Honors Newsletter - UNC Charlotte English Dept.

H on or s N ew sl et t er University of North Carolina at Charlotte

D epartment of English

20 18 H onors Graduates with D r. Kirk M elnikoff and D r. M atthew Rowney

ST U D EN T

T heses Senior Projects Spring 20 18 Jo sep h A n d er so n , ?D i scover i n g th e U n can n y i n t h e H or r or W or k s of St ep h en K i n g?

Ju l i e B en av i d es, ?L ati n a I d en ti t y : A Cr eati ve Ex p l or at i on ?

Congratulationsto Shelby LeClair W inner of the Children's Literature Association 2018 Carol Gay Award Miss LeClair's essay, ?Serious Matters: How Humor Functions in Young Adult Literature about the Holocaust" was chosen by a three-member committee as the honors essay for this year's award.

The essay was praised for approaching a difficult topic with "profound sensitivity."

K el l y B r ab ec, ?U n m ask i n g th e M asoch i st: T h e Con cep ti on an d I m p act of Yu k i o M i sh i m a?s Confessions of a M ask?

D esi r ee B r ow n , ?Acr on y m s, I l l n ess, D octor s, an d Sw eat ?

K at h ar i n e V. C l ar k e, ?B ey on d Sel f - D ef en se: A Soci o- L i n gu i sti c St an ce on I d en ti ty Con str u ct i on an d Sel ect i ve A ssoci ati on / D i ssoci at i on ?

Jo r d an C o st an za, ?O f Raven s an d Rom an ti ci sm : Ed gar A l l an Poe?s En d u r i n g L egacy i n A m er i can Ed u cati on an d t h e Ju ven i l e A p p r op r i at i on s of H i s Poet r y an d Pr ose?

H an n ah Ed w ar d s, ?T h e M u l ti p l e Per son as of A l i ce B . Sh el d on : Per f or m i n g Gen d er an d Au t h or sh i p?

M aso n Gi b b s, ?A Fen ce ar ou n d Can e: Jean Toom er ?s Cane an d th e M ak i n g of Au t h or sh i p?

M el i ssa Gl ass, ?Toy Story: A St or y of t h e Gr ow th of t h e M i l l en n i al Gen er ati on ?

Jen n a H ai n l en , ??N ow Recei ve M y W or d :?A n A n aly si s of t h e Rol e of Rh etor i c an d Au t h or sh i p i n th e Fu n d am en t al i st Ch u r ch of Jesu s Ch r i st of L atter - D ay Sai n ts?

M er ed i t h H ar r i s, ?O n ce U p on a T i m e: A L i n gu i sti c Stu d y of Fem al e an d M al e Pr otagon i st s an d Q u est i on For m s i n Cinderella (1950 ) an d Frozen (20 13)" K assi d y I m er m an , ?M ak i n g M ovem en t s: A n aly zi n g Ton i M or r i son ?s Ed i tor i al Car eer f r om a Bi bl i ogr ap h i c Per sp ecti ve?

H al ey L aw so n , ?Pride and Prejudice an d Possi bi l i ti es: H u gh T h om son ?s Bal an ci n g Act i n V i ct or i an Soci et y ?

B r an d i M cL ean , ?T h e N at u r e of W al k i n g an d W r i t i n g: Fol l ow i n g i n th e Footstep s of Poe an d T h or eau ?

T i n a Ram sey, "O n e t i t l e, T w o M om m i es, an d T h r ee St or i es: Pu bl i sh er s' I m p act on t h e Con ten t of H eather H as T wo M ommies" Jacq u el y n Sch aef l e, ?T h e L i m i t ed Per sp ecti ve i n t h e Jou r n ey to Sel f - Accep t an ce i n Annie on M y M ind?

Ro r i W y n n , "H u r r i can e K atr i n a, Race, an d th e Book T r ad e"

C at ch i n g u p w i t h Victoria W hite 20 17 A l u m n i H ow d o y o u t h i n k t h e H o n o r s Pr o gr am p r ep ar ed y o u f o r gr ad u at e sch o o l ?

T h e En gl i sh H on or s Pr ogr am w as absol u t ely m y gatew ay i n t o gr ad u ate sch ool .

T h r ou gh th e str u ctu r e of th e sem i n ar cl ass an d th e f r eed om to ch oose an i n qu i r y p at h w i th m y th esi s, I w as r eal ly abl e to u n d er st an d m y ow n l ear n i n g goal s an d am bi ti on s ou tsi d e th e con f i n es of a tr ad i ti on al cl assr oom .

W h er e ar e y o u cu r r en t l y st u d y i n g?

N ow I am p u r su i n g m y m ast er ?s d egr ee i n L i ter atu r e at th e U n i ver si t y of N or th Car ol i n a at Ch ar l otte.

Pl an s af t er gr ad u at i o n ?

Si n ce I am on ly i n m y f i r st y ear , I h ave n ot r eal ly th ou gh t abou t w h at I am goi n g to d o af ter gr ad u ati on . I w ou l d l ove to teach som ew h er e, bu t th e qu est i on i s at a h i gh sch ool or a u n i ver si t y ? Bu t th en agai n , I w ou l d n ever say n o t o a Ph D p r ogr am .

