vocabulary for a thesis

50 Useful Academic Words & Phrases for Research

Like all good writing, writing an academic paper takes a certain level of skill to express your ideas and arguments in a way that is natural and that meets a level of academic sophistication. The terms, expressions, and phrases you use in your research paper must be of an appropriate level to be submitted to academic journals.

Therefore, authors need to know which verbs , nouns , and phrases to apply to create a paper that is not only easy to understand, but which conveys an understanding of academic conventions. Using the correct terminology and usage shows journal editors and fellow researchers that you are a competent writer and thinker, while using non-academic language might make them question your writing ability, as well as your critical reasoning skills.

What are academic words and phrases?

One way to understand what constitutes good academic writing is to read a lot of published research to find patterns of usage in different contexts. However, it may take an author countless hours of reading and might not be the most helpful advice when faced with an upcoming deadline on a manuscript draft.

Briefly, “academic” language includes terms, phrases, expressions, transitions, and sometimes symbols and abbreviations that help the pieces of an academic text fit together. When writing an academic text–whether it is a book report, annotated bibliography, research paper, research poster, lab report, research proposal, thesis, or manuscript for publication–authors must follow academic writing conventions. You can often find handy academic writing tips and guidelines by consulting the style manual of the text you are writing (i.e., APA Style , MLA Style , or Chicago Style ).

However, sometimes it can be helpful to have a list of academic words and expressions like the ones in this article to use as a “cheat sheet” for substituting the better term in a given context.

How to Choose the Best Academic Terms

You can think of writing “academically” as writing in a way that conveys one’s meaning effectively but concisely. For instance, while the term “take a look at” is a perfectly fine way to express an action in everyday English, a term like “analyze” would certainly be more suitable in most academic contexts. It takes up fewer words on the page and is used much more often in published academic papers.

You can use one handy guideline when choosing the most academic term: When faced with a choice between two different terms, use the Latinate version of the term. Here is a brief list of common verbs versus their academic counterparts:

Although this can be a useful tip to help academic authors, it can be difficult to memorize dozens of Latinate verbs. Using an AI paraphrasing tool or proofreading tool can help you instantly find more appropriate academic terms, so consider using such revision tools while you draft to improve your writing.

Top 50 Words and Phrases for Different Sections in a Research Paper

The “Latinate verb rule” is just one tool in your arsenal of academic writing, and there are many more out there. But to make the process of finding academic language a bit easier for you, we have compiled a list of 50 vital academic words and phrases, divided into specific categories and use cases, each with an explanation and contextual example.

Best Words and Phrases to use in an Introduction section

1. historically.

An adverb used to indicate a time perspective, especially when describing the background of a given topic.

2. In recent years

A temporal marker emphasizing recent developments, often used at the very beginning of your Introduction section.

3. It is widely acknowledged that

A “form phrase” indicating a broad consensus among researchers and/or the general public. Often used in the literature review section to build upon a foundation of established scientific knowledge.

4. There has been growing interest in

Highlights increasing attention to a topic and tells the reader why your study might be important to this field of research.

5. Preliminary observations indicate

Shares early insights or findings while hedging on making any definitive conclusions. Modal verbs like may , might , and could are often used with this expression.

6. This study aims to

Describes the goal of the research and is a form phrase very often used in the research objective or even the hypothesis of a research paper .

7. Despite its significance

Highlights the importance of a matter that might be overlooked. It is also frequently used in the rationale of the study section to show how your study’s aim and scope build on previous studies.

8. While numerous studies have focused on

Indicates the existing body of work on a topic while pointing to the shortcomings of certain aspects of that research. Helps focus the reader on the question, “What is missing from our knowledge of this topic?” This is often used alongside the statement of the problem in research papers.

9. The purpose of this research is

A form phrase that directly states the aim of the study.

10. The question arises (about/whether)

Poses a query or research problem statement for the reader to acknowledge.

Best Words and Phrases for Clarifying Information

11. in other words.

Introduces a synopsis or the rephrasing of a statement for clarity. This is often used in the Discussion section statement to explain the implications of the study .

12. That is to say

Provides clarification, similar to “in other words.”

13. To put it simply

Simplifies a complex idea, often for a more general readership.

14. To clarify

Specifically indicates to the reader a direct elaboration of a previous point.

15. More specifically

Narrows down a general statement from a broader one. Often used in the Discussion section to clarify the meaning of a specific result.

16. To elaborate

Expands on a point made previously.

17. In detail

Indicates a deeper dive into information.

Points out specifics. Similar meaning to “specifically” or “especially.”

19. This means that

Explains implications and/or interprets the meaning of the Results section .

20. Moreover

Expands a prior point to a broader one that shows the greater context or wider argument.

Best Words and Phrases for Giving Examples

21. for instance.

Provides a specific case that fits into the point being made.

22. As an illustration

Demonstrates a point in full or in part.

23. To illustrate

Shows a clear picture of the point being made.

24. For example

Presents a particular instance. Same meaning as “for instance.”

25. Such as

Lists specifics that comprise a broader category or assertion being made.

26. Including

Offers examples as part of a larger list.

27. Notably

Adverb highlighting an important example. Similar meaning to “especially.”

28. Especially

Adverb that emphasizes a significant instance.

29. In particular

Draws attention to a specific point.

30. To name a few

Indicates examples than previously mentioned are about to be named.

Best Words and Phrases for Comparing and Contrasting

31. however.

Introduces a contrasting idea.

32. On the other hand

Highlights an alternative view or fact.

33. Conversely

Indicates an opposing or reversed idea to the one just mentioned.

34. Similarly

Shows likeness or parallels between two ideas, objects, or situations.

35. Likewise

Indicates agreement with a previous point.

36. In contrast

Draws a distinction between two points.

37. Nevertheless

Introduces a contrasting point, despite what has been said.

38. Whereas

Compares two distinct entities or ideas.

Indicates a contrast between two points.

Signals an unexpected contrast.

Best Words and Phrases to use in a Conclusion section

41. in conclusion.

Signifies the beginning of the closing argument.

42. To sum up

Offers a brief summary.

43. In summary

Signals a concise recap.

44. Ultimately

Reflects the final or main point.

45. Overall

Gives a general concluding statement.

Indicates a resulting conclusion.

Demonstrates a logical conclusion.

48. Therefore

Connects a cause and its effect.

49. It can be concluded that

Clearly states a conclusion derived from the data.

50. Taking everything into consideration

Reflects on all the discussed points before concluding.

Edit Your Research Terms and Phrases Before Submission

Using these phrases in the proper places in your research papers can enhance the clarity, flow, and persuasiveness of your writing, especially in the Introduction section and Discussion section, which together make up the majority of your paper’s text in most academic domains.

However, it's vital to ensure each phrase is contextually appropriate to avoid redundancy or misinterpretation. As mentioned at the top of this article, the best way to do this is to 1) use an AI text editor , free AI paraphrasing tool or AI proofreading tool while you draft to enhance your writing, and 2) consult a professional proofreading service like Wordvice, which has human editors well versed in the terminology and conventions of the specific subject area of your academic documents.

For more detailed information on using AI tools to write a research paper and the best AI tools for research , check out the Wordvice AI Blog .

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• 40 Useful Words and Phrases for Top-Notch Essays

To be truly brilliant, an essay needs to utilise the right language. You could make a great point, but if it’s not intelligently articulated, you almost needn’t have bothered.

Developing the language skills to build an argument and to write persuasively is crucial if you’re to write outstanding essays every time. In this article, we’re going to equip you with the words and phrases you need to write a top-notch essay, along with examples of how to utilise them.

It’s by no means an exhaustive list, and there will often be other ways of using the words and phrases we describe that we won’t have room to include, but there should be more than enough below to help you make an instant improvement to your essay-writing skills.

If you’re interested in developing your language and persuasive skills, Oxford Royale offers summer courses at its Oxford Summer School , Cambridge Summer School , London Summer School , San Francisco Summer School and Yale Summer School . You can study courses to learn english , prepare for careers in law , medicine , business , engineering and leadership.

General explaining

Let’s start by looking at language for general explanations of complex points.

1. In order to

Usage: “In order to” can be used to introduce an explanation for the purpose of an argument. Example: “In order to understand X, we need first to understand Y.”

2. In other words

Usage: Use “in other words” when you want to express something in a different way (more simply), to make it easier to understand, or to emphasise or expand on a point. Example: “Frogs are amphibians. In other words, they live on the land and in the water.”

3. To put it another way

Usage: This phrase is another way of saying “in other words”, and can be used in particularly complex points, when you feel that an alternative way of wording a problem may help the reader achieve a better understanding of its significance. Example: “Plants rely on photosynthesis. To put it another way, they will die without the sun.”

4. That is to say

Usage: “That is” and “that is to say” can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or to be more precise. Example: “Whales are mammals. That is to say, they must breathe air.”

5. To that end

Usage: Use “to that end” or “to this end” in a similar way to “in order to” or “so”. Example: “Zoologists have long sought to understand how animals communicate with each other. To that end, a new study has been launched that looks at elephant sounds and their possible meanings.”

Adding additional information to support a point

Students often make the mistake of using synonyms of “and” each time they want to add further information in support of a point they’re making, or to build an argument. Here are some cleverer ways of doing this.

6. Moreover

Usage: Employ “moreover” at the start of a sentence to add extra information in support of a point you’re making. Example: “Moreover, the results of a recent piece of research provide compelling evidence in support of…”

7. Furthermore

Usage:This is also generally used at the start of a sentence, to add extra information. Example: “Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that…”

8. What’s more

Usage: This is used in the same way as “moreover” and “furthermore”. Example: “What’s more, this isn’t the only evidence that supports this hypothesis.”

9. Likewise

Usage: Use “likewise” when you want to talk about something that agrees with what you’ve just mentioned. Example: “Scholar A believes X. Likewise, Scholar B argues compellingly in favour of this point of view.”

10. Similarly

Usage: Use “similarly” in the same way as “likewise”. Example: “Audiences at the time reacted with shock to Beethoven’s new work, because it was very different to what they were used to. Similarly, we have a tendency to react with surprise to the unfamiliar.”

11. Another key thing to remember

Usage: Use the phrase “another key point to remember” or “another key fact to remember” to introduce additional facts without using the word “also”. Example: “As a Romantic, Blake was a proponent of a closer relationship between humans and nature. Another key point to remember is that Blake was writing during the Industrial Revolution, which had a major impact on the world around him.”

12. As well as

Usage: Use “as well as” instead of “also” or “and”. Example: “Scholar A argued that this was due to X, as well as Y.”

13. Not only… but also

Usage: This wording is used to add an extra piece of information, often something that’s in some way more surprising or unexpected than the first piece of information. Example: “Not only did Edmund Hillary have the honour of being the first to reach the summit of Everest, but he was also appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.”

14. Coupled with

Usage: Used when considering two or more arguments at a time. Example: “Coupled with the literary evidence, the statistics paint a compelling view of…”

15. Firstly, secondly, thirdly…

Usage: This can be used to structure an argument, presenting facts clearly one after the other. Example: “There are many points in support of this view. Firstly, X. Secondly, Y. And thirdly, Z.

16. Not to mention/to say nothing of

Usage: “Not to mention” and “to say nothing of” can be used to add extra information with a bit of emphasis. Example: “The war caused unprecedented suffering to millions of people, not to mention its impact on the country’s economy.”

Words and phrases for demonstrating contrast

When you’re developing an argument, you will often need to present contrasting or opposing opinions or evidence – “it could show this, but it could also show this”, or “X says this, but Y disagrees”. This section covers words you can use instead of the “but” in these examples, to make your writing sound more intelligent and interesting.

17. However

Usage: Use “however” to introduce a point that disagrees with what you’ve just said. Example: “Scholar A thinks this. However, Scholar B reached a different conclusion.”

18. On the other hand

Usage: Usage of this phrase includes introducing a contrasting interpretation of the same piece of evidence, a different piece of evidence that suggests something else, or an opposing opinion. Example: “The historical evidence appears to suggest a clear-cut situation. On the other hand, the archaeological evidence presents a somewhat less straightforward picture of what happened that day.”

19. Having said that

Usage: Used in a similar manner to “on the other hand” or “but”. Example: “The historians are unanimous in telling us X, an agreement that suggests that this version of events must be an accurate account. Having said that, the archaeology tells a different story.”

20. By contrast/in comparison

Usage: Use “by contrast” or “in comparison” when you’re comparing and contrasting pieces of evidence. Example: “Scholar A’s opinion, then, is based on insufficient evidence. By contrast, Scholar B’s opinion seems more plausible.”

21. Then again

Usage: Use this to cast doubt on an assertion. Example: “Writer A asserts that this was the reason for what happened. Then again, it’s possible that he was being paid to say this.”

22. That said

Usage: This is used in the same way as “then again”. Example: “The evidence ostensibly appears to point to this conclusion. That said, much of the evidence is unreliable at best.”

