volume 13 Archives - LOGOS

LOGOS

A Journal of Undergraduate Research

Meet the Editor: Emma Bishop

by

LOGOS Copy Editor for Volume 13 Emma Bishop poses with the Stanley Cup wearing St. Louis Blues gear

Hello!

My name is Emma Bishop, and I’m the new Copy Editor for LOGOS: A Journal of Undergraduate Research. I am very excited about this opportunity, and I cannot wait to share what my experience as the Copy Editor is like!

A little bit about myself: I’ll be starting my senior year this coming Fall. I am an English/Literature major with minors in French and Technical Writing. With these, I would like to maybe work as an editor or anything I can get in the publishing realm. When I was little, I wanted to be a veterinarian until I realized it required more than just petting animals. However, I still love animals of all types. I’ve also been a member of the Missouri State Ice Girls for three years now, and this coming season I’ll be the President. I love reading, and although I’ve studied American and British literature, I tend toward preferring Brit Lit. My favorite literature course I’ve taken was ENG 340: Survey of British Literature I with Dr. Newman. Some of my favorite works include Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, the Anne of Green Gables series by Lucy Maud Montgomery, Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot, Thomas Pynchon’s Entropy, any of Langston Hughes’s poems, anything from Edgar Allan Poe, and Jane Austen’s Emma. (As her namesake, I admit I might be a bit biased about that last one.) I have had an intense love for reading from a very young age. My mom says I was reading—or, more likely, memorizing—by the age of three, when I was obsessed with Dr. Seuss’s Hop on Pop. However, despite this lifelong love for reading, I never really knew how to focus it into something I could make a future out of.

When I first started thinking about my future when I was in high school, I had no clue about what to study. I enjoy creative writing, but it isn’t something I was personally interested in making a career out of. Where English courses were concerned, I was mostly just in love with reading rather than writing. Obviously, this lends to the Literature degree, but I had no idea what I could do with just a Literature degree, so I was lost. During a tour at Missouri State I spoke to the professor at the English Department table, a professor who would later end up being my advisor! I mentioned my love for reading and an interest in the publishing process for books, and she told me that a lot of her students who went on to work for publishing companies were English/Literature majors that added a Technical Writing minor to give them a more rounded experience. Thus, here I am! Throughout my six semesters so far, I have also picked up a vested interest in editing as a result of my minor.

I took my first Technical Writing course second semester during my Freshman year. It was ENG 321, Beginning Technical Writing. This was where I learned how helpful my love of reading could be in editing. Through reading, I had picked up technical and grammar rules without even knowing it. I realized that I had a very strong intuition for what changes to make while editing documents, and that I really enjoyed editing. I was never able to explore all that English courses have to offer in high school; my Language Arts courses mostly involved required readings and writing themed essays based on the readings. Not that that didn’t prepare me at all, it definitely did, but it didn’t really show me all the aspects of writing and reading that I could be interested in. Taking Tech Writing courses threw open so many blinds for me! I saw how reading had benefited me all those years, and I realized that I could enjoy the more technical side of English. Now, I love editing documents and learning about formatting and style!

I’m so happy for the opportunity to see what working on a publishing team will teach me, and for the chance to edit the submissions we’ve accepted. Happy editing, or whatever it is you enjoy!

Women’s History Month: Meet Cassidy Farrar

by

To wrap up Women’s History Month, we are thrilled to feature one of our outstanding members of the LOGOS leadership team: Cassidy Farrar! She was a Peer Reviewer for LOGOS: Volume 12, and she is currently one of our newest Associate Editors for Volume 13. Check out the interview below!

Cassidy designed this eye-popping flyer for LOGOS, and she is always eager to promote the organization on campus and in the community.

Why did you decide to join LOGOS? What has been your most memorable experience with the organization so far?

I decided to join LOGOS because it seemed like a great opportunity and learning experience. It was my first real activity I stuck with here at Missouri State, and I’m excited to keep participating in it. My favorite memory so far has been the LOGOS Volume 12 reception. I got to hear published students read their work, eat good food, and take time to appreciate the work that I had done throughout the year.

Describe some of the skills you have gained as an Associate Editor. In what ways have you applied them to your academic career and/or professional goals?

As an Associate Editor, I feel much more connected with the work that goes into LOGOS. Not only do I get to continue my work as a reviewer, but I also get to act as a leader and facilitate discussion between my group members. Directing conversation and collaborating ideas with my group members is very rewarding.

How have your college experiences as a whole shaped the ways in which you view yourself as a woman? Provide a specific example.

My college experiences have really changed my perception of myself as a woman. Coming into academia, I found myself marginalizing who I was. I tended to speak up less because I was intimidated, and I felt inadequate about my thoughts. However, there are places where I can feel like a leader and make my voice heard, such as LOGOS and especially MSU’s Generation Action. I feel like I can claim space again, and in small ways, I know my voice is important.

 

Does the work that you do in your academic field relate to themes that are relevant to Women’s History Month, such as gender roles within the community? If so, provide a specific example.

I have been focused on gender issues in literature courses since I started here. Now, I am currently shifting to an Intercultural Communication major. I want to work more closely with organizations that fight for justice for the marginalized members of our system. I will further my pursuits by getting a certificate in Advocacy Writing and continuing to work with organizations like Planned Parenthood.