One down. Three to go.

[icarus]

Okay, one 10-page final down.

I have a paper that I have to have done by 8am. Yes, why of course it's the paper I've been struggling with, why do you ask? Will be pulling another all-nighter, I think. Why couldn't I have just picked "Buddhism in Manimekhalai" as my topic and made it easy for myself?

Then I get cracking on my seven-page paper all day tomorrow. (I typed senev. That's a new one for my occasional dyslexia.) And writing the history of the novel essay for the final. What is my interpretation of the historical development of the novel in the 18th and 19th century anyway? Gee, I'm drawing a blank. I suppose a one-sentence "I agree with Watt!" is neither sufficient nor true.

The seven (or senev) page paper is due 8:30am, Thursday, at the beginning of yes, my second final.

I switch to doing my oh-so-behind readings for my eastern religions class on Wednesday. That paper is due Friday. The teacher is Japanese which is French for "ruthless." She requires that you reference all the source materials for the class. It looks like I'll be writing that Thursday afternoon, with edits on Friday.

Your opinion, please.

I always love it when people ask me for my opinion. Now I need yours. I'm waffling between two classes for next quarter.

Chaucer. I love early literature, Middle and Old English (blame Tolkien). This class is usually offered at 8:30am, which, those of you who've noticed my 2am posts, will never work. I'd miss too many classes to keep up. Now it's being offered at a delightful 1:30pm.

But Chaucer is hard, and I am already doing an honors class that will suck me dry like a Wraith and a graduate level Buddhism class that I'm warned has a library of reading. The Chaucer teacher is reputed to be knowledgeable but very new at the teaching thing. There's an excellent teacher, a grad student I know who teaches a similar class, but it's at... 8:30am in the morning. *sigh*

Chaucer would be an elective class and not count towards any of my basic English requirements, since I've already loaded up on the Shakespeare, 18th, and 19th century literature. I should be taking modern and post-modern and American lit classes, actually.

Medieval and Modern Asian Lit. This is very rarely offered and I'm not sure about it, but I'm quite interested. Asian lit is the crossover point between my English and Asian studies degree. That said, I've already covered my requirements for the Asian studies degree (with exception of the language).

It would be related to one of my favorite classes so far, Mughal Indian History. The class is full, I'd have to beg my way in, but I don't think that would be difficult. And it would be a 200-level class and act as a break for me from the rest of my quarter.

Schedule-wise, they're six of one, half a dozen of another. The honors class is largely independent study so it works out to one class per day. The Chaucer gives me Fridays off, but I'll be at the school Friday anyhow. Hmmm....


Didn't I used to write fanfiction, once upon a time?

Comments

[villainny.livejournal.com]

I'd go with the Asian lit because there will always be classes on Chaucer somewhere. And it sounds fascinating, too.

[inkscribe.livejournal.com]

This is a ultra-rapid drive-by post since I'm up ungodly late and probably hardly coherent. Since it's six of one and half-dozen of the other, I'll cast my vote for the Asian lit one.

Why? Because you wrote fanfiction once upon a time. And the world needs more Cordwainer Smith-types out there, which doesn't exactly come out of Western-tradition writing. IMNSHO. ;-)

Gotta sleep now. I'm glad to hear your slogging through papers has been showing results.

[fractalreality.livejournal.com]

I did Chaucer about, oh, 7 years ago?
I actually really enjoyed it, even though I went in determined not to (at that stage in my life. anything not Shakespeare or Renaissance was not worth the effort).

If you like both equally, I'd say go for the one that is better for you both in terms of work load and schedule.

[kijikun.livejournal.com]

Personally I would go with Chaucer but you need to go with what works for you. I loved Chaucer when I took it, adored it, but I'm a Medievalist and middle english is my poison of choice. That said I only take early morning classes from Professors I adore or classes that I must have.

Err I should really start working on my book review for medieval minorities.

/this has been a babbling ramble from Kiji who should have been in bed hours ago. Experiences may very.

[greenling.livejournal.com]

There seem to be very few pros to balance out the cons in taking Chaucer.

Take Asian lit and read some stuff on Chaucer over the next genuine break you get. You'll probably learn just as much, considering how worn-out your brain will be taking those other classes.

