Loosely Literati
Why Study English?
Aubry Poulin
Have you ever contemplated becoming an English major only to dismiss the idea for ‘something more practical’? Well
you wouldn’t be the first. Asking “why be an English major?” is a very valid question, and Loosely Literati is here to
show you that there are plenty of reasons. Contrary to popular belief, we don’t all have aspirations to become baristas
at our local coffee shop. As someone who recently switched from being a business major, I can tell you that there are
many perks to being an English major.
1) Assigned readings for classes are interesting, and believe it or not, fun (crazy concept, right?). I mean, don’t get
me wrong, I found my accounting textbook absolutely riveting, but I’ll take T.S. Eliot over accounts receivable
any day.
2) The English professors at King’s are some of the coolest people you will ever meet - going to office hours for a 2
minute question and then having a 20 minute conversation about great books never gets old.
3) You will undoubtedly learn the very important distinction between “there”, “their”, and “they’re”… (How are we
still struggling with this, people? Place, possession, they are.)
4) You don’t have to worry about selling back textbooks because you’ll actually want to keep them.
5) A degree in English actually gives you an excellent platform for many graduate programs such as law, research
programs, and believe it or not, business.
I guess the real answer comes down to this, I finally love what I’m doing in school. I spent two years working away at
a degree that I didn’t enjoy, but I told myself it was practical. Doing something you love will never be a bad decision,
you have to be passionate about and enjoy what you’re doing in school, or it won’t really be worth it.
Writing Contest
We are having our first writing contest!
The theme of the contest is Winter as it is fast approaching.
We are looking for our King’s poets and short story writers
to show their stuff! Make sure to submit your work by
November 27th to compete for awesome swag! The top three
pieces will be displayed on the English bulletin boards and
first place will be included in the December edition of the
Loosely Literati. So be creative, stay warm, and happy
writing!
Please email submissions to [email protected]
Recommended Reading
Dr. Mingay
Often a short break from our required readings is just what
we need in a busy semester. Letters of Note: An Eclectic
Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience
satisfies this necessity, while reminding us of the power of a
well-written letter. The collection is indeed eclectic, from
Albert Einstein generously responding to a child who asked
him if scientists pray, to Flannery O’Connor admonishing an
English professor for grossly misinterpreting her short story
“A Good Man is Hard to Find.” Most of the letters are colour
reprints of the originals, so you can see the handwriting.
Some are fun and some are serious, but all are interesting.
How to…Write a Research Paper
Aubry Poulin
The season of research papers has begun,
and the Loosely Literati is here with a
helpful outline of how to crush any paper
that lies between you and your Christmas
holiday.
Step 1) Read your source. I know this might
sound crazy, but trust me, read whatever it is
you’ll be writing your paper on.
Step 2) Find peer reviewed secondary
sources. This is where you’ll need to do some
actual research that relates to your topic. If
you need any help with this step, the lovely
folks at the library are very knowledgeable.
Step 3) Outline. Make sure you structure
your ideas to make things easier when
writing your paper.
Step 4) Write said research paper. No way to
skip this step.
Step 5) Citations. Make sure you cite
everything properly and complete your
Works Cited page.
Step 6) Proof read and edit. Seriously, proof
read, people.
Step 7) Hand in your paper, preferably with
minimal tear stains but sometimes those are
unavoidable.
Alumni profile
Sara Barnard
Current Reads
Kate de Groot
It can be hard to find the time for reading
during the school year, but these students
from a variety of majors make sure to always
pick up and crack open the spine of a good
book.
Break Out by Joel Osteen
Written to encourage and motivate and try to
give ways to go beyond your own barriers
and live an extraordinary life. Helping us to
dream bigger and increase productivity.
Mark lane
3rd year Biology student
Meaghan Noort is an alumni of King’s English program. After
graduating in the spring of 2014 she temporarily returned to
her hometown of Lacombe where she received work in a
pharmacy. She’s taken a jaunt to Europe, specifically Holland,
where she spent an incredible amount of time enjoying the
museums (especially the Van Gogh museum); she says that
the knowledge and appreciation that she gained about art
during her years at King’s made it an incredible experience.
Now, after some time to consider, Meaghan has decided to
follow her passion and apply for a masters program in Library
Technology with the hope of being a head librarian one day.
Her love of literature is as strong as ever and she may
currently be found reading Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time
series.
Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult is about a
little girl with osteogenesis imperfecta or
brittle bones disease. It presents the battle
between morality and the medical system. It
tells the story from the different perspectives
of the family of the little girl and a lawyer. It
is an amazing read and I highly recommend
it.
Reanne Schaber
2nd year English student
“I am so clever
that sometimes I
don’t understand a
single word I am
saying”
-
Oscar Wilde
Professor Profiles
Tyler Johansson and Dr. Willson Gordon
Every month we showcase one of our phenomenal English professors. This month
we are showcasing the newly appointed English Chair Dr. Brett Roscoe!
We have asked each professor these three questions:
1. What is your favourite book?
2. What classes will you be teaching this year?
3. What is the current area of focus for your research?
Here are Dr. Roscoe’s responses:
1. The best book I've recently read is C.S. Lewis' Till We Have Faces, a
novelization of the Greek myth of Cupid and Psyche. Without any
explicitly Christian references, Lewis uses fiction to explore the
theological issues of sacrifice, suffering, human identity, and the nature of
myth. Lewis claimed it was his best book. I agree.
2. Besides the introductory English courses (ENGL 204 and 205), I will be
teaching ENGL 380 The Once and Future King: Arthurian Legend and
Literature and ENGL 315 Meeting the Anglo-Saxons: Old English
Language and Literature, both of which are pure delights.
3. At present I am working on extensions of my dissertation research,
looking at how the discourse of wisdom is used to construct identity in Old
English and Old Norse-Icelandic literature. One such extension has led
me to look carefully at the Old English poem Resignation B as an early
example of what I would call anti-wisdom literature. (And if you are dying
of curiosity, wondering “Why B?” you’ll have to stop by my office for the
answer!)
Thank you to Dr. Roscoe for his contributions. Next month look for Dr. Willson
Gordon’s profile!
Literary Events
Rynnelle Wiebe
1.STARFest (Fall 2015):
St. Albert’s Annual literary
festival includes events
throughout September and
October
and
features
various authors including
Canadian astronaut Chris
Hadfield and Lawrence
Hill, the author of The
Book of Negroes. Event
times, locations, and ticket
prices can be found at
http://www.starfest.ca/.
2. Books2Buy (November
13-15): The Edmonton
Public Library hosts a few
book sales a year and the
next one is right around
the corner. Find soft cover
books and CDs for $1 and
hardcovers and DVDs for
$2! This sale is cash only
so come prepared. Location
and hours can be found at
http://www.epl.ca/program
s-andevents/events/books2buy.
locations.
3. Pride and Prejudice
Mini-Series (November 15;
1-9 p.m.): Come watch all
six hours of the BBC’s
Pride and Prejudice at our
own Fort Edmonton Park.
Admission is free and
afternoon tea and dinner
are available. Find more
information on Facebook.