Fi r st Year Out Feat u r i n g Rach el W est

by H al ey L aw so n I n this interview, we wanted to feature one of our former English H onors students and their personal experience one- year post- graduation from UN CC. For this segment, we chose Rachel West. Rachel has been working and successfully using her English degree in the job market. We delve into her job search, the details of her day- to- day, how she uses skills she learned in the H onors program, her experiences in the H onors program, advice for future H onors students, and other fun questions about the real life of a previous English major.

W h er e ar e y o u w o r k i n g o r w h at i n d u st r y ar e y o u cu r r en t l y w o r k i n g i n ?

N on p r of i t sect or - an i n t er n ati on al r el i ef or gan i zat i on W h at d o es y o u r j o b en t ai l ?

I or i gi n al ly st ar t ed as su p p or t f or cor r esp on d en ce an d soci al m ed i a. N ow as an ad m i n i st r ati ve assi st an t i n m ar keti n g, I assi st m ar keti n g l ead er sh i p an d su p p or t team s w i t h th ei r i n i ti ati ves to sp r ead aw ar en ess th r ou gh soci al m ed i a, em ai l , v i d eos, br an d i n g, et c. I l ove w h at I d o becau se th er e i s som et h i n g n ew ever y d ay, an d I get to w or k on a var i et y of w r i t i n g p r ojects.

T h er e i s n ever a d u l l m om en t!

H ow d i d y o u f i n d t h e j o b l i st i n g? (l i n k ed i n , N i n er N ew s, H i r eA N i n er , et c)? A n y ad v i ce f o r t h o se o f u s w h o w i l l st ar t j o b sear ch i n g so o n ?

Be su r e to u se al l of y ou r r esou r ces, an d d o som e d i ggi n g to f i n d th e gol d . (N i n er p u n absol u t ely i n t en d ed .) W h en I st ar ted t h e job sear ch , I m ai n ly r el i ed on car eer sear ch en gi n es. T h i s w asn 't th e best i d ea. M ake a l i st of or gan i zat i on s or com p an i es y ou 'r e i n ter est ed i n w or k i n g f or , an d v i si t th ei r w ebsi te to l ook f or job op en i n gs. I t's alw ay s better to go d i r ectly t o t h e sou r ce.

I sp en t m on t h s sear ch i n g f or a r el ev an t job, bu t i t w asn 't u n ti l I w en t to th e or gan i zat i on 's w ebsi te th at I f ou n d t h e p er f ect job f or m e. A l so, d on 't be af r ai d to ap p ly f or p osi t i on s, even i f y ou d on 't f eel qu al i f i ed . I d r eam ed of w or k i n g at m y cu r r en t or gan i zati on f or m an y y ear s. I d i d n 't th i n k I 'd get to w or k h er e u n ti l sever al y ear s d ow n th e r oad , w h en I w ou l d be equ i p p ed w i th m or e ex p er i en ce. I 'm gl ad I w as w r on g! You r eal ly n ever k n ow w h at cou l d h ap p en , so h i t "A p p ly " an d go f or i t .

W h at d o es H o n o r s m ean t o y o u ?

H on or s stu d en t s h ave a n at u r al cu r i osi ty abou t th e w or l d ar ou n d th em . L ear n i n g i sn 't ju st a ch or e at sch ool ; i t's a w ay of l i f e.

H on or s m ean s goi n g above an d bey on d to con tr i bu te to soci ety, w h et h er by k n ow l ed ge or p h y si cal n eed s. B ot h ar e essen ti al , an d th e H u m an i t i es can h el p ach i eve goal s i n bot h .

H ow d i d i t h el p p r ep ar e y o u f o r "t h e r eal w o r l d ?"

En gl i sh H on or s h el p ed m e an aly ze th e w or l d i n a m or e cr i t i cal an d d et ai l ed w ay. T h r ou gh r esear ch f or m y th esi s, I h ad t h e op p or tu n i ty t o l ear n abou t d i gi tal com m u n i cat i on an d h ow w e cr eate a r ep r esen tat i on of ou r selves th r ou gh l an gu age an d t h em es on soci al m ed i a. T h i s w as essen ti al f or m y n ex t step s i n cor r esp on d en ce an d m ar ket i n g, bu t n o m atter w h at f i el d y ou w or k i n , bei n g abl e t o com m u n i cat e w el l an d cr i ti cal ly an aly ze si t u at i on s an d i n i ti ati ves i s a h u ge p l u s.

W h at w er e y o u r f av o r i t e H o n o r s ex p er i en ces o r y o u r f av o r i t e cl ass?

M y f avor i te H on or s cl ass w as D r . M el n i kof f 's sem i n ar on Sh akesp ear e, K i n g Jam es an d Q u een El i zabeth . Stu d y i n g En gl i sh al l ow s y ou t o con n ect t h em es acr oss ti m e an d sp ace, an d al l of Sh akesp ear e's th em es ar e sti l l r el ev an t cen tu r i es l at er .