Usage: Use this when you want to introduce a contrasting idea. Example: “Much of scholarship has focused on this evidence. Yet not everyone agrees that this is the most important aspect of the situation.”

Adding a proviso or acknowledging reservations

Sometimes, you may need to acknowledge a shortfalling in a piece of evidence, or add a proviso. Here are some ways of doing so.

24. Despite this

Usage: Use “despite this” or “in spite of this” when you want to outline a point that stands regardless of a shortfalling in the evidence. Example: “The sample size was small, but the results were important despite this.”

25. With this in mind

Usage: Use this when you want your reader to consider a point in the knowledge of something else. Example: “We’ve seen that the methods used in the 19th century study did not always live up to the rigorous standards expected in scientific research today, which makes it difficult to draw definite conclusions. With this in mind, let’s look at a more recent study to see how the results compare.”

26. Provided that

Usage: This means “on condition that”. You can also say “providing that” or just “providing” to mean the same thing. Example: “We may use this as evidence to support our argument, provided that we bear in mind the limitations of the methods used to obtain it.”

27. In view of/in light of

Usage: These phrases are used when something has shed light on something else. Example: “In light of the evidence from the 2013 study, we have a better understanding of…”

28. Nonetheless

Usage: This is similar to “despite this”. Example: “The study had its limitations, but it was nonetheless groundbreaking for its day.”

29. Nevertheless

Usage: This is the same as “nonetheless”. Example: “The study was flawed, but it was important nevertheless.”

30. Notwithstanding

Usage: This is another way of saying “nonetheless”. Example: “Notwithstanding the limitations of the methodology used, it was an important study in the development of how we view the workings of the human mind.”

Giving examples

Good essays always back up points with examples, but it’s going to get boring if you use the expression “for example” every time. Here are a couple of other ways of saying the same thing.

31. For instance

Example: “Some birds migrate to avoid harsher winter climates. Swallows, for instance, leave the UK in early winter and fly south…”

32. To give an illustration

Example: “To give an illustration of what I mean, let’s look at the case of…”

Signifying importance

When you want to demonstrate that a point is particularly important, there are several ways of highlighting it as such.

33. Significantly

Usage: Used to introduce a point that is loaded with meaning that might not be immediately apparent. Example: “Significantly, Tacitus omits to tell us the kind of gossip prevalent in Suetonius’ accounts of the same period.”

34. Notably

Usage: This can be used to mean “significantly” (as above), and it can also be used interchangeably with “in particular” (the example below demonstrates the first of these ways of using it). Example: “Actual figures are notably absent from Scholar A’s analysis.”

35. Importantly

Usage: Use “importantly” interchangeably with “significantly”. Example: “Importantly, Scholar A was being employed by X when he wrote this work, and was presumably therefore under pressure to portray the situation more favourably than he perhaps might otherwise have done.”

Summarising

You’ve almost made it to the end of the essay, but your work isn’t over yet. You need to end by wrapping up everything you’ve talked about, showing that you’ve considered the arguments on both sides and reached the most likely conclusion. Here are some words and phrases to help you.

36. In conclusion

Usage: Typically used to introduce the concluding paragraph or sentence of an essay, summarising what you’ve discussed in a broad overview. Example: “In conclusion, the evidence points almost exclusively to Argument A.”

37. Above all

Usage: Used to signify what you believe to be the most significant point, and the main takeaway from the essay. Example: “Above all, it seems pertinent to remember that…”

38. Persuasive

Usage: This is a useful word to use when summarising which argument you find most convincing. Example: “Scholar A’s point – that Constanze Mozart was motivated by financial gain – seems to me to be the most persuasive argument for her actions following Mozart’s death.”

39. Compelling

Usage: Use in the same way as “persuasive” above. Example: “The most compelling argument is presented by Scholar A.”

40. All things considered

Usage: This means “taking everything into account”. Example: “All things considered, it seems reasonable to assume that…”

How many of these words and phrases will you get into your next essay? And are any of your favourite essay terms missing from our list? Let us know in the comments below, or get in touch here to find out more about courses that can help you with your essays.

At Oxford Royale Academy, we offer a number of  summer school courses for young people who are keen to improve their essay writing skills. Click here to apply for one of our courses today, including law , business , medicine  and engineering .

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• How it works

Glossary in a Dissertation – A Comprehensive Guide

Published by Owen Ingram at August 26th, 2021 , Revised On September 20, 2023

A list of glossary contains all those terms used in your dissertation, but the meanings of which may not be evident to the readers. Here is all you need to know about the glossary in a dissertation.

Basically, any term you use in your dissertation that you know, without a doubt, is not going to be common knowledge to readers outside of your field, is included in a list called glossary. And since every field has its unique, technical jargon, a glossary list can contain many terms some readers might not have even heard of before.

A typical glossary in a dissertation may look something like this:

Do you Even Need Glossary in your Dissertation to Begin with?

You may or may not be required to have a separate list of glossaries in your  dissertation . The decision whether to have a list of glossaries in a dissertation depends on whether it will improve the readability of your paper.

For example , if you are  writing a dissertation  for an engineering degree and have used several technical terms that readers—especially laymen—may not be familiar with, \ it is advised to add a glossary in a dissertation.

Listing Terms in a Glossary

A recommended practice of adding a glossary in a dissertation is to sort the terms alphabetically and provide a definition or explanations for each of those terms. Having the terms listed in alphabetical order will help the readers to easily locate the information they are interested in.

Location of a Glossary List in a Dissertation

The glossary list is generally placed at the beginning of the dissertation paper, just after the  list of tables and figures or the list of abbreviations.  However, if your paper does not have a list of abbreviations or a list of tables and figures, you can place the glossary right after the  table of contents .

This gives readers the opportunity to understand the meanings of key terms they are not familiar with even before they start to read the main content of the paper.

However, if you haven’t used a lot of technical terms in your dissertation, you can choose to provide an explanation and meanings of the few terms that you have used in the form of footnotes .

Difference Between Abbreviations and Glossary

It is important not to confuse the glossary in the dissertation with the abbreviations, which are put in the list of abbreviations.

A list of abbreviations contains all the terms that have abbreviations. For instance, if you have used terms like NASA , UNICEF , UNESCO , UN , NIH , etc., such terms along with what they stand for will come under the list of abbreviations.

Note, however, that only their full forms, and not their meanings, are mentioned in that list. That is what’s mentioned in a glossary list, though: meanings. Definitions of terms, terms that were used in the dissertation. The terms themselves aren’t abbreviation.

For instance, in a linguistics’ dissertation, you might end up creating a glossary list containing terms like phenomenology, code-switching, diglossia, etc. Notice how these are complete terms , not abbreviations.

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Example of a Glossary in Dissertation

If you haven’t created a list of glossaries before then you will find the below example of a glossary in a dissertation particularly useful:

Other Lists you can have in your Dissertation

You might also want to have a list of tables and figures as well as a list of abbreviations in your dissertation particularly if you are writing a master’s or PhD dissertation. However, make sure to keep the following order:

• Table of contents
• Lists of figures and tables
• List of abbreviations

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FAQs About Glossary in a Dissertation

What is a glossary.

It’s a list of special terms—single words, phrases, etc.—that are not commonly known to the ‘average’ reader or to a reader who isn’t an expert in that field.

What is included in a glossary?

Ideally, words are included in a glossary. However, in some cases—depending on the topic— abbreviations , phrases etc. might also be mentioned within the list of glossary in a dissertation. Sometimes, it might also include a brief definition of how to pronounce a certain word/phrase.

What is the best way to create a glossary?

Keep in mind two things while creating a glossary list: keep the language of the definition simple so that every kind of reader can understand it. That’s why a glossary is given, to begin with, to simplify technical jargon and inform laymen. Secondly, arrange the terms inside it alphabetically.

How many times can I include the same term in a glossary list?

No matter how many times a word or a phrase appears in your dissertation , include it and define it only once in your glossary. There should be no duplicate entries in a glossary list.

You May Also Like

Anyone who supports you in your research should be acknowledged in dissertation acknowledgments. Learn more on how to write dissertation acknowledgements.

Finding it difficult to maintain a good relationship with your supervisor? Here are some tips on ‘How to Deal with an Unhelpful Dissertation Supervisor’.

Table of contents is an essential part of dissertation paper. Here is all you need to know about how to create the best table of contents for dissertation.

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• How It Works

Developing a Thesis Statement

Many papers you write require developing a thesis statement. In this section you’ll learn what a thesis statement is and how to write one.

Keep in mind that not all papers require thesis statements . If in doubt, please consult your instructor for assistance.

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement . . .

• Makes an argumentative assertion about a topic; it states the conclusions that you have reached about your topic.
• Makes a promise to the reader about the scope, purpose, and direction of your paper.
• Is focused and specific enough to be “proven” within the boundaries of your paper.
• Is generally located near the end of the introduction ; sometimes, in a long paper, the thesis will be expressed in several sentences or in an entire paragraph.
• Identifies the relationships between the pieces of evidence that you are using to support your argument.

Not all papers require thesis statements! Ask your instructor if you’re in doubt whether you need one.

Identify a topic

Your topic is the subject about which you will write. Your assignment may suggest several ways of looking at a topic; or it may name a fairly general concept that you will explore or analyze in your paper.

Consider what your assignment asks you to do

Inform yourself about your topic, focus on one aspect of your topic, ask yourself whether your topic is worthy of your efforts, generate a topic from an assignment.

Below are some possible topics based on sample assignments.

Sample assignment 1

Analyze Spain’s neutrality in World War II.

Identified topic

Franco’s role in the diplomatic relationships between the Allies and the Axis

This topic avoids generalities such as “Spain” and “World War II,” addressing instead on Franco’s role (a specific aspect of “Spain”) and the diplomatic relations between the Allies and Axis (a specific aspect of World War II).

Sample assignment 2

Analyze one of Homer’s epic similes in the Iliad.

The relationship between the portrayal of warfare and the epic simile about Simoisius at 4.547-64.

This topic focuses on a single simile and relates it to a single aspect of the Iliad ( warfare being a major theme in that work).

Developing a Thesis Statement–Additional information

Your assignment may suggest several ways of looking at a topic, or it may name a fairly general concept that you will explore or analyze in your paper. You’ll want to read your assignment carefully, looking for key terms that you can use to focus your topic.

Sample assignment: Analyze Spain’s neutrality in World War II Key terms: analyze, Spain’s neutrality, World War II

After you’ve identified the key words in your topic, the next step is to read about them in several sources, or generate as much information as possible through an analysis of your topic. Obviously, the more material or knowledge you have, the more possibilities will be available for a strong argument. For the sample assignment above, you’ll want to look at books and articles on World War II in general, and Spain’s neutrality in particular.

As you consider your options, you must decide to focus on one aspect of your topic. This means that you cannot include everything you’ve learned about your topic, nor should you go off in several directions. If you end up covering too many different aspects of a topic, your paper will sprawl and be unconvincing in its argument, and it most likely will not fulfull the assignment requirements.

For the sample assignment above, both Spain’s neutrality and World War II are topics far too broad to explore in a paper. You may instead decide to focus on Franco’s role in the diplomatic relationships between the Allies and the Axis , which narrows down what aspects of Spain’s neutrality and World War II you want to discuss, as well as establishes a specific link between those two aspects.

Before you go too far, however, ask yourself whether your topic is worthy of your efforts. Try to avoid topics that already have too much written about them (i.e., “eating disorders and body image among adolescent women”) or that simply are not important (i.e. “why I like ice cream”). These topics may lead to a thesis that is either dry fact or a weird claim that cannot be supported. A good thesis falls somewhere between the two extremes. To arrive at this point, ask yourself what is new, interesting, contestable, or controversial about your topic.

As you work on your thesis, remember to keep the rest of your paper in mind at all times . Sometimes your thesis needs to evolve as you develop new insights, find new evidence, or take a different approach to your topic.

Derive a main point from topic

Once you have a topic, you will have to decide what the main point of your paper will be. This point, the “controlling idea,” becomes the core of your argument (thesis statement) and it is the unifying idea to which you will relate all your sub-theses. You can then turn this “controlling idea” into a purpose statement about what you intend to do in your paper.

Look for patterns in your evidence

Compose a purpose statement.

Consult the examples below for suggestions on how to look for patterns in your evidence and construct a purpose statement.

• Franco first tried to negotiate with the Axis
• Franco turned to the Allies when he couldn’t get some concessions that he wanted from the Axis

Possible conclusion:

Spain’s neutrality in WWII occurred for an entirely personal reason: Franco’s desire to preserve his own (and Spain’s) power.

Purpose statement

This paper will analyze Franco’s diplomacy during World War II to see how it contributed to Spain’s neutrality.

• The simile compares Simoisius to a tree, which is a peaceful, natural image.
• The tree in the simile is chopped down to make wheels for a chariot, which is an object used in warfare.

At first, the simile seems to take the reader away from the world of warfare, but we end up back in that world by the end.

This paper will analyze the way the simile about Simoisius at 4.547-64 moves in and out of the world of warfare.

