Thursday, December 17th, 2009
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3:51 pm - Giving papers at conferences...
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funkyturtle
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Has anyone on here ever given a paper at a conference? How does that work, exactly? I've been "strongly advised" to participate in a conference being put on by my school. I've never been to a conference and have no idea how to present a paper at one. Is it just standing up and talking about something? What if you don't know that much? Do you just go "Um... this is what I do know, which is probably more than what everyone else here knows, but really isn't much at all... and here are some resources I found"? Is there a "giving papers at conferences for dummies" guide out there? Is there a list of things not to do? Any resources or advice or... anything... would be wonderful.
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(6 comments | comment on this)
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Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
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7:05 pm - thesis about Herrick's poem The Vine
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phantasmm
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Hi, I'm trying to write a paper about Herrick's erotic poem, The Vine. I just have the hardest time thinking of Thesis statements. Can someone be willing to help me out?
Please and Thank You!
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(7 comments | comment on this)
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Tuesday, December 15th, 2009
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2:23 pm - MLA format for Epigraph?
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devilishkurumi
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Hello, everyone! I actually found this community when I googled the exact thing that's in my subject line. My senior thesis is coming along pretty well, considering I only have a few more days to finish it, but one thing has been eluding me: how do I format an epigraph in MLA style?
Currently, I have it indented on both the left and right margins, alignment: justified, with the quote in quotation marks and the source (Author, Book Name) in a line beneath it. I've looked everywhere, but as I don't have an MLA handbook on hand, I can't find out if I've done it right or not.
My thesis is on PostSecret, by the by, with an emphasis on Foucault. I was going to include Lacan and Derrida into my reading, but Lacan didn't pan out and Derrida... well, I love the man dearly, but when you're trying to finish three papers and study for two finals, it's a little hard to sit down and analyze him!
current mood:  curious
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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Thursday, December 10th, 2009
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1:08 pm
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telnaf
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Hi everyone. As the semester is winding down, I am thinking a lot about my major statement that the English department at my college requires all English majors to write. It was an interesting process trying to put into words exactly why you want to be an English major. It is by no means a formal paper. It will only be read by my professor to make sure we do the assignment, never graded, and filed away for records. (Well, the best statement of the semester wins a prize at the department party at the end of the year.)
So, now that I've thought about my reasoning I figured it would be fun to see other people's responses. Why do you all want to be English majors or why were you an English major?
ETA: Sorry I forgot to come back and check on this. (Finals week and all. You guys know how that goes...)
Some people wanted to know my reason. The paper is 3-4 pages, so I'll summarize here for you. I want to be an English major because I love to questions things, including texts. I question every part of the text and try to see many possible readings of it. It reminds me of a giant puzzle. Also, I have always loved reading as a comforting activity. And I think being an English major gives you great critical thinking skills that can be implemented both in a job setting and in thinking about and observing the world around us. : )
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(16 comments | comment on this)
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Saturday, December 5th, 2009
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6:44 pm - Help finding a story
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katia_chan
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Hey all,
Does anyone know of a place online where I can find Flannery O'connor's "Good country People"? I'm using it for a comparison in a paper, but I don't have my anthology with me, and all I can find is criticisms and analyses.
If anyone can send me in the right direction, I'd really appreciate it.
TTFN
current mood: Busy papering
current music: Titanic - Roses Theme
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
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9:24 pm
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beginstobloom
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I'm in an Intro to Publishing class. I'm supposed to be writing a paper on "any topic in publishing that interests you." I'm totally drawing a blank. I thought about doing something on the way foreign rights work, but I'd rather do something a little easier and less technical. I was thinking Kindle, electronic publishing, etc., but I think everyone will be doing that. Any suggestions?
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(5 comments | comment on this)
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Tuesday, December 1st, 2009
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1:31 pm - Denis Johnson/Tree of Smoke
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cognosco
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Hi, everyone! I'm writing a paper about Denis Johnson's Tree of Smoke and am having trouble finding information on Johnson's background outside of some very basic biographical facts. If anyone could point me to an interview (other than the extremely unhelpful one on the National Book Award website) or a more complete biography of Johnson, I would appreciate it! Also, I haven't run across any articles besides book reviews that discuss Tree of Smoke, so if you know of one and could tell me where to find it, I will literally bake and send you a package of cookies if you so desire. I would be that happy.
