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Graduate Studies News

Announcing Fools' Night: A Celebration of Graduate Student Research

The first annual departmental celebration of graduate student research-which the graduate students have labeled Fools' Night, recalling the wise fool character in literature-will take place on Wednesday, March 31st, at 6:00.Graduate students will be presenting their scholarship, reading their creative work, and performing music in an evening highlighting the dynamic achievements of students in our program.All graduate students and undergraduate students in English and all faculty are encouraged to join us.

Conference Participants

Five M.A. students (Patricia Burgey, Josh Grant, Mandi Lesak, Jane McLain, and Karen Miovas) attended the Georgia Graduate Student Interdisciplinary Conference at UGA in Athens on Feb. 20 and 21st. Karen Miovas presented a paper on literary appropriations of South Pole explorers. All students participated in workshop sessions on Successful Conference Presentations and Conference Networking.

Mandi Lesak beautifully represented the English department as a Humanities speaker at the university-wide Celebration of Graduate Student Research on March 4. Mandi presented her scholarly paper "Tragedy and Comedy in The Iceman Cometh."

Phillip Mitchell will be presenting his paper for a departmental colloquium on March 16. His scholarly project "Silence and Contrast: Mary Rowlandson between the Two Hands of God" will be presented in San Antonio in April. He also was selected to do a poster presentation of his study of Henry James at the Celebration of Graduate Student Research.

Oral Exam Workshop

All graduate students are invited to an M.A. Oral Exam Workshop on Wed. March 17th at 5:30. The Director of Graduate Studies and two other professors will lead the workshop, where we will simulate the real experience of being tested over the reading list, go through sample questions and answers, and answer any questions students may have.

Teaching Assistants

Six M.A. students (Karen Miovas, Crystal Shelnutt, Jane McLain, Patricia Burgey, Mandi Lesak, and Melissa Farley) are currently working as teaching assistants in large sections of freshman composition. The experience has been challenging and rewarding for both the graduate students and the lecturer mentors with whom they have worked (Mitzi McFarland, Lori Lipoma, and Pat Reinhard). Mandi Lesak points out the relationship between being a graduate student and a teacher, "Working as a Teaching Assistant is an invaluable experience. As I am learning how to teach, I am also learning how to be a better student." Jane McLain weighs in on the collaborative model: "The team teaching aspect of the TA experience has proven invaluable. Not only do I have a veteran teacher to guide and mentor me, but I also have a fellow student to share ideas with." The lecturers, in turn, have gained valuable experience as well. Mitzi McFarland points out, "I have become a much more conscientious teacher. Working with Karen and Crystal has given me a constant audience, and that makes me more accountable, more self-aware as an instructor. As Pat Reinhard concludes, "By combining our life experience and our strengths as teachers, we together can do more-especially with so many students-than I could ever do alone."

Oral Exam Workshop

The department will offer all graduate students an M.A. Oral Exam Workshop on March 17th at 5:30. The Director of Graduate Studies and two other professors will lead the workshop, where we will simulate the real experience of being tested over the reading list, go through sample questions and answers, and answer any questions students may have. Three students this summer will be the first graduates to participate in the oral exam over the reading list.