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About Me:

My name is Olivia and I am a senior at Butler University. I spend most of my time in Lilly Hall as a BFA Dance Performance major. When not in rehearsal or ballet class, I write papers for my English Literature second major. In my super-abundant, never-lacking, this-is-highly-sarcastic spare time, I attempt to cook in my apartment kitchen, watch Youtube videos of ballet, knit sweaters that never seem to come to an end, and read books both silly and serious. If I could take any class at Butler just for kicks, I'd go for DiffyQ.

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Posts Tagged “logic”

In which I convince myself a 20-page paper is a good idea

Posted on October 16, 2010 by Olivia

To continue the theme from my tales of Fall Breaks past, I shall outline Fall Break: Junior Year Edition.

I think I’ve mentioned my Irish Lit class. Here is the full situation in bullet-pointed, semi-logical, stream-of-consciousness style:

  • Senior English Lit majors at Butler must present a senior essay.
  • I am currently registered as having a secondary major in English literature.
  • I will almost certainly complete an English minor.

Following so far? Good.

  • I signed up for EN 493-51, Contemporary Irish Literature,
  • Which turned out to be a Senior Seminar,
  • Which is not to say there are only senior English majors (we have a healthy sprinkling of graduate students, senior education majors with a concentration in English, and junior English majors),
  • But which includes a long research essay that is mandatory for the senior English majors, since they need that long paper to graduate.

Still following? Okay, deep breath… in we plunge:

  • Those who aren’t senior English majors (i.e. the vast majority of the class) have the option not to write the long paper.
  • We can turn in two shorter essays, each about ten pages, instead.
  • The first essay is due when the long paper’s annotated bibliography and abstract are due.
  • (Which is this coming Monday).
  • The second essay is due when the long paper is due.
  • This means that one cannot decide at the last minute to write two shorter essays.
  • Past this Monday, we are Committed. Capitalization is fully intentional.

Thus we have the situation. What do I decide to do? Write the long paper. Why?

  • If I do miraculously finish the requirements for the English major, I will need that paper.
  • I am extremely verbose. Length is not so much an issue for me.
  • It might actually be more difficult to develop and research two separate ideas. (Except that happened unintentionally, but this is a different story.)
  • It would be good practice.
  • I want to see if I can do it.Does this line of reasoning make sense? I guess we will find out come Monday. I am staying on campus this Fall Break to research and start to write this behemoth of a project. Reader-theory, here I come! I’m currently reading this. Next to the dictionary my high school English department gave me.

    My Irish Lit professor was kind enough to lend this to me.

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