Leadership Academy: English Abstracts
C. SARIAH ARMSTRONG (Margarite Landry), 2009
PREPARING NOVEL DRAFT FOR PUBLICATION
I endeavored to improve my writing by editing the first draft of a science fiction novel that I had written in 2007, and to do this well, I utilized all available resources, including books and articles on writing, classes, advice from professors, as well as researching the necessary scientific elements in my story and reading other author’s works, to analyze how they solve problems with description, characterization, pacing, and other elements commonly found in fiction writing. One of the greatest challenges of this project was that the approach I took was, by nature, not firmly set. Originally, there was to be an equal amount of work done between researching how to write, the technological component of my fiction, as well as looking for potential agents and editors, with the hope that by the end of the school year, I would have a finished product. But a writer needs to be flexible. Much less time was devoted to researching technology than was originally planned, simply because once I had a rudimentary knowledge of how it worked, the technology’s function in the story became based much more on my own imagination, rather than hard fact. While I do not yet have a finished draft of the novel, there have been many beneficial derivatives of my work. Most importantly, my writing skill has increased. I do not have a finished draft, but I have a much more readable draft that I will continue to work on. I have learned how to create a believable, fictional world, introduce the research I’ve done without boring a reader with unwanted information, as well as work in characterization and themes without seeming to intentionally preach to my audience. I have written all this down, and have started to compile a short list of tips and important things to remember while I write.”
AMY BOBROWSKI (Doris Schmidt), 2004
MY POINT: A GUIDE FOR STUDENT NEWSPAPERS
Collegiate newspapers have a staff that changes almost every year. Training takes much time and effort. Not all staff members are experienced in media communication. Although there are many full-length textbooks that explain the necessary steps of publishing a student newspaper, there are few general guides that explain the most important factors. “My Point, A Guide for Student Newspapers,” was created. The sections of the 19-page guide discuss how to write and structure each type of newspaper article (features, news, sports, etc.), photography standards and effective layout. Each section contains at least one example newspaper article, exemplifying the guidelines in practice. Student newspapers were collected from public state colleges (much like Fitchburg State College). These newspapers were analyzed to discover their areas of strength and weakness. The guide will be distributed to the Fitchburg State College newspaper, journalism classes, and to collegiate newspapers that have allowed their publication to be studied. Newspaper staffs will have to spend less time training individuals and will have an easy-to-read reference guide to answer their style questions.
ALISON BUTLAND (Irene Martyniuk), 2006
LOSING PRIDE AND GAINING PREJUDICE
Bridget Jones’s Diary has sold over 10 million copies in 35 countries. Helen Fielding’s heroine has become an everywoman, emblematic of the twentieth-century singleton striving to lose a few pounds and to find a husband. Yet one woman not represented by Bridget is Elizabeth Bennet of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Fielding has admitted to “borrowing” from Austen. Thus, the novels have an interdependent relationship. There are many classifications of literary symbiosis; this one is defined as parasitic because Bridget acts as the detrimental guest to the host text. Bridget demeans the classic Regency novel by labeling it as the mother hen of the chick-lit movement. Reading the texts and viewing the film adaptations demonstrates the regression of the heroine. Elizabeth is renowned for her intellect and wit while Bridget is notorious for her “verbal incontinence” and hangovers. Elizabeth’s literary offspring has lost her pride and principles. Readers cannot help but be prejudiced against Bridget. And yet, she is currently enjoying a wave of popularity. In 2004 English women voted Pride and Prejudice “the most life changing novel.” Two centuries later, the novel remains relevant and revolutionary to women. The same cannot be said for Bridget Jones’s Diary, which is a fad and will fade from public consciousness. In this paper, I will discuss why Bridget is currently popular, how she will fade, and why Elizabeth Bennett will outlive the “child of Cosmopolitan culture.”
STEPHANIE FIELDING (Benjamin Railton), 2007
A BROKEN HOPE HOUSE
The purpose of this project is to create a 50-60 page novella based around the idea of domestic violence. The novella itself will be fictional, however it will be based on possible events and occurrences. Based on research on domestic violence statistics, character development reasoning, and probable event timelines, the novella will show in an interesting and enlightened way the circle of violence surrounding domestic abuse, and ways it can be foreseen, avoided, and handled. Two main characters, Rayne and Matthew, meet and marry within the pages of the novella, and then the plot plays out as Rayne experiences violence from Matthew and eventually gains the courage to leave. This project is meant to illustrate signs of domestic violence, and also ways to avoid and escape it. It is targeted at a female audience as casual reading and therefore is something that is both informational and entertaining.
ASHLEY MALOUIN (Aruna Krishnamurthy), 2008
THE FAIRY TALE & FEMALE IDENTITY IN A. S. BYATT’S SHORT FICTION
This thesis focuses on the work of A. S. Byatt’s short stories, their relationship to fairy tales, and readings of them in the context of fairy tales. The stories examined include “Cold,” “A Stone Woman,” “The Thing in the Wood,” “Baglady,” “A Lamia in the Cevennes,” “The Glass Coffin,” and “The Story of the Eldest Princess.” While Byatt’s work has often been explored, much of the attention has been given to her novel Possession; this thesis furthers the discussion of her shorter works. As there are limited sources in the analysis of these works, the primary resource was the stories themselves. In reading the texts, elements of the fairy tale, or wonder tale, could often be found. More specifically, Byatt’s work is an exploration of female identity and the individual narratives are a reflection of that identity. In some cases, Byatt uses her writing to deconstruct the classic fairy tale, as in “The Story of the Eldest Princess,” where the princess is aware of the fairy tale she is trapped in, and consciously decides to step away from it in order to pursue her own identity. In others, such as “A Stone Woman” and “Cold,” the elements of wonder serve to show a woman’s mental and emotional transformation and acceptance of identity in a physical manifestation. |
