[thisisrubbish]

You're very lucky hehe... Mine is literally forcing me to do creative writing even though I made it clear if we did that I wouldn't continue with the course. I only need 2 ADVs for Law anyway so

[shieldmaiden]

I wrote my AH English dissertation (wow, it seems like a really long time ago now...) on Virginia Woolf – To The Lighthouse and The Waves. I adore Virginia Woolf, so I didn't find it such a big task as I probably would have if I were studying someone else.

The main problem I had with the dissertation was juggling it with two others (I did AH History and Modern Studies as well). If you're doing 2 other dissertation subjects, I recommend trying to manage your time so that you can get one out of the way before you concentrate on the others, because it's a lot of work otherwise!

[Gavin175]

I did Shakespeare's 'Othello', 'Romeo and Juliet' and 'Macbeth' and the demise of the leading males, i got a B this year for my adv and I didn't read Othello, I recommend Shakespeare as you wont get more notes on one author. However, I don't think you can do Othello because it's on the reading list this year I think!

[~EventHorizon~]

edit: problem solved, thanks anyways.

[Envy Eyes]

I'm studying Advanced Higher English this year and I'm currently trying to write up my dissertation proposal for our english p.t, which would be ok, but I've not specified what the title of my dissertation is going to be yet. I've researched the authors and the texts I intend on studying, so I know my texts, I just haven't decided exactly which direction I'm going to go in, although they are all similiar. I feel as if I've been sat down in a chair and swung around, so I know where I am supposed to be, but nothing is in focus!

[K.T.]

Those texts being?

[CatherineJack]

I'm studying advanced higher english, and i'm really struggling with my dissertation...i'm going to do Macbeth and Hamlet...and focus on how both protagonists cause their own downfall through a personal flaw...but that's as far as i've gotten. Any suggestions?

[K.T.]

Woah, that's an ambitious topic, but a good one I'm pretty good on both texts, so if you have anything specific to ask, I'll try to help.
Is it the structuring of your analysis you're struggling with, or...?

[CatherineJack]

I know Macbeth pretty well, did it for my Int 2 exam in 4th year....It's more Hamlet that i'm having problems with. I've finished reading it, but i cant figuire out just what exactly was his flaw? His lust for revenge? OR his indecision?.......

[K.T.]

Indecision is how it is usually described; he over-thinks his situation too much basically.

[Envy Eyes]

(Original post by K.T.)
Those texts being?

Oooh sorry for the late reply , since you didn't direct quote I've only just seen your post now!
Pretty much a load of Sylvia Plath, Anne Sexton, some Robert Lowell etc. I had a proposed title which I gave to the teacher who is supposed to be 'mentoring' me in my dissertation, but he's yet to give it back to me since it got lost under the mountain of paper that he refers to as 'his desk'.
It sounds very vague, something I'm very aware of, but so far there's a real lacking in any direction from my teachers. I've done work on reasearching the poets, their work and pretty much taken loads of notes, but without any feedback I'm effectively lost .

[K.T.]

Hmm, Sylvia Plath I know, the rest... not so much :/

Still, feel free to ask if you have any questions. As for direction, you just need to pick a theme that runs through the works that you think you can go into enough depth with. It's pretty much a carte blanc.

[jblackley2]

Hi, my English teacher has asked for a working title for Friday. I am struggling to come up with one and was wondering if anyone had any ideas. I have read quite a few novels in preparation but am finding it difficult to decide what to do.

I have read American Psycho, The Wasp Factory, The Great Gatsby, Silence of the Lambs, Trainspotting and Fight Club.

I was thinking of either studying the genre of transgressional fiction (American Psycho, Fight Club & Trainspotting), studying the theme of The American Dream and the consequences of commercialism (American Psycho & Gatsby) or a general comparison between American Psycho, Silence of the Lambs and The Wasp Factory as they are all in the same sort of genre.

I really don't know which task to choose or how to focus it into an actual title. I think I may have given myself too much choice, something that I always do and only ever makes things worse.

Any advice anyone could offer would be greatly appreciated!

[K.T.]

