<p>I wanted to get involved in an EC like research, in the hopes I could learn something and get a better letter of recomendation. I am a sophmore at a large public. Anyone know what kind of research opportunities exist at a large school like mine? I am an english major and I don't know anything about research. What exactly would I do, what kind of time commitment? I assume these opportunities exist but have never heard of anything. Please help!</p>
<p>my friends get their job at lab through work study, but they've been doing research since high school</p>
<p>Research Programs are primarily intended for Natural and Social Science majors like Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geology, Economics, Psychology, Sociology, etc.</p>
<p>English is not exactly a research-based major.
But if you dun mind researching something outside your major, choose any research project you want.
But if you are trying to find a research program related to English major.... good luck.</p>
<p>In my CCC there is an "Independent Study" class, which is basically a self-directed research class. If your university doesn't have a similar class like this, you should consult some professors who would approve of your project. Either of these options may land you some recs, assuming you do well.</p>
<p>As far as research, I think there are MILLIONS of potential research projects for English majors. First, start with something that interests you, be it early 20th century lit, Medieval Lit, or Shakespeare. Afterwards, narrow your subject down, meaning what would you like to prove or discuss about these works (i.e. how Shakespeare's style developed over his years, the rise of different "eras" in novels like modernism and its effects on writers during these eras, etc...). After reading and researching on your subject, make a thesis and a bibliography. Present it to a professor, and hopefully he/she will approve of it, and may even work with you. If you are having a hard time narrowing your subject and comming up with a potential thesis, you should consult a professor for help.</p>
<p>You can even use some social science subjects and combine it with literature. You can combine Political Science and English, and possibly write about some piece of literature that has a significant political message (1984 and Animal Farm by Orwell, both fabulous books). You can combine Economics and Literature, and talk about some Economic issues that affects either the author or the characters of the novel (or both). Some novels that reflects these ideas are Dickens's Bleak House and Oliver Twist, just to name a few. Hell, you can even combine Psychology and Literature, and analyze Virginia Woolf's novels, and how the concept of "stream of conciousness" can create a powerful narrative, like in Mrs. Dalloway.</p>
<p>So yeh I guess DHL3 is right, there's not much research to do for English majors...</p>
<p>Anyways, I know, it sounds like you're post-grad English research, but hey, isn't that why you're doing research? :) Just have fun doing it, because it really can be ^^</p>
<p>so basically..</p>
<p>English major research = an extremely long AP Literature Critical Analysis Essay</p>
<p>Call it what you want dhl3, but English research is nevertheless fascinating that adds knowledge and perspective to an otherwise undending debate between thousands (maybe millions) of scholars. Also, you should consider that some people take pleasure in deconstructing novels, or even just reading them, and live their bliss by doing so.</p>
<p>I'm getting pretty sick of people, especially dhl3, who constantly put down English majors. You may not know about it, but English majors are trained in critical thinking, the most valuable skill you'll ever get in college, and opens up many job opportunities for us such as law, medical school, etc... You should also know that many jobs out there today don't really care what your major is; that will only get your foot in the door. The rest is about your character and integrity, and whether or not you can sell yourself as a good worker.</p>
<p>If anything dhl3, your degrading of English majors only shows your insecurity about your own major. Just live your bliss and like what you're doing, and leave these threads for us so that we can give advice to people who are in need.</p>
<p>umm i never put down English major.
All I said was that English major is not an easy major to find a research topic on.</p>
<p>but anyway, claps for your emotionally touching speech there about English major. But really, say that to someone who actually looks down on english major.</p>
<p>you got the wrong audience here.</p>
<p>Right. You have said on these forums constantly "What can you do with an english degree anyway except being a teacher?" I guess you weren't putting down the major there.</p>
<p>I dun remember saying that constantly.
And to be more specific, i said "the only well paying job you can do with an english major is a college english prof, best-selling author, or a newspaper editor", and some people (even the english major ones) agreed with this.</p>
<p>And from all i remember, i said it only ONCE (well twice if you count this one).
you need to stop exaggerating things.</p>
<p>English major here.</p>
<p>I don't like people putting down English majors also, but I will say that some of it is statistical analysis. English Ph.Ds earn less than most any other Ph.Ds. There aren't a lot of jobs that specifically tie in with an English degree, though it can open a lot of different opportunities and people who know English are a rarity in the workforce. </p>
<p>That said, I can't think of any research tied-in with English. I mean, beyond making a critical analysis of some old literary text...not sure what research in English would be. And by the by, there are different concentrations in English. I'm thinking someone with a Literature concentration would find some use in deconstructing Beowulf, but I don't know about a person with a Creative Writing concentration. I don't know.</p>