English Literature Essay -- Graduate Admissions Essays

English Literature    My greatest strength lies in my ability to communicate effectively through my writing skills. As a freshman, I entered college certain that I wanted to be an English major because of my love of literature. I had a rather romantic picture in my mind as to what my studies would include: late nights relaxing with a cup of tea and a Virginia Woolf novel. Though my courses did offer me the opportunity to read many fabulous works of literature, they also challenged my analytical skills far more than I ever imagined. Most of the late nights I spent were not with a cup of tea, but in the library researching critical theory or at my computer, devising my own critical perspective on a novel. Though my course of study was in reality far different from what I imagined as an eighteen-year-old, I soon learned that the sense of satisfaction I gained from critical thinking and writing far outweighed the guilty pleasures of reading. Thus, in my junior and senior years, I have learned to use my love o f literature to enhance my practical writing skills, further my own knowledge, and help those in need.    My Senior Honors Thesis in English is a major researching and writing undertaking. During my junior year, I was one of a few students selected on the basis of grades and faculty recommendations to participate in the Junior Honors Seminar, where we learned the techniques for in-depth literary research and critical writing. In this time, I developed a thesis topic in the area of literature that holds the most interest for me. My specialty is Romantic Poetry (the time period of Wordsworth, Shelley, Coleridge, Keats and Byron), and my thesis examines the history of light and optic metaphors in their works. To ac... ... our country with nothing, and work so hard to achieve what comes naturally to so many Americans. Both his hard work for a good life, and his dedication to learning English and passing the citizenship exam have taught me that the most important practical implication of my major is that I can help others succeed.    Although the progress of my English career has been radically different than I originally envisioned, the work has been extremely satisfying. I have learned that writing and researching skills are crucial in many different areas of life, be it writing a piece of scholarly literary work, a business-oriented grant request, or teaching English to an immigrant. I hope to parlay my talents into scholarly work in the field of English literature, where I will be constantly challenged to expand my mind through writing, research and effective communication.