Rick Said:

Hi, I am looking to go into grad school with the eventual goal of completing a Ph.D. How should I go about it?

We Answered:

Here's how it works in History.

It depends on your GREs. If they are high, apply directly to PhD programs. Any cumulative GPA above 3.0 will do, but a much higher GPA in your intended field of study (all history courses) will be expected. Improvement over time is good.

You needn't have both French and German before applying to PhD programs. One language is sufficient for your subspecialization. You will, however, be expected to pass an exam in German, but only for reading. In other words, conversational German is not useful.

If your GPA is middling, then do apply to BOTH PhD programs and a couple of terminal Masters programs. In history, many terminal Masters programs are "feeder programs" to top PhD programs.

Keep in mind that your immediate goal is to study with top scholars in your SPECIFIC subspecialty area. I cannot tell you whether your current university would be an appropriate venue for you to do an MA, because I do not know if the professor with whom you wish to study is a top scholar in British Imperalism. To gauge his reputation, look at his publications. If he has a couple of books, lots of articles, and tenure, then he may be a good choice as a mentor at the MA level.

Here's what you must do to make yourself a good candidate for BOTH MA and PhD admissions:

Have a focus.
Have coursework in historiography.
Have great letters of rec.
Have an excellent writing sample that reflects your intended focus, as well as demonstrates facility with current theory and method in your field.
Put together a literate, focused, personal statement that delineates your qualifications, your goals, and highlights your SPECIFIC research interests.

And the higher your GREs (in verbal and analytic writing), the better your chances for a teaching or research assistantship, which generally carry full tuition remission as well as a small living stipend.

Best wishes to you.

Scott Said:

what hypothesis states that reflective phonemic knowledge and reading comprehension develop in mutual support?

We Answered:

Did you get this question off of your language education class test?

Phonemic knowledge, or knowing that language is made up of individual units of sound called phonemes, is necessary in order to decode, fluently read, and then comprehend something you read. On the flip side, context clues from reading can also help one to decode the phonemes in unknown words.

You better not just copy this down onto your test! Perhaps I should put a few wrong words in there to clue in your teacher.....

Kevin Said:

what types of disciplines you do to improve your reading and comprehension skills?

We Answered:

Hey, sorry to tell you this but the only real way to improve you reading and comprehension is to practise! If possible correct you work after, or even better have it corrected. I am studying 3 languages for my exams at the moment, so this is really important for me too.Don't forget, if you find the verb in a sentence, this will be very important! As for study, you just have to see what works best for you! For me, i need to close the curtains so that its as dark as night in my room, then put on the lights, that way it doesn't feel like the world is passing you by. I know its not the most environmentally friendly method, but this is study time, you have the rest of your life to recycle etc. and don't be afraid to waste paper, its not waste if it helps your study! Recycle it after if you can : ) lol. Best of luck with the study!

Lonnie Said:

I want to start reading classical literature. Who to begin with?

We Answered:

I love the classics. Here are some suggestions:

Frankenstein -- Mary Shelley
The Picture of Dorian Gray -- Oscar Wilde
1984 -- George Orwell
Farenheit 451 -- Ray Bradbury
Lord of the Flies -- William Golding
The Jungle -- Upton Sinclair
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde -- Robert Louis Stevenson
Dracula -- Bram Stoker
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest -- Ken Kesey
The Adventures of Huck Finn -- Mark Twain
To Kill a Mockingbird -- Harper Lee
Don Quixote -- Miguel de Cervantes
Catch-22 -- Joseph Heller

By the way, I assumed you were a guy, so I left all the classic romances out. Hope you don't mind.