My English teachers (part 5)

(Most recent post in this series—Nov. 2. Others at irregular intervals and in the Archives.)

I went to college under the impression that I would major in art. I only vaguely recall now why I thought I could have any kind of future as an artist, but fortunately, after one or two college-level art courses, I realized that (a) I wasn’t nearly as talented as I had somehow been led to believe, and (b) I didn’t care enough about art to work at it as hard as I would need to in order to get better. College is like that, or can be.

So I changed majors to something I had always cared about: English. The English department at St. Andrews included a strong creative writing and modern poetry contingent, led by Ron Bayes. I took a modern/contemporary poetry course with him, in which the foundations were Ezra Pound, T.S. Eliot, William Carlos Williams, H.D., and then Roethke, Stafford, and the Black Mountain poets—Creeley, Olson, Levertov, etc. He taught us how to read and appreciate these open forms, and gave us the skills to develop our own tastes. Having spent some time in Japan, Bayes was also enthusiastic about Japanese poetry and the fiction of Yukio Mishima; for me, the poetry took, the fiction did not.

Bayes is an encourager—not only in the writing workshops I recall, when probably some of us should have been stifled a bit more. He supported my applications to creative writing MA/MFA programs. Thanks to Bayes, I knew that “Old Possum” was a nickname of T.S. Eliot (as in Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats), enabling me to answer the Final Jeopardy clue correctly, even though I still only came in second. And when I co-edited a book recently, Bayes was kind enough to e-mail congratulations, even though the book was nothing to do with poetry.

Bayes is still going strong and apparently unstoppable. As I prepared to compose this post, I googled him and the first result was a story about his readings this past week in Wilmington. Dozens of SAPC English majors and writers will testify to his skills as a poet and teacher, and to his graciousness.

My English Teachers—part 4

The last time I posted in this irregular series was in January, marking the passing of my grad school Middle English professor, George Kane. Before that, I wrote about my boarding-school teachers. In between, I completely skipped high school and college, but not because I didn’t have important and memorable teachers.

Actually, all my high school teachers were quite impressive, given that many of them were conscientious objectors who had chosen to teach at an American school in central Africa as an alternative to serving in the military in the late 1960s. High standards, concern for the community and the world, and a sense of adventure and possibility—they demonstrated all these values along with the subjects they taught.

My senior year, Mrs. Wiebe also supervised the school newspaper and yearbook, and I worked on both. These enterprises took on great importance in our small pond. The only professional work on either was the printing. The photography, layout, writing, art, and editing was all done by students. Compared to today’s glossy computer-generated productions, they look quite amateurish—but amateur in the original sense of work done for love. Along with a bit of competition and desire to snap the administration’s suspenders. I also wrote reams of bad poetry which seems to have been admired by some at the time.

A friend from those days reminded me recently that she and I wrote a play together. She sent it to me, but I’m afraid to re-read it. Maybe later.

Wrapping this post up, I think I’ve figured out why I  haven’t done more of this recently. I started the draft at about 2:30; was interrupted three or four times; it’s now almost 4:30. If I’m going to keep this up, must either write shorter posts, or find uninterrupted time.

What can you do with an English major? (continuing series)

As we embark on another school year, English majors who are juniors and seniors (or their parents) are asking this question with greater urgency, while incoming students may be questioning their choices.

Just a moment to point out (again) the encouraging guidance of For English Majors, whose most recent post notes one of the human elements in business productivity and leadership that a literary education may provide:

Fortunately for all of us who claim to be human beings, motivation is more complicated than that and can’t be cranked into high gear for groups of people using formulas provided by “experts.”  The secrets to fathoming motivation live many places.  One of them is within the pages of great books.   So if you’re reading some, consider that you may, indeed, be preparing yourself to be in business leadership.

Add the additional detailed advice of Jobs for English Majors. A recent post focuses on new directions in editorial careers:

Gone are the former staples of story meetings at which editors debated only amongst themselves which stories to include in the magazine. These days, research using services like Google Trends — which provides insights into what users are searching for and thus, which stories are likely to capture the attention of Web surfers — fill up an increasing amount of every editor’s day.

An English major thinking about a future in professional writing/editing will have to add technical skills beyond word-processing to his or her resume.

