I need help - Fellowship Abstract below

[cornerofmadness]

Seriously, I need to have this in to the Madog center in two days. I was not sure how detailed to make the research abstract. I've never done one of these before. Mostly when I do abstracts they're for finished papers. Suggestions, thoughts, they're all welcome. Oddly most of what I want to see is WAY closer to England than it is to that college. I have a feeling if I get this, I'll be staying in Snowdonia or Anglesy and taking a day trip or two to the college in Pembrokeshire.

Research Abstract (insert here or attach) (and since it's a small space I'm thinking this isn't meant to be long)

I have long been fascinated with the standing stones and ancient cairns that sprawl across the United Kingdom. The bits of folklore and bardic tradition still in existence about these Neolithic sites as well as the pictures of the stones themselves capture my imagination and my desire to learn more about them. Much of their history has been lost over the millenia, but the current research suggests links to astronomy, religion and calendar for planting and harvesting. The Menhir, as the stones are called in Wales from the words Maen Hir, long stone, most likely were of great importance to the Neolithic inhabitants of the island and are of great historic and cultural value today. Many of these sites have been blended into churches and monasteries, some of which are still in use today.

Many of the monuments are in the northwest of Wales, especially in the Anglesey area, notably the passage grave of Barclodiad y Gawres that is an intricately carved monument, a real rarity. Bryn Celli Dhu, a burial mound, can also be found there. Pembrokeshire, within a hundred miles of Trinity College in Carmarthern, there are other sites such as Gors Fawr stone circle one of the few complete stone circles in Wales. Also the ruins of St Brynachs Church, Cwm-yr-Eglwys, can be found there. The college has ongoing research into the monastic system in Wales.

I have used these ancient monuments and fragmentary legends in my fictional writing. Currently, I am working on a series with a Welsh character whose roots reach back centuries and intertwines not only with the monuments but the castles and fortresses of thirteenth century Wales. I feel being able to study these megalithic monuments in detail would add richness and authenticity to the novels.

They also want an answer to this question: How does your intended research support the mission of the Madog Center?

Here below is the mission just so we're all on the same page.


The mission of the Madog Center for Welsh Studies at the University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College is to foster understanding and appreciation for Welsh heritage and contemporary Welsh

My response:

I believe that getting a better insight into Welsh’s oldest heritage and being able to share it with others will support the Madog Center’s mission. In addition to the paper and presentation I would have to do for the center, I already have interest from other venues to hear the presentation, notably the Jackson City Library. I am also actively marketing the first novel in the series, which placed into the semi-finals at the Amazon Breakthrough novel contest. If I am successful, it would be a way to bring this part of Welsh heritage to a wider audience.


Seriously, additions, deletions, language changes all cheerfully entertained. I appreciate your help. Gah, just saw I need my Curriculum vitae as well (which naturally has NOTHING to do with this proposal.






Jimenetti's. Decent pizza, less decent beer. Killian's is the best they offer but that's pretty drinkable. Oddly, one of the friends I hang out here with used to rent this house. It would have been a kick ass rental if you ask me

Comments

[lyrangalia]

I like the abstract. For the mission statement thing I might suggest working in something about hoping your research will be a step in helping to clear up misconceptions and stereotypes about Welsh history/lore in fiction?

Just a thought.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

and a good thought. thank you

[bay115.livejournal.com]

The abstract I like very much. I'll agree with lyrangalia over adding in that you'll help clear the misconceptions over Welsh history/lore in stories. Other than that, looks good to me. Good luck!

[bob_fish.livejournal.com]

Abstract is good, but I think you should open with a 'sales pitch sentence' that sums up why they should give you the grant. I had four and a half hours sleep last night and haven't had mah coffee yet, so just what ought to be in that pitch sentence eludes me right now.

I also agree with everyone else about the 'clearing up misconceptions' bit. Perhaps part of the pitch should be about the educational purpose of fiction? I also think you should boast more about your fiction-writing credentials. It sucks that you can't tell them about Jana!

