment pressures. Drawing on studies of undergraduate research in STEM disciplines, this article explores how undergraduate research experiences in English literature can be envisioned not as unique, one-on-one experiences for motivated and interested students but as a curricular intervention that spans the undergraduate academic experience, fosters scholarly identity, and promotes inclusivity in scholarly training. Rather than functioning “by arrangement,” undergraduate research in English should be a coordinated enterprise that is established as an expectation for incoming students and a feature of every level of the major.

scholarly journals Assessment of Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences: A Meeting Report

2014 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Corwin Auchincloss ◽  
Sandra L. Laursen ◽  
Janet L. Branchaw ◽  
Kevin Eagan ◽  
Mark Graham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Research ◽  
Biology Education ◽  
Operational Definition ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Meeting Report ◽  
Research Experience ◽  
Research Experiences ◽  
Undergraduate Research Experiences ◽  
Foundation Program ◽  
Definition Of

The Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experiences Network (CUREnet) was initiated in 2012 with funding from the National Science Foundation program for Research Coordination Networks in Undergraduate Biology Education. CUREnet aims to address topics, problems, and opportunities inherent to integrating research experiences into undergraduate courses. During CUREnet meetings and discussions, it became apparent that there is need for a clear definition of what constitutes a CURE and systematic exploration of what makes CUREs meaningful in terms of student learning. Thus, we assembled a small working group of people with expertise in CURE instruction and assessment to: 1) draft an operational definition of a CURE, with the aim of defining what makes a laboratory course or project a “research experience”; 2) summarize research on CUREs, as well as findings from studies of undergraduate research internships that would be useful for thinking about how students are influenced by participating in CUREs; and 3) identify areas of greatest need with respect to CURE assessment, and directions for future research on and evaluation of CUREs. This report summarizes the outcomes and recommendations of this meeting.

Mentoring High-Impact Undergraduate Research Experiences

2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-21
Author(s):  
Jessie L. Moore ◽  
Angela Myers ◽  
Hayden McConnell
Keyword(s):  
Research Team ◽  
Undergraduate Research ◽  
High Impact ◽  
English Studies ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Research Experiences ◽  
Undergraduate Research Experiences ◽  
One To One

Abstract This article illustrates the Ten Salient Practices of Undergraduate Research Mentors with examples for English studies. The authors include both one-to-one and research-team examples, recognizing that although much English scholarship is solitary, peers and near peers play key roles in high-quality, mentored undergraduate research experiences.

The Trajectory of an Undergraduate Researcher

2022 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-147
Author(s):  
Andrea Bresee ◽  
Joyce Kinkead
Keyword(s):  
Research Methods ◽  
Undergraduate Research ◽  
Methods Course ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Research Experiences ◽  
Undergraduate Research Experiences ◽  
English Majors ◽  
English Major

Abstract This article focuses on the progress of an undergraduate English major on the scholarship continuum outlined by Laurie Grobman (2009). The student engaged in authentic research in a research methods course for English majors, a class that also meets a university requirement of “quantitative intensive,” and she completed two research projects of note. Her journey has implications and significance for faculty in designing undergraduate research experiences.

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