D i scu ssi on s w er e a gr eat ti m e of bon d i n g w i t h cl assm at es becau se th er e w as so m u ch to l ear n f r om ever y on e's d i f f er en t p er sp ecti ves.

W h o / w h at i n sp i r ed y o u t o j o i n t h e H o n o r s p r o gr am ?

O u r am azi n g f acu l t y i n sp i r ed m e to joi n . T h e p assi on th at p r of essor s h ave f or th ei r ar eas of ex p er t i se m ad e m e exci t ed t o d i g d eep er i n to m y con cen t r at i on (L an gu age & D i gi tal Tech n ol ogy ) th r ou gh m y th esi s. I f y ou h aven 't gotten to k n ow y ou r p r of essor s, be su r e t o d o so! T h ey ar e tr easu r e tr oves of k n ow l ed ge an d w i sd om .

C an y o u t al k ab o u t w r i t i n g t h e t h esi s, ad v i ce f o r f u t u r e H o n o r s st u d en t s?

T h e th esi s p r ocess st r et ch ed m e m or e th an I 'd ever been str etch ed , bu t tr u st m e w h en I say th at i t's w or th i t. I n t h e w or k f or ce, th er e ar e on ly so m an y ti m es i n l i f e w h en y ou get to p i ck a p r oject to sp en d m on th s d evel op i n g, th en p r esen t or p u bl i sh i t. I t 's a gr eat ex p er i en ce th at I 'm gr atef u l f or . W h i l e y ou 'r e d evel op i n g y ou r th esi s, be su r e to al l ow y ou r sel f en ou gh r oom f or y ou r t op i c. I f y ou m ake i t too br oad , y ou can easi ly get aw ay f r om y ou r cor e p u r p ose an d ar gu m en t. Bu t gi ve y ou r sel f en ou gh sp ace t o l et y ou r or i gi n al th ou gh ts an d h y p oth esi s be ch al l en ged . A l l ow y ou r sel f to be su r p r i sed by y ou r f i n d i n gs, an d ad ju st accor d i n gly. A bove al l el se, d on 't l ose th e w on d er of l ear n i n g. H ave f u n w i th i t!

D o y o u i n co r p o r at e an y t h i n g y o u l ear n ed i n t h e H o n o r s p r o gr am i n y o u r d ai l y l i f e?

A bsol u tely ! Att en t i on t o d etai l i s a m u st - h ave ever y d ay, an d th e H on or s p r ogr am gr eatly d evel op ed th i s sk i l l . W h i l e an aly zi n g tex t s, y ou qu i ck ly l ear n th at book m ar ked qu otes an d p assages w i l l l i kely r etu r n l ater i n th e stor y, n o m att er h ow m i n u te th e d et ai l s seem . T h e sam e goes f or l i f e - th er e i s a l ot of i n f or m ati on th at y ou w i l l n eed l ater , so d et ai l s ar e cr u ci al . I w r i te ever y t h i n g d ow n i n a n ot ebook n ow becau se i t h el p s m e p r ocess an d r em em ber i n f or m ati on f or f u tu r e u se - i t 's com e i n h an d y m an y t i m es al r ead y !

N o t ab l e T h eses

N o t ab l e T h eses

H onors at Work

H onors at Work

B ey o n d Sel f - D ef en se: A So ci o - L i n gu i st i c St an ce o n I d en t i t y C o n st r u ct i o n an d Sel ect i v e A sso ci at i o n / D i sso ci at i o n

M ak i n g M ov em en t s: A n al y zi n g T o n i M o r r i so n ?s Ed i t o r i al C ar eer f r o m a B i b l i o gr ap h i c Per sp ect i v e

by K assi d y I m er m an

by K ath ar i n e V. Cl ar ke T h i s p ap er en gages w i th on l i n e ci ti zen d i scou r se to d i scu ss th e n egoti ati on of th e L ati n o i d en ti ty. Si n ce i ts con cep ti on by th e N i xon ad m i n i str ati on f or u se i n th e U .S. cen su s, th e L ati n o i d en ti ty h as been a h i gh ly p ol i ti cal on e.

