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49-732: MLA Handbook (9th ed., 2021), formerly MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (1977–2009), establishes a system for documenting sources in scholarly writing. It is published by the Modern Language Association , which is based in the United States. According to the organization, their MLA style "has been widely adopted for classroom instruction and used worldwide by scholars, journal publishers, and academic and commercial presses". MLA Handbook began as an abridged student version of MLA Style Manual . Both are academic style guides that have been widely used in

98-619: A Literacy test. Students in grades 9–12 learn the skills of critical thinking and analysis by practicing close reading . Students are asked to draw connections from the texts they are assigned with ideas discussed in class. They are also taught how to analyze fiction and nonfiction works and answer questions using citations from the texts. Overall, most high school English programs follow the Common Core Standards, which require students to meet objectives in reading, writing, speaking and listening. In European secondary schools,

147-530: A communication tool. English is used as a communication tool, as opposed to literature analysis. This research looks at how a method called TSLT can help in English classes for people who speak English as a foreign language. It studies how students, teachers, and textbooks are important in this method. It also looks at how this method works in a typical Japanese high school class. The Japan Association for Language Teaching focuses on Japanese high school students in

196-475: A discussion and advocacy group for the study of literature and modern languages (that is, all but classical languages , such as ancient Latin and Greek ). According to its profile featured by the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), "The Modern Language Association is formed for educational, scientific, literary, and social objects and purposes, and more specifically for the promotion of

245-428: A manufactured victimization of Israeli academics. This is a manipulative inversion of victimhood." In a strongly worded letter, the pro-Israeli Brandeis Center threatened to sue MLA if the resolution was adopted. In the letter addressed to the association's President Kwame Anthony Appiah and Executive Director Rosemary G. Feal, the center claimed that the resolution was ultra vires . That is, that it would take

294-452: A number of elective multidisciplinary topics such as history , courses in the social sciences , and studies in a foreign language. To the end of studying these disciplines, many degree programs also offer training in professional writing with relations to rhetoric , literary analysis , an appreciation for the diversity of cultures, and an ability to clearly and persuasively express their ideas in writing. The history of English studies at

343-503: A practice of reading pre-modern texts, became the preferred scholarly paradigm. However, English-speaking countries distanced themselves from philological paradigms soon after World War I. At the end of this process, many English departments refocused their work on various forms of writing instruction (creative, professional, critical) and the interpreting of literary texts. The English major rose to prominence in American colleges during

392-488: A resolution in December 2016 calling for a boycott. The call to boycott received support from scholars such as Judith Butler and novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen , but also opposition from scholars such as Cary Nelson and historian Kenneth Waltzer as well as a group calling itself MLA Members for Scholars Rights. A group of Israeli scholars sent videotaped messages stating Israeli universities are multicultural and calling

441-710: A variety of career opportunities for college graduates entering the job market. Since students who graduate with an English degree are trained to ask probing questions about large bodies of texts and then to formulate, analyze, and answer those questions in coherent, persuasive prose —skills vital to any number of careers—English majors have much to choose from after graduation. Typical career choices for English majors include positions in writing, publishing, teaching, journalism, and human resources. However, there are also career opportunities in fields such as advertising , public relations , acting , law , business , marketing , information assurance , and directing. An Anglicist

490-648: A website with the full text of the book. Later online additions allowed for citation of e-books and tweets . The eighth edition 's main changes from the seventh edition are "shift[ing] our focus from a prescriptive list of formats to an overarching purpose of source documentation". Released in spring 2016, it changes the structure of the works cited list, most directly by adding abbreviations for volumes and issues (vol. and no.), pages (p. or pp.), not abbreviating words like "editor" or "translator", using URLs in most instances (though preferring DOI , as in APA ), and not favoring

539-519: Is an academic discipline taught in primary , secondary , and post-secondary education in English-speaking countries . This is not to be confused with English taught as a foreign language , which is a distinct discipline. The English studies discipline involves the study, analysis, and exploration of English literature through texts . English studies include: English linguistics ( syntax , morphology , phonetics , phonology , etc.)

