Studying Optional Modules: How to Improve Literary Skills

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The best thing about literary study is you can tailor the modules to your interests, and the English Department has a long list of optional modules for you. It doesn't mean that you should prioritize it over the compulsory modules, as you would find out that you need to take an earlier module before you can enroll in these optional modules. Furthermore, this article won't discuss the merits of classical works and contemporary fiction and which is more important (or relevant). It has something to do with your literary skill.

Your first year should have taught you about the importance of reading alone, if not choosing a paperback. (If you're a hardcore bibliophile, then you may prefer a hardbound. It might not be a sensible thing to bring it along, though.) There are times that you need to read a certain sentence (or paragraph) aloud. And you must take notes as well. You should have been familiar with it, as improving your literary skills require you to familiarize yourself with the different writing styles of different authors. You don't need to know it all, if not urge yourself to read all the books that you can hold on to. Paper writing won't be challenging after several months or so, as you're aware of the writing style of certain authors. If you're a bit confused about it, then what you're about to read should clarify things.

Escaping Content Mediocrity (or a Few Friendly Reminders)

If you want to be sarcastic, then do it right. You have read several essays of Umberto Eco, all of which were sarcastic accounts of adapting to modern technology, revising written texts, and riding on (American) trains. You can relate to all of it, as you're familiar with the topics. And you believe that you can pen a similar essay of two or three pages. Keep in mind that the Italian was a middle-aged novelist when he composed those essays. In other words, he had lots of life experiences, read too many books, and wrote countless texts. He should know his figures of expression, which sharp readers would take as a sign that his writings were meant to be taken with a grain of salt. You might need to inquirer your professor about it (if it's fine to adopt that style or not). You also have second thoughts on using plain words, but clarity is more important. You'll learn the reasons in the next item.

The length of your paragraph doesn't define your paper. Jack Kerouac's essays contain a single paragraph that is several pages long. It was notable in works like "The Big Trip to Europe", where the New Yorker felt that he was a Frenchman in his former life. Some literary experts called it spontaneous prose, but the others won't recognize it. (Kerouac's narration doesn't have a timeline, so some would see his dreamy narrative of the places he had gone to.) On the other hand, Ernest Hemingway's short stories weren't too hard to read. The author, who was born in Oak Park, Illinois, became renowned for his minimalist style, which journalism taught him. A variety (of long and short paragraphs) should make your essay paper interesting to your professor, but it's the thought that matters the most. If you're uncertain of a long sentence, then cut it into shorter ones. If a shorter sentence doesn't express a thought, an important one, then rephrase it.

Imagination is fine, but don't get carried away by it. You stumbled into a paperback copy of "Soumchi", Amos Oz's novella set during the Mandate years. There may be an air of uneasiness in Jerusalem (during the summer of 1948), but the titular character imagined a daring journey to Zambezi River, if not a trek in the Himalayas. Some critics compared Soumchi to Huckleberry Finn, prompting you to imagine the urban jungle that was the Big Apple. Stop there, as you're not writing a prose. It's possible to blur the line between essay and prose, but you can lost track during those long hours (of paper writing). And your revision can be longer than the others. You won't have the luxury of time.

What Are the Optional Modules?

You will have the chance to learn about literature in the digital age, which has nothing to do with eBooks. If you’re a huge fan of science fiction, then you know your stand on technology (or the lack of it). You will be excited about “New York City in Culture” whether you’re a native of the Big Apple or not. It would require you to be familiar with the works of Edith Wharton. You may (or may not) watch the early films of Woody Allen. This module is all about perspective, so you must recall your first impression of the Statue of Liberty (or any popular landmark in New York). You may need to describe a particular place, which many New Yorkers (or visitors) know little of it. And you must have good memories about it. Your final year would see you decide on challenging modules like “Post-9/11 Literature of the US”. Your thesis Is on the top of your must-do list, prompting you to wonder if you can pull it off. It’s all in the mind. Your (positive) attitude plays a part as well.

If you’re getting anxious, then you must know that the other optional modules include Disney Studies, American History by Hollywood, and Travel and Cultural Encounters. It should give you some assurance. These modules stretch several centuries of literary excellence, and all you need is the curiosity to explore it. Are you ready?

 

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