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(comment on this)
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Wednesday, November 25th, 2009
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7:46 pm - Jane Austen ideas for undergraduate research
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manderleys
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Hey everyone, I'm an undergraduate English major and I'm considering applying for a summer research grant from my college. We have to complete the application (an abstract, works cited, etc) before proposing it to an advisor who then has to approve it and then I can formally apply for the grant. I'm interested in doing a topic relating to Jane Austen and I have a professor in mind (I've had him for two British lit courses, both of which we covered Austen in, and I'm taking him again next semester) but technically I can't consult him for help until I have my proposal done.
My questions...
I'm interested in analyzing how the relationship between the parents of Austen's heroines affects the choice of men the heroines end up marrying. So for a quick example, how in Emma her father has little control over her and sees no wrong in her she needs Mr. Knightley to guide her etc etc. Any opinions on this idea? I've done some searches in academic journals and haven't found a ton of info on the topic so if anyone knows of work already done on the subject, that would be very helpful too!
Or, if you have any other ideas on research pertaining to Austen I'd appreciate that too!
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(16 comments | comment on this)
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Tuesday, November 24th, 2009
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2:42 pm
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fleaux
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I am looking for living poets who have been clearly influenced by one of the following: William Carlos Williams, Wallace Stevens, Robert Lowell, or James Schuyler. It's for a paper I have to write, and I have some ideas about whom to write about, but I thought this would be a good way to discover some poetry I otherwise wouldn't have. Does anyone have any recommendations?
Thanks!
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(3 comments | comment on this)
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Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
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10:53 pm - Help?
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inparentheses
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Mind if I pick your brains?
I'm attempting a thesis on Borges and was wondering if anyone here could tell me of any texts that play with the idea of speaking or writing something into existence -- or just the ontological properties of words in general. I'm looking for anything from fiction to religious texts, critical essays, linguistic theory, etc.
Thank you!
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(9 comments | comment on this)
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Sunday, November 15th, 2009
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1:52 pm - Shakespeare
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manderleys
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Hey everyone, I'm an English major in undergrad and I'd love some help explicating a piece as part of an assignment.
For my shakespeare course I need to respond to this quote as part of a term paper. I've followed along in class so I know the plays well enough, but I can't take a solid stance on this quote either way - we can choose to either refute, defend, or modify it in our thesis. I have plays and examples in mind to respond for each of the scenarios but I'm torn on which are the most solid... I'm basically just interested in how you understand the quote and if you have any suggestions on how to mold it. Thanks!
In “What is a Shakespearean Tragedy?” Tom McAlinden writes,
Shakespearean tragedy is centrally concerned with the destruction of human
greatness embodied in individuals endowed with ‘sovereignty of nature’ (Coriolanus
IV.7.35): men are instinctively referred to as ‘noble’ (in the moral or characterological
sense) by those who know them, even their enemies. However, what constitutes true nobility in action invariably proves problematic for the hero, especially when he becomes
entangled in the ethical contradictions associated with the notion of ‘honour’ . . . .
The hero’s fall involves a self-betrayal or loss of identity which constitutes a breakdown in the balance of a richly endowed nature, one in which feeling is so powerful that it is never far from the point of destructive excess. It is this nature which gives rise to the notion that what makes the tragic protagonists great is also what destroys them . . . .
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(5 comments | comment on this)
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Saturday, November 14th, 2009
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5:15 pm - Issues....
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funkyturtle
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I really need to talk to someone who is at the level of around 4th year or masters or higher. I'm having trouble getting back into grad studies. My brain isn't on the right track right now and I'm not asking the right questions or having that sense of what a good thesis is.
I have to do a research paper. I don't even really remember what a research paper is with respect to other kinds of papers and my prof isn't being very much help. I'd like to bounce a few ideas off of someone who knows wtf they're doing and get suggestions on what to modify.
I'm not looking for people telling me things to look up or giving me specifics. Nor am I looking for someone to read a paper (paper's not written yet). I want to email people some ideas and then have them say things like "that's a good idea, but that's not a thesis" or "great, but what is your point?" only I'm already asking myself these questions. I need people to ask me the questions I'm not thinking of.
I also need to put together the framework of this paper in the next 2 days before I visit my prof on Monday, because when I visit him, I'm going to give him the outline of what I'm doing and then find out if I should be dropping the course (voluntary withdrawal date is Nov 18). So not only do I need someone to bounce ideas off of, I need them fast.
