This is an obligatory seminar for first year PhD students and master students intending to enrol for a fast-track PhD. The seminar aims to accompany students in their formulation of a research outline and literature review. Students will write a historiographic essay that will serve as a basis for the larger research paper that is to be completed in the second semester. Weekly meetings will serve to discuss and critique work in progress and develop and refine the research proposal. The seminar is a pre-requisite to Doctoral Seminar II.