Book Report: Doing English

Ranked in the list of more than 700 thousands of the world's best-selling books, Doing English is really a good choice that needed for the study of English college students.

Robert Eaglestone

The author of the book – Robert Eaglestone, a lecturer in English at Royal Holloway, University of London, and Series Editor of Routledge Critical Thinkers – explain why they are studied this book’s aims: “to orient you, by explaining what you are doing when you are doing English; to equip you, by explaining basic key ideas; to encourage you to bridge the gap between English before and English in higher education” (page 3). Robert clearly defines that reading audience is college students. As a university lecturer, the author directs the reader to study English in attitude towards new literary approaches.

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It is also considered as Robert’s lecture and the whole experience after many years of studying and teaching in English. Readers can find a clear organization in the table content with four parts which are named shortly and forcefully. At the beginning of each part there is always a brief with questions. Questions can also be found at the beginning of many chapters and texts with key words italicized. This helps readers stimulate their thoughts which guide the direction of the text with a central focus by devising a thesis.

Readers are asked about the subject that the author’s thesis should answer then. The more the author keeps giving questions and key words even in the introduction, the more he keeps readers’ attention from beginning to end. Moreover, Robert utilizes a reasonable writing style with unbiased and succinct language. Layout of a text includes brief questions, brief introduction, content and summary. Readers will find their expectations satisfied in the content that he uses multilevel lists in more detail order: chapters, headings, subheadings and bullets.

English is a Subject in Most Education Systems

English is a subject in most education systems of the countries in the world, as well as a science requires meticulous research. Doing English defines the development of English as a subject since the nineteenth century and draws the changes in thinking about English in a neat approach. It is a new free terminology, vocabulary polyphonic and complex syntax that characterize many works of literary theory. It explains abstract ideas in the remaining conditions as well as literary approach really makes confusions.

Concepts or definitions given by the author are not merely explained, but they are placed in specific circumstances. For example, when referring to achievements of Leavises (page 15), Robert do not codify the idea, which he summarizes them in list format, and confirms that is the "traditional method". Then in the next chapter - Doing English today, the author introduces the concepts of "traditional Leavis method" and the way they approach in literature (page 21). Robert always has objective perspective on the study of English.

He does not equate everything, instead that, he uses his vivid visual to point out the influence of different cultures which also affect each person's ability to interpret. “Just as you can’t jump higher than your shadow, you can’t escape your location in the world”, said Robert (page 21). This can be approved that he evaluates the "traditional method" rather than deny it. He reviews ‘literature method’ higher than ‘traditional method’. Critical method is the right way to literature approaches that he offers different methods and specific examples (page 25). The power of words is enormous.

Reading and Interpreting

Robert has just the right attitude to use English by explaining how he used words in this book: reading and Interpreting. "This means that ‘reading’ and ‘interpreting’ mean almost the same, and you’ll see I use the words almost as synonyms in this book" (page 20). Also, this might be considered the maximum that the author used his own words to explain the terms that he uses throughout the book, such as taken for granted, text, presupposition, etc. This is also a good way for students to easily take notes and keep abreast of knowledge in the content based on key words.

The author also uses illustrations and clear diagrams to help readers easily visualize (page 22, 24). Students who are studying this book will clearly see the relationship between the content and the reader that Robert Eaglestone wants to achieve. The theories given seem to be academic but they are interpreted by the author’s teaching experience. In this book there are many proper names who are Ph. D. , professor from prestigious universities. Robert mentions them with their study of language, especially in English. Robert had read a lot, studied and made comments, critics on their methods.

This proves that he is knowledgeable and highly qualified, and carefully studied English as well. This is a book for students of literature. It intends to provoke them to reconsider the role of literature in their life by the way they read the story and the way in which they are shaped. Chapter 4 in Part 1 – Critical attitude (page 39 – 46) is a good chapter for the literature approaches of students in critical thinking. From the example of enjoying a picture, Robert points out the contrast occurs in thinking about literature.

Thinking About Literature

A flat looking at, or needed to have depth depends on how we choose the direction of thinking to literary issues. Robert in turn introduces two concepts of ‘critical attitudes’ which are all sticking to the content of the text. Each attitude is specifically analyzed in terms of concepts and examples. Robert also explains why there are two such patterns. In addition, Robert also clarifies the issue by comparing table to help students easily compare and draw ‘critical attitudes’ for themselves. If you know why you are studying something, the subject becomes easier to understand”, Robert says (page 2). “Parents have to get all their kids to nursery schools that have no car parking space. So what do people do? They break the rules! Language is the same. It has rules – but it breaks them whenever it needs to”, a comment from an audience about Doing English (on amazon. com). Literature is no exception as it comes from the language. The value of literary art depends on each person's aesthetic level.

Doing Shakespeare

As for Robert, “No definitions of ‘literature’ seem to be adequate: literature overflows or escapes from any attempt to categorize it” (page 59). Therefore, getting access to the literature should not be something so rigid that it is confined to the framework whether it has certain rules. In the third part with chapter. Doing Shakespeare, authors use some drafts interweaving the text. This helps Robert insert additional information. This is the knowledge of Shakespeare which helps people understand more about the great British playwright, who has employed English views on his timeless masterpieces. Excellent Doing English: a though-provoking and accessible argument exploring the changing character of English Literature as it has developed outside the school curriculum over the last century” said The English and Media Magazine. In terms of science, book critics appreciate that this book is considered as a scientific research of Robert. To the end of the book’s content, the name of the last part is left with suspension points – English studies … Is it an open-ended part? The author seems to be modest for the next generation to fill in the gap and to add more in this research.

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