00:00:00
English Virtual Information Session
Gary Richards
03:48:12 PM
Welcome to the English and English: Creative Writing webinar!
Gary Richards
03:48:43 PM
Feel free to type in questions, and I'll try to answer them as the talk goes along.
How are you?
Hate to Kira.
I'm hanging in there. What about you?
What else can I do? What else can I do?
I know, I know, when we consider what our options are.
I write it right, but I've been doing 2 jobs because the Police Department is is short stuff, so I've been helping out the Police Department to.
Oh Gosh.
No.
What have you done? I'm several of these webinars already.
Sorry.
Is there anything I need to be prepared for?
OK.
Gotcha.
No, usually I just kind of hang out an listening, uh, which is kind of nice. 'cause then I get more information on your guises, programs and what's going on, but I just kind of observe everything to make sure that you're not having any problems.
Sometimes, like the chat, doesn't work properly and so.
This OK?
We don't notice, but the kids will be typing and we just don't see it.
OK.
So I kind of hang out in there so that if there is a chat or like a question and it looks like you might not be seeing it, then I can just send me something on TV to say hey, somebody left me something and I'll send you like.
OK, let's see I typed a few things in just to see if I could. You know how to access to the chat? Um, now when you came in, I've now got.
Takera Zajac
03:54:53 PM
can you see me
Me and you at the top and my PowerPoint with small. Or do I just click on it to make it bigger? Or what do I do?
Oh OK, gotcha.
I just put this up so I can say Hi 'cause I know.
On site is going to be able to say hi, but it's really weird to me sometimes with these because you ask questions and then you have to wait and you're like.
Is angry typing you something? I just did it.
Yeah so.
OK, OK so I just AH.
So that you correct.
Yeah, so did you see that in the chat?
OK.
Oh good, OK.
So he should be. We should be pretty good, so hopefully there aren't any problems. But I am here if you need me. A man. I'm on teams, so if you pulled up when up a meeting she messages really quick, but I'm just gonna hang out in here and listening because I actually had a couple of English questions and I was like I don't. I don't know that I was a business major so I don't know.
Yeah, nothing right. So I'm just going to hang out and listen, but if you need anything let me know.
Will do thanks to Kira.
You like, have fun.
Cute.
Gary Richards
03:56:31 PM
I could. Do you see me now or just hear me
To hear it, can you hear me? If so, will you type in the comments?
Takera Zajac
03:58:00 PM
Yep
Takera Zajac
03:58:15 PM
You should see students start to pop in the next few minutes
Gary Richards
03:58:28 PM
Yay!
Aanya R.
04:00:14 PM
hi
Benjamin K.
04:00:17 PM
hi
Jacob L.
04:00:18 PM
hello!
Tabitha R.
04:00:21 PM
Hi!
Emily K.
04:00:28 PM
hello
Grace S.
04:00:32 PM
Hello
Colin W.
04:00:32 PM
Hi!
Look at the wonderful students popping in. This is awesome.
Arden J.
04:00:33 PM
Hi!
Olivia C.
04:00:39 PM
Hi
Joy O.
04:00:46 PM
Hello
As you log in, I'm feel free to say where you're from and if you've got like a favorite book, that would be awesome. That'll give you a little sense of who you are.
Emily S.
04:00:59 PM
Hi!
Colin W.
04:01:01 PM
Loudoun County, VA
See I see Arden, Anna Livia and joy and Grace and Colin, and there's Emily.
Loudon County in the house. That's awesome. Yeah, Colin.
Jacob L.
04:01:14 PM
Hi! I'm coming in from Loudoun and my favorite book is Eragon
Rachel C.
04:01:19 PM
Severna Park, MD
Again, for people just getting in um, if you want let me know where you're from and then one of your favorite books.
Tabitha R.
04:01:24 PM
I'm from King George, VA and you can't just ask me to CHOOSE like this!
Arden J.
04:01:25 PM
Fairfax, Virginia and my favorite book(s) are Eragon, Frankenstein, various graphic novels.
Maryland, yay.
John L.
04:01:25 PM
I'm from Richmond VA, favorite book is House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski
Emily K.
04:01:28 PM
Culpeper county, va and my favorite book is currently The Outsider by Stephen King
Fairfax
Graphic novels, that's awesome.
Emily S.
04:01:35 PM
Stafford VA! My favorite book is Six of Crows
Aanya R.