Anyone willing to lend me a hand?
My email is dreaded.night.turtle@gmail.com
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
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3:16 pm - Roadside Picnic Anyone?
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funkyturtle
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I'm doing a paper on Arkady and Boris Strugatsky's novella "Roadside Picnic" and I'd really like to talk with someone about the ending.
Has anyone on here read it? If so, email me: dreaded.night.turtle@gmail.com because I'd really like to pick your brain.
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(comment on this)
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4:04 pm - Women in 18th Century Comedy -- HELP!
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colormeeggshell
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So, I need some help. I'm currently taking a course in Restoration and 18th Century Literature, and have been assigned my final term paper. I would like to write about the portrayal of women in 18th century comedies (specifically in Sheridan's The School for Scandal and Wycherley's The Country Wife) and then compare it to the portrayal of women in Hannah Cowley's Belle's Stratagem.
Sounds fairly simple, right?
It would be, except I'm having a very difficult time finding good sources, you know, the good peer-reviewed scholarly stuff, to get started and to back some of my own thoughts on the subject.
Does anyone know of any good articles that they may have used in the past pertaining to gender and 18th century comedy? I met with my professor and she gave me some good tips about reading just about anything I can find, but the issue is finding it.
Any suggestions/helpful comments would be most appreciated!
Thanks so much!
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(10 comments | comment on this)
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Tuesday, November 10th, 2009
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10:00 am
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Monday, November 9th, 2009
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9:47 pm - 'End of our world' Graeco-Roman literature?
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karcy
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This is not associated to anything I am studying, just one of the curious things I'm wondering about. This is not related to English; I'm asking just in case some of you might know something.
I read in Zondervan's A History of Christianity that at the rise of Christianity as a replacement of Roman culture, the Romans felt a sense that the world was old and at the end of its age, as the old gods were discarded for a newer one -- in other words, they had this sense that they were watching the end of their civilization.
Was there any art or literature produced during this period? Not Christian ones; that I'm fairly familiar with.
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(2 comments | comment on this)
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Thursday, November 5th, 2009
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2:25 pm - YOU ARE HERE:Finding the Life You Want In The City You Live
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metrogq
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Over the next few weeks, You Are Here will explore the proto-typical urban center of the US. These articles will relate strategies and constants that are discovered and developed through surveys, interviews and experiments in the Columbus area, a noted test market. Topics will range from how to become a coffee shop regular in 2 weeks, to karaoke-ing with gusto, and plenty in between. Drawing on expertise and opinions from professionals and layman alike, You Are Here will give So and So a better understanding of how to find a better understanding of his city. READ MORE HERE.
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(5 comments | comment on this)
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Wednesday, November 4th, 2009
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10:04 am - Margaret Atwood
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flamingcarrot
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Has anyone read "Year of the Flood"? I am on the fence about taking the time from my regular school work to read it and I am a big fan of her work.
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(4 comments | comment on this)
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Saturday, October 31st, 2009
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8:41 pm - Kundera quote
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tatianalarina
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Can anyone remember where Kundera says, "Every Frenchman is different, all actors are the same," and goes on to describe fame and compare the popularity of a doctor with that of an actor?
Which books is it??
Thanks! x
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(4 comments | comment on this)
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Friday, October 30th, 2009
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10:02 am - Leaving a Paper Trail: Greeting Cards For All Occassions
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metrogq
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A lot of people believe that Sweetest Day is merely an invention by greeting card companies to try and capitalize on those poor schnooks whose girlfriends can’t make it until next February. And this of course comes before the barrage of end of year holidays in which we become so bogged down by goodwill and cheer that it becomes less, well, cheerful a time. Luckily, the brunt of minor holiday worries are over, and you are left unscathed. That doesn’t, however, mean the rest of the year is a snap. On the contrary, there’s inevitably that one gal in the office that insists on getting everyone a card for every minute holiday, from Arbor Day to National Talk Like a Pirate Day. So should you feel like a schmuck for not returning the gesture? Not necessarily. But with the plethora of greeting card options available from purveyors like Hallmark, there’s not always an easy way to tell when to card, when to send an email blast with some holiday-specific witticisms, and when to do nothing at all. READ MORE.
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(7 comments | comment on this)
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