T h e r ecen t U .S. p r esi d en t i al el ecti on of 20 16 h as agai n br ou gh t th e L ati n o i d en ti ty to th e f or ef r on t i n m ed i a cover age. T h i s p ap er f ocu ses on sever al of Pr esi d en t T r u m p?s sp eci f i c com m en ts r egar d i n g M ex i can s - an d L ati n os as a gr ou p - th at r esu l ted i n p u bl i c back l ash i n th e f or m of over t soci op ol i ti cal cam p ai gn s an d on l i n e d i scu ssi on s con cer n i n g th e ten si on su r r ou n d i n g th e L ati n o i d en ti ty. O n e su ch L ati n o cam p ai gn , en ti tl ed ?T u r n I gn or an ce A r ou n d ,? w as r em ed i ated i n 20 15 an d r ep osted to T u m bl r . Fr om th i s T u m bl r th r ead , com m en ts w h er ei n p ar ti ci p an ts sel f - i d en ti f i ed as L ati n o, w er e ch osen to com p r i se th e cor p u s an d a th em ati c an aly si s w as u n d er taken to categor i ze, an d th u s better an aly ze, th ese com m en ts. U si n g Bu ch ol tz an d H al l ?s (20 0 5) f i ve p r i n ci p l es of i d en ti ty an d i n ter acti on as th e base f or th e f r am ew or k , th i s p ap er attem p ts to r eveal h ow sel ecti ve associ ati on / d i sassoci ati on ar e r eal i zed i n bottom - u p L ati n o i d en ti ty n egoti ati on . Resu l ts i n d i cate th at th e i n cr easi n g u se of soci al m ed i a l en d s au th or i ty to or d i n ar y d i scou r se an d p r ol i f er ates a sen se of com m u n i ty an d p osi ti ve associ ati on w i th i n th e L ati n o com m u n i ty.

C at ch i n g u p w i t h Tayler Green 20 17 A l u m n i W h er e ar e y o u cu r r en t l y st u d y i n g?

I am a f i r st y ear gr ad u ate stu d en t at Cl em son U n i ver si t y, i n th e M .A . of W r i ti n g, Rh et or i c an d M ed i a.

W h at 's y o u r M A f o cu s?

I en ter ed th e p r ogr am w an t i n g to f ocu s on ly on tech n i cal w r i ti n g, bu t I ?ve becom e m or e i n vested i n v i su al r h etor i c, d i gi tal p r od u cti on , an d con ten t str ategy. I h ave a f ew m or e m on t h s to n ar r ow d ow n on a f ocu s, an d I p l an to p u r su e a cl i en t p r oject n ex t y ear .

H ow d o y o u l i k e l i f e i n y o u r n ew ci t y ?

L i f e i s ok ay ! Cl em son i s sm al l - t ow n A m er i ca, obsessed w i t h sp or t s, an d n ot p ar ti cu l ar ly d i ver se. You ?ll sti l l f i n d m e i n Ch ar l ott e m ost w eeken d s.

H ow d o y o u t h i n k t h e H o n o r s Pr o gr am p r ep ar ed y o u f o r gr ad u at e sch o o l ?

W or k i n g w i t h an ad v i sor , con d u cti n g r esear ch , an d w r i ti n g a th esi s w as an i n v al u abl e ex p er i en ce h ead i n g i n t o gr ad u ate sch ool . D r .

Toscan o?s h on or s v i d eo gam e cou r se w as gr eat f or p u sh i n g u s i n t o cu l tu r al stu d i es, r h etor i c, an d m u l t i m od al ar gu m en t s (i f y ou th i n k gr ad u at e sch ool i s tr ad i ti on al p ap er s, y ou ?r e i n f or a l ear n i n g cu r ve? i .e., teach i n g y ou r sel f al l th e Ad obe p r ogr am s). W r i ti n g an d p r esen ti n g th e h on or s th esi s w as an i n v al u abl e r esear ch op p or tu n i t y. I ?m d ef i n i tely ch al l en ged at Cl em son , bu t I d i d n ot str u ggl e to ad ju st; I w as r ead y f or gr ad u ate- l evel w or k , an d I h ave th e H on or s En gl i sh Pr ogr am to th an k f or th at.

W h at k i n d o f co n n ect i o n d o y o u h o p e t o m ai n t ai n w i t h t h e H o n o r s Pr o gr am ?

I h op e to be a r esou r ce to an y oth er stu d en ts goi n g th r ou gh th e H on or s p r ogr am or ap p ly i n g to gr ad u at e sch ool (i f y ou ?r e i n t er ested i n Cl em son , I ?m h ap p y to tal k an d m eet w i th y ou !). I ?d al so l i ke to keep i n tou ch w i th th e ot h er gr ad u ates of th e h on or s p r ogr am , an d h ear abou t al l of th e w on d er f u l th i n gs th ey ?r e accom p l i sh i n g.