Grammar is not trivial

The medieval trivium consisted of grammar, logic, and rhetoric—the foundation of all higher learning, including the quadrivium: geometry, astronomy, arithmetic, and music. Now “trivial” means inconsequential, frivolous, scarcely necessary. But clearly its etymology is—beyond the basic “three”—the idea of something that is, well, basic. And it’s easy to ignore the basics, until you don’t have them. Milk, for example. I never think about it, until I pour a cup of coffee or a bowl of cereal and discover there’s NOTHING to put in it. Inevitably this disaster occurs early in the morning, too.

So heed the wisdom of my former student Abigail, pondering grammar to the glory of God.

As Christians in this time, we are compelled to set ourselves apart as fellow sufferers for the gospel–and if the gospel permeates us, it envelopes everything in our lives and causes us to yearn to glorify God in all things. Thus, we must hold on to the knowledge that we know to be true, and realize that through it we might glorify the Lord as we “set the believers an example in SPEECH, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).

Nothing in our lives and work is too “trivial” to be offered to God, as Brother Lawrence learned:

“Nor is it needful that we should have great things to do. . . We can do little things for God; I turn the cake that is frying on the pan for love of him, and that done, if there is nothing else to call me, I prostrate myself in worship before him, who has given me grace to work; afterwards I rise happier than a king. It is enough for me to pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God.”

“Pick up a straw,” or correct a comma-splice—the motivation is what makes it worthwhile—for the love and greater glory of God.

English majors–what to do?

I cannot believe how many hits this blog gets from people looking for “what to do with an English major.” No, I can believe it—but seriously, folks—the answer remains what it was when John Henry Newman wrote “The Idea of an University” (I paraphrase): Anything you want to do—although, admittedly, you may have to pick up a few additional skills along the way, like money management.

Here’s John Milton on what to do with all that literary knowledge:

In the cultivation of literature is found that common link, which, among the higher and middling departments of life, unites the jarring sects and subdivisions into one interest, which supplies common topics, and kindles common feelings, unmixed with those narrow prejudices with which all professions are more or less infected. The knowledge, too, which is thus acquired, expands and enlarges the mind, excites its faculties, and calls those limbs and muscles into freer exercise which, by too constant use in one direction, not only acquire an illiberal air, but are apt also to lose somewhat of their native play and energy. And thus, without directly qualifying a man for any of the employments of life, it enriches and ennobles all. Without teaching him the peculiar business of any one office or calling, it enables him to act his part in each of them with better grace and more elevated carriage; and, if happily planned and conducted, is a main ingredient in that complete and generous education which fits a man ‘to perform justly, skilfully, and magnanimously, all the offices, both private and public, of peace and war.’

Yes, you’ll probably have to do some tweaking of your resume, your application letter(s), and your interviewing skills to sell that to prospective employers, but according to the University of Delaware Career Services Center,

Approximately 25 percent of students majoring in English go on to graduate study in fields such as law, library science, literature or journalism. The skills that many English majors develop in articulation, written communication and analysis are valued by employers in banking, sales, insurance, lobbying, labor relations and social service fields. There are also job opportunities in journalism, publishing and editing, technical writing, advertising, teaching and public relations.

To find these opportunities, go to your college/university career services center and hold them down until they help you. Or, you could just do this, and hope for the best.

But remember that you have skills that may actually be more in demand than ever:

We’re living in complicated times, and I can’t help but think they’re going to get more complicated and more difficult before some light shines in the distance. Getting some idea what it all means depends, in part, on learning from people who have some idea (not “pundits,” by the way). The ability to read, really read, undaunted by complexity, turn of phrase or length of thought, puts you in a position of making some sense of convoluted, technical and controversial ideas and events

Add to your list of advantages: Clarity and reasoning (about complicated subjects), logic, expression and patience (with long passages). You don’t suppose we’d have any reason in work and in life to call on those abilities right about now, do you? (ForEnglishMajors)

I’ll be saluting a number of local English majors and others as they graduate today. Several are already bound for graduate school and other destinations. Others still looking. Here’s wishing each of them success and happiness as God guides them.

New MLA style

It’s here!  Well, actually, it arrived last year with the 3rd ed. of the MLA Style Manual, but now the 7th ed. of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, used by many high school and college students, is available and the revisions are also appearing in many, if not all, college rhetorics and handbooks.

The new system is much the same as before in terms of using parenthetical references. The big change is in designating the form of sources as “Print” or “Web”—and all online sources require only the “Web” indicator. Much simpler, if less specific.

