Academia and the Classics
© Roxianne Moore
I'm enjoying my odyssey into the topics in Books and Writing. As a manager, I do have the opportunity to read the wonderful variety of articles posted each week. In reading the weekly, biweekly and monthly updates, though, I sometimes lose track of the flow of each topic. I don't get to see the smaller picture each individual editor presents. That's one of the reasons I decided to do these reviews: I get an overview of each topic and also make others aware of what they may be missing if they frequent only a few selected topics.
Changing the subject slightly, my own topic will now be updated weekly. I chose to change my schedule because I just can't keep up with the wealth of information available. Right now, I have a half dozen articles planned after I've finished my Suite 101 reviews, and I'm sure I'll be generating even more ideas before the reviews are done. In the next month or so, look for articles on Finding an Agent, What Makes a Good Writing Newsletter, and Resources for Finding New Markets.
This week, I'd like to delve into the world of classic literature and academic writing. If you haven't taken a look at either since leaving college, they're certainly worth a glance. For those students out there among my readers, I'm sure you'll find these discussions and articles more stimulating that a lecture!
Academic Writing: More Than Essays
Even if you've left your term paper days behind, you can still benefit from Kathy Bell's Academic Writing. She takes you step by step through the process of:
- choosing and narrowing your topic
- turning a topic into a thesis statement
- finding traditional reference materials
- determining the right length for your essay
Even if you're just fiddling around with an article idea, trying to make it fit an editor's needs, you'll find Bell's suggestions helpful. Her essay on developing a thesis statement is a good guide to mapping out any piece of nonfiction, from an essay to an in-depth investigative article.
What is Classic Literature?
Susan Jensen has an eclectic view of Classic Literature. While you may not agree with all her choices, you're sure to enjoy her reviews and synopses. Her articles are thoughtful and thought-provoking without the heavy pedantic tone common to discussions of the classics.
The current article on her topic is What is Classic Literature?. Jensen spends a lot of time pondering what others have said about the classics, perhaps to give us a base for understanding her own choices.
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