Reading Groups

[Muskrat01]

Anyone have any experience with graduate reading groups, especially in literature?

The situation is this: we have one (!) that is sort of run by students. It apparently dropped off last year (my first year). I offered to take it over next year (2010-2011), which would be fine except a) I have some conflicted feelings about there being only one graduate reading group in one specific area, and b)there seems to be some conflict over whether faculty should be involved, which, as I understand it, is one of the main selling points of these groups -- getting faculty and students together outside the classroom to have, you know, REAL conversations.

I think I am asking if anyone has suggestions for how to have an effective and useful group, and then also if it would seem weird or overbearing of me as a second-year PhD candidate with no experience in reading groups to start a new group (assuming I didn't take leadership of this old one) to address a different genre or era or whatever?

[fuzzylogician]

I'm not in literature but I've participated in a few reading groups in the past. At my department we have three regular reading groups for our three main subfields: two are student-run, one is faculty-run. All of them are scheduled such that as many students and faculty as possible can attend (there's a poll in the beginning of the year and everybody puts down their availability). Both are attended by both faculty and students throughout the year--usually there are about 7-10 regulars and others who join when they can or they are interested in the topic. We meet once a week and use the meeting to discuss interesting papers we read or talks we heard, and for students to discuss their current work or give practice talks for conferences. The topic for each reading group is announced in an email to the mailing list and in our weekly departmental-events email so everyone can know what's going on.

I don't see why anyone would think that there is anything pretentious about a second-year student organizing a reading group .In my department, 2nd years participate in running pretty much everything from conferences to colloqs to reading groups. Over the summer we now have two summer reading groups, both organized by students and focusing on a specific topic they found interesting. Again, no problem here either. If someone has another topic in mind, they are welcome to take the initiative and organize an activity. It's very easy and low cost to do so.

As for tips to make the group effective, here are some thoughts:

- useful groups are in my opinion smallish and informal, so it's not overbearing to speak up. Choose a topic that speaks to ~15 people in the department. Don't feel like your one reading group should (or can, for that matter) appeal to everyone.

- create a doodle poll and ask interested parties for their availability at the beginning of the year. Suggest time slots that don't conflict with major classes and that end no later than 4:30pm-5pm so that faculty with young children can attend. I know that faculty at my school are sometimes annoyed when we suggest times that they simply can't make.

- just because you organize the group doesn't mean you have to lead the discussion every week. Open the floor for others to take the initiative, though keep in mind that you'll likely have to lead the first 1-2 meetings before other people get into stride.

Having experience creating and running academic-style activities is very useful. Go for it and don't worry about appearances!