Book review by my brother

Recently I posted about connections between the skills required for success as an English major and how they could also contribute to success in science or medical fields, my brother Bill commented that he was reviewing a new novel, Cutting for Stone, by Dr. Abraham Verghese. Check it out.

I’m especially interested to read the book for this element:

Verghese also captures the feeling of rootlessness that is experienced by expatriates in Africa, and America, and the unusual ways that sojourners may find anchors and maintain relationships.

While we’re on the topic of family and doctors who have written books and other things worth reading, my father sent me links the other day for the obituary of Dr. Bill Close (1924-2009):

Dr. Close spent sixteen years in Africa, often joined by his wife and children. He arrived in the Congo just before independence and in time for the mutinies, coup d’états and rebellions that have marked the history of that country.

For his first year there, Dr. Close was responsible for surgery as one of only three doctors in the capital city’s 2,000-bed hospital. He became the personal physician to the president, and chief doctor for the Congolese Army, as well as seeing any citizen who came to his clinic for care. In 1967 Bill took over the management of the general hospital. . . .

Dr. Close is the author of four books, including Ebola: Through the Eyes of the People; A Doctor’s Life: Unique Stories; and Subversion of Trust, a novel. His most recent book is Beyond the Storm: Treating the powerless and the powerful in Mobutu’s Congo/Zaire

Dr. Close gave the 2001 commencement address at the University of Utah. His advice:

Get and stay involved with people whose perspectives are different and often bigger than any one of us. Avoid the old-fashioned colonial great white father approach that sought to tie up needy natives in the bonds of self-righteous care. Learn languages – Spanish, Navaho, French, Swahili, whatever — go there, see there, feel there, cry there, laugh there. Hands on, one on one, as brothers and sisters of the human race who care in real and practical ways. These human bonds will grow in strength and effectiveness as you learn more about people, as you take the time to listen, to learn, and especially to persevere

Good start, anyway.

Sometimes an English major’s lot is not a happy one

It’s not easy. We just make it look easy—like English lit. major Ryan, who plays all the parts in his own video production of a particularly trying class discussion. Good thing we English professors have a sense of humor!

Ryan is also a student of pop culture, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and previewed Buffy Goes Dark.

Thanks to Nik at Nite for pointing me to Ryan’s blog!

What can you do with an English major? Go to med school!

Seriously. Get your M.D. and be a doctor. Do you know how many doctors have also become great writers of fiction and non-fiction? Many, many.

And an English major’s writing skills can be useful to a doctor as well:

Physicians actually write all the time too…. The case history, or progress note, is the basic unit of medical practice; it’s something doctors work on constantly, and students learn from the first year to see a patient, hear her story, distill it into a chief complaint or main narrative, and write it down. It’s not unlike the process of writing fiction, Lam says: “The art of figuring out the medical narrative is, on one hand, to be very intuitive, instinctual, open, and expansive, and, on the other hand, to be very reductionist.”

While practicing medicine may help the aspiring author gain greater writing skills, the act of writing may help the doctor become a better one. Adrian, who set out first to study medicine and says he discovered writing as a detour along the way, thinks it’s good for physicians to spend time in other people’s heads “even if it’s in a deranged, imaginative way.”

College students who find themselves equally drawn to literature and sciences may want to think about an English major with a Biochemistry or Biology minor. Also interesting to note that many medical schools include a humanities or “literature and medicine” course as a required elective in the curriculum.

Because it’s good to be queen…or president…or—

One of today’s iGoogle “wikiHow”s: How to Start Your Own Country.

This helpful guide is especially useful for those among us with megalomaniac tendencies—admit it, who hasn’t had a moment or two when you’ve said, “If I ruled the world…!” The bad news is, you never will (and probably a good thing, too), but with hard work and an irrational sense of your own importance, you may be able to rule a concrete platform in the middle of the ocean! For a few years, at least. Actually the story of the Republic of Minerva, mentioned in “How to Start Your Own Country,” reminded me of Island, a black-comedy-thriller by one my favorite authors, Thomas Perry.

Given the rate of return for effort, I think in this case I definitely recommend reading the novel over actually attempting to start your own country. And if you want your own stamps, Zazzle will put your puppy on a USPS stamp for a nominal fee. Just saying…