04:01:37 PM
Manassas,VA, I don't have favorite book, but I like to read
House of leaves. Culpeper, a local Stafford, a local.
OK, you're surprising me with a lot of things. I don't know Manassas.
Benjamin K.
04:01:50 PM
Fairfax, VA favorite book is the song of ice and fire series
Joy O.
04:02:02 PM
Faifax, VA and I love Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
Thomas B.
04:02:16 PM
Richmond, VA favorite book is As I Lay Dying
Emily S.
04:02:17 PM
Yes
OK, let's see I have that it's 401, so even as people continue to come in and kind of let me know where they're from and what their favorite book is, I'm going to go ahead and get started. I'm going to begin by letting you know that I am professor Gary Richards. I hope that you can see the slides and see my face. If that is the case, will someone quite yes in the comments?
Jacob L.
04:02:18 PM
yes
Tabitha R.
04:02:18 PM
yup
Joy O.
04:02:19 PM
yes
Takera Zajac
04:02:19 PM
yes
Thomas B.
04:02:19 PM
yes
Grace S.
04:02:20 PM
yes
Benjamin K.
04:02:22 PM
yes
Arden J.
04:02:26 PM
Yes
Daniella C.
04:02:50 PM
Hello! I'm coming from Dumfries, VA and my favorite book is Neanderthal Opens The Door To The Universe! and yes :)
Thanks Emily, you're awesome. Who everybody is awesome. OK so I am the chair of the Department of English linguistics and communication. We are the largest Department at the University of Mary Washington. At the present moment we have 28 full time faculty and we have about 300 majors in our Department we have.
Three majors, there's the major in English. There is the major in English with a concentration in creative writing, and then we have a major in communication and digital studies that is handled with a different web and are. So I'm going to be focusing today on those first 2 majors. We also have a series of minors in our Department. We have a minor in linguistics. We have a minor in English literature. We have a minor in journalism.
And then there is an interdisciplinary minor in digital studies that is also housed in our Department.
I have been at Mary Washington now for 12 years. I am a full professor at my area of expertise is American literature and southern literature in particular. So if you've looked at the SMS, you might notice that I do have an SM in the fall. I'll be teaching that and it's on sexuality and southern literature. Those are my two areas of focus.
Rachel C.
04:04:01 PM
Picking a favorite book is like picking a favorite movie. Too many to choose from.
Uhm, I am coming to you this afternoon from my dining room and downtown Fredericks, burg. Uhm, I apologize if you hear noise that's becausr across the street there. Tearing down a building. It's the old freelance Star newspaper building and it's been pretty loud, so if you can hear Maine just let me know, but it looks like let's see, the conversation is still going on picking a favorite as hard, I understand.
Uhm, OK, any immediate questions for me before we start out?
Anything about me as a person?
Tabitha R.
04:04:42 PM
What is your favorite book?
What is my favorite book?
Barbara A.
04:04:54 PM
Where did you go to school?
Rachel C.
04:05:13 PM
What made you interested in teaching English?
Let's see who was that? Tabatha that was you? It depends on my mood right now to go to sleep at night. I am reading factories, Vanity Fair. So in British novel written 1848 that's long and complicated and funny and ******. And it takes my mind off of COVID-19 and all this crazy crap that were going through. So right now that's my favorite book. Let's see Barbara ask where did I go to school?
My I'm from Texas. I grew up about an hour South of Dallas and so my undergraduate degree is from Trinity University in San Antonio. A small liberal arts school that was one of the reasons that I wanted to come to Mary Washington because I believe in small, intimate campuses where faculty and students get to know one another. That was the experience I had, and then I went on and did my masters and my PhD at Vanderbilt in Nashville, in part because I was doing southern studies.
So, great questions Barbara. Let's see Rachel ask what made you interested in teaching English?
I liked it be cause it is a profession where I get to read constantly and talk about books to think about ideas to share. Whi I love this form of art to talk about how this form of art impacts us in our lives and to hear what other people think. It's kind of a cliche, but when you teach your taught by your students, I learned something from my students.
Barbara A.
04:06:34 PM
How do you think English is significant in the modern world?
Every single semester. So this semester I'm teaching a southern lit class. We're doing a brand new novel, a Katrina novel that came out from maybe about five or six years ago. First time teaching it, students are helping me understand what's going on in that novel, so it's a collaboration. So that's one of the reasons I like had an interest in teaching English. How do you think English is significant in the modern world? That's probably what your parents and your employer is going to be asking you.
