Information sessions about the English Graduate Comprehensive Exam will be held on Thursday, Feb. 2, in JFT1010. The session for MA students will be at 4:30 and the session for MAT and MSEd students at 5:00.

The 24th Annual Graduate Symposium will take place on Wednesday, April 11, considering the topic of “Traditions and Innovations in Postmodernism.” Students will present papers Wednesday afternoon at the College Terrace, followed by a keynote speech at 7 p.m. in CSB 110 by Stephen Burn, Associate Professor of American and European literature at Northern Michigan University and a prominent critic of postmodern American literature. Abstracts for papers are due on Monday, February 6 to Professor Holland, in her mailbox in JFT 714.

1) I am happy to report that we will be opening a second section of ENG 453: The Craft of Poetry, taught by Dennis Doherty MR 10:50-12:05. Many Creative Writing Majors and Minors have been on a waitlist for several weeks, and we can now accommodate you. Please contact Professor Doherty to ask for a seat in this section.

2) ENG 332/04, American Literature II will be canceled due to low enrollment. Students in this section will be moved to section 2, taught by Professor Stoneback and meeting at exactly the same time. If you are affected and want to stay in section 2, you do not need to do anything at this time. If you do not wish to be in this section, please drop the course and make another choice.

3) ENG 361/01, European Literature, will also be canceled due to low enrollment. If you are affected by this change, please look at the spring schedule, where you will find a number of excellent English electives to choose from. There will certainly be a good course for you.

4) Finally, if you still need an English course or courses, please register TODAY, even if you are still deciding. The more robust our enrollments, the less chance we will have to cancel any other sections.

We wish you all best in your final exams and papers, and a very well-deserved break in just a matter of days.

Check out the December issue of Works Cited. Read about the graduating Teaching Assistants, an interview with Professor John Langan, and useful resources on campus.

Works Cited 5.3

This year, The Times’ Op-Ed Columnist and Reporter Mr. Nicholas D. Kristof will choose one currently-enrolled American university or graduate college student to accompany him on a 10-day reporting trip.

To be considered for the contest, applicants must submit either a written essay or a video entry that articulates their desire to accompany Mr. Kristof on a reporting trip and explains why they are an ideal candidate for such an experience. Blogging and vlogging skills are important. 

Essay submissions are limited to 700 words and should be sent toWinATrip@nytimes.com. Video submissions must be under three minutes and should be posted on Mr. Kristof’s YouTube channel www.youtube.com/nicholaskristof. 

Submissions must be received by January 22, 2012. Students must be US residents and 18 years or older. 

For additional details on “Win a Trip with Nick” please go to Nick’s Blog – On the Ground and see 12/3/11 post. http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/.

Attention writers and artists – Henry, an anthology of Hudson Valley writing and art is now accepting submissions.  Henry is open to writers and artists who live, work, or attend school in the Hudson Valley and whose work reflects the people, history, culture, and landscape of the Hudson Valley.  Short story, poetry, memoir, character sketches, interviews, photography, and other art will be considered for this premiere issue. The deadline has been extended to  January 15, 2012.

 For guidelines go to www.flamingo-publications.com or emailflamingopublications10@gmail.com.

The first annual Graduate Humanities Conference at Tufts University, “Curiosities,” will take place on Friday, February 17th, 2012 from 8:30am to 5:30pm, with a reception to follow.
This new conference expands the long-standing Tufts English Graduate Organization (TEGO) conference to include interdisciplinary approaches and insights and is open to graduate students studying in programs in the humanities at institutions worldwide.

A special note to students graduating this fall.

The English Department invites applications for the position of Teaching Assistant (TA) for the spring 2012 semester. All TAs must be MA candidates in English.

TAs teach one composition course per semester, and receive tuition waivers for two graduate English courses per semester, in addition to a stipend of $2500 per semester.

If you are planning to begin an MA in English in the spring 2012 semester and think you might be interested, please contact Ethel at 257-2720 or wesdorpe@newpaltz.edu for an application and to learn more about this opportunity. Completed applications are due by November 18.