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588-409: Is common for departments of English to offer courses and scholarships in all areas of the English language, such as literature, public speaking and speech-writing , rhetoric , composition studies , creative writing , philology and etymology , journalism , poetry , publishing , the philosophy of language , and theater and play-writing , among many others. In most English-speaking countries,

637-415: Is no current standard methodology regarding teaching and creating English studies. In removing this standardization, many scholars are reconsidering the function of experts in teaching English studies. While the predominant pedagogy focused on a hierarchical approach, with expert Anglicists advising teachers how to teach English studies, emerging discussions call for approaches that value diversity and with it

686-437: Is regarded as a distinct discipline, taught in a department of linguistics. The North American Modern Language Association (MLA) divides English studies into two disciplines: a language-focused discipline, and a literature-focused discipline. At universities in non-English-speaking countries, one department often covers all aspects of English studies as well as English taught as a foreign language and English linguistics. It

735-401: Is someone who works in the field of English studies. Historically, the term Anglicist has been very loosely defined, with the term mistakenly used in the same vein as Anglist, a label meant for historians and their studies. However, there have been very specific terms used to describe the different disciplines of English studies and those who study them, such as grammarian; a grammarian focused on

784-458: Is typically covered in English studies regarding the written analysis of English literature, an emphasis is placed particularly on the prestige of British literature and its importance as a foundational part of English studies. Additionally, as is present in the overall discussion of English studies, British educators continue to debate the relevance of Shakespeare for contemporary teens, with some arguing for more modern texts and others upholding

833-533: The MLA Handbook , a guide that is geared toward high school and undergraduate students and has sold more than 6,500,000 copies. The MLA produces the online database, MLA International Bibliography , the standard bibliography in language and literature. Since 1884 the MLA has held a national, four-day convention. For many years it was held the last week in December. Beginning in 2011, the convention dates moved to

882-569: The MLA Constitution . The Executive Director is Paula Krebs . The MLA publishes several academic journals , including Publications of the Modern Language Association of America , one of the most prestigious journals in literary studies, and Profession , which is now published online on MLA Commons and discusses professional issues faced by teachers of language and literature. The association also publishes

931-614: The BDS campaign one of harassment and slander. On the other side of the debate, another group of Israeli scholars came out in support of the boycott, arguing that "the Israel-led campaign against the boycott of Israeli academic institutions rallies around the claim that if adapted it will hurt progressive Israeli scholars. Campaigners use this tactic to divert attention from the plight of the entire Palestinian population living under Israel's elaborate system of colonial repression and injustice to

980-722: The English studies discipline if the object of study is an English-language work. The English major (alternatively "English concentration") is a term in the United States and several other countries for an undergraduate university degree focused around reading, analyzing, and writing texts in the English language . The term also can be used to describe a student who is pursuing the degree. Prospective English majors can expect to take college courses in academic writing , creative writing , literary theory , British and American literature, multicultural literature, several literary genres (such as poetry , drama , and film studies ), and

1029-623: The MLA Language Map, which presents overviews and detailed data from the United States 2000 Census about the locations and numbers of speakers of thirty languages and seven groups of less commonly spoken languages in the United States and Canada. The association has highlighted issues such as race, gender and class in its professional deliberations. In The New Criterion , a classicist and politically conservative magazine, Roger Kimball and Hilton Kramer argued that this

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1078-547: The United States, Canada, and other countries, providing guidelines for writing and documentation of research in the humanities , such as English studies (including the English language, writing , and literature written in English); the study of other modern languages and literatures , including comparative literature ; literary criticism ; media studies ; cultural studies ; and related disciplines. Released in April 2016,

1127-468: The academic and scientific study of English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, and other so-called modern languages and literatures." The officers of the MLA are elected by its members. The 2019–2020 president was Simon Gikandi , the first vice-president was Judith Butler and the second vice-president was Barbara Fuchs. The 2020–2021 president is Judith Butler. The MLA is governed by an Executive Council, elected periodically by its members, according to

1176-402: The ancient Greek and Latin classics. In the 1990s, there was a collective effort by Anglicists to standardize the academic discipline to follow similar methods of analysis and self-evaluation of both English literature and the criticism of said literature. However, after backlash described this standardization as restricting, Anglicists decided to de-standardize the field, meaning that there