How is English relevant?
Barbara A.
04:08:46 PM
how can UMW help prepare a student to not only major in English but use that degree to become a teacher?
Barbara A.
04:10:15 PM
Yes I am!
Arden J.
04:13:04 PM
Can creative writing help with character development and plot, especially if they are going to be use for a visual medium?
Arden J.
04:13:38 PM
Thats so cool!!
Daniella C.
04:14:05 PM
That's awesome!!
Arden J.
04:16:04 PM
Thanks! It's my dream to develop a cartoon that represents people on the autism spectrum positively and realistically and write some graphic novels!
Joy O.
04:16:42 PM
That's so cool, Arden!
Arden J.
04:17:02 PM
Thank you, Joy!
Barbara A.
04:17:07 PM
That is really awesome Arden!!!
Daniella C.
04:17:15 PM
^
Arden J.
04:17:29 PM
Thank you, Barbara :)
Tabitha R.
04:17:56 PM
Are there many opportunities in the publishing industry?
Barbara A.
04:19:13 PM
What is your favorite type of literature to teach about? Novels, poetry, short stories?
Anastasia Z.
04:19:25 PM
How big are the creative writing classes?
Rachel C.
04:19:25 PM
Include people with Asperger's. Autism is not just the ones people show on t.v. where they can do rocket science, but can't tie their shoes.
Joy O.
04:20:10 PM
Is there a specific route you would recommend for someone who would like to teach english internationally?
Arden J.
04:20:46 PM
As someone with Asperger's, I will definitely represent them :)
Rachel C.
04:21:12 PM
Thanks :)
Daniella C.
04:21:21 PM
Speaking of the publishing world, what skills are taught in terms of the Creative Writing major in the editorial sense? I'm an aspiring editor and I'm curious!
Arden J.
04:21:41 PM
You're welcome, Rachael. :)
Tabitha R.
04:21:41 PM
Me too Daniella!
Daniella C.
04:23:04 PM
Thank you!!
Arden J.
04:24:28 PM
I'm in Representation of Autism in Contemporary Film and Literature!
Daniella C.
04:24:47 PM
Nice!
Barbara A.
04:24:49 PM
That is awesome Arden!!!
Daniella C.
04:25:10 PM
One of friends has Aspergers and it's cool to see something like this!
Joy O.
04:25:11 PM
Wow that is so cool!
Daniella C.
04:25:14 PM
*my
Arden J.
04:25:45 PM
Thanks! I can't wait to start the FSEM!
Tabitha R.
04:26:33 PM
I'm just really excited! Brit lit is one of my favorite classes
Joy O.
04:28:49 PM
Asian literature is so fascinating
Daniella C.
04:29:06 PM
All of these sounds so interesting
Arden J.
04:29:21 PM
Agreed :D
Barbara A.
04:29:24 PM
Oh my gosh I literally wanna take all of these hahaahaha (::::
Daniella C.
04:29:34 PM
Same Barbara!!
Arden J.
04:29:39 PM
Me too!
Joy O.
04:29:40 PM
Me too!
Anastasia Z.
04:30:55 PM
Are there any publications on campus we can work on?
Tabitha R.
04:31:20 PM
For an editor, do you recommend going the creative writing route or just generally majoring in English?
Daniella C.
04:31:41 PM
^^^!!!
Anastasia Z.
04:32:34 PM
thank you))
Tabitha R.
04:33:57 PM
Yes! Thank you!
Barbara A.
04:36:22 PM
Ahhh that sounds fascinating!!
John L.
04:36:47 PM
linguistics has always been fascinating to me and i'm super interested in the linguistics minor
Arden J.
04:40:04 PM
The Writing Mansion sounds like the perfect place to write a murder mystery.
Tabitha R.
04:40:10 PM
Arden yes!!
Daniella C.
04:40:11 PM
LOL
Jacob L.
04:40:15 PM
haha
Daniella C.
04:40:33 PM
And four years later, watch that be a bestseller
Arden J.
04:40:41 PM
Yes!
Tabitha R.
04:41:05 PM
Daniella and I can help edit :)
Daniella C.
04:41:33 PM
That'll be our individual study, we all write the book lol
Arden J.
04:41:35 PM
I'll help with cover art, characters, and plot :)
Barbara A.
04:41:58 PM
I’ll teach it to my students one day hahahaahahahaha
Joy O.
04:42:09 PM
I'll teach it in Japanese lol
John L.
