davidipse

Dear people;
 
I spent the morning leafing through Amazon, so to speak, researching research books. I'll be attending a doctorate program in English coming fall and would like to make my work there as efficient as I can, so as not to take an overly long time to finish the degree.
 
So far, based on Amazon reviews and some skimming, the following are the books that I feel will be most worth reading on this subject. Most are writing guides and others address other aspects of research. If anyone has read any of these, or has suggestions about others, I'd be very grateful if you would share your thoughts (I don't want to read them all, and one has more trust in this forum than in Amazon reviews, unsurprisingly.)
 
Research/Graduate Study:
 
1) Graduate Study for the 21st Century: How to Build an Academic Career in the Humanities - Semenza
 
2) Writing Your Dissertation in 15 Minutes a Day - Bolker
 
3) The Craft of Research (3d ed) - Booth, Colomb, Williams (also recommended by a prof.)
 
4) Literary Research Guide - Harner
 
Academic Writing Guides:
 
5) How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing - Silvia
 
6) They Say, I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic Writing - Graff
 
General Writing Guides:
 
7) Writing with Style: Conversations on the Art of Writing - Timble
 
8) On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction - Zinser
 
 
 
Thanks!
 
 

I received an acceptance email yesterday from the English Department, but my online application still says "decision pending." 

Yes I'm reading far too much into the augury of the results board, but my understanding is that if you haven't heard from UCLA that's a good sign. In 2012 they seemed to admit everyone first and then send out rejections. Last year no one got in on the first day they sent out decisions, only a couple people on the second day, but four people were accepted on the third day. Tomorrow marks the third day that they have sent out decisions this year.
 
Hold fast.

I received an acceptance email yesterday from the English Department, but my online application still says "decision pending." 

I received an acceptance email yesterday from the English Department, but my online application still says "decision pending." 

Schools want applicants who can produce good work, period. Or rather, applicants who show potential to produce good work in the future. These expectations may or may not be proportionate to the amount of lines an applicant has on their CV. I do not think a school would pass up a Master's student with conference presentations or published articles who has good ideas and is producing good things in favor of someone fresh out of undergrad who doesn't show much promise, all just because the latter is in fact "fresh". And if they do, well, it says a lot about that school that they think they cannot have a positive influence on someone who's already got good things going on. What do they do with new faculty then?
 
On the other hand, I don't see why a school would look over a brilliant, but perhaps clumsier applicant with a short CV in favor of someone who may have a Master's, but aren't producing anything the department can work with (which is not to say it's not good, but it doesn't fit).
 
Or maybe I've let my own department's thoughts (or what I perceive to be their thoughts) cloud my mind enough to state these as generalities. I just know that my own cohort is a complete mixed bag; some people have their Master's, some don't. Some have peer reviewed articles under their belt, most don't. 

I have good things to say about "Marketing for Scientists: How to Shine in Tough Times" by Marc Kuchner (http://www.amazon.com/Marketing-Scientists-Shine-Tough-Times/dp/1597269948)
 
The premise is interesting--an astronomer has a side career as a country music singer and applies what he learns about marketing as a country singer to use in the sciences. From his experience in academia, it helps give insight on how things work from points of view that a grad student might not have experienced yet. Also, there are good tips on send the message you want to your audience!

The literature review : six steps to success- Lawrence A. Machi
Good General book. The literature review : a step-by-step guide for students- Diana Ridley
More basic, one I've given to undergraduates working for me/just getting started with academic writing/research. At the helm : a laboratory navigator- Kathy Barker
Less writing & more STEM research, but really useful. It's one of my go-to gifts for friends just starting lab research. Writing Your Journal Article in Twelve Weeks: A Guide to Academic Publishing Success- Wendy Laura Belcher
Great advice for putting together journal articles. A PhD Is Not Enough!: A Guide to Survival in Science- Peter J. Feibelman
Great advice for anyone in STEM. I'll add more as I think of them. 
 
 

I use They Say/I Say as a textbook in comp 1 class these days. It's really too simplistic for a grad student in a lot of ways. If you're one of those people that need help writing to begin with, that would be a good book. It has some really handy templates for transitions, signal phrases, and so on. But if you're that uncomfortable with writing itself, take a class instead.

Zinnser is a good book on writing clean prose. I prefer Joseph M. Williams' Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace since it's aimed more at academic writing while Zinnser is more about commercial writing. Buy the MLA style guide (or better, join MLA and they'll send you one with your membership). If there is a point of contention on writing rules, that's the only rule book that matters. Yeah, the OWL at Purdue has the MLA formatting guides, but the book is better. After that, this website rocks as basic grammar rule book: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/index.htm

Anyway, writing texts come in two basic flavors: rule books and rhetorics. Don't buy a rule book, other than your field's style manual, unless you hate using websites as a rule book.