Derive purpose statement from topic

To find out what your “controlling idea” is, you have to examine and evaluate your evidence . As you consider your evidence, you may notice patterns emerging, data repeated in more than one source, or facts that favor one view more than another. These patterns or data may then lead you to some conclusions about your topic and suggest that you can successfully argue for one idea better than another.

For instance, you might find out that Franco first tried to negotiate with the Axis, but when he couldn’t get some concessions that he wanted from them, he turned to the Allies. As you read more about Franco’s decisions, you may conclude that Spain’s neutrality in WWII occurred for an entirely personal reason: his desire to preserve his own (and Spain’s) power. Based on this conclusion, you can then write a trial thesis statement to help you decide what material belongs in your paper.

Sometimes you won’t be able to find a focus or identify your “spin” or specific argument immediately. Like some writers, you might begin with a purpose statement just to get yourself going. A purpose statement is one or more sentences that announce your topic and indicate the structure of the paper but do not state the conclusions you have drawn . Thus, you might begin with something like this:

• This paper will look at modern language to see if it reflects male dominance or female oppression.
• I plan to analyze anger and derision in offensive language to see if they represent a challenge of society’s authority.

At some point, you can turn a purpose statement into a thesis statement. As you think and write about your topic, you can restrict, clarify, and refine your argument, crafting your thesis statement to reflect your thinking.

As you work on your thesis, remember to keep the rest of your paper in mind at all times. Sometimes your thesis needs to evolve as you develop new insights, find new evidence, or take a different approach to your topic.

Compose a draft thesis statement

If you are writing a paper that will have an argumentative thesis and are having trouble getting started, the techniques in the table below may help you develop a temporary or “working” thesis statement.

Begin with a purpose statement that you will later turn into a thesis statement.

Assignment: Discuss the history of the Reform Party and explain its influence on the 1990 presidential and Congressional election.

Purpose Statement: This paper briefly sketches the history of the grassroots, conservative, Perot-led Reform Party and analyzes how it influenced the economic and social ideologies of the two mainstream parties.

Question-to-Assertion

If your assignment asks a specific question(s), turn the question(s) into an assertion and give reasons why it is true or reasons for your opinion.

Assignment : What do Aylmer and Rappaccini have to be proud of? Why aren’t they satisfied with these things? How does pride, as demonstrated in “The Birthmark” and “Rappaccini’s Daughter,” lead to unexpected problems?

Beginning thesis statement: Alymer and Rappaccinni are proud of their great knowledge; however, they are also very greedy and are driven to use their knowledge to alter some aspect of nature as a test of their ability. Evil results when they try to “play God.”

Write a sentence that summarizes the main idea of the essay you plan to write.

Main idea: The reason some toys succeed in the market is that they appeal to the consumers’ sense of the ridiculous and their basic desire to laugh at themselves.

Make a list of the ideas that you want to include; consider the ideas and try to group them.

• nature = peaceful
• war matériel = violent (competes with 1?)
• need for time and space to mourn the dead
• war is inescapable (competes with 3?)

Use a formula to arrive at a working thesis statement (you will revise this later).

• although most readers of _______ have argued that _______, closer examination shows that _______.
• _______ uses _______ and _____ to prove that ________.
• phenomenon x is a result of the combination of __________, __________, and _________.

What to keep in mind as you draft an initial thesis statement

Beginning statements obtained through the methods illustrated above can serve as a framework for planning or drafting your paper, but remember they’re not yet the specific, argumentative thesis you want for the final version of your paper. In fact, in its first stages, a thesis statement usually is ill-formed or rough and serves only as a planning tool.

As you write, you may discover evidence that does not fit your temporary or “working” thesis. Or you may reach deeper insights about your topic as you do more research, and you will find that your thesis statement has to be more complicated to match the evidence that you want to use.

You must be willing to reject or omit some evidence in order to keep your paper cohesive and your reader focused. Or you may have to revise your thesis to match the evidence and insights that you want to discuss. Read your draft carefully, noting the conclusions you have drawn and the major ideas which support or prove those conclusions. These will be the elements of your final thesis statement.

Sometimes you will not be able to identify these elements in your early drafts, but as you consider how your argument is developing and how your evidence supports your main idea, ask yourself, “ What is the main point that I want to prove/discuss? ” and “ How will I convince the reader that this is true? ” When you can answer these questions, then you can begin to refine the thesis statement.

Refine and polish the thesis statement

To get to your final thesis, you’ll need to refine your draft thesis so that it’s specific and arguable.

• Ask if your draft thesis addresses the assignment
• Question each part of your draft thesis
• Clarify vague phrases and assertions
• Investigate alternatives to your draft thesis

Consult the example below for suggestions on how to refine your draft thesis statement.

Sample Assignment

Choose an activity and define it as a symbol of American culture. Your essay should cause the reader to think critically about the society which produces and enjoys that activity.

• Ask The phenomenon of drive-in facilities is an interesting symbol of american culture, and these facilities demonstrate significant characteristics of our society.This statement does not fulfill the assignment because it does not require the reader to think critically about society.

Drive-ins are an interesting symbol of American culture because they represent Americans’ significant creativity and business ingenuity.

Among the types of drive-in facilities familiar during the twentieth century, drive-in movie theaters best represent American creativity, not merely because they were the forerunner of later drive-ins and drive-throughs, but because of their impact on our culture: they changed our relationship to the automobile, changed the way people experienced movies, and changed movie-going into a family activity.

While drive-in facilities such as those at fast-food establishments, banks, pharmacies, and dry cleaners symbolize America’s economic ingenuity, they also have affected our personal standards.

While drive-in facilities such as those at fast- food restaurants, banks, pharmacies, and dry cleaners symbolize (1) Americans’ business ingenuity, they also have contributed (2) to an increasing homogenization of our culture, (3) a willingness to depersonalize relationships with others, and (4) a tendency to sacrifice quality for convenience.

This statement is now specific and fulfills all parts of the assignment. This version, like any good thesis, is not self-evident; its points, 1-4, will have to be proven with evidence in the body of the paper. The numbers in this statement indicate the order in which the points will be presented. Depending on the length of the paper, there could be one paragraph for each numbered item or there could be blocks of paragraph for even pages for each one.

Complete the final thesis statement

The bottom line.

As you move through the process of crafting a thesis, you’ll need to remember four things:

• Context matters! Think about your course materials and lectures. Try to relate your thesis to the ideas your instructor is discussing.
• As you go through the process described in this section, always keep your assignment in mind . You will be more successful when your thesis (and paper) responds to the assignment than if it argues a semi-related idea.
• Your thesis statement should be precise, focused, and contestable ; it should predict the sub-theses or blocks of information that you will use to prove your argument.
• Make sure that you keep the rest of your paper in mind at all times. Change your thesis as your paper evolves, because you do not want your thesis to promise more than your paper actually delivers.

In the beginning, the thesis statement was a tool to help you sharpen your focus, limit material and establish the paper’s purpose. When your paper is finished, however, the thesis statement becomes a tool for your reader. It tells the reader what you have learned about your topic and what evidence led you to your conclusion. It keeps the reader on track–well able to understand and appreciate your argument.

Writing Process and Structure

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Getting Started with Your Paper

Interpreting Writing Assignments from Your Courses

Generating Ideas for

Creating an Argument

Thesis vs. Purpose Statements

Architecture of Arguments

Working with Sources

Quoting and Paraphrasing Sources

Using Literary Quotations

Citing Sources in Your Paper

Drafting Your Paper

Generating Ideas for Your Paper

Introductions

Paragraphing

Developing Strategic Transitions

Conclusions

Revising Your Paper

Peer Reviews

Reverse Outlines

Revising an Argumentative Paper

Revision Strategies for Longer Projects

Finishing Your Paper

Twelve Common Errors: An Editing Checklist

How to Proofread your Paper

Writing Collaboratively

Collaborative and Group Writing

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Useful Research Words and Phrases for All Sections

What are the best research words and phrases to use in a paper?

If you are a graduate student, researcher, and/or professor, you already know that composing academic documents can be a frustrating and time-consuming undertaking. In addition to including all the necessary study content, you must also present it in the right order and convey the required information using the proper institutional language. Deciding exactly which language to put in which section can get confusing as you constantly question your choice of phrasing: “ Does the Results section require this kind of explanation? Should I introduce my research with a comparison or with background research? How do I even begin the Discussion section? ”

To help you choose the  right  word for the  right  purpose,  Wordvice  has created a handy academic writing “cheat sheet” with ready-made formulaic expressions for all major sections of a research paper ( Introduction, Literature Review, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion ) and for reaching different objectives within each section.

This downloadable  quick-reference guide  contains common phrases used in academic papers, a sample journal submission cover letter, and a template rebuttal letter to be modified and used in case of receipt of a letter from the journal editor.

Each section includes annotations explaining the purposes of the expressions and a summary of essential information so that you can easily find the language your are looking for whenever you need to apply it to your paper. Using this quick reference will help you write more complete and appropriate phrases in your research writing and correspondence with journal editors.

Reference Guide Content

1. common research paper phrases (listed by manuscript section).

• Gathered from hundreds of thousands of published manuscripts, these frequently used key sentences and phrases are tailored to what each section of your paper should accomplish.
• From the abstract to the conclusion, each section is tied together by a logical structure and flow of information.
• Refer to this index when you are unsure of the correct phrases to use (in your paper/article, dissertation, or thesis) or if you are a non-native speaker and are seeking phrasing that is both natural in tone and official in form.

2. Acade mic Search Tools Index

• The search tools index is a concise compilation of some of the best academic research search tools and databases available that contain information about paper composition and relevant journals.
• Locate the sites and tools most useful for your needs using our summary of site content and features.

3. Sample Journal Submission Cover Letter with Formal Expressions

The  cover letter  is an essential part of the journal submission process, yet a great many researchers struggle with how to compose their cover letters to journal editors in a way that will effectively introduce their study and spur editors to read and consider their manuscript.

This sample cover letter not only provides an exemplary model of what a strong cover letter should look like but includes template language authors can apply directly to their own cover letters. By applying the formal language of the cover letter to the particular details of a particular study, the letter helps authors build a strong opening case for journals to consider accepting their manuscripts for publication.

4. Rebuttal Letter Template

The  rebuttal letter  is written as a response to previously received correspondence from journal editors that can take the form of a rejection, deferment, or request letter, which often requests changes, additions, or omission of content or augmentation of formatting in the manuscript. The rebuttal letter is therefore usually an author’s last chance to get their manuscript published in a given journal, and the language they use must convince the editor that an author’s manuscript is ready (or will be ready) for publication in their journal. It must therefore contain a precise rationale and explanation to accomplish this goal.

As with the journal submission cover letter, knowing exactly what to include in this letter and how to compose it can be difficult. One must be persuasive without being pushy; formal but yet candid and frank. This template rebuttal letter is constructed to help authors navigate these issues and respond to authors with confidence that they have done everything possible to get their manuscript published in the journal to which they have submitted.

5. Useful Phrases for the Journal Submission Cover Letter/Rebuttal Letter

As with research papers, there are usually dozens of options for how to phrase the language in letters to journal editors. This section suggests several of the most common phrases that authors use to express their objectives and persuade editors to publish their journals. And as with the section on “Common Research Paper Phrases,” you will find here that each phrase is listed under a heading that indicates its objective so that authors know when and where to apply these expressions.

Use this reference guide as another resource in your toolkit to make the research paper writing and journal submission processes a bit easier. And remember that there are many excellent resources out there if you require additional assistance.

Wordvice ‘s academic English editing services include paper editing services , dissertation editing services , and thesis editing services that are specifically tailored to help researchers polish their papers to get the very most out of their research writing. Visit our  Resources  pages for great articles and videos on academic writing and journal submission.

Wordvice Resources

A guide to paraphrasing in research papers, 100+ strong verbs that will make your research writing amazing , how to compose a journal submission cover letter, how to write the best journal submission cover letter,  related resources,   40 useful words and phrases for top-notch essays, “essential academic writing words and phrases”  (my english teacher.eu), “academic vocabulary, useful phrases for academic writing and research paper writing”  (research gate).

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• Taboo words in academic writing

Words and Phrases to Avoid in Academic Writing

Published on February 6, 2016 by Sarah Vinz . Revised on September 11, 2023.

When you are writing a dissertation , thesis, or research paper, many words and phrases that are acceptable in conversations or informal writing are considered inappropriate in academic writing .

You should try to avoid expressions that are too informal, unsophisticated, vague, exaggerated, or subjective, as well as those that are generally unnecessary or incorrect.

Bear in mind, however, that these guidelines do not apply to text you are directly quoting from your sources (including interviews ).

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Table of contents

Too informal, too exaggerated, too subjective, generally incorrect, other interesting articles.

Academic writing is generally more formal than the writing we see in non-academic materials (including on websites). It is also more formal than the ways in which we normally speak. The following words and phrases are considered too informal for a dissertation or academic paper.

