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The Printing Press is the English Department Newsletter. Its purpose it to inform major and minors about programs and activities within the department. The Press will inform readers of activities and opportunities outside of Monmouth College. For any questions or submissions, contact lwaldron@monm.edu or anall@monm.edu.

In This Issue

What I Need, What I Got
- By: Alex Nall
What I Learned In English 200
- By: Stevie Croisant
Senior Send-off
- By: Leanna Waldron
Survey Says
Announcements

What I Need, What I Got

by Alex Nall

I’ve been asked to write about my time winding down abroad, to tell you about how my life has been changed all for the better because I made the choice to study abroad for a semester. But this is impossible. How can I register what I have experienced and you have not seen? Even before I went on this trip I would visit the blogs of fellow travelers, I would see their photos of Sicily, Rome and Pompeii—the hoards of greenery, cobblestone streets and merchants selling baskets of goods and eatery, but I never felt anything until I saw it. I sent many postcards to people during my time here. I now think of those people opening their mail-boxes, sorting through the junk mail, the bills, the late birthday notes and coming to my well-wishing photograph of the Boboli Gardens gateway. Hopefully the words were well-received, but I wonder: Did the image render anything for them? Did it make them wonder what this place was and what it meant to me? I tried to write down a tiny sentence about each location I mailed out, but even now I’m certain that it’s the words they remember rather than the image, certainly not because they were extrodinary words, but because what does an image of foreign country mean to those who have never traveled outside of the tri-county area?

I suppose I can only say that I entrust my entire faith in the study abroad program, not because it established a sacred text of High Renaissance architecture, painting and scenery or because it gave me an excuse to watch professional theatre in London two to three nights a week, but because it got me out of Monmouth, Illinois. I was born in Galesburg, Illinois—fifteen miles from Monmouth. I was raised in North Henderson—twenty-two miles from Monmouth. I went to elementary school and high school in Alexis—eighteen miles from Monmouth. I graduated from United High School—not three miles outside of Monmouth’s city limits. So why did I go to Monmouth College? The answer is as simple as I want it to be: I wanted to leave only so I could come home again.

I have learned many things during my five months in Europe pertaining to art, literature, sculpture, the Classics and architecture, but two of the most memorable lessons I received while here were in the form of graffiti, one scribbled quickly on the side of building in Venice, above the low waters of the canal, the other delicately written in capitalized letters across the façade of a restaurant in an alleyway leading to the Palazzo Pitti in Florence. The Venice text reads: “I’ve been to Paris, I’ve been to Rome, but I’ll always call Katooma home.” My assumption is that this aspiring poet came from the Blue Mountain region of Australia on visit to the sinking city of Venice and while staring out into the canal, he must have been reminded of his homeland and was struck with the inspiration to write out an ode to the place where he once belonged to and would ultimately return. The Florence writing on the wall read: “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” My friend traveling with me saw this and said, “False,” but I say “True.” True true true. Anyone who is absent from anything—a loved one, a memento, a song, a home—can agree that when you turn your back from something and open your eyes to the world around you, you begin to miss some of the things you left behind. It is not every once in a lifetime that you get the opportunity to go back to them. This trip allows me to do that and amongst every sight I have seen, every place I’ve visited, every gargantuan oil painting I have stood in front of, it is this that I am grateful for.

What I Learned in English 200

by Stevie Croisant

As a student, it is too easy to pick up your pen and start drawing pictures in the margins of your notebooks. I know my notebooks are filled with flowers, hearts, and way too many bubble letters spelling out my name. I know in classes I don’t enjoy, there are more doodles than actual notes. If you look in my notebook for my English 200 class though, there isn’t a single drawing.

Sure, call me biased because I am an English major, but I honestly have not lost interest enough to start drawing during that class. I know in other English classes, I have had the tendency to make a couple of random shapes at the bottom of the page, but so far this semester, my English notebook is completely free of any horrible artwork.

I would also say it is safe to say that English 200 is a very entertaining class. The first day, Professor Hale used his army drill sergeant voice to tell my class how we where now entering “The English Boot Camp.” The class was definitely entertaining at first. It was also a lot of busy work- annotate a poem here, paraphrase a sonnet there.

The work was easy at first, but of course it took away my free time. Just by looking at Emily Dickinson’s “The Railway Train” I would not have guessed that my class could spend three weeks on that one poem. The scary part- it was actually fun.

