A Conversation with Our Latest LLP Spotlight

Why Choose LLP?

By Kiana Jones

 I had the pleasure of speaking with Tennessee State University’s very own, Alldon Thompson. Some of you may know him as the new LLP spotlight. Thompson is from Atlanta, Georgia and is a junior at Tennessee State University. He double majors in English and Mass Communication with an anticipated graduation in 2021.

Alldon Thompson

 “I naturally chose to be an LLP major because I passionately love language," Thompson says. "(I enjoy) all the creative ways one can use language to convey a story and information.”  His English influencers are Toni Morrison, James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, and Toni Cade Bambara. They have inspired and encouraged him to employ language as an advocate for causes most important to him. He goes on to say, “Choosing to be an English major allows me to extend my imagination.”

After completing his years as an undergraduate, he plans on continuing a higher education striving for a dual J.D./M.J. in Law/ Journalism. His career goal is to advance his knowledge and creative skills to become one of the best investigative journalists in the news/media industry. Thompson also wants to publish fiction and nonfiction works in the future.

His favorite English class that he is currently attending is Adolescent Literature with Dr. Shafer. He declares, “I enjoy how he advocates for his students to make their academic essays and assignments uniquely their own. His lessons are clear and brilliant. Lastly, Dr. Shafer does not subject Adolescent Literature to merely adolescents, but the effective use of it for children and adults equally.”

I asked Thompson if he had any advice for those who may have a desire to major in English and he replied, “Close readings help a lot with annotating and understanding the material. Most importantly, seek help from professors if the course gets too challenging.”

Tips to help you survive midterms....

Greetings all!

            It is that time of the year! As you all know, midterms are upon us. Some of you may be happy because you realize you are halfway done with the semester. However, I am aware that the rest of you are nervous because this entire week is dedicated to strictly testing. Test anxiety is still prevalent in college. Many can say that college is mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually draining. Trying to balance your time with studying, work in multiple classes, being active in organizations on campus, and keeping track of your health can all be heavy burdens to bare.

            Given that this is midterm week, here are some tips to help get you through the week:

1.    Turn your phone to “Do Not Disturb” so you will not have any distractions during your study time.

2.    Eat a hardy breakfast the day of your midterm. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Your brain needs energy to function properly throughout the day.

3.    Maintain a good sleep schedule for the week.

4.    Make flashcards to help you study better if you don’t want to read lengthy paragraphs.

5.    Ask your professor questions before, during, and/or after class to make sure you are on the right track with your comprehension of the material you are learning.

6.    Utilize your professor’s office hours.

7.    Find an environment to study that works for you. I prefer to study in a place that has a little background noise but no major distractions.

8.    Set aside at least one hour of your day for studying.

9.    Form a study group with your peers.

10.  Study comfortably, but not too comfortable. You wouldn’t want to fall asleep trying to study for a test.

Hopefully these tips helped you in order to have a successful week. Good luck!

Introducing the new LLP Social Media Intern - Fall 2019

Greetings all!

Kiana Jones

My name is Kiana Jones and I am pleased to announce that I am the LLP Social Media intern for the 2019 fall semester. I am from Montgomery, Alabama and an English major with a concentration in teacher certification. Also, I am the first person in my family to go out of state to attend college. I chose to major in English because it has always been my strongest subject in school, and I desire to become a high school English teacher in the future.

The one special person in my life who has inspired me to pursue a career in education is my great aunt, Idessa O. Wherry. She has been a tremendous aid my life and career choices. Her story compels me to continue to study hard and persevere in college. She attended the University of Alabama during the mid-1960s, while segregation was very prevalent in the south. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama and master’s degree from Alabama Agricultural and Mechanics University. She was the first African American teacher in Morgan County, Alabama and taught at Hartselle High School for forty years.

My goals for this internship include making sure that I keep you all up to date on all of the events happening within the Language, Literature, and Philosophy Department. I also intend on reaching students of ALL majors in any way I can because I know the struggles of being a college student. I hope to inform my fellow peers about how to make it through the day as a college student from prioritizing school work and study tips to how to dress accordingly for the weather and practicing healthy habits. Again, I am your Language, Literature, and Philosophy Social Media intern and I can’t wait to start working with you all in the semester!

Sincerely,

Kiana Jones
Social Media Intern Fall 2019

English Honor Society

by Barbara Olivis

      The TSU chapter of the English Honor Society (Sigma Tau Delta) will host its annual induction ceremony on April 25, at 2:30 p.m. in Humanities, room 203.  The event celebrates the accomplishments and potential of its major's, says Dr. Samantha Morgan-Curtis. 

      Sigma Tau Delta has existed since 1924, and is the largest honor society for English majors and minors.  The organization has over 900 clubs within the United States and abroad. At Tennessee State

Morgan-Curtis

University, the chapter for Sigma Tau Delta is called Alpha Alpha Eta.

      When considering joining any organization the immediate question that comes to mind is what does it stand for? Well, Sigma Tau Delta is about showing appreciation. 

      “It’s an organization to reward people who are committed to written and verbal communication and the study of literature,” says Morgan-Curtis. The benefits of joining Sigma Tau Delta include life time membership, publications, closed scholarship opportunities, and opportunities to present at the national conference. “You must be nominated by a professor so it is not just about GPA. You have to have faculty say that you are of character and scholarly potential.” 