Informal sentence starts

Some words are acceptable in certain contexts, but become too informal when used at the beginning of a sentence. You can replace these with appropriate  transition words  or simply remove them from the sentence.

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Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

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Using vague terms makes your writing imprecise and may cause people to interpret it in different ways. Always try to be as specific as possible.

Academic writing is usually unadorned and direct. Some adverbs of frequency (such as always and never ) and intensifiers (words that create emphasis, such as really ) are often too dramatic. They may also not be accurate – you’re making a significant claim when you say something is perfect or never happens.

These terms do sometimes add value, but try to use them sparingly.

Some words and phrases reveal your own bias. For instance, if you state that something will obviously happen, you are indicating that you think the occurrence is obvious – not stating a fact.

Expressing your opinion is appropriate in certain sections of a dissertation and in particular types of academic texts (such as personal statements and reflective or argumentative essays ). In most cases, though, take care when using words and phrases such as those below – try to let the facts speak for themselves, or emphasize your point with less biased language.

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Certain words and phrases are often used incorrectly, even by native speakers of a language. If you’re exposed to such mistakes often enough, you may start to assume they are correct – but it’s important that you don’t let them creep into your writing.

You should also bear in mind that some of these mistakes relate to things we all frequently mishear (for instance, we often think the speaker is saying would of instead of would have ).

In general, you should also try to avoid using words and phrases that fall into the following categories:

• Jargon (i.e., “insider” terminology that may be difficult for readers from other fields to understand)
• Clichés (i.e., expressions that are heavily overused, such as think outside of the box and at the end of the day )
• Everyday abbreviations (e.g., approx. , ASAP, corona, stats, info )
• Slang (e.g., cops , cool )
• Gender-biased language   (e.g., firemen , mankind )
• Generally unnecessary (e.g., redundant expressions that do not add meaning, such as compete with each other instead of simply compete)

Reflective reports and  personal statements  sometimes have a less formal tone. In these types of writing, you may not have to follow these guidelines as strictly. The preface or acknowledgements of a dissertation also often have a less formal and more personal voice than the rest of the document.

If you want to know more about AI for academic writing, AI tools, or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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Sarah's academic background includes a Master of Arts in English, a Master of International Affairs degree, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. She loves the challenge of finding the perfect formulation or wording and derives much satisfaction from helping students take their academic writing up a notch.

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Vocabulary for Academic Success: Key Words and Phrases

This article covers the following areas –.

Academic success isn’t solely about understanding concepts or having a high IQ; it also leans heavily on one’s ability to communicate ideas and knowledge effectively. A strong academic vocabulary forms the foundation of coherent arguments, clear explanations, and insightful discussions.

This article will introduce many terms and phrases that are pivotal for students and academicians across disciplines. Understanding and using these terms can elevate your academic writing and discussions.

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Research Terminology

Engaging with or conducting research requires an understanding of specific terminology.

Argumentative Writing

Presenting arguments in academia needs a structured approach and specific vocabulary.

Literary Analysis

Dissecting literature requires a set of specialized terms to discuss nuances.

Historical Discussions

Historical discourses often utilize specific terminology to explain events and eras.

Mathematical Language

To elevate your vocabulary in just 30 days, I recommend to my students an informative, fun, and accessible guide to utilizing powerful language. Millions of individuals have enhanced their academics, job skills, and confidence by dedicating just fifteen minutes daily to the exercises and tests of 30 Days to a More Powerful Vocabulary (Amazon Link) , a top-selling. It offers step-by-step methods to bolster language prowess, discover compelling words, and daily vocabulary enhancement with pronunciation guidance.

Sample Conversation Using Vocabulary for Academic Success

Situation: In a university coffee shop, Lisa and Kevin are talking about the importance of academic vocabulary in enhancing the quality of their research papers.

Kevin: That sounds interesting, Lisa. I’ve always felt that my academic writing could use some refinement. What terms did the article emphasize?

Lisa: It highlighted transition words like ‘however,’ ‘furthermore,’ and ‘consequently.’ It also discussed terms used to introduce evidence, like ‘for instance,’ ‘as illustrated by,’ and ‘according to.’

Lisa: Exactly! The article also mentioned the importance of words that show causation and contrast, which can help structure our arguments better and guide the reader through our thought process.

Navigating the world of academia becomes smoother with a robust vocabulary. By familiarizing yourself with these terms and phrases, you arm yourself with the tools necessary for clear, precise, and sophisticated communication in academic circles.

FAQ: Vocabulary for Academic Success

1. What is the significance of transition words in academic writing?

Transition words help guide readers through a text, ensuring that your arguments flow smoothly and are easy to follow.

2. Are phrases like ‘for instance’ and ‘as illustrated by’ interchangeable?

While they can often be used similarly, it’s essential to ensure that the phrase fits the context. Both are used to introduce examples, but their usage can vary based on sentence structure.

3. How do words showing causation enhance an argument?

Words like ‘because,’ ‘thus,’ and ‘hence’ indicate a cause-and-effect relationship, making the reasoning behind an argument clearer to the reader.

4. Why is contrasting vocabulary important?

Yes, over-reliance on certain phrases can make writing seem repetitive. It’s essential to strike a balance and use them where they genuinely add value.

Regular reading of academic journals, attending seminars, and using resources like academic vocabulary lists or thesauruses can help.

7. Are there specific words to avoid in academic writing?

A diverse vocabulary allows for more precise and nuanced expression, making arguments more compelling and the writing more engaging.

9. Are there tools to help refine academic vocabulary in writing?

10. How important is it to understand the context when using academic vocabulary?

Understanding context is crucial. Using sophisticated vocabulary incorrectly can confuse readers and weaken the credibility of your argument.

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• Vocabulary for Discussing Student Writing

The following “Elements of the Academic Essay” provide a possible vocabulary for commenting on student writing. Instructors in the Harvard College Writing Program tend to use some version of this vocabulary when talking about and commenting on student writing, so it’s likely that your students will be familiar with some of the terms and concepts below. Using these terms consistently when you comment on student writing will help your students see patterns in their own writing that might otherwise remain elusive to them. 

What the essay is about:

1. Thesis: your main insight or idea about a text or topic, and the main proposition that your essay demonstrates. It should be true but arguable; be limited enough in scope to be argued with available evidence; and get to the heart of the text or topic being analyzed (not be peripheral). It should be stated early and it should govern the whole essay. 

  Why it matters:

2. Question, Problem, or What’s at Stake: the context or situation that you establish for your argument at the start of your essay, making clear why someone might want to read an essay on this topic or need to hear your particular thesis argued (why your thesis isn't just obvious to all, why other theses might be less persuasive). In the introduction, it’s the moment where you establish “what’s at stake” in the essay, setting up a genuine problem, question, difficulty, over-simplification, misapprehension, dilemma, or violated expectation that an intelligent reader would really have.  

What the thesis is based on:

3. Evidence: the data — facts, examples, or details — that you refer to, quote, or summarize to support your thesis. There needs to be enough evidence to be persuasive; the right kind of evidence to support the thesis; a thorough consideration of evidence (with no obvious pieces of evidence overlooked); and sufficiently concrete evidence for the reader to trust. 

What you do with the evidence:

4. Analysis: the work of interpretation, of saying what the evidence means. Analysis is what you do with data when you go beyond observing or summarizing it: taking it apart, grappling with its details, drawing out the significance or implication not apparent to a superficial view. Analysis is what makes the writer feel present, as a thinking individual, in the essay. 

Evidence and analysis add up to. . .

5. Argument: the series of ideas that the essay lays out which, taken together, support the essay’s thesis. A successful argument will do more than reiterate the thesis, but rather make clear how each idea develops from the one before it (see “Structure,” #7 below). The argument should show you not only analyzing the evidence, but also reflecting on the ideas in other important ways: defining your terms (see #8 below) or assumptions; considering counter-argument — possible alternative arguments, or objections or problems, that a skeptical or resistant reader might raise; offering a qualification or limitation to the case you’ve made; incorporating any complications that arise, a way in which the case isn’t quite so simple as you’ve made it seem; drawing out an implication , often in the conclusion.

Where the evidence comes from:

6. Sources: texts (or persons), referred to, summarized, or quoted, that help a writer demonstrate the truth of his or her argument. In some arguments, there will be one central primary source. In others, sources can offer (a) factual information or data, (b) opinions or interpretation on your topic, (c) comparable versions of the things you are discussing, or (d) applicable general concepts.

How to organize the argument:

7. Structure: the sequence of an argument’s main sections or sub-topics, and the turning points between them. The sections should follow a logical order which is apparent to the reader. But it should also be a progressive order — they should have a direction of development or complication, not be simply a list of examples or series of restatements of the thesis ("Macbeth is ambitious: he's ambitious here; and he's ambitious here; and he's ambitious here, too; thus, Macbeth is ambitious"). In some arguments, especially longer ones, structure may be briefly announced or hinted at after the thesis, in a road-map or plan sentence.  

The argument is articulated in part through:

8. Key terms: the recurring terms or basic oppositions that an argument rests upon. An essay's key terms should be clear in their meaning and appear throughout; they should be appropriate for the subject (not unfair or too simple — a false or constraining opposition); and they should not be clichés or abstractions (e.g., "the evils of society"). These terms can imply certain assumptions — unstated beliefs about life, history, literature, reasoning, etc. The assumptions should bear logical inspection, and if arguable they should be explicitly acknowledged. 

You keep the reader clear along the way through:

9. Transitions and signposts: words that tie together the parts of an argument, by indicating how a new section, paragraph, or sentence follows from the one immediately previous (transitional words and phrases); and by offering “signposts” that recollect an earlier idea or section or the thesis itself, referring back to it either by explicit statement or by echoing earlier key words or resonant phrases. 

10. Orienting: brief bits of information, explanation, and summary that orient readers who aren’t expert in the subject, enabling them to follow the argument, such as: necessary introductory information about the text, author, or event; a brief summary of a text or passage about to be analyzed; pieces of information given along the way about passages, people, or events mentioned. 

Addressing your readers involves:

11. Stance: the implied relationship of you, the writer, to your readers and subject. Stance is defined by such features as style and tone (e.g., familiar or formal); the presence or absence of specialized language and knowledge; the amount of time spent orienting a general, non-expert reader; the use of scholarly conventions of format and style. Your stance should be established within the first few paragraphs of your essay, and should stay consistent.

12. Style: choices made at the word and sentence level that determine how an idea is stated. Besides adhering to the grammatical conventions of standard English, an essay's style needs to be clear and readable (not confusing, verbose, cryptic, etc.), expressive of the writer's intelligence and energetic interest in the subject (not bureaucratic or clichéd), and appropriate for its subject and audience. 

And last (or first):

13. Title: should both interest and inform, by giving the subject and focus of the essay as well as by helping readers see why this essay might be interesting to read.  

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Academic Phrases for Writing Introduction Section of a Research Paper

Overview |   Abstract   | Introduction | Literature Review | Materials & Methods | Results & Discussion | Conclusion & Future Work | Acknowledgements & Appendix

Introduction section comes after the abstract. Introduction section should provide the reader with a brief overview of your topic and the reasons for conducting research. The introduction is a perfect place to set the scene and make a good first impression. Regarding word count, introduction typically occupies 10-15% of your paper, for example, if the total word count of your paper is 3000, then you should aim for an introduction of around 600 words. It is often recommended that the introduction section of the paper is written after finishing the other sections of the paper. This is because it is difficult to figure out what exactly to put in the introduction section of the paper until you have seen the big picture. Sound very confident about your chosen subject area and back up your arguments with appropriate references. After reading the introduction, the reader must have a clear idea of what to expect from the rest of your research paper.

