27 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Much-Needed Glimpse into the Work-a-Day Aspects of Writing, June 13, 2006
This review is from: I'm an English Major Now What? (Paperback)
You're an English major. So, what are you going to do with that?
After all, physics majors become physicists, psychology majors become psychologists and history majors become historians. What do English majors become? Englishists? Englishologists?
People usually choose to major in English because they love literature, reading and writing. When they enter the workforce they find that they also love a place to live, transportation and eating.
Not to worry. Where there is linguistic communication -- speeches, presentations, commercials, ads, podcasts and broadcasts -- there is work for the English major.
I'm an English Major -- Now What? offers guidance to English majors who wish to translate their skills into employment. It dispels fears about career options, answers questions about education and job opportunities and refutes misconceptions about making a living from writing.
Each of Chapters Two through Eight offers a discussion of an opportunity for English majors, covering teaching, continued education (grad school, journalism school, Masters in Fine Arts), journalism, magazine publishing, book publishing, freelancing and business writing. Sidebars, glossaries, exercises and interviews add value to the information presented.
Chapter Nine lumps together radio, television, marketing, advertising, technical writing, public relations, public affairs, alumni affairs, military writing and nonprofits. The sketches of these careers are disappointing compared with the information available in previous chapters.
Author Tim Lemire goes on to lament the current state of English major programs (and higher education in general) and offers suggestions for improvement. He argues for a program that imparts not only theory but practical skills as well.
The book concludes with five appendixes, offering some of the best material in the whole work. The discussion of job hunting and advice to aspiring writers found here is alone worth the price of the book. Lemire also lists additional books to read and Web sites to investigate.
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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointed, July 18, 2006
This review is from: I'm an English Major Now What? (Paperback)
I must say that I liked the concept of the book but I was really disappointed with the actual product. I think the format of the book was not very helpful and it didn't really feel as if he was guiding me. Also he spent the majority of the book talking about book, magazine, and newspaper professions and not enough time on the other careers listed in the book. He did focus on corporate jobs for English majors but somehow it felt disjointed to me. He briefly mentioned other careers like Public Relations and so forth but only briefly.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
All kinds of good advice for English majors, May 24, 2006
This review is from: I'm an English Major Now What? (Paperback)
As an English major leaving college in 1996, I had no idea what I wanted to do, or even that getting jobs that used my training in writing were within reach. I wish I'd read this book then. Lemire gives in-depth treatment to seven professions and a few hints about another 10. He profiles each discipline fairly, showing both the good and bad sides without ever sounding too rosy or too discouraging. (That's no mean feat, given that Lemire has apparently done all these jobs himself.) Maybe the most interesting parts are the interviews, where Lemire talks to English majors who have carved out careers for themselves in each of the industries. Each one is like a really valuable 10 minute phone call with the person you want to be.
This book is a worthwhile read not only for those graduating with an English degree but also for those just declaring an English major, who still have time to get a head start at school. An excellent, well-written, readable resource.
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