This discussion is now closed.
Check out other Related discussions
GOGSoc
Scroll to see replies
Reply 960
14
Da Bachtopus
I suspect this is why the Cambridge Board of Graduate Studies strategically lose certain applications. Mine for instance. Three transcripts gone into the aether. They split the profits with their friends at Peas Hill.
They want three original transcripts (as opposed to one original and two copies)?
They must be mad. Or in league with the universities that charge such outrageous amounts of money...Reply 961
16
Back in my day you could get up to 10 transcripts for free.
ChemistBoy
Back in my day you could get up to 10 transcripts for free.
and allll this were fields
Reply 963
14
ChemistBoy
Back in my day you could get up to 10 transcripts for free.
I got 10 transcripts for free from my college only this year, actually. And they even sent them to my overseas address within less than a week, bless them.
Reply 964
You have to pay for transcripts? blimey, we are talking a sheet of paper with your results on?
I just have to print it off myself, can have as many copies as I like :d - actually that reminds me, must do that at some point!
I just have to print it off myself, can have as many copies as I like :d - actually that reminds me, must do that at some point!
Reply 965
Stickyvix
I just have to print it off myself, can have as many copies as I like :d
I just have to print it off myself, can have as many copies as I like :d
Yeah, I can do that too, but they are not official. I'm pretty sure you have to get somebody else to do it so that it gets printed on special paper and/or you get a signature and other fancy stuff.
Reply 966
ohhhhhhh like headed paper type thing?
Add that to the list of what to get off my admin lady
Add that to the list of what to get off my admin lady
Reply 967
hobnob
I got 10 transcripts for free from my college only this year, actually. And they even sent them to my overseas address within less than a week, bless them.
Did they send a covering letter signed "HUUUUUGGGS!" too?
Reply 968
14
Da Bachtopus
Did they send a covering letter signed "HUUUUUGGGS!" too?
No, come to think of it, they didn't.
Seriously, though, in many respects Hilda's is a great college. Which is why I tend to get rather annoyed with those silly "omg i've been pooled to hildas, getting an offer from them will be worse than a rejection" posts that seem to crop up every single year.
Reply 969
14
Sorry, this is a bit of a stupid question, but does anyone of you happen to know which form of referencing is the shortest? I have an essay that I need to cut down by around 1000 words, so I have to save words wherever I can...
Reply 970
12
Ibid?! 
Reply 971
hobnob
Sorry, this is a bit of a stupid question, but does anyone of you happen to know which form of referencing is the shortest? I have an essay that I need to cut down by around 1000 words, so I have to save words wherever I can...
Probably the MLA system, though I think MHRA is by far the most sensible and aesthetic. It's at least not going to look odd if you use it, since it's still fairly common in Literature studies.
What's the name for the system (which I guess is mainly used in Philosophy, but which I've seen in some literary criticism) where works are given a 'key' in the bibliography, then simply cited as, eg. "FQ" = The Faerie Queene. That one might be even nippier, but isn't much use if you're citing journal articles or whatever.
Have you taken out all the adjectives yet?
Reply 972
14
Da Bachtopus
Probably the MLA system, though I think MHRA is by far the most sensible and aesthetic. It's at least not going to look odd if you use it, since it's still fairly common in Literature studies.
Hmm, but isn't MLA the one that's sensible but still fairly long? Actually I was thinking about something like the one where you stick all the important information in the bibliography and only have ultra-brief references in brackets (Harvard, I think). It's dead ugly, of course, but it might save me quite a few words...:
What's the name for the system (which I guess is mainly used in Philosophy, but which I've seen in some literary criticism) where works are given a 'key' in the bibliography, then simply cited as, eg. "FQ" = The Faerie Queene. That one might be even nippier, but isn't much use if you're citing journal articles or whatever.
That sounds like a great idea. Shame there aren't more quotes from The Faerie Queene in that essay.
Have you taken out all the adjectives yet?
Heh.
I'm usually OK in terms of adjectives, but I tend to splurge on the adverbs a bit, so I'll probably end up having to take out quite a few of those.Reply 973
hobnob
Hmm, but isn't MLA the one that's sensible but still fairly long? Actually I was thinking about something like the one where you stick all the important information in the bibliography and only have ultra-brief references in brackets (Harvard, I think). It's dead ugly, of course, but it might save me quite a few words...:
I don't think so; MLA is a bit like the Harvard system, but actually rather more succint -- I thought Harvard was house style for some journals, but mainly used for Sociology, Psychology, &c. You're probably thinking of MHRA, which I suspect is the one most students use variants of (it's the one I was encouraged to follow at Cambridge, and which still seems most prevalent in literary criticism). Harvard involves citing authors' names and then the dates of publication, not putting in abbreviations; MLA I think avoids dates but puts pages, which is perhaps rather more useful for literature.
