Help with my Dissertation Title

ianbrown

HI,

Please help!!

Currently in my final year of my degree and I have written a short dissertation but both me and my tutor has agreed that is has crashed and burned:o

So I'm quickly trying to write a new one! Deadline is the 30th June so 4 months to write 10,000 words.

My degree is in English Literature and would really like to do something I enjoy so it is not too much of a chore.

I love Enid blyton and could write 10k about her books in the blink of an eye so what I want to know is....

Has anyone got any ideas? I was thinking perhaps the role of absent mothers/fathers but don't know if I could spin it out.

It doesn't have to be exclusive to Blyton.

Anyone any ideas?
Please?!:)

Oldernotwiser

Shouldn't an Eng Lit dissertation actually be upon (how shall I put this?) Literature?

Absinthe_Fairy

No wonder arts degrees are getting a bad name!

alwaysonthego_2

Can you not psychoanalyse fairytales and the absence of mothers.

p.s I have no experience of English lit.

loopy_lass

so you mean something like children surving a one parent famuly thro literature?

MrsManda

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Shouldn't an Eng Lit dissertation actually be upon (how shall I put this?) Literature?

Define literature,
why shouldn't Enid Blyton class as literature?

ianbrown wrote: »

HI,
Currently in my final year of my degree and I have written a short dissertation but both me and my tutor has agreed that is has crashed and burned:o

Is there anything you can salvage from your original dissertation topic? Did you get any guidance on why you've crashed and burned to allow you to avoid doing it again?

Oldernotwiser

MrsManda wrote: »

Define literature,
why shouldn't Enid Blyton class as literature?

Is that a serious question?

eve_1979

I'm also studying English Lit and Language through OU and part of my studies next year is Childrens literature which covers books such as Harry Potter, but also childrens classic such as Peter Pan and Little Women. Am looking forward to it!!!

Maybe u should focus on the change in childrens Literature - such as change in technology eg tv computer games which may have stopped children from reading books to the Harry Potter phenomon????

Hope that makes some sense??

Horace

Why not prepare a dissertation on Chaucer's Canterbury Tales which are just as relevant now as they were then or write about Dylan Thomas or Thomas Hardy.

Have you thought about seeking guidance from your tutor especially as you crashed and burned with your last one? Maybe you didnt understand the question - if you ask for feedback from your tutor then he/she will be able to point you in the right direction. that is what they are there for.

ianbrown

Thanks for all your replies - I appreciate that is not an easy question.

My last topic was around postmodernity in Literature but it seemed impossible to contain it within the word count.

Older not Wiser - I'm really disappointed with your comments . I lurk a lot on this board and have seen you give really valuable advice. When i posted I was hoping that you see the post and give some advice.

Thinking of going with ' Is there such a thing as a Children's book?' and looking at them historically, when they were more instructive tales, through the modern day, such as Harry.

Looking at hidden messages in literature. Didactic/ Christain Allegory

Looking at can authors write for children when they're not one?

Who decides on what is a children's book? Children? Parents? Critics?

If anyone has any thing to add to this to help with the cause please do so.

Thanks again

The_One_Who

Children's literature in academia is really starting to grow, and it is a fascinating topic. In fact, children and their influence generally is rapidly growing in academia and has been for the past few years.

Have you discussed with your tutor as to how you could possibly alter your current work and perhaps narrow the focus slightly? That seems like a better idea than to re-write an entire dissertation from scratch, especially if you also have final exams coming up too.