04:43:01 PM
what exactly is the role of an FSEM?
Colin W.
04:43:46 PM
Glad there are many choices
John L.
04:44:18 PM
yeah sounds great!
Arden J.
04:44:55 PM
What is Autism Learners?
Barbara A.
04:45:03 PM
Heyyyy I’ve worked at Chick-fil-A for two years!!
Barbara A.
04:45:32 PM
Oh no I was just excited gahahahaa!!
Arden J.
04:45:36 PM
It's one of the internships listed on the slide
Arden J.
04:46:14 PM
Okay, thank you!
Barbara A.
04:46:48 PM
Are internships required for the English degree
Barbara A.
04:47:55 PM
Yes it did thank you!!!
Anastasia Z.
04:49:51 PM
Are there any good book shops close to campus?
Barbara A.
04:49:57 PM
who is your favorite author?
Arden J.
04:50:48 PM
What book would you like a movie or show adaptation of?
Colin W.
04:50:55 PM
There is nothing like a real book in your hands! Can't stand kindles.
Jacob L.
04:51:04 PM
this^
Daniella C.
04:51:07 PM
^^^
Joy O.
04:51:16 PM
Were there any study abroad opportunities in Southeast Asia?
Tabitha R.
04:51:17 PM
There's a bookshop called Riverby downtown that's amazing!
Arden J.
04:51:50 PM
Cool!
John L.
04:51:58 PM
do you have any good book suggestions to read during quarantine?
Tabitha R.
04:52:01 PM
With orientation being wacky, I'm nervous about choosing my classes. Do you know if we'll still have personal help from an advisor?
Colin W.
04:52:15 PM
Good question, T
Joy O.
04:52:18 PM
Alright thank you!
Daniella C.
04:52:43 PM
preach!
Barbara A.
04:52:53 PM
I’m currently reading a big volume of F Scott Fitzgerald’s short stories and I am HOOKED
Arden J.
04:53:00 PM
Are there any internship programs in Burbank, California and or Atlanta, Georgia?
Arden J.
04:53:24 PM
Has anyone read The Yellow Wallpaper?
Barbara A.
04:53:36 PM
I’ve heard of it, Arden!
Joy O.
04:53:37 PM
I've heard of it
Joy O.
04:53:42 PM
I really want to read it
Arden J.
04:54:21 PM
It's so fascinating! It's a psychological horror short story!
Emily S.
04:54:22 PM
Since the classes are so small, is there competition for spaces?
Tabitha R.
04:54:35 PM
Emily good question
Barbara A.
04:54:37 PM
Emily I was wondering that too!!
Jacob L.
04:54:41 PM
^
Emily S.
04:54:52 PM
Haha thanks :)
Arden J.
04:55:03 PM
Thank you!
Daniella C.
04:55:14 PM
oh my god
Emily K.
04:55:20 PM
I love the Yellow Wallpaper we read it this year in AP lit!!
Arden J.
04:55:45 PM
:D
Jacob L.
04:55:58 PM
haha is there a Hunger Games style tournament for class spots? I better start researching my competition!
Arden J.
04:56:35 PM
May the odds be ever in your favor
Emily S.
04:56:38 PM
Okay, thank you!
Barbara A.
04:56:40 PM
Thank you so so much for offering this seminar, Professor! You helped clear up a lot of things for me and I really appreciate your help!!!
Daniella C.
04:56:55 PM
Thank you!!
Emily K.
04:56:59 PM
Thank you!!!
Olivia C.
04:57:04 PM
Thank you
Arden J.
04:57:06 PM
Thank you so much!
Jacob L.
04:57:07 PM
thanks for your time!
Benjamin K.
04:57:10 PM
Thank you!
Colin W.
04:57:13 PM
Thank you!
Barbara A.
04:57:14 PM
Nice talking to you all!!
Emily S.
04:57:14 PM
Thank you!
Thomas B.
04:57:16 PM
Thank you!
Tabitha R.
04:57:17 PM
This has been my favorite webinar by far, thank you!
Grace S.
04:57:18 PM
Thank you
Joy O.
04:57:22 PM
Yes, thank you! And it was fun listening to everyone in the chat
Anastasia Z.
04:57:39 PM
thank you!
Daniella C.
04:57:42 PM
This was super fun! Can't wait to see you guys in the fall :)))
Takera Zajac
04:57:47 PM
Thank you so very much!!! You are greatly appreciated!