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The CCRA blog is authored by Columbia undergraduate researchers, who are invited to reflect on all aspects of the research process and their own undergraduate research experiences, beginning (but not ending) with the Core.
Category Archives: Coursework
From Literature to Philosophy: A Guide for the Perplexed
Literature Humanities, the centerpiece of Columbia’s Core Curriculum, opens with Homer’s Iliad—an immediately absorbing epic of grand scope, jam-packed with irresistible characters (Patrokles anyone?) and dozens of pages of gripping interpersonal drama. Sure, some students might have their patience tested … Continue reading
Posted in Coursework, The Canon, The Core
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Dante, the “Neutrals,” and Us
For many freshmen, the most difficult Literature Humanities text to connect with personally is Dante’s Inferno. This was certainly the case for me. Many of the other second-semester readings—To the Lighthouse, Pride and Prejudice, Shakespeare—are easy to feel invested in: … Continue reading
Posted in Coursework, The Canon, The Core
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“Insistent Problems of the Present”
For most students, the familiar phrase “the insistent problems of the present” is a common throughline within and beyond classrooms dedicated to the Core Curriculum. It is both a critical tool in positioning the origins of the curriculum itself, and … Continue reading
Posted in Coursework, The Core
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Hunting for the Right Archives
In my last blog post, I wrote about the preparation that goes into preparing to write a senior thesis, especially in Columbia’s history department. Since then, I’ve received a few questions on archives: how to locate them; how to plan … Continue reading
Posted in Archives, Coursework, Historic Sites, Interviews, Libraries, major research, Senior Thesis
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In Book and Song: Finding Meaning in a New Medium
As part of my Music Humanities course in the Fall, I was asked to write about an object of musical significance. The idea of the assignment is to allow students to summon what they have learned in the class to … Continue reading
Posted in courses, Coursework, New York City, The Canon, The Core, The Humanities
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The Core Is For You
I often play one song on loop, over and over again—there’s something about a little instrumental detail that can hook me. Same goes for other media. Certain paragraphs in books, photographs in my camera roll or pasted on my wall, … Continue reading
Posted in Coursework, The Core
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Reflections from the Archive: Stanford’s M0618 Arturo Islas Papers Collection
This winter break, as I pieced together the beginnings of my senior thesis on Arturo Islas’s novel The Rain God (1984), I stumbled upon an archival treasure trove—M0618, the “Arturo Islas Papers.” Comprising a hefty 56-box collection, M0618 chronicles four … Continue reading
Posted in Adversity, Archives, Coursework, Libraries, Life, major research, Senior Thesis, The Humanities, Uncategorized, Writing
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Senior Thesis Research: A Case Study Involving Two Case Studies
The first challenge I faced when I began formulating ideas for my senior thesis at the start of this semester was deciding on a project that could involve both my major fields of study. Classics and East Asian studies do … Continue reading
Posted in Coursework, Libraries, major research, Senior Thesis, The Humanities, Uncategorized, Writing
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Me and Research – A Mostly Affectionate Relationship
Whether it has been for a long-term project like my senior thesis or for a final paper, conducting research always has its highs and lows. I remember distinctly the first time I had to write a final paper for a … Continue reading
Posted in Archives, courses, Coursework, Faculty Mentors, Libraries, major research, Senior Thesis, The Humanities
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A More Concrete Guide to Research Using Columbia Libraries
Thanks to contributions from former CC Research Ambassadors, this blog can already provide you with useful information about the libraries’ resources and how those resources can enrich your studies as you move through the Core. As a former student employee … Continue reading
Posted in Coursework, Libraries, major research, New York City, The Humanities, Uncategorized
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