T h e p u r p ose of th i s th esi s i s to ex am i n e Ton i M or r i son ?s ed i t or i al car eer at Ran d om H ou se f r om a bi bl i ogr ap h i c p er sp ect i ve i n or d er to ascer t ai n th e m an n er i n w h i ch sh e con st r u ct ed au th or sh i p ar ou n d w r i t er s d u r i n g th e p u bl i sh i n g p r ocess, as w el l as h ow h er ef f or ts to p u bl i sh bl ack w r i t er s bol ster ed th e Bl ack A r ts M ovem en t. T h e p r oject est abl i sh es th e i m p or tan ce of ap p r oach i n g soci al m ovem en t s f r om a bi bl i ogr ap h i c p er sp ect i ve an d p osi ts th at th e Bl ack A r ts M ovem en t i s an esp eci al ly val u abl e case st u d y becau se Bl ack A r t s M ovem en t l ead er s u sed ar ti sti c an d l i t er ar y tex ts as a m od e of com m u n i cati on . M or r i son ?s Ran d om H ou se cor r esp on d en ces r eveal th at sh e m ad e a cal cu l ated ef f or t to bu i l d u p au th or sh i p ar ou n d bl ack w r i t er s. H er col l abor ati on w i th Eu gen e B. Red m on d an d L or et ta D u m as to p u bl i sh H en r y D u m as?s n ovel p osth u m ou sly l ead s to th e con cl u si on th at au th or sh i p i s a car ef u l ly con st r u cted abstr act i on . H ow ever , i t i s a con st r u ct th at i s i n val u abl e i n au th en t i cati n g m ar gi n al i zed voi ces, as M or r i son d i d i n p u bl i sh i n g Bl ack A r ts M ovem en t w r i ter s. T h ese f i n d i n gs est abl i sh th e p u bl i sh i n g h ou se as an en gi n e of soci al m ovem en ts, an d ed i t or s su ch as M or r i son as v i t al col l abor ator s w h o m ake com m u n i cati on w i t h i n th e m ovem en t p ossi bl e.

English H onors Courses 20 17- 20 18 E N GL 4 750 - 0 9 0 : H o n o r s Sem i n ar : L an gu age, So ci et y an d I d eo l o gy Pr o f esso r M i l l er T h i s cou r se i n t r od u ces stu d en t s to p ow er f u l i d eol ogi es r egar d i n g l an gu age, w i th a p ar ti cu l ar em p h asi s on En gl i sh i n th e U .S. St u d en t s w i l l r ead cl assi c as w el l as con tem p or ar y r esear ch ar ti cl es th at ad d r ess top i cs su ch as l an gu age var i eti es i n t h e U .S. (H i p H op l an gu age, ad ol escen t sp eech , Sou th er n En gl i sh , A si an A m er i can En gl i sh etc.), t h e r ol e of Stan d ar d or Ed u cat ed En gl i sh v ar i eti es bey on d th e cl assr oom , an d th e r eal - w or l d ef f ects of p eop l e?s at ti tu d es tow ar d st an d ar d an d sti gm ati zed l an gu age v ar i eti es.

EN GL 4 751- 0 9 0 : H o n o r s T h esi s Sem i n ar Pr o f esso r M el n i k o f f T h i s cl ass w i l l i n t r od u ce stu d en t s to th e f ast- gr ow i n g f i el d i n cu l tu r al h i st or y k n ow n as ?th e H i stor y of th e Book .? I t w i l l al so gu i d e H on or s stu d en t s th r ou gh th e p r ocess of p r od u ci n g an H on or s th esi s on a B ook- H i st or y top i c of t h ei r ch oi ce. O ver t h e cou r se of th e sem est er , w e w i l l tal k abou t abou t th e var i ou s m at er i al f or m s, tex tu al ap p ar at u ses, an d tech n ol ogi es associ ated w i t h m an u scr i p ts, p r i n ted book s, an d d i gi tal p u bl i cati on s. W e w i l l al so p ay cl ose at ten ti on t o d i f f er en t r ead i n g p r act i ces an d to th e d i f f er i n g r el i gi ou s, p ol i t i cal , soci al , an d cu l tu r al con tex t s of book p r od u ct i on , esp eci al ly i n En gl an d betw een th e f i f t een t h an d ei gh t een th cen tu r i es. W h en ever p ossi bl e, w e w i l l sp en d t i m e i n Atk i n s L i br ar y ?s r ar e book col l ecti on , l ook i n g at p ap er , at ty p ef aces, at bi n d i n gs, an d at i l l u str ati on s.

EN GL 4 20 3/ 520 3? H 0 1: W r i t i n g Fi ct i o n (H o n o r s Sem i n ar ): Ex p er i m en t i n g w i t h Fo r m s Pr o f esso r B r y n C h an cel l o r W r i ter s w i l l st u d y an d p r acti ce tech n i qu es an d f or m s r an gi n g f r om tr ad i ti on al to ex p l osi ve. T h i s cl ass p u sh es w r i t er s to d i scover t h e gr eat r an ge of p ossi bi l i ti es w i t h i n f i cti on w r i t i n g an d r ecogn i ze th e val u e i n str etch i n g bey on d com f or t zon es. St u d en t s w i l l r ead an d d i scu ss r ep r esen t ati ve p u bl i sh ed p i eces an d th en cr eate sever al of t h ei r ow n .

T h e cou r se w i l l i n cl u d e m i d - d r af t exch an ges, on e f or m al w or k sh op , as w el l as r esp on ses to essay s, stor i es an d ch ap ter s. A f i n al p or tf ol i o w i l l be p r od u ced w i t h r ev i si on s an d an ap ol ogi a. T h e cou r se str on gly em p h asi zes l i ter ar y w r i ti n g over com m er ci al w r i ti n g, i n si st i n g w r i ter s str i ve f or r eal ten si on f r om r eal , com p l ex ch ar acter s.

