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MineralMan

(151,187 posts)

15. During my graduate studies,

Sun Apr 6, 2014, 12:51 PM

Apr 2014

I taught some of those freshman English classes. I found them fascinating, since they generally contained lots of people from other majors. Most of the regular staff found any way they could to avoid teaching such classes, which is why this Master's candidate found himself standing in front of a room full of 18 and 19-year-olds.

It was an education in itself, really. Finding ways to help those students learn to write clearly and concisely and why they needed to learn to create logical and useful prose taught me a great deal about my own processes.

I enjoyed it a lot.

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Highlight:

The Death of the English Degree, Brought on by Critical Analysis [View all] TheBlackAdder Apr 2014 OP

Proud holder of an English degree here... GreenEyedLefty Apr 2014 #1

+1000 Tom Ripley Apr 2014 #16

Yes, "corporatizing" does seem to be a factor. nt TheBlackAdder Apr 2014 #28

+1... Blue_Tires Apr 2014 #37

"What are you going to do with that?" deutsey Apr 2014 #43

Bravo!!!! Well said!!! BIG K&R!! riderinthestorm Apr 2014 #2

That's a function of the AP curriculum, though. knitter4democracy Apr 2014 #32

That same mindset permeates the N.J. Collegiate English Departments. TheBlackAdder Apr 2014 #35

I disagree. knitter4democracy Apr 2014 #42

R#1 & K for, I are an English (lit) major, & when *was* it not a poor choice for the marketplace?!1 UTUSN Apr 2014 #3

If you want a useful resource for grammar and usage, you could visit tblue37 Apr 2014 #7

Thanks. I "get" lie/lay and those basics. I wanted (back then) to be grammatically worthy of UTUSN Apr 2014 #10

I have a Masters in English. MineralMan Apr 2014 #4

Actual writing of poetry and plays would be in the Fine Arts FarCenter Apr 2014 #5

True. MineralMan Apr 2014 #6

Real and useful writing can be taught directly, without an English Departments many detours FarCenter Apr 2014 #8

During my graduate studies, MineralMan Apr 2014 #15

IIRC, the only time freshmen saw an English professor was a once a week lecture in the auditorium FarCenter Apr 2014 #29

With the exception of playwriting and music, most BFA & MFA limit Creative Writing skills. TheBlackAdder Apr 2014 #11

I'm of the opinion that writers and other artists don't have LuvNewcastle Apr 2014 #9

College provides an environment where artists/writers can interact with one another KittyWampus Apr 2014 #20

Got my degree in literature. Igel Apr 2014 #12

One of my goals, as a continuing education student, is to obtain your skill level or higher. TheBlackAdder Apr 2014 #18

You make some good points rjsquirrel Apr 2014 #13

Thanks. TheBlackAdder Apr 2014 #17

What misspellings do you find? uppityperson Apr 2014 #19

Great post TransitJohn Apr 2014 #14

Thanks John. TheBlackAdder Apr 2014 #22

Great post! I'm not an English major and I think it shows. :) However... Sarah Ibarruri Apr 2014 #21

Most University English Departments MineralMan Apr 2014 #23

Yes, I read the OP and that's what it said, but that's why I asked the why of it. Sarah Ibarruri Apr 2014 #24

The publication they require is academic publication. MineralMan Apr 2014 #25

Bingo! I couldn't have written it better. nt TheBlackAdder Apr 2014 #27

As an English novice, a continuing ed student, I'll give it a shot... TheBlackAdder Apr 2014 #26

Thank you. Very interesting explanation of how English departments tend to go nowadays Sarah Ibarruri Apr 2014 #30

What an excellent post. idendoit Apr 2014 #31

A few thoughts from this high school English teacher: knitter4democracy Apr 2014 #33

A few retorts: TheBlackAdder Apr 2014 #34

My replies to your retorts. ;) knitter4democracy Apr 2014 #41

I was a literature major, but this is an example of why I chose a creative writing emphasis. nomorenomore08 Apr 2014 #36

Um, an English Literature degree is not the same thing as a creative writing degree. 6000eliot Apr 2014 #38

Many people who obtain English degrees are not doing so to get some crappy job. bemildred Apr 2014 #39

Media & Communication also rank in the bottom tier of paying professions. nt TheBlackAdder Apr 2014 #40

Right, but you can get a job. nt bemildred Apr 2014 #44

They're at least partly right... Orsino Apr 2014 #45