Week 7: Cranford and Linen Paper

This week I began working on my methodology and introduction for my research paper. I haven’t yet entirely solidified my conclusions or analysis, given that I’m still reading through Gaskell, but the deadline is coming up so I figured I’d get started on the sections I could write move not to the findings section when I had more of a complete analysis and conclusion to work with. Alongside, I’ve been reading my way through Gaskell’s Cranford, which is a joyous and funny change of pace from the other novels I’ve been reading thus far for this project.

At my internship, everything’s been quite busy. I’ve been working on shortening my literature article to something more fitting for the length and format. When writing about something you love, it’s hard not to cram every argument, tidbit, emotion, and fascinating quote into one article. But of course, no one wants to read an article that’s just me going on for hundreds of pages about my own passions and interests. So this week has been about condensing and focusing the argument. Hopefully I’ll be finished soon, as April is, somehow, coming to an end already. On top of the article, I had more research assignments (spreadsheets galore), and errands and tasks to do for the ACTA Scholars Program the Academic Affairs department runs. This week, we had to print certificates and mail graduation cords to universities. This would all be a very simple task if the certificates didn’t need to be printed on a very specific type of linen paper that was mysteriously missing from nearly every print shop. So I spent my week scouring DC for paper, running from print shop to print shop, while also juggling my article, my research tasks, and of course, taking notes on Cranford.