... OK, you can check here. I think what I said above is right:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citation#Humanities
I had no idea there were so many!
re. "Ibid.", &c. I was discouraged because it's apparently old-fashioned; I think the more recent MHRA style guides also say to avoid it. The problem some people have with it is when students use endnotes rather than footnotes, in which case following which citation comes from where is rather more thorny.
What I always did in these cases, and which I think is perfectly in accordance with MHRA style, is to give a full citation the first time I reference a text, then for every subsequent citation to give an abbreviated form that is easily understood. For primary texts, the abbreviation can just be the name of the book; for secondary texts, if you've only cited one from that author, use their name - if you've cited two, again give the book/article title. Also, if you're discussing one work for an extended period of time, cite in full at the start of your paragraph the work, then just use (p.123) or whatever in brackets after everything in your discussion. This probably isn't quite as concice as "ibid.", but is slightly easier to follow.
Ultimately, I think consistency and clarity should guide you above technicalities, though. I have to admit that footnoting systems is one topic I can hold forth on and even bore myself.
Reply 974
14
Da Bachtopus
I don't think so; MLA is a bit like the Harvard system, but actually rather more succint -- I thought Harvard was house style for some journals, but mainly used for Sociology, Psychology, &c. You're probably thinking of MHRA, which I suspect is the one most students use variants of (it's the one I was encouraged to follow at Cambridge, and which still seems most prevalent in literary criticism). Harvard involves citing authors' names and then the dates of publication, not putting in abbreviations; MLA I think avoids dates but puts pages, which is perhaps rather more useful for literature.
... OK, you can check here. I think what I said above is right:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citation#Humanities
I had no idea there were so many!
... OK, you can check here. I think what I said above is right:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citation#Humanities
I had no idea there were so many!
Ah, right. Thanks for the link. Seems like what I've been using so far is a slightly bastardised version of MLA referencing, then (i.e. give the full reference - as in what you put in the bibliography - for the first footnote, and after that just the author's last name, an abbreviated title of the book or essay and page numbers).
Ultimately, I think consistency and clarity should guide you above technicalities, though. I have to admit that footnoting systems is one topic I can hold forth on and even bore myself.
I absolutely agree with you there, but my only problem at the moment is that I desperately need to reduce my word count. Not at the expense of consistency and clarity, though, obviously. Gah. Maybe getting rid of all the adjectives would be the best solution after all.
Reply 975
What is the point in having these different systems of referencing - why have they not standardised it and chosen to use one always in preference to the other?
Reply 976
rottcodd
What is the point in having these different systems of referencing - why have they not standardised it and chosen to use one always in preference to the other?
Well, some of them are better for certain types of paper than others. But your problem is "they". There is no single body that regulates all academic publishing; hence the whole concept of "house style", which at least guarantees consistency within journals, &c.
Reply 977
hobnob
I absolutely agree with you there, but my only problem at the moment is that I desperately need to reduce my word count. Not at the expense of consistency and clarity, though, obviously. Gah. Maybe getting rid of all the adjectives would be the best solution after all.
Well, you probably know all the advice there is about cutting essays down. My flabby and illdefined contribution: I always do a thorough readthrough first, and think - after every sentence if necessary - if there is a shorter way of writing it without losing anything (it feels almost like doing translation). This can actually be very effective, and often involves losing adjectives.
If you're still stuck, I suppose you can try to reduce the quotations as much as possible. Once that's done, the only solution is finding your least favourite paragraph and pressing 'delete'. So sad.
Reply 978
14
rottcodd
What is the point in having these different systems of referencing - why have they not standardised it and chosen to use one always in preference to the other?
In Germany, every lecturer tends to have his own preferred system of referencing, and if you don't conform to it when you write your coursework, you can be marked down quite harshly. The Germans are a fussy lot...
Reply 979
I would vote to ditch the Harvard system - don't personally use it but loathe even seeing it!
Just writing my last essay of the term
Just writing my last essay of the term
Latest
Trending
Last reply 6 months ago
I accidentally fixed a problem at uni and now I'm stuck. What would you do?Last reply 7 months ago
Am I too old? - Career Change - MSc Psychology ConversionLast reply 8 months ago
Have I missed my opportunity for UoM postgrad this year?Last reply 9 months ago
Does undergraduate class matter as much if you do a masters?Last reply 1 year ago
Guidance on Institutions that could guarantee hire after graduation.How The Student Room is moderated
To keep The Student Room safe for everyone, we moderate posts that are added to the site.