One other question - is the proposal going to be assessed just by people from the Madog Center, or are some of the panel on the uni? And are lots of the Madog Center's staff Welsh? If you're pitching this to actual Welsh folk you might want to pitch a bit more to their sense of national pride. Actually, it couldn't hurt to throw in a bit in about your love of Welsh culture and history and that you've been learning the language (for historical/cultural purposes - pretty much all adult Welsh speakers are bilingual so you'd be asking for directions in English).

[hierath.livejournal.com]

Can't add masses in an academic sense, but:

I believe that getting a better insight into Welsh’s oldest heritage

should be WALES'S oldest heritage, or possibly "The oldest heritage of Wales."

Or even "The oldest heritage of the Welsh."

Although as the Madog mission statement refers to that country over the other side of the Severn as "Welsh", you might not be on to a winner here...

I'm off to Welsh today, hope it doesn't rain too much! ;)

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Of course, I see this too as I'm getting ready to run out the door. I agree with all the statements so far. I need to read it when I don't have the little voices in my head.

[marlex.livejournal.com]

Not really sure what they're looking for, but I'd suggest moving up the paragraph about your using them in your work to the middle and thirding adding some stuff about yourself.

Also some language suggestions...

Bryn Celli Dhu, a burial mound, can also be found there.

You repeat "can also be found there" two sentences later.

Pembrokeshire, within a hundred miles of Trinity College in Carmarthern, there are other sites such as Gors Fawr stone circle one of the few complete stone circles in Wales.

Word missing...

Also the ruins of St Brynachs Church, Cwm-yr-Eglwys, can be found there.

Repeated phrase

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

thanks for the input. I have NO idea what they're looking for which is making this very hard

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

hands you some lithium

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

snort, this is what happens when I type in a flaming hurry

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

hmmm I had the fiction writing first then though better of it. Maybe i should rethink again.

sadly most of the people picking the winner are coworkers who have already gone.


thanks

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

thank you

[hierath.livejournal.com]

In that case I shall hush my sarcastic gob ;) It looks good, crossing my fingers for you!

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

snort. thanks

[silvrethorn.livejournal.com]

I'm wondering if the grant people wouldn't be more interested in _why_ you want to go to Wales rather than what you already know about it. Something along the lines of "I have a theory that the Bronze Age Welsh were using steam engines to forge high-carbon steel weapons, here's why I think it, and I'm burning to prove my theory using steps X, Y, and Z." This might be something like what Bob_fish was trying to suggest, too. However, like you, I don't know diddly about writing a research abstract. I'm just going by what I think would impress me if I were vetting applicants for an expenses-paid research trip.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

i had wondered about that too but there isn't time to do any real research. Yes there will be research but it's definitely less rigorous than full on research. I could surely put in I would like to find out more about what these sites meant to the people

thanks

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

You know my little voices are the good kind.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

and i was sleeping. I should have handed you haldol

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Haldol?

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

antipsychotic

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

about these Neolithic sites(,) as well as the pictures of the stones themselves(,) capture

Many of the monuments are in the northwest of Wales, especially in the Anglesey area, notably the passage grave of Barclodiad y Gawres that is an intricately carved monument, a real rarity. This needs to be broken into two sentences.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

ok thx

[0-mother-0.livejournal.com]

You guys are really blessed with old houses. Must be nice to live in a "civilized historical" and educated part of the country. Texas is neither of those things. And the pizza bar is in the garage? Too funny!

P.S. You need a darker cursor!

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

we do have a lot of houses like this and the whole downstairs of the HOUSE is the bar.

i can not control the cursor

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Have I ever acted psychotic?


...wait, don't answer that.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

if you're hearing voices....

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

I've heard voices all my life. XD Usually characters telling me stories. Sometimes ghosts.

Sometimes you. XD

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

this is true

[0-mother-0.livejournal.com]

Oooooooh, sorry, looked like the garage was where the action was.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

probably where they store the kegs