[enname.livejournal.com]

*waves weakly*

I'd say do both, but uh.. that could just be my jealousy of your classes speaking and my being sick to death of my thesis and thrashing around wildly looking at the shiny whilst trying to drag myself back to the laptop. *looks slightly deranged*

Pffffffffffft tonnes of time to write and read, says she of the Once Didn't Sleep For Six Days Due to the Amount of Work She Had Left To the Last Minute.

Could always do the standard pick two opposing stances and argue the difference for your essay. It makes 'I agree mostly with Watt, except for where Watt is wrong wrong wrong wrong' seem a little less like that.

*blinks* Do you have classes where you don't have to reference all source materials???!?!?

[rabidfan.livejournal.com]

I throw in my two cents for the Asian studies. If neither helps towards your degree, go with the more rare and difficult to get into. Chaucer will still be there next time around.

[twistedrecesses.livejournal.com]

The real question is, how many other things will you be doing besides your schoolwork? If the answer is "none", go ahead and take the Chaucer class. Basic level classes are often so easy they're boring, and they demand far more work than is necessary.

Then again, there is that elusive Unicorn named "Sleep"...

[maxinemayer.livejournal.com]

If I understand correctly, neither course is for credit towards your degree? If so, you know, Chaucer is pretty easy compared to the other course.... But it *is* taught more widely, so would be available in the future. Probably, you should take the Asian lit class as it's rare and besides, it seems to be more in line with your interests (as I've gathered them to be from your recent posts).

I suppose you can't just take Swimming 101 for the relaxation and health values and give your mind a break???!!!

Let Rodney sleep for you!
Love, max

[ursula]

Hey, did you notice Naomi Novik's gonna be signing at the U. Bookstore Wed. evening?

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

No way, really? Kick ass! I'll be there, finals or not. Are you coming?

*looks it up* 7pm.

[ursula]

Think so? I was talking to belmanoir about going together, but she hasn't messaged me back yet.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I may not be able to go. Turns out the final paper that was listed as the 21st in MyUW, and March 16th, 2006 on the handout was really due yesterday.

My TA's cutting me some slack, but it means I have four papers to write between now and Thursday.

[ursula]

Luck.

I think it's a bunch of people signing at tables, rather than a talk, so you could slip by for 5 minutes if you're on campus & need a break.

2.5 cents...

[alfrenne.livejournal.com]

Hiya, congrats on getting some exams behind you... just wanted to say, Chaucer's great but if you're busy busy busy there is a lot of work entailed in studying him, not least in just getting comfy with the language before even engaging with themes and allegories and whatnot. Although you could sneakily read the updated versions I suppose!

But loving a certain subject area does not always make it a wise study choice; I really should have stopped with the translated version of Beowulf and not decided to tackle the original, or take subsequent classes (greatly interesting but I think they left me with some grey hairs and a lower life expectancy). It's hard making all your courses balance, it really is. It's one thing to challenge yourself, quite another to academically handicap yourself by being over-ambitious. My second Chaucer teacher was also very new, which actually just made him more enthusiastic, but it can always go either way. And like you say it's important to keep in mind requirements and the fact that elective classes mightn't be a wise choice if you are loaded down already. I had to break myself out of my Shakespeare habit when I realised I'd done three courses in a row and decide to just move on already to colonial American and Irish literature - I know I can always pick up Shakespeare again, and like somebody has said here, there will always be Chaucer courses, but the Asian course sounds rarer. A friend of mine has just completed her doctorate in Modern Asian Literature and really loved it. On the other hand, I've just completed a course in Asian music that nearly killed me - so much work, oh my God, even though it was great.


So. I've been no help! ;) But good luck with everything.



re dsylexia - many people have sent me over the years for tests which all come back citing that I am perfectly non-dyslexic, which subsequently occasioned much head scratching as to why someone with normally perfect spelling could start saying demin and jopesh(joseph)and whoopi berggold and irrevelent and traciff and all sorts of weird combos. Why will nobody accept my diagnosis of stress-induced/sleep-deprived dsylexia? Sigh. Study is NOT GOOD FOR OUR BRAINS :)

oh just noticed the independent study thing. that can be so dangerous... ;) And well done on knowing your limits time wise, and not having scheduled an 8.30 AM MONDAY THEORETICAL LINGUISTICS CLASS LIKE I DID. why why why????????

[emeraldsword.livejournal.com]

Asian lit. Chaucer was my worst mark at uni (I just did no work) though I enjoyed it. As someone else has said, Asian lit is more unusual - you'll be able to pick up Chaucer at a later date if you really want to.