This could have been avoided if I had checked carefully the load of work I was intending to cover.įor secondary reading I have applied a very pragmatical criterion: my reading lists are elaborated based on the examination section that my reading is aimed at. I soon realized how unrealistic this approach was, and had to drop Faerie Queene before it sunk me in desperation.
Last year when I prepared ‘Renaissance & Restoration’ I was naive in my initial appraisal and thought I could prepare in depth Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained and The Faerie Queene. One issue to take into account is the number of pages you are going to read. Essays are the way in which your learning crystallizes, and your reading should be geared towards this essay-writing goal. Although this may seem a bit basic, having a definitive list of authors and topics is key for approaching the literary modules, and the sooner you have this list, the sooner you can start with research and gathering interesting sources, and consequently, the better you will be prepared to face essay questions as soon as possible. These two tools have helped me to pick my primary texts. Past examination papers are also invaluable in making you feel familiar with how questions can be (re)formulated. On the other hand, analyzing past examination papers will show which topics tend to come up more and then you can find the intersection between your interests and commonly asked questions. If a title catches your eye, you can find reviews in big retailers’ websites or in literary forums, and in some, you can even get a look at what’s inside (like a table of contents, useful to decide if the book suits your needs). On one hand, subject guides offer a general reading list for the historical context and general reading around certain topics.
I take long baths to get my reading list done how to#
I have been thinking a good deal about how to compile my reading list this year because with three modules and a 1-and-a-half-year-old kid I cannot get away with a bad organization.įor compiling a good reading list I have used two fundamental tools: subject guides and past examination papers. However, one of the issues that I had last year was that I did not compile a good reading list from the beginning, and I had to muster all my forces to overcome that and do well in the examinations, but I felt like all of it was done in a haphazard way, and this prevented me from enjoying my studies fully.
It also helps that I have already read some of the authors on the suggested syllabus before, so I already have a few ideas to work with. As you may know, this year I am attempting for the first time ever to sit for three modules (‘Augustans&Romantics’, ‘Victorians’ and ‘Moderns’). Up until now, I have been doing two modules per year, but last year’s marks have encouraged me to take on a new challenge.
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