Dos And Don'ts of Being An English Major | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Dos And Don'ts of Being An English Major

What you need to know.

28
Dos And Don'ts of Being An English Major
theodysseyonline.com

Enter into the wonderful world of being an English major. Filled with books galore, what seems like thousands of papers, and more this major isn't as easy as people might assume. As a fellow English major and those who may be interested, I will give you a few of the dos and don'ts of this major.

1. Actually Do Your Readings

Yes, this can seem monotonous and tedisome but as English majors, there is really no way to get around it. It is much easier to complete your assigned reading than it is to show up to class and to have no idea what your professor is talking about. In addition, it really doesn't help when it comes to getting participation credit when you can't engage in classroom discussions because you are clueless towards the material your class is discussing.

2. Use a Thesaurus, Constantly

No matter how big the assignment whether it is a small exercise, a question, or a massive paper it is necessary to use a thesaurus as a resource. It is important to build your vocabulary and as a writer, it increases your overall skills. Using a thesaurus whether online or owning one can help eliminate redundancy in your writing and equip you with a variety of more words to use in future assignments.

3. Don't Procrastinate With Papers

Yes, a marvelous perk of being an English major is the number of papers you get to write. If you just believed that, then you are more gullible than you thought. However, as annoying as this may seem, it is an effective and important tool whether you plan on teaching the subject, aspire to be a novelist, writer, or whatever may suit your fancy. In the world we live in today, being able to write effectively and clearly is important in workplace communication, business, and more. Get in the habit of starting your papers well in advance of the deadline. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT wait til the night before to start writing your paper. I know it can be done, but your grade and conscience will thank you for it. Work on your paper in manageable chunks. This can make the task seem less daunting and give you more time to make your paper the best it possibly can.

4. Keep Organized Notes From Class Lectures

This seemingly small tip could reap major benefits later on. You could save notes from your professor that you could possibly use as an aid in teaching your class in the future. In addition, this can help you pass that particular class when it comes to quizzes, assignments, papers, and the final exam. You never know when that one thing you wrote down could be your saving grace the next minute. The holy grail of an English major: well-organized notes.

5. Know Your Professor's Writing Preferences

A vital component of succeeding as an English major is getting to know your professor's writing preferences. For one class, one professor could be a fan of the oxford comma, while another professor may deduct points for using the oxford comma. Knowing the minor details such as these could help you in major ways such as your grade and as cheesy as this sounds... your major.

Most importantly, don't be ashamed to be an English major. Yes, a major emphasis in the workforce is the STEM concentrations, but English is a vital source in the workplace. Beyond teaching, the English major is useful for business, advertising, editing, publishing, research, public relations, finance, and many more. Don't let people discourage you. If you work hard you will reap what you sow. The English major is an effective major for today's society whether people tell you that or not.


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

The Unwritten Rules Of "Talking"

What is "talking?" How does one "talk?"

5329
girl holding phone
NYCPRGIRLS

Now that it seems “talking” is the new way to date, and will stay that way until another idiotic term is used to describe the people who can’t settle down and just date someone, I feel as if it’s time to go over the unwritten rules of “talking.”

Rule 1. Having feeling without feeling.

Keep Reading...Show less
The Stages of Having FOMO in College
iamthatgirl.com

Are you one of those people that gets super upset when you miss out on anything? Well, you may have FOMO, or fear of missing out. In college it’s not hard to experience FOMO every once in a while. You just love doing everything and anything, so hen you have to miss out on something it's the worst possible thing in your mind. Whether you’re sick, have to work, or have so much work to do you could cry – FOMO will hit you hard in college.

Keep Reading...Show less
Vivien Leigh
Revelist

I've lived a whole 21 years with an RBF (Resting Bitch Face), so naturally, I go through most of these struggles on a daily basis.

And before you ask, yes I'm fine. No, I'm not mad. This is just my face, so take it or leave it! To those of you who have been #blessed with an RBF, you'll probably relate to these more than you'd like to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Iconic Duos: Timeless Legends

From Luke and Leia to Beyonce's twins...

774831
Luke and Leia from Star Wars, a iconic duo
Lucasfilm

“Name a more iconic duo... I'll wait." OK, well, if you insist. In no particular order, here's a list of 100 iconic duos that seem to be timeless.

SEE MORE: This Is The ICONIC Disney Sidekick You Are To Your BFF, According To Your Zodiac Sign

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

A Candid Letter to My Best Friends Ex

Because this is the real form of torture you deserve.

1548
middle finger
Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

What's up Asshat,

I've composed a list of things that I wish upon you, and they're harsh and cruel. These things are things that I wouldn't wish upon my worst of enemies, not even that Starbuck's barista who always screws up my order, not even him. You fall into a whole other category of hate. You surpass Starbucks barista. Congratulations, I'm actually a pretty nice person, making you worthy of every single bit of torture I wish upon you. What are these things I wish upon you you might ask?

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments