Disclaimer: I don’t need “HELP” on my homework, just some minor research pointers. I have topic, and the crux of my argument/paper already, and I shall edit it later.
I am working on a degree in English Literature, (why not, it can’t be any more worthless than my History degree) and I need some help. I will have to make an oral presentation. So, I am comparing and contrasting two authors. I’ve got the info needed, thesis and body/arguments laid out; but, I need two further things.
I need a scholarly example of two authors being compared and contrasted. I can google same, but, I seem to always get something like “Compare the new Dodge with Author1” and “Author2 says ‘Become a PUA at my site’”. (You can’t really explain to Google that these are Colonial authors, and don’t use the Internet) I wanted to check out scholarly sites, but, I don’t know if ‘Compare and Contrast’ in the search engine would get anything like that. The engines usually go by title, rather than something like a theme of a paper, right?
I need some big words. I will have to present right behind a pompous blowhard. He uses big words, and the class is wowed, even the professor. He isn’t that impressive, really; quite the dildo, in fact-his latest offering was one that any high school student could tell was puffery and meant to take up space, but, heads spun, nonetheless. The words aren’t that big, really, for somebody that reads more than the News of the World, but they have left my classmates in shock and awe.
The professor is such a fuck that she would probably compare his using big words with my laid back approach. She once corrected me in class for doing X on an assignment, while the assignment had been…X. You see what I’m up against.
I know that big words are allegedly to be eschewed in academia, but, as I said, even the professor is in *extreme *awe. My real problem: all of the words that I could have used, he has already used. As I said, I could have used them to my advantage, but, this prick used them all in one paragraph.
So, what I need is really, really big words, but, ones that don’t seem too over the top (I don’t have time to go back and watch Firing Line, lol), that could fit in the context of a literature review.
Can I get some word suggestions, or a site that has impressive words?
Can’t help you with the compare and contrast, but here’s a great list of literary devices that includes some impressive big words – I’m partial to verisimilitude myself.
Yeah, I found that one early, but, it sort of shows that I’m trying to use the big words. I want to intimidate the dorks without being obvious. I was going to try to look up some Latin, but, I think the prof had some experience with that language. I’m shocked that somebody with that amount of education is so readily impressed by the lightweight ‘big’ words that were used. The guy must be more of a Rico Suave than I had thought, I guess.
The assignment is “compare and contrast the lives and works of (contemporary) authors A and B.”
This looks like a good site. My U. does have free access. Can you suggest a search keyword for what I’m looking for?
Thank you very much.
I am not sure I follow - why wouldn’t you just Google something like “Compare Hemingway and Fitzgerald”? A cursory search suggests this produces a bunch of results that might work…
You know the word juxtaposition, right? I’m not going to explain it if you don’t, and you can just look it up.
It’s a good word to include because it actually says more than any combination of simpler words could, and means you can say something like “this author frequently juxtaposes (whatever)” and “this author frequently puts (whatever and whatever) into juxtaposition.”
Since this is about recent writers, look into stuff about “the role of the author.”
Don’t include any big words you don’t understand or that your audience won’t understand. You will make mistakes. Often shorter, simple words are better; there are exceptions, like juxtaposition, and you should concentrate on them. If in doubt, quote Becket on his views about simple language.
I had juxtaposition down; I think that I had already used it a few times. Fucker also used it.
Yes, I know not to use words that I don’t understand.
Thanks for your help.
BTW: I was up all night looking for good words on the internet. The ‘big words’ lists were all old hat. Must be some real retards out there, if those words impress.
AND: Thanks, I have all the examples of ‘compare and contrast’ that I need.
Thanks, everybody.