Besides poetry, I was able to read Kate Chopin’s The Awakening. I learned that there is more than one way to read a story (yes, my high school English teachers were wrong). I was fascinated by the feminist, the psychoanalytic, and the historical approaches one could read literature with. By learning about these types of criticism, I was able to ask more questions about the literature I was reading.

My first big essay in English 200 focused on how the author used metaphors and symbols to convey a certain theme. My second essay focused on how the author used the pattern of the sea to show a certain message. Now on my research paper, I am using an approach I had never even heard of a year ago. My last paper uses a psychoanalytical approach to flesh out Flannery O’Connor’s “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.”

Each day in English I learn something new. I have a whole notebook dedicated to real notes that I can look back on and not have to worry about being distracted by pictures.

I learn something new about English every day in class. For one, I never knew about the canon. I also attended my first poetry reading where the creative writing class read their poems and stories out loud at Mellinger one night.

I always knew I loved English, but I become more and more fascinated with it. The fact that I can keep learning new things every class period amazes me. I am learning to think critically, analyze literature, to ask questions, and to question ideas in literature. English is a wonderful major. Every day I get to make a new discovery within a poem or story I read, and I think those discoveries are the best reward of being an English major.

Senior Send-Off

by Leanna Waldron

It's been a long year, but it's been a good one. Among the multitude of papers, readings, classes and notes, there have been some good times had. Unfortunately, it is now just about time to say goodbye to our senior English majors and wish them luck on their next stage of life.

Congratulations, Seniors!

Sarah Mathis

What is the English Portfolio like? Any advice on completing it?

Keep up on it. It's a lot harder to do all at once than to do every year.

What author or piece of literature that you’ve studied in any English class did you despise the most? What is your favorite?

I HATE Joseph Conrad. I LOVE William Butler Yeats and John Keats.

What English class taught you the most?

Probably English 200 (Intro to English Studies); it taught the mechanics and how to explicate a lot more than the others did.

Favorite moment from Senior Seminar?

Finding out my thesis for my paper would work...and deciding on what I was going to write about. But I really liked the entire class.

Any advice or final words for those of us going into Senior Seminar in the future?

Decide on your paper topic early--procrastinating really is the worst thing to do, because then you don't know your piece as well and you feel more rushed. The earlier you start, the better.

Rissa Inman

How would you rate your experience in Senior Seminar?

Complete and total hell! Seriously though, I've actually had a lot of fun with classroom discussions and getting together with people from class to work on our writing. Oddly, it has been a bonding experience.

What is the English portfolio like? Any advice on completing it?

The English portfolio was not as scary as I imagined it to be. The best advice, keep you papers and do your EIP's each year. Doing them all at once is never a good idea!

What author or piece of literature that you’ve studied in any English class did you despise the most? What is your favorite?

Virginia Woolf...I pretty much hate her. I love Salman Rushdie!

What English class taught you the most?

Probably English 200.

Any advice or final words for those of us going into Senior Seminar in the future?

Start early, start early, start early. Work every day. Make sure you have a vice, you'll need it! Don't be afraid to go a little crazy! For the freshmen and sopohmores, follow your course schedule, you do not want to be taking 3 English classes while in seminar! Trust me!

Emily Isaacs

How would you rate your experience in Senior Seminar?

It's a tough course, but having Senior Seminar with MW has been a complete blast.

What is the English portfolio like? Any advice on completing it?

I would say what everyone says, hold on to everything and don't put off completing it!

What author or piece of literature that you’ve studied in any English class did you despise the most? What is your favorite?

Most Despised- Heart of Darkness
Favorite- Dracula

What English class taught you the most?

200

Any advice or final words for those of us going into Senior Seminar in the future?

Don't freak out because it's Senior Seminar. If the people before you could get through it in one piece, chances are that you can too!

Katie Moore

What is the English portfolio like? Any advice on completing it?

Uhm :D save your stuff! .. I didn't. <.<

What author or piece of literature that you’ve studied in any English class did you despise the most? What is your favorite?

I hate Donne. HATE. HATE. HATE. Favorite would have to be Spiegelman's Maus

What English class taught you the most?

Senior Seminar and Boot Camp

Favorite moment from Senior Seminar?