The introduction section of your research paper should include the following:

• General introduction
• Problem definition
• Gaps in the literature
• Problems solution
• Study motivation
• Aims & objectives
• Significance and advantages of your work

1. General introduction

Research on __ has a long tradition For decades, one of the most popular ideas in __ literature is the idea that __ Recent theoretical developments have revealed that __ A common strategy used to study __ is to __ This research constitutes a relatively new area which has emerged  from __ These approaches have been influential in the field because of __ In the past several decades, __ have played an important  role in __ There are growing appeals for __ This is the field of study that deals with __ Most of the theories of __ are however focused on explaining __ There are three major theoretical and conceptual frameworks for __ The field has gradually broadened as __ This field of study is sometimes referred as __ This has been widely adopted in the field of __ This thesis considers the field of __ as the main subject of its study One of the major topics to be investigated in this field is __ This is now a mature field which is now being spun out into commercial applications __ This field is maturing, with a wealth of well-understood methods and algorithms __ This field closely follows the paradigm of __ The field has met with great success in many problems __ The field only really took off in the late __ as it became more accessible to __ This is not particularly new and has been used for many years in the field of __ This field closely follows the paradigm of __ Widely considered to be a good way to __ This has been widely adopted in the field of __ This is more widely used at the time of __ This phenomenon has been widely observed A common technique is to __ This is a technique common in __ There are several common kinds of __

2. Problem definition

This seems to be a common problem in __ This leads to myriad problems in __ The main problem is that __ There is a further problem with __ One primary problem with __ is that __ The methods are not without their problems as will be discussed in __ The foremost problems are the facts that __ This makes up for the problem of __ This seems to be a common problem in __ This is a complex problem and to simplify it requires __ A challenging problem which arises in this domain is __ These problems are difficult to handle __ This is typically a complex problem __ A well-known problem with __  is that it does not take into account the __ One of the problems is that it considers only the __ The key problem with this technique is __ It is usually an ill-posed problem in the case of __ This problem is well-posed and does not require to impose __ This appears as a more straightforward problem compared to the __ This turns out to be even more problematic because __ The problem with such an implementation is that __ This poses some problems when carrying out the __ This problem  has attracted more attention in the field of __ This is a basic chicken-and-egg problem because __ Unfortunately, this approach results in problems related to __ These constraints make the problem difficult to __ Most of the research in this field is aimed at solving this problem. This remains an open problem in the area. This problem has received substantial interest. These examples highlight the problem that __ The main practical problem that confronts us is __

3. Gaps in literature

  There is no previous research using __ approach. As far as we know, no previous research has investigated __ There has been less previous evidence for __ Other studies have failed to __ To our knowledge, no study has yielded __ No study to date has examined __ Only a few studies have shown __ However, __ has rarely been studied directly. Moreover, few studies have focussed on __ In particular no study, to our knowledge, has considered __

4. Problems solution

One way to overcome these problems is to __ There are many alternative methods are available for solving these problems. In order to rectify the problem of __ A solution to this problem is proposed in __ One approach to solve this problem involves the use of __ An alternative approach to the problem is __ This can be applied to solve these problems. A number of works have shown that this problem can be overcome by using __ A large number of alternative approaches have been developed over the last few decades to __ To overcome this problem, in the next section we demonstrate __ One way to overcome this problem is to __ To overcome this problem, some approaches have been made __ One way of recovering from this problem could be to __ This has been proposed to surmount the problems caused by __ A different approach to the traditional problem is given in __ A whole range of different approaches to the problem are available. These techniques have potential to solve contemporary problems in __ We should tailor specific solutions to specific problems __ The standard solution to the problem is based on __ The solution proposed here addresses only the problem of __ There are techniques that have been developed to solve this problem __ This problem is usually overcome by __ There have been several attempts to solve the problem __ There exist many methods for dealing with this problem __ Broadly speaking, the problem can be addressed by __ One of the simplest ways of tackling this problem is __ This problem has been largely studied and many viable solutions have been found. In general, this problem can be tackled in two different ways. Other approaches have been shown to cope with the problem more efficiently. We will review the main approaches to solve this problem. Recently, a more general solution has been proposed for this problem. Both these works provide a solution to the problem. Recent methods focus on overcoming the problems by proposing different schemes for __ This strategy is not uncommon in this kind of problems. We can apply our algorithm to solve this difficult problem. This is how the problem can be tackled __ We have developed this generic method to solve a variety of problems. We will now demonstrate our method on some specific problems. Here we solve several problems simultaneously. We have undergone a rethinking of the problem by __ A possible solution to the problem at hand is __ It is clear that the problem could be easily tackled by __

5. Study motivation

It is of interest to know whether __  still hold true. It would be of special interest to__ We therefore analyzed __ and investigated whether __ For this study, it was of interest to investigate __ We investigated whether __ can be partly explained by __ To examine the impact of __, we tested __ We have investigated the effect of __ We characterize different aspects of __ One way to investigate __ was to __ A new approach is therefore needed for __ To illuminate this uncharted area, we examined __

6. Aims & objectives

The aim is to develop more sophisticated methods for __ The aim of this work is to develop __ The aims in this chapter are twofold: First __, Second __ For our first goal, we focus on two problems __ The aim here is to investigate __ The overall goal of this work was to __ This project aims to develop an overarching framework to __ The aim of the experiment is to compare __ The ultimate goal is to produce a __ The overall goal of this thesis was to pursue __ After defining the problem we explain the goals of the thesis. With this aim in mind, in this paper we present a new method for __ Our research aims at finding a solution for this challenging problem of  __ There is no overall goal, apart from __ We examine some previous work and propose a new method for __ There are too many simultaneous goals making it difficult to __ One of the major aims of this work was to create __ The main objective is to investigate methods for improving __ The objectives can be restated in the light of __ The objective is to devise and implement a system for __ The objectives were partially met by developing a method to __ The objective is to demonstrate the feasibility of __ One of the objectives is to improve the __

7. Significance and advantages of your work

This thesis documents several key contributions made to the fields of __ This thesis has made a number of significant contributions to the field of __ The contributions made here have wide applicability. The contributions made should be of wide interest. The first main contribution proposed in this field is a __ The contributions of this work are presented as follows: __ The main achievements, including contributions to the field can be summarised as follows: __ We summarize the main contributions of this thesis. The key contribution of this work is the solution it provides __ It has numerous advantages as explained here __ It has significant benefits in terms of __ There is a clear advantage in following the methods of __ This has particular advantages over other __ All of these advantages make it particularly valuable in __ One of the primary benefits of this algorithm is __ This gives a significant advantage because __ These point out the advantages and practicability of __ One of the key benefits of the algorithm is __ The main advantage compared to previous method is __ This present some practical advantages. The main advantage is the simplified pattern. One practical advantage of the method is that it can be used in __ The advantage becomes all the more significant when __ In comparison with other techniques, this method has the advantage of __ The most important advantage of this method is that it can perform very well in __ It yielded significant speed advantages when __ The benefit of using the __ is expected to __ The main advantage is that we are able to __ To give some idea of the benefits of this method __ The additional advantage of using this method is that it results in __ This is an important advantage of this algorithm __ These are the main advantages of this method.

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Te Kura Tātari Reo

School of --> school of linguistics and applied language studies, vocabulary research topics, vocabulary research topics for assignment, project, or thesis work.

These suggestions are organised according to the chapters and sections of the chapters in Learning Vocabulary in another Language .

Chapter 1: The goals of vocabulary learning

• Analyse a technical dictionary to see how many words it contains, and what types of words it contains. Compare the results with a corpus study.
• Examine the vocabulary load of your learners' textbooks.
• Develop a procedure for quickly assessing the coverage of high frequency words in text books.
• Make a replacement for the GSL.
• Prepare a low frequency word list taking account of range.
• Prepare a standardised graded reader list dividing the most frequent 3,000 word families into levels.
• Use the Range program to develop a high frequency word list for spoken language.

Chapter 2: Knowing a word

• Design a test to investigate the degree to which learners of English have control of important spelling rules.
• Investigate the qualitative differences between receptive and productive vocabulary knowledge.
• Classify and test proper nouns to see what categories can be assumed to provide minimal learning burden when looking at the vocabulary load of texts.

Chapter 3: Teaching and explaining vocabulary

• Thoroughly examine learners using a particular type of activity to see if the process examination (goals, conditions, signs and features) is confirmed by a product examination (measured learning outcomes).
• Experimentally test the differing effects of noticing, retrieving, and generating.
• Replicate Joe's (1998) study of the differing effects of differing degrees of generating.
• What unique information do different techniques add to word knowledge? What common information do they add?
• When is the best time for direct teaching to occur in the learning of a word - before or after gaining meaning focused experience?
• The forms and occurrences of definitions. The work on the different kinds of definition seems to have been thoroughly done, but it has focused only on limited areas of academic discourse. Bramki and Williams (1984) only looked at one writer's use of lexical familiarisation devices. Flowerdew (1992) looked at Biology and Chemistry lectures. There is scope for widening the data base.
• The effects of definition types on comprehension and learning. Is there a relationship between the different types of definitions as revealed in the corpus studies of Bramki and Williams (1984) and Flowerdew (1992) and learners' understanding of these definitions and learning from them? There are no studies of second language learners' skill in recognising these definitions let alone the understanding that comes from them.
• As well as looking at the effect of definitions, it would be useful to examine learners' skill. What range of skill do learners show in dealing with definitions? What aspects of the skill need attention? What diagnostic tests are most effective in showing degree of control of the skill? What kinds of training are effective in developing the skill?
• Write a comparative review of several CAVL programs.
• Use a CAVL program to evaluate the effect on learning of meeting the same item in different contexts.
• Determine the factors influencing incidental vocabulary learning by using a message focused computer game.

Chapter 4: Vocabulary and listening and speaking

• Compare the effects of types of defining (L1 or L2) on vocabulary learning while listening to a story.
• Look at the incidence of academic vocabulary in university lectures. Is it as common as in written academic texts? Do lectures contain other sources of vocabulary difficulty, for example through the use of examples?
• How does learners' focus of attention change as a text is listened to several times? Where does vocabulary fit in this range of focuses of attention?
• Does adding a role play feature to a task result in more generative use? That is, does it cause more changes to the written input?
• Analyse examples of semantic mapping to show the ways teachers use to encourage dialogue and participation. Make an observation checklist to grade semantic mapping performances.
• Do a corpus study to find the vocabulary which is much more frequent in certain spoken registers than it is in written registers.

Chapter 5: Vocabulary and reading and writing

• Do different kinds of learning occur from reading compared with learning from different kinds of exercises?
• Is the Lexical Frequency Profile of a text an effective measure of the readability of the text for ESL learners?
• Evaluate and investigate a reading based vocabulary activity for its effect on vocabulary learning and use.
• Honeyfield (1977) claims that simplified reading texts distort normal language use. Research this claim looking at a range of language use features including collocation and information density.
• Do simplified, elaborated and easified texts have similar effects on comprehension and vocabulary learning?
• How can vocabulary learning from graded readers be optimized?
• Experimentally test writing tasks to see what needs to occur to quickly enrich learners' written productive vocabulary.
• Test the effect of richness of vocabulary use on teachers' assessment of ESL learners' writing.
• Design and trial a checklist to guide teachers' response to vocabulary use in writing.

Chapter 6: Specialised uses of vocabulary

• What are the general discourse functions of academic vocabulary. For example, it may be interesting to take an academic function, like defining or referring to previous research, and see what role academic vocabulary plays in this.
• Do particular academic words behave differently in different subject areas? That is, does their meaning change? Do they have different collocates? This research would confirm or question the value of courses for academic purposes for students from a variety of disciplines, and would suggest how attention could be most usefully directed towards academic vocabulary.
• How much is the academic vocabulary parallelled by high frequency words. That is, is the academic vocabulary just a more formal version of part of the most frequent 2,000 words, or does it add new meanings?
• Compare several experimental reports to see if the same academic vocabulary occurs in the same parts of the reports. For example, do the method sections use a similar set of vocabulary which is different from the results section?
• Look at learners' written work to see what vocabulary discourse features are not properly used.

Chapter 7: Vocabulary learning strategies and guessing from context

• Are some vocabulary learning strategies superior to others?
• Develop a taxonomy for evaluating strategy use that considers both type of strategies used and the quality of their use.
• Evaluate the validity of a questionnaire approach to investigating strategy use.
• Experimentally check Haastrup's idea that bottom up guessing results in more vocabulary learning than top down guessing which works from a lot of background knowledge.
• What aspects of word knowledge are learned by guessing from context?
• What difficulties do homographs cause for guessing from context.? That is, is it harder to guess a new meaning for a familiar form that already has a different associated meaning?

Chapter 8: Word study strategies

• Devise a test of receptive knowledge of important derivational affixes for non-native speakers of English. Carroll's (1940) format could be a useful model. Make sure the test is reliable, valid and practical and would have a positive washback effect.
• Examine learners' written work to determine if complex words are deliberately avoided.
• Design an experiment to see what aspects of vocabulary knowledge are learned by dictionary use.
• Design and check a diagnostic test of learners' dictionary use skills.
• What additional information is provided by a sentence context?
• How well does direct learning transfer to normal language use?
• What is the effect of training on improving learning from word cards?

Chapter 9: Chunking and collocation

• Develop a list of frequent collocations using well defined and carefully described criteria.
• Look for evidence of unanalysed chunks in the language production of native speakers and non-native speakers.

Chapter 10: Testing

• Get learners to sit a yes/no test and then go through their wrong answers on non-words to examine the reasons why they said they knew the non-words (Paul, Stallman and O'Rourke, 1990).
• Compare multiple choice items containing L1 choices with items containing L2 choices.
• Devise a well based measure of total vocabulary size for non-native speakers.
• Measure the pattern of native speaker and ESL non-native speaker vocabulary growth.

Chapter 11: Designing the vocabulary component of a language course

• Design a needs analysis questionnaire to determine vocabulary needs outside the high frequency general service vocabulary.
• Design an evaluation form for evaluating the vocabulary component of a course.
• Develop a program for helping learners become autonomous vocabulary learners. Justify your decisions.
• Develop means of investigating the degree to which learners are autonomous in their vocabulary learning.

Learn words with Flashcards and other activities

Other learning activities, teaching tools, full list of words from this list:.