Err, I can't give a *complete* overview as I haven't read all the books (just the Wasp Factory & Trainspotting, although I've seen Silence of the Lambs & Fight Club as movies). Firstly can I congratulate you on a fantastic selection of books

Like you said, there are 3 possibilities, and the bad news is that no-one can (or should!) tell you which one to do. It's YOU that has to write a dissertation on the topic, so the best advice is to pick the one that most interests you, and you have most to say about.

So, idea #1; the genre of transgressional fiction. That topic, imo, would involve researching the origins/motifs of the genre (and possibly the biographies of the individual authors), and using that information to analyse some key themes that run through the novels - for example, you could analyse the ways in which society is portrayed in the novels, and how that links into back into the ideas of the genre and the authors' own experiences.
idea #2; The American Dream and the consequences of commercialism. This topic sounds highly interesting, but unfortunately not having read either of the books somewhat hinders my ability to give relevant advice. Again, looking towards the origins of the 'American Dream', and then analysing how it is portrayed in the novels (as a drive towards excessive commercialism?) could be a way to go about this. As you're only working with two novels here, you will have much more room to make direct comparisions/contrasts between the texts (which is always very impressive).
Finally, idea 3#; a general comparison between 3 texts. Well, the truth is, you can't make an interesting 'general' comparison. What you can do, however, is select a no. of themes that run through the novels, and compare them. Attitudes to society and mental states of the protagonists could be areas to look at here.

As to the actual wording of the title, it will end up sounding hideously formal and convoluted - mine was
'The development of ideas in the Faust Legend by Marlowe in Dr Faustus, Goethe in Faust, Part I and Bulgakov in The Master & Margarita, with particular reference to social commentary, the portrayal of women and the treatment of religion'
for example. The important things to mention are: the overall theme of the dissertation, which texts you are using, their authors, and the particular areas of the texts you will be dealing with.

I'm no expert on english matters by any means, but I have survived the AH process, so feel free to ask away... and good luck, of course.

[Envy Eyes]

(Original post by K.T.)
Hmm, Sylvia Plath I know, the rest... not so much :/

Still, feel free to ask if you have any questions. As for direction, you just need to pick a theme that runs through the works that you think you can go into enough depth with. It's pretty much a carte blanc.

Well I finally got feedback from my teacher, the only problem is now I'm not so sure if I want to study the texts/poems I had originally said.
The thing is, even if my teacher is a bit angry I'm not too fussed. At the end of the day if that means getting to study something I'm interested in then it'll be worth it. Saying that, it might just be that I've waited so long for feedback that I've just lost interest a bit in my texts.

[K.T.]

Well picking something you're interested in is definitely very important... although if I were you, I'd put some serious work into it over the Xmas break. I know it seems like you have a long time until the May deadline, but in between Prelims, UCAS and revision, the next five months will fly by!

[North]

i recently changed my dissertation to plays!stupid idea and now have so much work to do anyone else struggling to find a question/title that sounds half decent?

[Kirstie.S]

Helppppppppp.
I really feel like i have no clue on how to go about the writing and layout of my dissertation.
Severe panic as im suppost to have a first draft finished soon.
My dissertation is on Margaret Atwood's: "Bodily Harm" and " The Handmaid's Tale".
Suppost to be looking at the treatment of the female protagonists as passive sexual commodities, mainly focussing on characterisation and the effects of this treatment.

Would be really thankful if anybody could offer me advice

[K.T.]

Okay, don't panic
What have you done so far? Do you have notes on both of the texts, or an outline of what you want to write about, or anything like that? Obviously, if you don't, you should get working on those asap.

I have only read 'The Handmaid's Tale', but would be happy to help if I can.

[Kirstie.S]

I will try not to
I have a brief outline so far, and some notes on both books. I just feel like i dont know how to go about properly laying it out, along with what i should actually mention to make it a good dissertation. Was wondering if you had any tips?
Was mainly going to look at the males treatment of the females, and how this can lead to detachment and self hate of their body.
Everytime i go to start working on it i feel confused and dont know where to start.
Thanks