EN GL 4 750 : Gen d er , N at u r e, an d Sci en ce Pr o f esso r Jen n i f er M u n r o e T h e seven t een t h cen t u r y i n En gl an d bor e w i t n ess to a ?sci en ti f i c r evol u ti on ? th at ch an ged th e w ay p eop l e t h ou gh t abou t t h e n at u r al w or l d . T h i s cou r se w i l l ex p l or e h ow th i s ?r evol u ti on ? d evel op ed , w i th a f ocu s on h ow ch an gi n g atti tu d es abou t t h e n at u r al w or l d w er e gen d er ed an d h ow sci en ce i tsel f becam e a gen d er ed en d eavor . ?N at u r e,? l on g gen d er ed f em i n i n e, u n d er w en t a r eval u i n g, as d i d th e al i gn m en t of w om en w i th i t. I n th i s cou r se, w e w i l l con si d er h ow m en an d w om en bot h sou gh t w ay s to u n d er stan d , u se, an d cod i f y th e th i n gs of N atu r e an d al i gn sh i f t i n g n ot i on s of m ascu l i n i t y an d f em i n i n i ty.

I n M emorium.

Pr of essor A n i t a M o ss (1943- 20 18) M em ber s of th e En gl i sh D ep ar tm en t l ost a bel oved col l eagu e on A p r i l 11, 20 18. D r . A n i t a M oss joi n ed th e U N C Ch ar l ott e D ep ar tm en t of En gl i sh i n 1972 as a L ectu r er . Sh e com p l et ed h er Ph .D . i n En gl i sh at I n d i an a U n i ver si ty i n 1978. Retu r n i n g to U N C Ch ar l ott e, sh e w as ap p oi n ted to A ssi stan t Pr of essor i n 1979 an d p r om ot ed to A ssoci ate Pr of essor i n 1983. I n 1988 sh e r ecei ved th e N CN B Teach i n g Aw ar d (n ow th e Ban k of A m er i ca Aw ar d f or Teach i n g Excel l en ce), an d a y ear l ater sh e w as p r om ot ed to Fu l l Pr of essor . O ver h er 4+ d ecad es at U N C Ch ar l ott e, sh e tau gh t cou r ses i n A m er i can L i ter atu r e, Br i ti sh L i ter atu r e, an d esp eci al ly Ch i l d r en ?s L i ter atu r e. I n d eed , sh e w as a p i on eer i n th e n ow - v i br an t ar ea of L i ter ar y St u d i es, p u bl i sh i n g th e f ou n d at i on al T he Family of Stories: An Anthology of Children?s Literature i n 1986. Pr of essor M oss w i l l be r em em ber ed by f acu l ty an d st u d en ts al i ke f or h er i n tel l i gen ce, can d or , h on est y, com p assi on , gen er osi t y, an d sh ar p w i t.

A l u m n i Spotlight Feat u r i n g

T homas Simonson

By M aso n Gi b b s Fi r st o f al l , af t er l eav i n g U N C C , w h at ar e y o u d o i n g i n y o u r gr ad u at e st u d i es at W ak e Fo r est ?

I ?ve sp en t m y f i r st y ear at W ake For est f ocu si n g on cl asses th at al l ow ed m e to f i l l gap s i n m y r ead i n g. M y ti m e at U N C i n volved a h eav y f ocu s on A m er i can an d W or l d l i ter atu r es, so at W ake I ?ve tr i ed to bal an ce th at w i th sem i n ar s on Ch au cer , Sh akesp ear e, an d M i l ton , as w el l as tw o on V i ctor i an an d 20 th cen tu r y Br i ti sh l i ter atu r e. I ?m h op i n g th i s w i l l p r ep ar e m e i n ap p ly i n g to Ph .D p r ogr am s n ex t y ear .

I ?ve al so sp en t a si gn i f i can t am ou n t of ti m e on cam p u s f or m y Gr ad u ate A ssi stan tsh i p , gai n i n g p ed agogi cal ex p er i en ce by w or k i n g i n th e u n i ver si ty ?s W r i ti n g Cen t er .

L astly, I ?ve sp en t th i s Sp r i n g p r esen ti n g at con f er en ces an d con ti n u i n g r esear ch p r ojects I began as an u n d er gr ad u at e.

W o u l d y o u at t r i b u t e y o u r i n t er est i n p u r su i n g a Ph D t o y o u r ex p er i en ces b ei n g an H o n o r s st u d en t at U N C C ?

I attr i bu te m u ch of m y su ccess as an u n d er gr ad u at e to th e En gl i sh d ep ar t m en t of f er i n g an H on or s p r ogr am . I w an ted to go to gr ad u ate sch ool , an d I f el t th at w or k i n g on a tr u e r esear ch p r oject as r equ i r ed by th e h on or s p r ogr am w ou l d both gi ve m e ex p er i en ce? i n th e ty p e of w or k a gr ad u ate p r ogr am w ou l d r equ i r e? as w el l as en abl e m e to gl i m p se (bef or eh an d ) w h eth er su ch a car eer w as tr u ly w h at I d esi r ed . I t w as. T h e H on or s p r ogr am w as on e of th e m ost d i sti n gu i sh ed l ear n i n g ex p er i en ces I h ad at U N CC. H ow h as t h e U N C C H o n o r s p r o gr am p r ep ar ed y o u t o t ack l e, n o t o n l y t h e M .A . p r o gr am at W ak e Fo r est , b u t a p o t en t i al D o ct o r at e d egr ee at an o t h er u n i v er si t y ? I n o t h er w o r d s, h ow h as t h e En gl i sh H o n o r s p r o gr am ei t h er est ab l i sh ed o r sh ar p en ed y o u r ab i l i t i es f o r y o u r p o st - u n d er gr ad u at e car eer ?

