Medievalmaniac

hazelbite - I HATE theory. I do literature. But lately it is really hard to publish without a recognizably theoretical framework for your argument. Ergo, I am doing enough theory to publish my thinking. I think a lot of us are in that particular boat...

If you check my blog here at gradcafe, I posted my SOP in its many forms and explained what was wrong with each of the earlier versions and what worked on the final one:

Yeah... because no one could figure out how to do it! lol

Nobody here but us Lit Majors trying to figure out this theory thing! lol At least it's postcolonialism, which makes some sense. Poststructuralism, anyone?

Yes, FINALLY starting. I got a clean bill of health in May - remission, Baby! I can toss out some titles, although I think many/most are more from the late 20th century - still, it's a start, right? lol the Empire Writes Back Ahmad, In Theory Anderson, Imagined Communities Bhabha, The Location of Culture Chakrabarty, Provincializing Europe Fanon, The Wretched of the Earth Gilroy, The Black Atlantic Said, Orientalism Lunsford and Ouzgane, Crossing Borderlands Spivak, A Critique of Postcolonial Reason Sinha Animal's People Coetzee Disgrace Ondaatje's Anil's Ghost. Seth, A Suitable Boy Achebe, Things Fall Apart other authors I know deal with postcolonial themes: Duras, Rushdie, Loomba(criticism), Chatterjee I hope there's something here that is useful to you!!

Grades matter for funding, but you generally have to maintain a "B" average. A "B+" is a 3.3 at your institution, so as long as your other grades are "A"s I would not worry too much about that aspect of your situation. What I would do, especially since you seem to be a little upset by this grade, is to go in and speak with the professor. The conversation should not be a "why did I only get a B+" or a "comparison of this B+ to all my other A grades" sort of deal, but rather, "can you tell me a little about what you see as my weaknesses as a student, and maybe give me some pointers to improve in those areas? I really want to excel, and my goal is to be an "A" student at this level. I'd appreciate your feedback and insight on how I can make that happen." In other words, use the professor's office hours, and go in there with the intent to really hear what s/he says - because obviously whether you like it or not, s/he perceives some weaknesses in your performance. You don't have to agree or like it, but it would be very wise to take this chance to learn what s/he is looking for and strive to incorporate that into your overall performance - it can only enhance your abilities, and will also a.) help you understand better what happened and provide a little closure b.) let the professor know you are open to constructive criticism and create good will and a good impression for future encounters and c) give you the chance to develop areas of your performance that might be holding you back without your knowledge.

My current work email includes my name, most recent degree, position and school, which provides credential snapshots - I use it for conference activity, abstract submission, and other scholarly activity, and also college admissions stuff (I teach at a high school) along with the requisite 79-word disclaimer message. My personal email includes my favorite quote du jour and a link to my blog, since I'm also a writer. I love quotes, unlike the folks above me. My university email will include my immediate contact information, modeled on the signatures of the professors on all the listservs I belong to - name, position, office, office hours, phone.

I'm reading the books on my Postcolonialisms syllabus, and the texts for the comp TAs, to get a head start on the semester. I'm also working on Latin, Welsh, and Old Norse Icelandic, reading several titles in Arthuriana, and working on two articles I'm submitting in July and August, respectively. And teaching full time, 6 classes a day. Never a dull moment!

I have a professor who did a double PhD in English and Writing, so it isn't entirely unheard of - although it is a LOT of work. I would check with the departments you are applying to to see what their particular regulations are.

I think you ought to re-apply to the school the waitlisted you and told you "any other year...", especially when they made it a point to tell you you had champions in their department. I know if it were me, I would certainly re-apply to that department.

I second Poeeter and Bespeckled. I blogged about the changes to the test last November when I took it - check my gradcafe blog for the post. the prep materials on the subject test website were quite misleading - it WAS much more reading comprehension with full-page passages attached to 6-8 questions, and there were only a handful of identifications. ALSO, it was heavy on the socio-political connections (what major event was going on when the following passage was written"? - this type of question was very prevalent in the reading comp. sections. Reading the Norton Anthology introductory sections to each era would be helpful.

You don't request a certain amount. You have to fill out the financial aid form, and check the box for financial aid on the application. At that point it is at the department and graduate school's discretion to award or not to award merit-based fellowship funding available in-school. It is your responsibility to check into and apply for outside funding via national fellowship and scholarship programs - there's a thread for that on the forum. i hope that clears up your question?

Point of clarification: Emerita CAN teach courses and they CAN serve on dissertation committees. Their role in the department really depends on the school they are at. At some schools, they can only serve on the dissertation committee as non academic council members, on others, they can count as academic/faculty members. At some schools they can teach graduate level courses; at others only undergraduate and general ed. courses, and at still others they give a seminar once in a while or do not take on further teaching responsibilities. They generally can NOT serve as dissertation advisers, because they are no longer designated as full-time active faculty members.