This is an introductory course on how to conduct literary studies, focusing on such practical methodological issues as the ways to decide on a topic, to undertake researches, and to write up a polemic essay. Step by step, the course will familiarize students with the various skills of undertaking literary studies by detailed lecturing, pertinent assignments, and, most importantly, close reading of sample essays of contemporary criticism. Yet all this will be done through the close reading of the oeuvre (or a selection) of a particular canonized author so that the methodological pedagogy will not be abstract but concretely learned through specific examples, and a rather adequate grasp of such an author or a selection of her/his works will also be accomplished in the process. Besides, toward the end of the course, a synoptic explanation of major existing critical approaches will also be provided for the students’ reference.