Critical Theory and Practice is a graduate-level survey of the most important developments in 20th and 21st-century literary theory and criticism and how to apply them to literary interpretation. It is also designed to help students develop and practice their presentation and critical writing skills. Each week's class work will deal with a particular literary theory/approach by focusing on major theoretical texts and then applying their main precepts to one or more literary texts. Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness will be the central primary work employed, but students will be able to choose other texts (including movies) that they would like to consider according to one or two of the theories/approaches. Each student will be responsible to participate in at least one group (2-4 members) presentation of a particular theoretical movement, approach, etc. using appropriate chapters from the texts as a foundation and other primary and secondary materials as support. Each presentation should be accompanied by a handout for each member of the course. The handout should include an annotated bibliography of secondary research sources the group has found most helpful. By mid-term, each student should choose one of the theories/approaches the course has dealt with by that time and submit a 2000-2500 word essay using it to interpret a primary work of their choice. At the end of the term, each will make an individual presentation on their final seminar paper topic and submit the completed essay one week after the final class meeting.