       Other requirements for membership include being an English major or minor, having 6 literature course credits beyond the first year, and maintaining a 3.0 GPA or above average in your courses and as your cumulative GPA. There also is a one time $55 induction fee in order to join Tennessee State University’s chapter Alpha Alpha Eta.

       There are several benefits to being a part of Sigma Tau Delta as an English major and minor, so if you happen to be invited to join the organization you should consider investing. 

I Want to Write 2019!

Don’t You Want To Write?
by Barbara Olivis

      Mark your calendars now for the biggest creative writing event that takes place at Tennessee State University: The I Want To Write! Two Day Poetry and Spoken Word Festival. This year’s upcoming I Want To Write event will take place on April 19th and 20th and will have various learning opportunities as well as other fun activities throughout the day. This year will mark the fifth consecutive year that the conference has taken place. The theme is "Poetic Arts as Healing" with the focus of the workshops being about mental health. 

First Year of I Want to Write

      The workshops of I Want To Write are to place on the first day of the conference. The workshops will focus on different aspects of the poetry art form.Dr. Michelle Pinkard explains, “There are some workshops that are geared toward the writing, and other workshops that are geared toward performing because we want students to have a better appreciation art. Spoken word comes from lyricism, language and argumentation.”
     She also explains that this years I Want To Write is introducing a host of new workshops. “This year we have a workshop geared toward the GSA community: Exploring Queer Identities Through Poetry.” The event will also feature two award winning speakers: Grammy award winning producer Shannon Sanders who will lead a discussion titled "Write On to Fight on; and Caroline Randall Williams, whose work Lucy Negro, Redux is currently being adapted as a ballet by the Nashville Ballet, will lead a discussion titled "Poetry to Pirouettes." 
     The second day of the I Want to Write Festival will feature a poetry slam. Individuals who show up with their program can get in free.  Registration for the festival is now open. If you are interested in learning about poetry, or learning more tips about how to write poetry or perform better, then this event would be the perfect time to explore! The event is completely free! Learn more and register here: I Want to Write

A Tribute to Poetry Month: Soul Fire

By Barbara Olivis

Kelly Drew

            The National Month of poetry is upon us! National Poetry Month has been around since 1996, and is designed to give people time to appreciate the art form. Soul Fire is a group that makes time to appreciate the art of poetry every Wednesday at 5 p.m., so there isn’t a better way to kick of National Poetry week than to show them the same level of appreciation that they show to poetry.

            Soul Fire is a group that is very accepting of new members. This past week, there were at least five newcomers and they were all readily embraced and encouraged to be proud of the work that they create. The people that were in the group for longer periods of time greeted and encouraged the newbies to be more confident and share their words with the world, including the group’s faculty adviser Dr. Michelle Pinkard.

            “ I love when someone stands up and you can tell that their piece is coming from their heart,"Soul Fire member Kelly Drew says. "It makes me feel like the world is much bigger than I am.” It is interesting to find that Kelly Drew is a Dental Hygiene Major, because it seems to be a testament of how the love of poetry can bring people together within the group. 

    

        Soul Fire Cordarius Ellis explains, “It’s like the walls from everyday life tear down and I can just be myself. Poetry is just like an escape from the world.” Drew and Ellis have both been members of Soul fires for several years and strongly feel as though Soul Fire is a group that has a strong impact on their lives.

            Soul Fire meets at 5 p.m., every Wednesday, in Humanities 103.  Learn more about the group by visiting them on Facebook: Soul Fire Facebook.

Move Forward, Don’t P.A.S.S On Tutoring

By Barbara Olivis

            Passionate About Student Success (P.A.S.S) Tutoring is offered Monday- Friday in the Student Success Center as well as Boswell and the Avon Williams Campus with tutors in Biology, English, Math, Chemistry, Sociology, and Economics willing to help students succeed. All of the tutors are instructors, including an impressive number for the LLP department. 

            The English tutors of P.A.S.S include Dr. Jennifer Hayes, Dr. Michelle Pinkard, Prof. Marsha Williams, Dr. Rebecca Dixon, and Dr. Kellie Neal. All of these tutors have different times of availability, making it easier to find a time that fits your busy schedule.

Dr. Rebecca Dixon

            Tutoring and office hours are beneficial for various reasons. “I think that when most students

when they hear about tutoring they think ‘I don’t need tutoring’ but any student can benefit from tutoring,” Dixon says. “Tutoring allows students to learn how to get organized and that can help them do better with quizzes, tests, and papers.”

            At some point, every college student has a time where they are completely stumped on what is going on in class. In those times, one may try to search for the answers online and come up with nothing, or one will give websites like Sparknotes a try to see if there is a translation of a text in that is presented in way that actually makes sense.  Yet, studies show, that those who seek help in tutoring generally perform better than those who don't.

        In short, we all get lost sometimes, but when you find that you are getting lost all of the time in a certain subject or class it is important to seek help. We are now past the point in the semester where we can withdraw from classes, so if you find that you are on the edge of a passing grade, or you want to perform at your greatest potential, find a tutoring time that works for you!  It is important to take advantage of these tutoring opportunities when there is still time for improvement!