I n th e H on or s Pr ogr am , th e th esi s- w r i ti n g p r ocess w as tr an sf or m ati ve. A s a com p on en t of th e En gl i sh d ep ar tm en t?s H on or s Pr ogr am , i t gi ves stu d en t s f i r st - h an d ex p er i en ce i n th e ty p e of w or k th ey w i l l be en gagi n g i n sh ou l d th ey p u r su e gr ad u ate stu d y. T h e th esi s I com p osed w as u sed f or m an y of m y gr ad u ate sch ool ap p l i cati on s?w r i ti n g sam p l es, an d th e l evel of f eed back an d en gagem en t I r ecei ved en abl ed m e to r ef i n e th e p r oject en ou gh f or i t to even tu al ly be p u bl i sh ed i n an u n d er gr ad u at e jou r n al . L astly, r ef er r i n g to th at ex p er i en ce i n m y p er son al stat em en t en r i ch ed m y ap p l i cati on , even as i t i n d i cated I w as p r ep ar ed f or th e n ex t l evel of sch ol ar ly w or k . I w ou l d en cou r age an y U N C Ch ar l ott e En gl i sh m ajor w h o w an ts to con ti n u e bey on d a Bach el or ?s d egr ee to com p l ete th e H on or s Pr ogr am .

H ow d i d y o u m an age y o u r t i m e w h i l e i n t h e H o n o r s p r o gr am at U N C C ? A r e t h er e an y t i p s y o u can gi v e p r o sp ect i v e o r cu r r en t H o n o r st u d en t s?

T h e on ly ad v i ce I can gi ve i s to w or k ou t a bal an ce th at i s p r op or t i on ate w i th y ou r p r i or i ti es. I f goi n g to gr ad u ate sch ool or con ti n u i n g to w or k i n a sp eci al i zed f i el d i s y ou r top p r i or i ty, th en th er e i s som e ot h er asp ect of y ou r ti m e, en er gy, an d atten ti on th at w i l l h ave to gi ve. A n ed u cat i on i s an i n vest m en t , an d bal an ci n g accor d i n g to y ou r goal s d oesn ?t m ean w e sp en d as m u ch ti m e n ot w or k i n g as w or k i n g: i t m ean s sp en d i n g as m u ch ti m e w or k i n g as we need to, an d as m u ch ti m e n ot w or k i n g as we need to, r ath er th an as m u ch as w e want to. To cu r r en t or p r osp ect i ve H on or s stu d en t s, th en , I ?d r ecom m en d a h eal t h y w or k- f u n r ati o th at d oesn ?t com p r om i se th ei r goal s.

M y f i n al q u est i o n : I s t h er e an y o n e t h at y o u w o u l d l i k e t o t h an k f o r t h ei r assi st an ce i n t h e H o n o r s p r o gr am at U N CC? I h ad a m agn i f i cen t m en tor i n Pr of essor Ju an M en eses, w h o d evel op ed a su p er b r ead i n g l i st of p r i m ar y, secon d ar y, an d th eor eti cal sou r ces f or m y th esi s. T h e h on or s sem i n ar w i th D r . M el n i kof f w as on e of th e m ost d i sti n gu i sh ed l ear n i n g ex p er i en ces I h ad at U N CC; w e w er e en cou r aged to be i n d u str i ou s i n ou r sch ol ar sh i p an d en tr u sted to h an d l e tex ts m or e com p l i cated th an w e h ad been assi gn ed at an y ti m e bef or e. I w or ked w i t h m an y p r of essor s at U N CC on sever al i n d ep en d en t an d cl ass- based p r ojects th at p r ep ar ed m e f or gr ad u at e sch ool , bu t I ?m i n d ebted to h i m sp eci f i cal ly f or l ead i n g th e p r ogr am i n i ts y ear of f or m at i on . I ?d l i ke to st op by an d catch u p w i th m an y of m y U N CC Pr of essor s at som e p oi n t . I al so h ad a w on d er f u l ex p er i en ce w i t h D r .