On a complete side note, you might find Willims' article "The Phenomenology of Error" very interesting.

As for doing research itself, the MLA handbooks has some helpful hints. The problem is that research in an English department is different than most places. First of all, English houses literature and comp/rhet. They do research completely different.

Look for books that discuss how to do literary criticism. Read PMLA and journals in your particular specialty.

Thanks, Eigen. I'll definitely read at least the Belcher; it's the 3rd time someone's recommended it to me. 
 
Though I study literature, I'm actually intrigued by those STEM titles—just to know how things work out in a lab.

I'm going to say something that I feel I have the right to say after getting kicked to the curb on my ass 3 and a half times.
 
Do. Not. Base. Your. Self-worth. on. grad admissions.
 
Or you will want to throw yourself in front of a bus.
 
You want to, and it's easy to do, and I did it, and I didn't listen to other people when they told me not to do it, but I'm going to try to tell you now.
 
If you get in, you're awesome. If you don't, you're still awesome.  And you're also not out forever if you don't get in this round. This is my third season, with an all-but-my-undergrad-institution fail for my MA.  And I did it again, and I adjuncted for a while, and I reapplied, And this time, I did get a very nice acceptance.  So if it's what you want, and it doesn't happen right away, keep going.  And if you do keep applying, or choose not to, remember that this process does not assign your value as a person, or even as an academic.
 
Just my two cents--you are all so freaking amazing, and I'd like to try to stem the tide of sadness and anxiety I've seen today. <3 to all of you.

Share it with us! Congratulations! 

Congratulations! Berkeley hosts some excellent Romanticists, so I'm sure you'll a great time. 

Congrats on Berkeley!

I have never had Bristow, but I hear he is one fabulous man and a bit of diva (in a good way!). I have only hear lovely things about him. I know a few people who have him as their thesis advisor. And he is demanding, yet, caring about those who have earned it!

I cannot speak to Mellor, or Yenser. There's so many professors here, so it's hard to know them all. But I thought I would have at least had one of your possible advisors. Lol.

And super congrats to you davidipse!

If either of you have questions about ucla feel free to ask!! It's an awesome place to be. Although of course I'm just a lowly undergrad, so cannot answer specific graduate question. All my TAs have been wonderfully nice people! So all incoming students will have friendly peers.

Can I high-jack this? I love James Merrill, so it would be great to work with Stephen Yenser. I really hope I get accepted. Do you know anything about him as an advisor? (thanks!)
 
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Also, fantastic news today from Berkeley. At a loss as to who to share it with, and what to do with myself, and grateful for this forum. I wish everyone who's in the wait speedy relief from this ridiculous state of suspension, and congratulations to the already (if only partially) relieved. It's been hell. 

Can I high-jack this? I love James Merrill, so it would be great to work with Stephen Yenser. I really hope I get accepted. Do you know anything about him as an advisor? (thanks!)
 
------------
Also, fantastic news today from Berkeley. At a loss as to who to share it with, and what to do with myself, and grateful for this forum. I wish everyone who's in the wait speedy relief from this ridiculous state of suspension, and congratulations to the already (if only partially) relieved. It's been hell. 

Can I high-jack this? I love James Merrill, so it would be great to work with Stephen Yenser. I really hope I get accepted. Do you know anything about him as an advisor? (thanks!)
 
------------
Also, fantastic news today from Berkeley. At a loss as to who to share it with, and what to do with myself, and grateful for this forum. I wish everyone who's in the wait speedy relief from this ridiculous state of suspension, and congratulations to the already (if only partially) relieved. It's been hell. 

Can I high-jack this? I love James Merrill, so it would be great to work with Stephen Yenser. I really hope I get accepted. Do you know anything about him as an advisor? (thanks!)
 
------------
Also, fantastic news today from Berkeley. At a loss as to who to share it with, and what to do with myself, and grateful for this forum. I wish everyone who's in the wait speedy relief from this ridiculous state of suspension, and congratulations to the already (if only partially) relieved. It's been hell. 

Can I high-jack this? I love James Merrill, so it would be great to work with Stephen Yenser. I really hope I get accepted. Do you know anything about him as an advisor? (thanks!)
 
------------
Also, fantastic news today from Berkeley. At a loss as to who to share it with, and what to do with myself, and grateful for this forum. I wish everyone who's in the wait speedy relief from this ridiculous state of suspension, and congratulations to the already (if only partially) relieved. It's been hell.