"I wouldn't want to confuse a horse with a cat because that would have some serious repercussions for my lap!" - Willhardt

Any advice or final words for those of us going into Senior Seminar in the future?

Start your work early. O_O

Melissa Bankes

How would you rate your experience in Senior Seminar?

My experience in Senior Seminar has been an adventure, to say the least. To have one last class with all the majors together gave us a great environment to share our opinions, frustrations, and discussions with other seniors that were going through similar experiences.

What is the English portfolio like? Any advice on completing it?

The English portfolio is a giant pain and my best advice about completing it would be to keep EVERYTHING from all four years in a drawer and one night just sit yourself down and hash it all out. To have everything available to you at once is much better than coordinating sixteen different folders.

What author or piece of literature that you’ve studied in any English class did you despise the most? What is your favorite?

I despised anything in either of the British surveys, honestly. My favorite piece of literature I read was either Winesburg, Ohio or "The American Scholar."

What English class taught you the most?

Senior Seminar has definitely given me the most to think about as a student and the theme of "The Responsible Artist" carries some challenging questions with it that I'm sure I won't ever be done trying to answer.

Any advice or final words for those of us going into Senior Seminar in the future?

Don't be so hard on yourself.

Suzanne Barber

What is the English portfolio like? Any advice on completing it?

It was pretty easy, just start early and keep adding to it as you go.

What author or piece of literature that you’ve studied in any English class did you despise the most? What is your favorite?

I liked them all.

What English class taught you the most?

I really learned from all of them.

Favorite moment from Senior Seminar?

"That dolphin-torn, that gong-tormented sea." What's up with that, Yeats?

Any advice or final words for those of us going into Senior Seminar in the future?

Have fun!

Jon Snowdon

What is the English portfolio like? Any advice on completing it?

My English Portfolio had a bit of everything in it. It was not overly difficult to complete, however a word of advice to the newbies would be to keep all of your graded papers in every English major class in a folder, portfolio, etc.

What author or piece of literature that you’ve studied in any English class did you despise the most? What is your favorite?

The piece of literature that I despised the most that I studied would have had to have been Great Expectations. I absolutely cannot stand Dickens. My favorite would have to of been Dracula. As I mentioned above, I am a sucker for Gothic Literature, and Dracula is one of the fathers of the genre.

What English class taught you the most?

The English class(es) that I learned the most from would have to be British Lit. I and II. I find British Literature to be beautiful and much preferable to American. It is for this reason that I believe I retained more in these classes.

Favorite moment from Senior Seminar?

Favorite moment would have to be the discussion had about Aristotle's theories about responsible art. It really sets up a unique way to look at art, in spite of his hatred for it.

Any advice or final words for those of us going into Senior Seminar in the future?

READ EVERYTHING.

Derek Keist

How would you rate your experience in senior seminar?

Senior Seminar was an interesting, yet challenging class. I enjoyed it when I didn't feel like I was drowning in it.

What is the English portfolio like? Any advice on completing it?

I have a few papers from every year with yearly evaluations about what I felt I improved on. My advice is to start early and save all your essays.

What author or piece of literature that you've studied in any English class did you despise the most? What is your favorite?

The piece of literature that I despised the most was probably Great Expectations because I found it incredibly boring. One of the pieces that I really enjoyed was Dracula in my Gothic Fiction course.

Which English class taught you the most?

English 200 with Professor Watson. I feel I definitely learned the most in that class, such as organizing arguments and writing strong topic sentences.

Any advice or final words for those of us going into Senior Seminar in the future?

Don't put off your final essay. 25 pages seems like a lot, but it isn't too bad if you work on it throughout the semester.

Fannetta Jones

What is the English portfolio like? Any advice on completing it?

It is fairly daunting if left to the last minute but it is not something that is unmanageable. My main advice would be to keep your work throughout the years, especially graded work. The portfolio is introduced in 200 and you begin it there. Make sure you don't lose it! It's hard to attempt to recreate 4 years over the course of a few nights. A better way of doing it would be to keep in mind pieces you feel really show off your best work over the years and stick it in the binder as it happens. By the time you have to put it together, you'll already have your artifacts.

What author or piece of literature that you’ve studied in any English class did you despise the most? What is your favorite?

