A major part of doing research in any field is reading the peer-reviewed literature, both previous and current. This is really the only way to understand what work has been done, what work is being done now, and what questions the community as a whole finds interesting, important, and difficult. It is vital both in order to move forward in a field and to not unnecessarily reinvent the wheel. As it turns out, learning to read research literature is itself a skill (and even a slightly different one for each discipline!). While a substantial part of this class will be based on the text, there will be a number of readings from previous and current literature.
The readings will be announced in class and on the web at least a week in advance. Near the start of the term, the class will be divided into reading groups, each of which will be responsible for reading and discussing the designated papers in advance and producing a short (roughly one page) written critique of the readings (due at the beginning of the corresponding class). In addition, each group should produce a list of questions and/or observations on the readings that will serve as a basis for class discussion. The written critiques and questions will contribute to the participation part of your grade.
Last note on readings: I have a number of target topics and papers in mind, but I'll welcome suggestions. If there's a topic that you're curious about (and especially if you have a suggested paper or two), I'll be happy to consider it.