• signifier the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something Stillness (the image) as the signifier of culture The wanderer as signifier of the primal Stills: When speaking in film terminology, Photographs are referred to as ‘Stills’, they are a fragment: a truncated, shortened, cut, condensed, reduced, abridged or curtailed element of the whole.
• factuality the quality of being actual or based on fact It happened, but the “truth value” or “ factuality ” is questionable at best.
• recalculate calculate anew There is no such thing as bad news… just new information, Recalculate .
• referent something referred to; the object of a reference I am interested in using that stage, the stage of photography; to not only tell a story but also to refer back to the medium as a metaphor for life’s theatricality and as a central referent to humanities ephemeral nature and inevitable doom.
• theater of the absurd plays stressing the irrational or illogical aspects of life, usually to show that modern life is pointless Research - Artists In Dialogue: In my research I have continually found references to both theater and film: Particularly, the theater of the absurd and European art cinema.
• space-time continuum the four-dimensional coordinate system (3 dimensions of space and 1 of time) in which physical events are located Through the total disrespect of the space-time continuum (A woman watches as her granddaughter reads her diary) they embrace the aporia educing effects of the contemporary image pandemonium of culture.
• theatricality an artificial and mannered quality I am interested in using that stage, the stage of photography; to not only tell a story but also to refer back to the medium as a metaphor for life’s theatricality and as a central referent to humanities ephemeral nature and inevitable doom.
• photography the process of producing images of objects on photosensitive surfaces The majority of photographic theorists today agree that photography has a “that-has-been” quality of truth.
• juxtapose place side by side Transience: I juxtapose that stillness (the stillness of the photographic medium) with the primal representation of the walker, the wanderer.
• cotton candy a candy made by spinning sugar that has been boiled to a high temperature The clouds were puffy and looked like something sweet to eat, like cotton candy from the carnival that comes once a year to the SaveMart parking lot.
• Reno a city in western Nevada at the foot of the Sierra Nevada Mountains; known for gambling casinos and easy divorce and remarriage But I can’t see her now I just see the street sign ‘Welcome to Reno , Nevada!’
• transience the attribute of being brief or fleeting Transience : I juxtapose that stillness (the stillness of the photographic medium) with the primal representation of the walker, the wanderer.
• educe construe a meaning or elicit a principle Through the total disrespect of the space-time continuum (A woman watches as her granddaughter reads her diary) they embrace the aporia educing effects of the contemporary image pandemonium of culture.
• truncate make shorter as if by cutting off Stillness (the image) as the signifier of culture The wanderer as signifier of the primal Stills: When speaking in film terminology, Photographs are referred to as ‘Stills’, they are a fragment: a truncated , shortened, cut, condensed, reduced, abridged or curtailed element of the whole.
• Nevada a state in the southwestern United States But I can’t see her now I just see the street sign ‘Welcome to Reno, Nevada !’
• blacktop a black bituminous material used for paving roads or other areas; usually spread over crushed rock In this place I don’t see the sweat of the jackrabbit as he scurries through the hard, beaten landscape… the clearing in front of him a blacktop road… his grave splayed out in front of him… and he, like us, hopping ignorantly toward it.
• street sign a sign visible from the street But I can’t see her now I just see the street sign ‘Welcome to Reno, Nevada!’
• space-time the four-dimensional coordinate system (3 dimensions of space and 1 of time) in which physical events are located Through the total disrespect of the space-time continuum (A woman watches as her granddaughter reads her diary) they embrace the aporia educing effects of the contemporary image pandemonium of culture.
• jackrabbit large hare of western North America In this place I don’t see the sweat of the jackrabbit as he scurries through the hard, beaten landscape… the clearing in front of him a blacktop road… his grave splayed out in front of him… and he, like us, hopping ignorantly toward it.
• primal having existed from the beginning Stillness (the image) as the signifier of culture The wanderer as signifier of the primal Stills: When speaking in film terminology, Photographs are referred to as ‘Stills’, they are a fragment: a truncated, shortened, cut, condensed, reduced, abridged or curtailed element of the whole.
• unfixed not firmly placed or set or fastened Staged, unfixed , without time or place, they present a diaristic projection of narrative.
• malt liquor a lager of high alcohol content Eggs over easy, bacon, hash browns, malt liquor and swisher sweets cigarettes… A woman passes me on the street.
• archive a depository containing historical records and documents Methodology, Research and the Archive Methodology: I begin my process with what I call photographic sketches: discoveries, ideas, imaginings; aesthetic explorations… images of place.
• postmodern of or relating to postmodernism Postmodern asserts that there is a multitude of “selves” however, it does not account for the primal: That element in us with resists culture, the uncontrollable, unpredictable, unknowable in us.
• inner ear a complex system of interconnecting cavities The Otolith Group derives their name from the structure in the inner ear , which establishes our sense of gravity and orientation.
• existentialism a philosophy that assumes that people are entirely free Historically the theater of the absurd is tied to the philosophy of Existentialism and Absurdism .
• framing a framework that supports and protects a picture or a mirror As a photographer, I frame the world… and by framing it whether consciously or unconsciously I am changing it, constructing it.
• continuum an extent in which no part is distinct from adjacent parts Through the total disrespect of the space-time continuum (A woman watches as her granddaughter reads her diary) they embrace the aporia educing effects of the contemporary image pandemonium of culture.
• in essence with regard to fundamentals although not concerning details In essence , the act of framing is an act of staging.
• photographic relating to photography or obtained by using photography The majority of photographic theorists today agree that photography has a “that-has-been” quality of truth.
• Tiresias (Greek mythology) the blind prophet of Thebes who revealed to Oedipus that Oedipus had murdered his father and married his mother She may be Tiresias , the blind prophet of history who lived as a woman for seven years or she may be simply a woman: waiting, playing solitaire, as expectant as the rest of us.
• untitled not of the nobility Philosophical and Theoretical: If we accept that the “self” is neither a genetic physical reality nor a psychological reality, if we accept instead that it is a cultural construct or a series of cultural constructs as is postulated by post-modernist theory than photography is the perfect surface medium and is used most effectively to demonstrate this by such artist as: Cindy Sherman in her ‘ Untitled Film Stills’ .
• oscillate move or swing from side to side regularly My images constitutes a loose poetic narrative which oscillates between the sacred and the profane, not the performance of life but the waiting, walking, wandering expectations of your own life’s performance.
• liquor store a store that sells alcoholic beverages for consumption elsewhere His brother worked at Friends Liquor store and parked cars at the Silver Legacy.
• has-been someone who is no longer popular The majority of photographic theorists today agree that photography has a “that- has-been ” quality of truth.
• splay widen or spread apart In this place I don’t see the sweat of the jackrabbit as he scurries through the hard, beaten landscape… the clearing in front of him a blacktop road… his grave splayed out in front of him… and he, like us, hopping ignorantly toward it.
• parking lot a lot where cars are parked The old man across the parking lot is getting out of his truck.
• Persephone daughter of Zeus and Demeter Perhaps the woman with the cage is Persephone ’s mother searching for her lost daughter.
• image a visual representation produced on a surface Taking seriously this idea of photography as a stage I write my script in images : an existential and absurdist inspired Operatic anti-epic of place, of Reno… Reno, Nevada.
• culture all the knowledge and values shared by a society They are the blank, expectant canvas awaiting cultures projections.
• take root become settled or established and stable in one's residence or life style Perhaps we are Radicants ; taking root in the ground and histories we find ourselves in.
• the absurd a situation in which life seems irrational and meaningless Research - Artists In Dialogue: In my research I have continually found references to both theater and film: Particularly, the theater of the absurd and European art cinema.
• resistant disposed to or engaged in defiance of established authority The part of us that is resistant to culture, resistant to the theatricality of images.
• projection the act of expelling or ejecting Reno, Nevada An investigation into place: as construct, as presentation and as projection .
• sculpt create by shaping stone or wood or other material But I never said “I remember … I’m making a life, sculpting it from circumstance.”
• malleable capable of being shaped or bent ‘Altamodernism’ or the New Modernism of Nicolas Bourriaud underscores that multitude but makes allowances for what is the constant primal impulse of taking root while at the same time being mobile, changeable, malleable .
• truncated cut short in duration Stillness (the image) as the signifier of culture The wanderer as signifier of the primal Stills: When speaking in film terminology, Photographs are referred to as ‘Stills’, they are a fragment: a truncated , shortened, cut, condensed, reduced, abridged or curtailed element of the whole.
• recreate make anew In essence, every time we move we recreate our own history and the history of place.
• stillness tranquil silence Stillness (the image) as the signifier of culture The wanderer as signifier of the primal Stills: When speaking in film terminology, Photographs are referred to as ‘Stills’, they are a fragment: a truncated, shortened, cut, condensed, reduced, abridged or curtailed element of the whole.
• existential relating to or dealing with the state of being Taking seriously this idea of photography as a stage I write my script in images: an existential and absurdist inspired Operatic anti-epic of place, of Reno… Reno, Nevada.
• solitaire a card game played by one person She may be Tiresias, the blind prophet of history who lived as a woman for seven years or she may be simply a woman: waiting, playing solitaire , as expectant as the rest of us.
• storyteller someone who tells a story We are storytellers not fact tellers, we may be truth tellers but that is also subject to interpretation.
• theater a building where performances can be presented A live theater In a desert dream … A memory place, between In a town that knows no time Machines are draped in plastic, curtains are drawn, doors closed or left open, An indomitable fog has settled in for an endless winter of waiting.
• construct make by combining materials and parts Reno, Nevada An investigation into place: as construct , as presentation and as projection.
• science fiction genre involving the imagined impact of technology on society She uses narrative juxtapositions that blur the line between fact and fiction, history and science fiction .
• abridge lessen, diminish, or curtail Stillness (the image) as the signifier of culture The wanderer as signifier of the primal Stills: When speaking in film terminology, Photographs are referred to as ‘Stills’, they are a fragment: a truncated, shortened, cut, condensed, reduced, abridged or curtailed element of the whole.
• wanderer someone who leads a wandering unsettled life Stillness (the image) as the signifier of culture The wanderer as signifier of the primal Stills: When speaking in film terminology, Photographs are referred to as ‘Stills’, they are a fragment: a truncated, shortened, cut, condensed, reduced, abridged or curtailed element of the whole.
• narrative an account that tells the particulars of an act or event My images constitutes a loose poetic narrative which oscillates between the sacred and the profane, not the performance of life but the waiting, walking, wandering expectations of your own life’s performance.
• performance the act of doing something successfully I follow along the road dutifully all the while knowing these frames are stages, plateaus of performance .
• stilted artificially formal or stiff They are either in full presentation stance, in mid-step (the awkward posture of stilted movement) or in process performance (entering a scene in which they will present a particular pose).
• unknowable not knowable Postmodern asserts that there is a multitude of “selves” however, it does not account for the primal: That element in us with resists culture, the uncontrollable, unpredictable, unknowable in us.
• factual existing in fact That being the case, the factual claims of ‘documentary’ in photography are no longer valid.
• irreverence a mental attitude showing lack of due respect Sage is the color of starvation, of withering away in an arid place, of tragedy and irreverence , of the sheer an utter willingness to suffer in order to live …Sage is the color of a cloudy day in Nevada ______________________________________________ Stack the chips, shuffle the deck and deal me the queen of back luck love.
• parking the act of maneuvering a vehicle into a location where it can be left temporarily The old man across the parking lot is getting out of his truck.
• script something written by hand I watch the world as it scripts itself, presenting progress because it assures and reassures audience.
• bowling a game in which a large ball is rolled at a group of objects May be she was at the bowling ally the night Joshua crashed his car.
• Atlantis according to legend, an island in the Atlantic Ocean that Plato said was swallowed by an earthquake It was like a year ago, I was cocktailing graveyard at the Atlantis and I saw him there, he was in town for the national bowling competition.
• expectant marked by eager anticipation They are the blank, expectant canvas awaiting cultures projections.
• presentation the act of formally giving something, as a prize Reno, Nevada An investigation into place: as construct, as presentation and as projection.
• modernism practices typical of contemporary life or thought ‘Altamodernism’ or the New Modernism of Nicolas Bourriaud underscores that multitude but makes allowances for what is the constant primal impulse of taking root while at the same time being mobile, changeable, malleable.
• sage a mentor in spiritual and philosophical topics The winter smells like solitude and I wander nameless in a misty fog… sage stained memories and desert rocks crutch under my feet.
• ignorantly in ignorance; in an ignorant manner In this place I don’t see the sweat of the jackrabbit as he scurries through the hard, beaten landscape… the clearing in front of him a blacktop road… his grave splayed out in front of him… and he, like us, hopping ignorantly toward it.
• etcetera additional unspecified odds and ends; more of the same I build on those images through reading fictional novels, non-fiction historical texts, seeking out pop cultural references, film, television, music etcetera and mining the archive.
• underscore give extra weight to ‘Altamodernism’ or the New Modernism of Nicolas Bourriaud underscores that multitude but makes allowances for what is the constant primal impulse of taking root while at the same time being mobile, changeable, malleable.
