Todo Tiene Su Como-Se-Llama

The Paper Trail

Well, I'm finally dropping pretty comfortably into the swing of things . . . getting used to my schedule, my homework load . . . moving past the introductory material in each class and into the interesting parts (mostly).

And, although the due dates for my major projects, presentations, and papers are still a month or two down the road, I already have topics pretty much locked in. And I am very excited about them.

In History of the English Language we have been assigned a 5-7 page "expository/analytical" paper with fairly loose parameters. Basically, it has to involve the English language . . . somehow. I plan to write on the extensive use of literary allusions in our everyday speech/writing. I don't have a solidified thesis as yet, but it will most likely involve the use of mythology and allusion as a deeply human phenomenon which "reflects a more profound reality."

In American Literature I we are required to make a one hour group presentation on one of six possible topics. Randy, Gallagher, and I signed up to present on Edgar Allen Poe and Herman Melville . . . there are two others in the group, but who cares? We have already begun the process of molding the presentation to our collective will. Our tentative title: "Poe & Melville: And Now For Something Completely Different."

In 19th Century Europe we have to write an eight page paper on the "private life and values" of a major historical figure of the period. I have narrowed my choices down to Bismarck, Tsarina Alexandra, and Queen Victoria . . . and leaning heavily towards the first. Whatever I choose will be fun, though.

In Journalism and Publications we will be answering a question (developed by ourselves) "relevant to the role of journalism in modern North American society" in 12 pages or less (I think). I have settled, for the moment, on an examination of the influence that the media has had on fundamentalist controversies and/or the resulting popularity of the contested items or organizations in question, with Harry Potter as a test case.

In World Literature through Film I will be a member of a group that is in charge of the entire three hour class period for one night. We must select and show all or part of a movie based on a piece of literature that is not British or American. Martinez, Wilson, and I have decided to present Tevye the Dairyman by Sholom Aleichem (Yiddish literature . . . obviously) and the movie Fiddler on the Roof.

I am looking forward to working on all of these things over the course of the semester (which is truly a rarity). Each has its own particular draw, but I'm especially happy to have the opportunity to indulge my recently acquired mania for all things Yiddish in the name of getting an A in a junior-level HNRS lit class. How cool is that?

Posted by Jared at September 21, 2004 05:52 PM | TrackBack