Reaching Out

al writtens down! The question was on steampunk--its characteristics, its politics, and a couple of texts demonstrating where they fall on the political spectrum. so, basically what i did for my MA thesis. i rambled for about 1800 words this time.

which means all the time i spent reading those other novels wasn't used wisely, but whatever, i got to read so many books. working through "a description of millenium hall" right now.

2nd written exam down.

I wrote 2000 words of stuff this time. I THINK I answered the questions this time, at least.

I have no idea what's in the next two exams. Back to reading all the novels for the SF exam that I haven't read.

since we have four lists of fields we need to know, we have a portfolio of the following:
- one syllabus for an undergrad introductory survey course (2 versions: one quarter system, one semester); prepare a lecture that might be used for the first day of class
- one syllabus for a grad seminar course (again, 2 versions);
- one publishable article, to have been submitted somewhere by the oral exam
- one conference presentation, 20 minutes minimum, materials submitted should include abstract, script, other media used for the presentation if any--if the student has trouble placing this talk at any conference, this could be presented at a colloquium of the entire cohort taking exams that year

We should be free to determine which item will be written for which list, with the professor advising us on the list advising us on the process

I mean, the bloody English department has a portfolio system so I don't see why we need to keep doing this stupid exam thing

I'm given to understand that it's supposed to involve "rigor" but reall all it does is piss us the fuck off.

i felt really fucking awful today, after a productive night last night writing stuff for Speak Your Language Day on Tumblr. wrote the email to Dr. Gui and it felt so awful because i didn't know what i was doing. around noon i was like OK I NEED TO STOP I NEED TO READ because I have this pile left to read and i have to go to LA tomorrow

it was just.... such a shit day. i don't know how to express it. i even considered not going to the GSA council meeting and asked people to go in my place (of course there was no one) and i'm sure my reading was less than satisfactory (but i have no more time to go back and re-read) and just ugh

so i went to the council meeting, and tonight i baked a cake. tomorrow bryan and i are going to EagleCon to check out Balogun's SteamFunk movie and maybe wander around Chinatown. i will read and read and read all weekend. maybe. hopefully. sigh.