• condense cause a gas or vapor to change into a liquid Stillness (the image) as the signifier of culture The wanderer as signifier of the primal Stills: When speaking in film terminology, Photographs are referred to as ‘Stills’, they are a fragment: a truncated, shortened, cut, condensed , reduced, abridged or curtailed element of the whole.
• terminology a system of words used to name things in a discipline Stillness (the image) as the signifier of culture The wanderer as signifier of the primal Stills: When speaking in film terminology , Photographs are referred to as ‘Stills’, they are a fragment: a truncated, shortened, cut, condensed, reduced, abridged or curtailed element of the whole.
• seer an observer who perceives visually Work Samples and Examples: In the opening image, the theater is presented back to the audience, we are the audience of the image, looking at the theater’s audience, peopled by actors who are in turn waiting for themselves to enter the stage, they are waiting for their own play to begin…Waiting for their script to be written, their story to be laid out…for god, fate, history, or the seer to do its work.
• coney any of several small ungulate mammals of Africa and Asia with rodent-like incisors and feet with hooflike toes I think after that he was at Coney Island.
• juxtaposition the act of positioning close together She uses narrative juxtapositions that blur the line between fact and fiction, history and science fiction.
• etched cut or impressed into a surface We etched them in sand and watch as they washed away.
• orientation the act of determining one's position The Otolith Group derives their name from the structure in the inner ear, which establishes our sense of gravity and orientation .
• humanities studies intended to provide general knowledge and skills I am interested in using that stage, the stage of photography; to not only tell a story but also to refer back to the medium as a metaphor for life’s theatricality and as a central referent to humanities ephemeral nature and inevitable doom.
• puffy being puffed out; used of hair style or clothing The clouds were puffy and looked like something sweet to eat, like cotton candy from the carnival that comes once a year to the SaveMart parking lot.
• postulate maintain or assert Philosophical and Theoretical: If we accept that the “self” is neither a genetic physical reality nor a psychological reality, if we accept instead that it is a cultural construct or a series of cultural constructs as is postulated by post-modernist theory than photography is the perfect surface medium and is used most effectively to demonstrate this by such artist as: Cindy Sherman in her ‘Untitled Film Stills’ .
• chevy annoy continually or chronically The fat lady down the street leans against her Chevy el Camino.
• cultural relating to the shared knowledge and values of a society I build on those images through reading fictional novels, non-fiction historical texts, seeking out pop cultural references, film, television, music etcetera and mining the archive.
• teller someone who narrates or recounts a story We are storytellers not fact tellers , we may be truth tellers but that is also subject to interpretation.
• pandemonium a state of extreme confusion and disorder Through the total disrespect of the space-time continuum (A woman watches as her granddaughter reads her diary) they embrace the aporia educing effects of the contemporary image pandemonium of culture.
• muted softened in tone The operatics of life: muted , howling screams are caught in a throat with no voice.
• modernist an artist who makes a deliberate break with previous styles Philosophical and Theoretical: If we accept that the “self” is neither a genetic physical reality nor a psychological reality, if we accept instead that it is a cultural construct or a series of cultural constructs as is postulated by post- modernist theory than photography is the perfect surface medium and is used most effectively to demonstrate this by such artist as: Cindy Sherman in her ‘Untitled Film Stills’ .
• nomadic migratory Exploring our nomadic state by signification and multiplication, I boldly state “we are all wanderers now”.
• changeable subject to change ‘Altamodernism’ or the New Modernism of Nicolas Bourriaud underscores that multitude but makes allowances for what is the constant primal impulse of taking root while at the same time being mobile, changeable , malleable.
• falsify make false by mutilation or addition In Teignmouth Electron: a sort of mixed historo-future she is using the true story of the epic failure of a man, Donald Crowhurst, who’s failed round the world sailing expedition ended in a falsified log and suicide at sea.
• poetic of or relating to verse, or literature in metrical form My images constitutes a loose poetic narrative which oscillates between the sacred and the profane, not the performance of life but the waiting, walking, wandering expectations of your own life’s performance.
• overlay put something on top of something else The body or “self” is overlaid with culture’s construct, it becomes a surface which receives and projects images that culture provides.
• abridged shortened by condensing or rewriting Stillness (the image) as the signifier of culture The wanderer as signifier of the primal Stills: When speaking in film terminology, Photographs are referred to as ‘Stills’, they are a fragment: a truncated, shortened, cut, condensed, reduced, abridged or curtailed element of the whole.
• filmmaker a producer of motion pictures Tacita Dean, British artist and filmmaker , creates 16mm films with loose poetic narratives.
• frame the internal structure that gives an artifact its shape I follow along the road dutifully all the while knowing these frames are stages, plateaus of performance.
• corvette a highly maneuverable escort warship He got caught smoking in some rich guy’s corvette .
• real world the practical world as opposed to the academic world ___________________________________________ Facades crash down of the real world I built my life around.
• Elvis street name for lysergic acid diethylamide She is selling her velvet painting again: Elvis , horses, kittens and George W. Bush.
• stage any distinct time period in a sequence of events I follow along the road dutifully all the while knowing these frames are stages , plateaus of performance.
• dad an informal term for a father ___________________________________________ The path of history is stretched out in front of me and it smells like breakfast, the kind mom use to cook before dad went away.
• film a series of moving pictures that tells a story Stillness (the image) as the signifier of culture The wanderer as signifier of the primal Stills: When speaking in film terminology, Photographs are referred to as ‘Stills’, they are a fragment: a truncated, shortened, cut, condensed, reduced, abridged or curtailed element of the whole.
• ephemeral anything short-lived, as an insect that lives only for a day I am interested in using that stage, the stage of photography; to not only tell a story but also to refer back to the medium as a metaphor for life’s theatricality and as a central referent to humanities ephemeral nature and inevitable doom.
• somewhere in or at or to some place I must have met her somewhere .
• unpredictable unknown in advance Postmodern asserts that there is a multitude of “selves” however, it does not account for the primal: That element in us with resists culture, the uncontrollable, unpredictable , unknowable in us.
• hash chopped meat mixed with potatoes and browned Eggs over easy, bacon, hash browns, malt liquor and swisher sweets cigarettes… A woman passes me on the street.
• exclude prevent from entering; shut out They also agree that by framing, photography is excluding and by excluding it is only representing partial truth and that partial truth is, in fact, wholly false.
• fog droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground A live theater In a desert dream … A memory place, between In a town that knows no time Machines are draped in plastic, curtains are drawn, doors closed or left open, An indomitable fog has settled in for an endless winter of waiting.
• fictional related to or involving imaginative literary work I build on those images through reading fictional novels, non-fiction historical texts, seeking out pop cultural references, film, television, music etcetera and mining the archive.
• dutifully out of a sense of duty; in a dutiful manner I follow along the road dutifully all the while knowing these frames are stages, plateaus of performance.
• waiting the act of waiting A live theater In a desert dream … A memory place, between In a town that knows no time Machines are draped in plastic, curtains are drawn, doors closed or left open, An indomitable fog has settled in for an endless winter of waiting .
• essence the choicest or most vital part of some idea or experience In essence , the act of framing is an act of staging.
• theorist someone who constructs hypotheses The majority of photographic theorists today agree that photography has a “that-has-been” quality of truth.
• parked that have been left His brother worked at Friends Liquor store and parked cars at the Silver Legacy.
• scurry move about or proceed hurriedly In this place I don’t see the sweat of the jackrabbit as he scurries through the hard, beaten landscape… the clearing in front of him a blacktop road… his grave splayed out in front of him… and he, like us, hopping ignorantly toward it.
• etch carve or cut a design or letters into We etched them in sand and watch as they washed away.
• operatic of or relating to or characteristic of opera Taking seriously this idea of photography as a stage I write my script in images: an existential and absurdist inspired Operatic anti-epic of place, of Reno… Reno, Nevada.
• walker a person who travels by foot Transience: I juxtapose that stillness (the stillness of the photographic medium) with the primal representation of the walker , the wanderer.
• editing putting something into acceptable form Later, back in the studio I begin editing and sequencing allowing the story to unfold.
• disrespect an expression of lack of regard Through the total disrespect of the space-time continuum (A woman watches as her granddaughter reads her diary) they embrace the aporia educing effects of the contemporary image pandemonium of culture.
• malt a cereal grain (usually barley) that is kiln-dried after having been germinated by soaking in water; used especially in brewing and distilling Eggs over easy, bacon, hash browns, malt liquor and swisher sweets cigarettes… A woman passes me on the street.
• staging a system of scaffolds In essence, the act of framing is an act of staging .
• fiction a literary work based on the imagination I build on those images through reading fictional novels, non- fiction historical texts, seeking out pop cultural references, film, television, music etcetera and mining the archive.
• uncontrollable incapable of being restrained or managed Postmodern asserts that there is a multitude of “selves” however, it does not account for the primal: That element in us with resists culture, the uncontrollable , unpredictable, unknowable in us.
• multiplication arithmetic operation determining the product of two numbers Exploring our nomadic state by signification and multiplication , I boldly state “we are all wanderers now”.
• relevant having a bearing on or connection with the subject at issue Silence, isolation, despair and carefully planned chaos are all elements of her work which I find relevant to my own.
• electron an elementary particle with negative charge In Teignmouth Electron : a sort of mixed historo-future she is using the true story of the epic failure of a man, Donald Crowhurst, who’s failed round the world sailing expedition ended in a falsified log and suicide at sea.
• stance a rationalized mental attitude They are either in full presentation stance , in mid-step (the awkward posture of stilted movement) or in process performance (entering a scene in which they will present a particular pose).
• absurd inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense Research - Artists In Dialogue: In my research I have continually found references to both theater and film: Particularly, the theater of the absurd and European art cinema.
• wash away remove by the application of water or other liquid and soap or some other cleaning agent We etched them in sand and watch as they washed away .
• epic a long narrative poem telling of a hero's deeds Taking seriously this idea of photography as a stage I write my script in images: an existential and absurdist inspired Operatic anti- epic of place, of Reno… Reno, Nevada.
• babe a very young child who has not yet begun to walk or talk ______________________________________________ It wasn’t always bad… Like that morning Patrick Mahony the 3rd called me a hot babe , he just said it to me ‘your one, hot babe’ and then he walked on… he didn’t even try and kiss me.
• anymore at the present or from now on; usually used with a negative The trees don’t have leaves anymore and I can’t smell the sewer since they changed the caps.
• reference the act of consulting I build on those images through reading fictional novels, non-fiction historical texts, seeking out pop cultural references , film, television, music etcetera and mining the archive.
• George W. Bush 43rd President of the United States She is selling her velvet painting again: Elvis, horses, kittens and George W. Bush .
• withering any weakening or degeneration Sage is the color of starvation, of withering away in an arid place, of tragedy and irreverence, of the sheer an utter willingness to suffer in order to live …Sage is the color of a cloudy day in Nevada ______________________________________________ Stack the chips, shuffle the deck and deal me the queen of back luck love.
• photograph a representation of a person or scene in the form of a print Photographs are lies, that-have-been.
• shuffle walk by dragging one's feet Sage is the color of starvation, of withering away in an arid place, of tragedy and irreverence, of the sheer an utter willingness to suffer in order to live …Sage is the color of a cloudy day in Nevada ______________________________________________ Stack the chips, shuffle the deck and deal me the queen of back luck love.
• exaggerate enlarge beyond bounds or the truth In this work I exaggerate stillness …especially as regards images of people.
• expectation belief about the future We walk, we wander, act, wait, stand… without expectation we perform for life.
• good day a farewell remark That was a good day .
• stunted inferior in size or quality They are actors, caught in a moment of presentation or stunted movement.
• wreckage the remaining parts of something that has been destroyed She does not tell his story but rather references it through the wreckage of his boat.
• partial being or affecting only a segment They also agree that by framing, photography is excluding and by excluding it is only representing partial truth and that partial truth is, in fact, wholly false.
• historically throughout the past Historically the theater of the absurd is tied to the philosophy of Existentialism and Absurdism .
• graveyard a tract of land used for burials It was like a year ago, I was cocktailing graveyard at the Atlantis and I saw him there, he was in town for the national bowling competition.
• reassure cause to feel confident I watch the world as it scripts itself, presenting progress because it assures and reassures audience.
• shortened cut short Stillness (the image) as the signifier of culture The wanderer as signifier of the primal Stills: When speaking in film terminology, Photographs are referred to as ‘Stills’, they are a fragment: a truncated, shortened , cut, condensed, reduced, abridged or curtailed element of the whole.
• history a record or narrative description of past events ___________________________________________ The path of history is stretched out in front of me and it smells like breakfast, the kind mom use to cook before dad went away.
• curtail terminate or abbreviate before its intended or proper end Stillness (the image) as the signifier of culture The wanderer as signifier of the primal Stills: When speaking in film terminology, Photographs are referred to as ‘Stills’, they are a fragment: a truncated, shortened, cut, condensed, reduced, abridged or curtailed element of the whole.
