*REMINDER* DEL Town Hall Meeting
Wednesday 24 November 2021, 1-2pm
Online. Please use this link to access the meeting.
All English Literature staff and students are invited to the first Town Hall meeting of this year. This is a chance to share your views on how your curriculum is designed and delivered. Staff will answer your questions, take forward suggestions, and give updates on how we are acting on your feedback.
Introducing the RUSU reps
The RUSU class reps ensure that the concerns of students about their teaching and learning is fed back to the department, formally (through meetings) and informally during the year. So, we thought this would be a good place to introduce this year’s reps.
Our Part 1 rep is Abigail Thomas, who is studying Art and English Literature. The film she wants to see next is Dune and the book she would like to see made into a film is ‘Heroes’ by Robert Cormier. You can contact Abigail on: abigail.thomas@student.reading.ac.uk
Part 2 reps are Joe Walsh and Beth Lewis. Joe is studying English Literature and Creative Writing. The last movie he watched was Star Trek IX: Insurrection, and the book he would most like adapted into a production is Everything Under by Daisy Johnson. Joe’s email is: j.t.walsh@student.reading.ac.uk. Beth Lewis takes SH English Literature. We also have a part 2 student representing joint honours Language and Literature students. Sophie Jordan will be going to see Hamlet at Shakespeare’s Globe on her next theatre trip and the book that she would like to see adapted is We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. Sophie’s email is s.jordan@student.reading.ac.uk
Part 3 is represented by Daphne Sutton and Emily-Ann Robinson. Daphne wants to see is Wuthering Heights at the National Theatre, and a book that she would like to see adapted is Ruth by Elizabeth Gaskell. Daphne can be reached at: d.j.sutton@student.reading.ac.uk. Emily will be going to see the new Halloween film, as she is a big fan of the original, and of Jamie-Lee Curtis. The book that she would love to see adapted into a film is Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin: ‘It has been my favourite book for years and I think that it would be interesting to see how an adaptation would compare to my own vision of the novel.’ Emily’s email is emily-ann.robinson@student.reading.ac.uk
Getting Involved with The Spark!
The Spark is the university’s official newspaper, run by students for students! Over the last 18 months COVID unfortunately halted the work of the paper but the new committee is working hard to get things back up and running. We are awaiting the launch of our new website (which should be up in the next two
weeks!) and our print paper should be returning to campus in January 2022.
In the meantime, there are still ways for you to get involved however there may be a little bit of a backlog in getting articles published as we adjust to getting up and running!
Want to write for us?
We’ll be sharing regular writing opportunities via our Facebook groups – section editors will share article suggestions and all you need to do is let us know which you’d like to write!
Entertainment: https://www.facebook.com/groups/373519327782201
Lifestyle: https://www.facebook.com/groups/563072438305393
News: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1060271877844330
Sports: https://www.facebook.com/groups/182365777369607
We also have a creative group if you might be interested in that too and you can find that here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/3019252031665244
I’d also recommend following us on Instagram and Facebook (we have a brand-new page so please make sure you’re following the right one!) as opportunities will also be shared there if we can’t find writers via the groups – although the groups are your best shout for a first come, first served basis!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesparkteam/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sparknewspaper/?ref=page_internal
Also, if you sign up as a member via RUSU we’ll have your contact details should we need to email people regarding other opportunities!
– Millie Smith – Print Editor
Library and Study Support
As essay deadlines loom, here is a remind of the help and support you can get from our wonderful librarians and Study Advisors.
Study space no longer needs to be booked ahead of entry, though the 1st Floor Group Study Rooms can still be pre-booked. Individual desks, PCs, and group study spaces are all available on a walk-in basis as usual. There is no longer a Click & Collect service as everyone is able to browse and borrow throughout the Library opening hours. The Library is open 24/6+ during term time. There is a one-way system around the building for now and everyone is encouraged to wear a face covering when moving around inside (but there is no requirement to keep them on whilst seated).
Information for new students can be found here: https://libguides.reading.ac.uk/new-students
New in-depth Library drop-ins
There is an in-depth Library daily drop-in service from 13:00-14:00 Monday to Friday on the ground floor of the Library, to the right of the stairs. Students can come along with queries, such as how to get started searching for journal articles, which database to use for research, how to find a reference etc. This compliments the Study Advice drop-in which runs at the same time. More information can be found here http://blogs.reading.ac.uk/librarynews/2021/10/new-in-depth-library-drop-ins/
Study Advice
Study Advice have put together a weekly webinar programme covering popular topics such as structuring essays and avoiding plagiarism. You can book onto these using the link above. You also have the choice of face to face or online 1-2-1 appointments this term in addition to a daily drop-in service from 1-2pm every day in the Library. The Study Advice website has a range of videos and guides to help you.
Do contact studyadvice@reading.ac.uk if you need more help.
DEL Research Seminars
Autumn Term
Wednesday 10th November, 5.00-6.30:
Dr Rachael McLennan (UEA), ‘“A Small Flashlight in a Great Dark Space”: Elizabeth Warren, Autobiography, and Populism’
Wednesday 1st December, 1.00-2.30:
Dr Ruth Maxey (University of Nottingham), ‘“Indiascape”: Bharati Mukherjee’s engagement with E.M. Forster, Hermann Hesse and R.K. Narayan’.
Spring Term
Wednesday 2nd February, 5.00-6.30:
Professor Ralph Pite (University of Bristol), ‘Edward Thomas in 1914-15: unfathomable deep time’
Wednesday 2nd March, 5.00-6.30:
Professor Hillary Chute (Northeastern University), ‘Maus Now’.
All events will take place online – Zoom links will be circulated nearer the time. For more information, contact David Brauner (d.brauner@reading.ac.uk)
If there is anything you would like to contribute to the DEL newsletter, please contact m.e.morrissey@reading.ac.uk