1225-683: The association had since 2014 pushed for such a boycott because they believed Israel was guilty of human rights violations and should be subjected to a boycott similarly to how South Africa was boycotted by the Anti-Apartheid Movement . The inspiration for the boycott came from the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement which is a global movement that calls for comprehensive boycotts of Israel. The activists calling themselves MLA Members for Justice in Palestine presented

1274-484: The association in a direction that went beyond its original mission. Supporters of the boycott argued that it was not ultra vires because the Association had in the past been engaged in human rights issues. There are several regional associations that are independent of the primary MLA, and which host smaller conventions at other times of the year: English studies English studies (or simply, English )

1323-581: The convention, although hiring occurs all year long. The organization's Job Information List ( JIL ) is available online. In addition to its job-placement activities, the convention features about 800 sessions, including presentations of papers and panel discussions on diverse topics (special sessions, forums, poetry readings, film presentations, interdisciplinary studies involving art and music, governance meetings) and social events hosted by English and language departments and allied or affiliated organizations. There are also extensive book exhibits in one of

1372-419: The eighth edition of MLA Handbook (like its previous editions) is addressed primarily to secondary-school and undergraduate college and university teachers and students. MLA announced in April 2016 that MLA Handbook would henceforth be "the authoritative source for MLA style", and that the 2008 third edition of MLA Style Manual would be the final edition of the larger work. The announcement also stated that

1421-414: The first Thursday following 2 January. Approximately eight to twelve thousand members attend, depending on the location, which alternates among major cities in various regions of the United States. The MLA Annual Convention is the largest and most important of the year for scholars of languages and literature. Language departments of many universities and colleges interview candidates for teaching positions at

1470-551: The first half of the 1970s. It provided an opportunity for students to develop critical skills in analytical reading with the aim of improving their writing. It focused on exercises in rhetoric and persuasive expression that had been traditionally only taught in classical studies . Outside the United States (originating in Scotland and then rippling out into the English-speaking world) the English major became popular in

1519-466: The identities that students of English studies bring to experts. The absence of a clearly defined disciplinary identity and the increasingly utilitarian goals in U.S. society present a challenge to those academic units still mostly focusing on the printed book and the traditional division in historical periods and national literatures, and neglecting allegedly non-theoretical areas such as professional writing, composition, and multimodal communication. In

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1568-506: The latter half of the 19th century, during a time when religious beliefs were shaken in the face of scientific discoveries. Literature was thought to act as a replacement for religion in the retention and advancement of culture, and the English Major thus provided students with the chance to draw moral , ethical , and philosophical qualities and meanings of older studies from a richer and broader source of literature than that of

1617-509: The main hotel or convention center exhibition areas. In November 2016, the association launched Humanities Commons , an open-access, crossdisciplinary hub for anyone interested in humanities research and scholarship. Other not-for-profit organizations involved in this project include College Art Association ; Association for Jewish Studies ; and the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies . The MLA's Web site features

1666-492: The medium of publication. The ninth edition , in 2021, provides more examples, advises more inclusive language, and advises that URLs are optional, with DOI and permalinks being preferred. The ninth edition also provides rules for annotated bibliographies . The table below identifies the year of publication of each edition of MLA Handbook . MLA Style Manual , formerly titled MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing in its second (1998) and third edition (2008),

1715-496: The modern university in Europe begins in the eighteenth century. Initially, English studies comprised a wide variety of content: the practice of oratory, the study of rhetoric and grammar, the composition of poetry, and the appreciation of literature (mostly by authors from England, since American literature and language study was only added in the twentieth century). In Germany and several other European countries, English philology ,

1764-427: The organization "is in the process of developing additional publications to address the professional needs of scholars." MLA Handbook grew out of the initial MLA Style Sheet of 1951 (revised in 1970), a 28-page "more or less official" standard. The first five editions, published between 1977 and 1999 were titled MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations . The 2003 sixth edition changed

1813-399: The organization was "in the process of developing additional publications to address the professional needs of scholars". MLA documentation style is used in scholarship throughout the humanities , especially in English studies , modern languages and literatures, comparative literature , literary criticism , media studies , cultural studies , and related disciplines. MLA Style Manual

