How Can Suggested Reading Help College Applicants

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If you want to impress your admissions tutor, then you attempt to imagine a manuscript on another Arthurian legend. It was unearthed from a spot not far from the remains of St. Anthony's chapel, which were standing on the base of Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh. It might be penned by a member of the Round Table, who could be of Scottish descent. Your tutor won't be impressed that much, though. You would do lots of name dropping, even cite John Boorman's operatic version of the Arthurian legends. (It's likely that you have seen clips of "Excalibur" on YouTube.) You didn't do your homework extensively, as you could have tried suggested reading.

You should be familiar with suggested reading after looking at the sites of colleges that you want to apply for. It would make you curious, such as the digital copy of Jane Austen's novels. You would figure out that the hard copy could fetch millions of dollars, but literary scholars would be more interested in Austen's handwriting. You don't have a clue on graphology, but you could make a guess or two on "Pride and Prejudice". (If you have read the novel, then it wouldn't be too hard to make a good guess.). On the other hand, you can look at these suggested readings if you need to inspire yourself when you compose your personal statement. You can relate to J. Paul Getty, a huge admirer of British history. It would be fish and chips in your case, also British Gothic fiction. (You disagree with critics who pan Neil Marshall's version of Hellboy. They don't know the brooding aspect of the British landscape, yet you wouldn't go too far on pointing to the island mentality of Britons.)

You must have an idea on how suggested readings could lighten up your workload. If you're studying Modern literature, then these readings should provide you with a perspective that may not have been discussed before. If it's Children's literature, then it wouldn't be obvious. (It would be the misguided adults in Roald Dahl's stories, whom you laugh at.) If it's Shakespeare's, then you wouldn't be the last to analyze the Bard's feelings. You might be tempted to describe the Bard's mural in Southwark, but it would be better to recount your experience inside Shakespeare Global. You may be veering off unless you stick to the literary merits.

The Upside of Reading More

Reading widely would help you think critically. Reading more books and related materials should give you more information. Not all info would be useful, as a handful of it should be good enough. There are cases when you don't need to read it at all, as one written material could help you perceive the author better. It would lead to a guess, and there's no guarantee that it would be a good one. If you trust your (good) judgment, then you wouldn't worry too much about it. You take literary criticism seriously or you don't, but you would do it because you want it. And you get satisfaction from literary discoveries. That would please your professor.

Different sources (or media) would make you understand the author (or characters) better. You wouldn't limit yourself to books and written texts, as you would consider theatrical adaptations and big-screen versions. Christopher Marlowe's play about Edward II, who ruled England during the fourteenth century, may test your patience, and Derek Jarman's modern version might baffle you. It could be a good thing, though. (Was it necessary for a medieval king and his court to don designer's clothes?) You won't think about the universal appeal of Shakespeare's works, but rather how his thoughts (or feelings) could be disproved even during his time. This is one sample, as there are others that you could indulge for hours. Make sure that you pick the one that interests you more. It should help you write your essay in a shorter time.

It would enrich your life, which should help you write better. If a book would affect you, then you should be able to write something about it. This would inspire you to look for suggested readings, which should help you articulate your thoughts (or feelings) better. There's a possibility that another idea can challenge your own. Don't be afraid of it, as open mindedness is part of literary criticism. Don't get too personal, as it could cloud your judgment.

Literature for the People

The popularization of the classics may be a trite concept, but suggested readings would mean something else. It should make you enjoy what you're doing, which isn't really fun if you think about it. Reading and writing would demand much of your time, and you would expect something in return. Moreover, you may notice some students who would spend more time on socializing. You wouldn't do the same thing (unless you're introvert by nature), but that won't be the point of this article. New insights would make you look at people and things differently. If it would help you manage the coursework better, then you won't mind spending lots of time in looking for additional readings. Make sure that you won't skip the laundry. And the gathering of dust on your table won't be good to your health.

 

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