The worst piece of literature I was ever made to read was The Castle of Otranto by: Horace Walpole. Those who were in Gothic Fiction will understand. It was legendary in that it broke ground for the genre but that's where the praise should end. My favorite, however, is Oranges are Not the Only Fruit by: Jeanette Winterson. The book found a way to tie in humor, religion, and a coming of age story (not to mention a bit of Fantasy, I suppose) in a very well crafted way. I enjoyed it from beginning to end.

What English class taught you the most?

I would say all of them taught me a lot in different ways. Senior Seminar pops to mind in having taught me the most because I've learned new ideas and methods of literary criticism and craft while also being a "refresher course" of sorts on what we've learned over the last 4 years. It has been all encompassing and definitely helpful.

Favorite moment from Senior Seminar?

I don't think I can pinpoint one moment. Every class brings something different to the table. But I think the quote that pops readily to mind is "What up, Virginia?!"

Any advice or final words for those of us going into Senior Seminar in the future?

Not every seminar experience will be the same. It depends on your teacher and your focus but it should definitely be something you enjoy. Going into it, you will be challenged, you will work hard, and you will doubt yourself from time to time. But this class will shape you into a much better writer, student, and, ultimately, person. Just be prepared to work.

Carly Maki

How would you rate your experience in Senior Seminar?

Senior Seminar is a hoot! I’ve had so much fun but I’ve also learned a lot. It has been a fitting capstone to the major.

What is the English portfolio like? Any advice on completing it?

I know I’m not supposed to say this, but the portfolio is not as big of a deal as it’s built up to be, so don’t spend too much time worrying about it. Get it done and worry about your paper.

What author or piece of literature that you’ve studied in any English class did you despise the most? What is your favorite?

I hated British Survey I--"Beowulf" and "Sir Gawain" were absolute torture. Many of my favorites were in Modern American Drama with Professor Watson, namely "Long Day’s Journey into Night."

Which English class taught you the most?

Seminar

Any advice or final words for those of us going into Senior Seminar in the future?

Stop worrying. You’re going into Seminar because you love English, so it should be fun. If you’re not having fun, you’re not in the right major.

Survey Says:

What is the best work you've studied in an English class in the 2010-2011 school year?

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

-Brittany Van Duyne

I really enjoyed reading Hamlet. Though I've read it before, it was fun to study it at a higher level and I enjoyed reading it for two separate classes with two very different focuses.

-Leanna Waldron

Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray.

-Presiana Yorgakieva

I really like "The Goblin Market" by Christina Rossetti. I have rarely read a classic poem that had such strong imagery and so many sexual overtones. I'll never look at fruit the same way again.

-Katie Struck

Flat out, Red Azalea by Achee Min.

-Becky Isaacs

Either Great Expectations or A Scandal in Bohemia.

-Mary Grzenia

I'm partial to Invisible Man (by Ralph Ellison) myself.

-Wesley Teal

Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson

-Emily Isaacs

"The Wizard of Oz" essay by Salman Rushdie

-Carly Maki

Meridian might have been my favorite...I don't know, there are so many! Beloved was great too.

-Ivy Engebretson

Art Spiegelman's Maus: A Survivor's Tale

-Derek Keist

announcements!

You are all invited to the English Department Party Wednesday, May 4, from 4:00-6:00 at the home of Professors Rob Hale and Erica Solberg, 327 N. 2nd St. Come celebrate the induction of the new members of Sigma Tau Delta and toast the seniors!
The annual Rattle Poetry Prize offers $5,000 for a single poem. Fifteen finalists will receive $100 each and be published in the winter issue of RATTLE. The winner will then be chosen by entrant and subscriber vote after publication. The deadline for entry is August 1, 2011. Visit http://www.rattle.com/rpp/rpp.htm for more information!
Don't miss the Writing Center's extended hours during finals, starting Thursday, May 5! Thursday and Friday 10:00am-12:00pm, 2:00pm-4:00pm, 7:00pm-10:00pm, Saturday 2:00pm-4:00pm, Sunday 2:00pm-4:00pm, 7:00pm-10:00pm, Monday 2:00pm-4:00pm, 7:00pm-10:00pm and Tuesday 2:00pm-4:00pm.
Good luck to everyone on your final papers, projects and exams and have a wonderful summer!

Leanna Waldron
lwaldron@monm.edu

Alex Nall
anall@monm.edu

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