1862-492: The past, an academic degree in English usually meant an intensive study of British and American literary masterpieces. Now, however, an English Major encompasses a much broader range of topics which stretch over multiple disciplines. While the requirements for an English Major vary from university to university, most English departments emphasize three core skills: analyzing texts (a process which requires logic and reflective analysis), creativity and imagination with regard to

1911-556: The production of good writing, including a good understanding of the rhetorical situation ; and an understanding of different cultures , civilizations , and literary styles from various time periods. Graduates with English degrees develop critical thinking skills essential to a number of career fields they pursue after graduation. Such careers that graduates pursue can include, but are not limited to, writing , editing , publishing , teaching , research , advertising , public relations , law , and finance . An English degree opens

1960-446: The selection of texts are all widely-debated subjects within the English studies field. Another unifying commonality is that this engagement with the text will produce a wide variety of skills, which can translate into many different careers. See also Literature and linguistics , along with List of academic disciplines Some fields may cover works in languages other than English. The works studied in these fields only fall within

2009-773: The studies of the English language are integrated into regular curriculum. English education is so deeply embedded that Europe as a whole has 91% of secondary school students taking courses in English. This rate goes as high as 100% in Denmark , Sweden , Germany , Italy , Malta , North Macedonia , Slovenia , Liechtenstein , and Bosnia and Herzegovina . Furthermore, every European country (except Belgium ) have at least one test administered nationally to assess English proficiencies of its students. Most British children take English Language and English Literature as GCSE / National 5 or subjects, and many go on to study these at A Level / Higher and Advanced Higher . Along with what

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2058-793: The study of English grammar. English studies in secondary-schools vary depending on what country they are taught in. Further, English studies will differ between institutions within a country, as each school will have different teaching methods and curriculum. However, all countries share commonalities in their instruction via the teaching of literature analysis, reading comprehension , composition, and language arts, as well as writing skills. These skills are then expanded and built upon in post-secondary institutions. Students in high school have specific course requirements they must meet before they can graduate. In regards to English studies, students must take four full credits in English, one in each grade level. As well, Ontario high school students must also pass

2107-399: The study of texts produced in non-English languages takes place in other departments, such as departments of foreign language or comparative literature . English studies is taught in a wide variety of manners, but one unifying commonality is that students engage with an English-language text in a critical manner. However, the methods of teaching a text, the manner of engaging with a text, and

2156-420: The title to MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers . The seventh edition 's main changes from the sixth edition were "no longer recogniz[ing] a default medium and instead call[ing] for listing the medium of publication [whether Print or Web or CD] in every entry in the list of works cited", recommending against listing URLs , and preferring italics over underline. Additionally, the seventh edition included

2205-482: The virtues of the classics . See also O Level . In China, their school curriculum is more focused on drilling and multiple questions, rather than students understanding the language authentically. This is one method on how a preparatory English program in China teaches their international students. In Japan, there is another form of teaching called Task-supported language teaching (TSLT) that focuses on English used as

2254-522: Was allowed to go out of print after the commercial success of the Handbook , creating the need for the Manual as a companion to the Handbook . MLA Style Manual was scheduled to go out of print in 2016. In April 2017, the organization said it would be "developing additional publications to address the professional needs of scholars". Modern Language Association The MLA was founded in 1883, as

2303-538: Was an academic style guide by the United States–based Modern Language Association of America (MLA) first published in 1985. MLA announced in April 2015 that the publication would be discontinued: the third edition would be the last and was to be "taken out of print". The announcement also said that what began as an abridged version for students, MLA Handbook , was to be after that point "the authoritative source for MLA style", and that

2352-479: Was one of two books on MLA documentation style published by the MLA. While MLA Handbook is aimed at secondary and post-secondary students and their teachers, the intended audience of MLA Style Manual primarily consisted of graduate students, academic scholars, professors, professional writers, and editors. Both MLA Handbook and MLA Style Manual were preceded by a slim booklet titled MLA Style Sheet , first published in 1951 and revised in 1970. The Style Sheet

2401-576: Was part of a "rampant politicization of literary study that the MLA has aggressively supported" in American colleges and universities, including elevating popular culture to a position of parity with great works of literature as subjects for classroom study, and other "radical" postures. On January 7, 2017, the MLA rejected a proposed boycott of Israeli academic institutions in a 113–79 vote during its annual meeting in Philadelphia. Activists within

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