M al i n Per ei r a com p l eti n g th e Ch ar l otte Resear ch Sch ol ar s p r ogr am i n 20 16: sh e gave m e th e f r eed om an d th e f eed back I n eed ed to tr eat th e p r ogr am as a ?tr i al r u n ? of sor ts i n w r i t i n g an ar ti cl e- l en gt h p ap er , w h i ch I d i d u n d er h er gu i d an ce th at su m m er , bef or e I en ter ed th e H on or s Pr ogr am . L astly, af ter com p l et i n g th e H on or s Pr ogr am , D r . L ar a Vetter , w h o w as on e of m y f i r st p r of essor s at U N C, i n v i ted m e to take h er gr ad u at e sem i n ar i n m y l ast sem ester , w h i ch p r ov i d ed a f r esh ch al l en ge an d en er gi zed m y p r ep ar at i on s f or gr ad u ate sch ool .

T h an k y o u f o r t ak i n g t h e t i m e t o an sw er m y q u est i o n s, T h o m as. I s t h er e an y t h i n g el se y o u w an t t o say b ef o r e w e w r ap u p ?

T h e H on or s p r ogr am , l i ke an y d egr ee p r ogr am , i s a ti m ed com m i t m en t ? an op p or tu n i t y th at w i l l ex p i r e even tu al ly. I f i t m ean s i n vesti n g ti m e an d en er gy to m ake i t a su ccess, I th i n k i t?s w or th i t. 10 0 %

Getti n g Off Cam p u s An afternoon spent at The Flying Saucer playing checkers and drinking $3 pints.

If you go to "The Saucer" expecting an astral theme, little green men or kitschy space decor, you might be surprised upon entering to find an entire restaurant decorated with saucer plates. It's true, every inch of wall and ceiling space transforms this strip-mall corner lot into a wall of flying, or perhaps hanging, saucers.

On a quiet and sunny afternoon, heard floating around the patio are snippets of collegiate conversations. A group of international students complain about campus policy, an instructor sits in a shady corner grading papers, a table of ladies laugh and take selfies, a few students sit alone with headphones working on laptops. It almost feels like an extension of campus.

An extension with lots (and lots) of beer on tap and spicy mustard that will bring tears to your eyes.

The food is decent, if a bit overpriced. If you expected a space theme and were surprised to find dinner plates, you might also be surprised by the occasional nod to German cuisine--pretzels, brats and sauerkraut. All in all, the expansive and inexpensive beer offerings, board games, decent food and sun-dappled seating make The Flying Saucer a spot worth exploring.

DI RECT OR'S CORNER D r. Kirk M elnikoff T h e 20 17- 20 18 acad em i c y ear h as been a bu sy on e f or t h e En gl i sh H on or s Pr ogr am . I n Au gu st, Pr of essor M att Row n ey took over as A ssi stan t D i r ector , r ep l aci n g Pr of essor Jan ak a L ew i s w h o w as n am ed th e n ew D i r ector of t h e U N C Ch ar l ot t e W om en ?s an d Gen d er St u d i es Pr ogr am . D r . L ew i s d i d a h u ge am ou n t f or En gl i sh H on or s, an d sh e w i l l be gr eatly m i ssed . I n bot h th e f al l an d th e sp r i n g, D r . Row n ey an d I ad m i t t ed over a d ozen n ew H on or s st u d en t s, m ak i n g En gl i sh H on or s on e of th e l ar gest h on or s p r ogr am s i n t h e u n i ver si t y. I n D ecem ber , si x En gl i sh m ajor s gr ad u at ed w i t h h on or s; an d t h i s sp r i n g, seven teen m or e w i l l be gr ad u at i n g.

L i ke th ose i n 20 16- 17, th i s acad em i c y ear ?s gr ad u ates p r od u ced t h eses i n n u m ber of d i f f er en t En gl i sh - St u d i es ar eas- - i n Cr eati ve W r i t i n g, L i n gu i sti cs, Tech n i cal Com m u n i cat i on , Rh et or i c, Ch i l d r en ?s L i ter atu r e, an d L i t er ar y St u d i es. T h e En gl i sh H on or s p r ogr am sp on sor ed t w o si gn i f i can t even t s th i s p ast y ear as w el l . I n O ct ober , D r . Gabr i el For d (Con ver se Col l ege) gave a h an d s- on p r i n t i n g- p r ess d em on st r at i on ; an d i n A p r i l , D r . M i r an d a Bu r gess (U n i ver si t y of Br i t i sh Col u m bi a) k i cked of f th e 3r d Bi an n u al En gl i sh H on or s Col l oqu i u m w i t h t h e key - n ot e t al k ?Bl an k Con f u si on : W or d sw or t h ?s Pap er Fi gu r es.? A n d f i n al ly, t h i s M ay, I am ver y h ap p y t o be l au n ch i n g th i s N ew sl et ter . H er e, cu r r en t En gl i sh H on or s stu d en t s an d En gl i sh H on or s al u m n i w i l l be gi ven h i gh l i gh ts of th e p r ogr am ?s r ecen t acti v i t i es, an d t h ey w i l l al so be abl e t o cat ch u p on th e l i ves an d ach i evem en ts of t h ei r am azi n g p eer s. T h an k s t o Kel ly B r abec, M ason Gi bbs, H al ey L aw son an d esp eci al ly M i sh a L azzar a f or m ak i n g t h i s h ap p en !