• dialogue a conversation between two persons Research - Artists In Dialogue : In my research I have continually found references to both theater and film: Particularly, the theater of the absurd and European art cinema.
• sewer a conduit that carries away waste water or surface water The trees don’t have leaves anymore and I can’t smell the sewer since they changed the caps.
• place a point located with respect to surface features of a region A live theater In a desert dream … A memory place , between In a town that knows no time Machines are draped in plastic, curtains are drawn, doors closed or left open, An indomitable fog has settled in for an endless winter of waiting.
• indomitable impossible to subdue A live theater In a desert dream … A memory place, between In a town that knows no time Machines are draped in plastic, curtains are drawn, doors closed or left open, An indomitable fog has settled in for an endless winter of waiting.
• historical of or relating to the study of recorded time I build on those images through reading fictional novels, non-fiction historical texts, seeking out pop cultural references, film, television, music etcetera and mining the archive.
• signification the message that is intended or expressed or signified Exploring our nomadic state by signification and multiplication, I boldly state “we are all wanderers now”.
• genetic relating to the study of heredity and variation in organisms Philosophical and Theoretical: If we accept that the “self” is neither a genetic physical reality nor a psychological reality, if we accept instead that it is a cultural construct or a series of cultural constructs as is postulated by post-modernist theory than photography is the perfect surface medium and is used most effectively to demonstrate this by such artist as: Cindy Sherman in her ‘Untitled Film Stills’ .
• arid lacking sufficient water or rainfall Sage is the color of starvation, of withering away in an arid place, of tragedy and irreverence, of the sheer an utter willingness to suffer in order to live …Sage is the color of a cloudy day in Nevada ______________________________________________ Stack the chips, shuffle the deck and deal me the queen of back luck love.
• Patrick Apostle and patron saint of Ireland ______________________________________________ It wasn’t always bad… Like that morning Patrick Mahony the 3rd called me a hot babe, he just said it to me ‘your one, hot babe’ and then he walked on… he didn’t even try and kiss me.
• audience a gathering of spectators or listeners at a performance I watch the world as it scripts itself, presenting progress because it assures and reassures audience .
• facade the front of a building ___________________________________________ Facades crash down of the real world I built my life around.
• park a piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area The old man across the parking lot is getting out of his truck.
• windy abounding in or exposed to the wind or breezes We were writing our dreams in the clouds on a windy day.
• turn around turn abruptly and face the other way, either physically or metaphorically Go forward, turn around , she’s here somewhere, she must be here...
• carnival a traveling show featuring rides and games The clouds were puffy and looked like something sweet to eat, like cotton candy from the carnival that comes once a year to the SaveMart parking lot.
• crutch a staff that fits under the armpit and supports body weight The winter smells like solitude and I wander nameless in a misty fog… sage stained memories and desert rocks crutch under my feet.
• medium the surrounding environment I am interested in using that stage, the stage of photography; to not only tell a story but also to refer back to the medium as a metaphor for life’s theatricality and as a central referent to humanities ephemeral nature and inevitable doom.
• granddaughter a female grandchild Through the total disrespect of the space-time continuum (A woman watches as her granddaughter reads her diary) they embrace the aporia educing effects of the contemporary image pandemonium of culture.
• wait stay in one place and anticipate or expect something A live theater In a desert dream … A memory place, between In a town that knows no time Machines are draped in plastic, curtains are drawn, doors closed or left open, An indomitable fog has settled in for an endless winter of waiting .
• smell the faculty that enables us to distinguish scents ___________________________________________ The path of history is stretched out in front of me and it smells like breakfast, the kind mom use to cook before dad went away.
• theoretical concerned with hypotheses and not practical considerations Philosophical and Theoretical : If we accept that the “self” is neither a genetic physical reality nor a psychological reality, if we accept instead that it is a cultural construct or a series of cultural constructs as is postulated by post-modernist theory than photography is the perfect surface medium and is used most effectively to demonstrate this by such artist as: Cindy Sherman in her ‘Untitled Film Stills’ .
• actor a performer in theater, television, or film Work Samples and Examples: In the opening image, the theater is presented back to the audience, we are the audience of the image, looking at the theater’s audience, peopled by actors who are in turn waiting for themselves to enter the stage, they are waiting for their own play to begin…Waiting for their script to be written, their story to be laid out…for god, fate, history, or the seer to do its work.
• draped covered in folds of cloth A live theater In a desert dream … A memory place, between In a town that knows no time Machines are draped in plastic, curtains are drawn, doors closed or left open, An indomitable fog has settled in for an endless winter of waiting.
• in front at or in the front ___________________________________________ The path of history is stretched out in front of me and it smells like breakfast, the kind mom use to cook before dad went away.
• today on this day as distinct from yesterday or tomorrow Someone in the downstairs apartment is singing show tunes, and I think, may be I’ll have a walk today .
• nameless being or having an unknown or unnamed source The winter smells like solitude and I wander nameless in a misty fog… sage stained memories and desert rocks crutch under my feet.
• consciously with awareness As a photographer, I frame the world… and by framing it whether consciously or unconsciously I am changing it, constructing it.
• research a seeking for knowledge Methodology, Research and the Archive Methodology: I begin my process with what I call photographic sketches: discoveries, ideas, imaginings; aesthetic explorations… images of place.
• peopled furnished with people Work Samples and Examples: In the opening image, the theater is presented back to the audience, we are the audience of the image, looking at the theater’s audience, peopled by actors who are in turn waiting for themselves to enter the stage, they are waiting for their own play to begin…Waiting for their script to be written, their story to be laid out…for god, fate, history, or the seer to do its work.
• bring together cause to become joined or linked The series Reno, Nevada is my first attempt at bringing together the literary and filmic traditions with still photography and in it I seek to add to the dialogue of the poetic absurd.
• staged deliberately arranged for effect Staged , unfixed, without time or place, they present a diaristic projection of narrative.
• documentary a film presenting the facts about a person or event That being the case, the factual claims of ‘ documentary ’ in photography are no longer valid.
• questionable subject to doubtful speculation It happened, but the “truth value” or “factuality” is questionable at best.
• loose not affixed My images constitutes a loose poetic narrative which oscillates between the sacred and the profane, not the performance of life but the waiting, walking, wandering expectations of your own life’s performance.
• seek out look for a specific person or thing I build on those images through reading fictional novels, non-fiction historical texts, seeking out pop cultural references, film, television, music etcetera and mining the archive.
• regrets a polite refusal of an invitation No regrets no expectations.
• liquor an alcoholic beverage that is distilled rather than fermented Eggs over easy, bacon, hash browns, malt liquor and swisher sweets cigarettes… A woman passes me on the street.
• kitten young domestic cat She is selling her velvet painting again: Elvis, horses, kittens and George W. Bush.
• cloudy full of or covered with clouds Sage is the color of starvation, of withering away in an arid place, of tragedy and irreverence, of the sheer an utter willingness to suffer in order to live …Sage is the color of a cloudy day in Nevada ______________________________________________ Stack the chips, shuffle the deck and deal me the queen of back luck love.
• drape the manner in which fabric hangs or falls A live theater In a desert dream … A memory place, between In a town that knows no time Machines are draped in plastic, curtains are drawn, doors closed or left open, An indomitable fog has settled in for an endless winter of waiting.
• mom informal terms for a mother ___________________________________________ The path of history is stretched out in front of me and it smells like breakfast, the kind mom use to cook before dad went away.
• profane grossly irreverent toward what is held to be sacred My images constitutes a loose poetic narrative which oscillates between the sacred and the profane , not the performance of life but the waiting, walking, wandering expectations of your own life’s performance.
• misty filled or abounding with fog The winter smells like solitude and I wander nameless in a misty fog… sage stained memories and desert rocks crutch under my feet.
• chips strips of potato fried in deep fat Sage is the color of starvation, of withering away in an arid place, of tragedy and irreverence, of the sheer an utter willingness to suffer in order to live …Sage is the color of a cloudy day in Nevada ______________________________________________ Stack the chips , shuffle the deck and deal me the queen of back luck love.
• metaphor a figure of speech that suggests a non-literal similarity I am interested in using that stage, the stage of photography; to not only tell a story but also to refer back to the medium as a metaphor for life’s theatricality and as a central referent to humanities ephemeral nature and inevitable doom.
• walk use one's feet to advance; advance by steps We walk , we wander, act, wait, stand… without expectation we perform for life.
• literal limited to the explicit meaning of a word or text I am not attempting to form a literal narrative but rather a loose gathering of signs, the historical now of a place.
• valid well grounded in logic or truth or having legal force That being the case, the factual claims of ‘documentary’ in photography are no longer valid .
• wander move or cause to move in a sinuous or circular course We walk, we wander , act, wait, stand… without expectation we perform for life.
• blur confuse or make unclear She uses narrative juxtapositions that blur the line between fact and fiction, history and science fiction.
• walking the act of traveling by foot But once, he saw me walking down 4th street and he picked me up.
• aesthetic characterized by an appreciation of beauty or good taste Methodology, Research and the Archive Methodology: I begin my process with what I call photographic sketches: discoveries, ideas, imaginings; aesthetic explorations… images of place.
• at best under the best of conditions It happened, but the “truth value” or “factuality” is questionable at best .
• time being the present occasion ‘Altamodernism’ or the New Modernism of Nicolas Bourriaud underscores that multitude but makes allowances for what is the constant primal impulse of taking root while at the same time being mobile, changeable, malleable.
• bowl a round vessel that is open at the top May be she was at the bowling ally the night Joshua crashed his car.
• perhaps by chance Sometime back, perhaps a day perhaps a century We stopped expecting the thing itself And learned to content ourselves with the effort.
• mobile moving or capable of moving readily ‘Altamodernism’ or the New Modernism of Nicolas Bourriaud underscores that multitude but makes allowances for what is the constant primal impulse of taking root while at the same time being mobile , changeable, malleable.
• whiskey a liquor made from fermented mash of grain Then us… in a car with windows down, drinking White Zin from a box because we were out of whiskey .
• Joshua (Old Testament) Moses' successor who led the Israelites into the Promised Land; best remembered for his destruction of Jericho May be she was at the bowling ally the night Joshua crashed his car.
• stunt check the growth or development of They are actors, caught in a moment of presentation or stunted movement.
• starvation a state of extreme hunger Sage is the color of starvation , of withering away in an arid place, of tragedy and irreverence, of the sheer an utter willingness to suffer in order to live …Sage is the color of a cloudy day in Nevada ______________________________________________ Stack the chips, shuffle the deck and deal me the queen of back luck love.
• multitude a large indefinite number Postmodern asserts that there is a multitude of “selves” however, it does not account for the primal: That element in us with resists culture, the uncontrollable, unpredictable, unknowable in us.
• plateau a relatively flat raised area of land I follow along the road dutifully all the while knowing these frames are stages, plateaus of performance.
• isolation the act of setting something apart from others Silence, isolation , despair and carefully planned chaos are all elements of her work which I find relevant to my own.
• element a substance that cannot be separated into simpler substances Stillness (the image) as the signifier of culture The wanderer as signifier of the primal Stills: When speaking in film terminology, Photographs are referred to as ‘Stills’, they are a fragment: a truncated, shortened, cut, condensed, reduced, abridged or curtailed element of the whole.
• chased a person who is being chased Driving as fast as we can and singing there ‘ain’t no devil, just god when he’s drunk’ we chased death, dared it to take us.
• willingness cheerful compliance Sage is the color of starvation, of withering away in an arid place, of tragedy and irreverence, of the sheer an utter willingness to suffer in order to live …Sage is the color of a cloudy day in Nevada ______________________________________________ Stack the chips, shuffle the deck and deal me the queen of back luck love.
• sequence a following of one thing after another in time Later, back in the studio I begin editing and sequencing allowing the story to unfold.
• crash break violently or noisily ___________________________________________ Facades crash down of the real world I built my life around.
• legacy a gift of personal property by will His brother worked at Friends Liquor store and parked cars at the Silver Legacy .
• howling a long loud emotional utterance The operatics of life: muted, howling screams are caught in a throat with no voice.
• bacon back and sides of a hog salted and dried or smoked Eggs over easy, bacon , hash browns, malt liquor and swisher sweets cigarettes… A woman passes me on the street.
• sometime at some indefinite or unstated time Sometime back, perhaps a day perhaps a century We stopped expecting the thing itself And learned to content ourselves with the effort.
• lean against rest on for support The fat lady down the street leans against her Chevy el Camino.
• artist person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination Philosophical and Theoretical: If we accept that the “self” is neither a genetic physical reality nor a psychological reality, if we accept instead that it is a cultural construct or a series of cultural constructs as is postulated by post-modernist theory than photography is the perfect surface medium and is used most effectively to demonstrate this by such artist as: Cindy Sherman in her ‘Untitled Film Stills’ .
• refer make a remark that calls attention to I am interested in using that stage, the stage of photography; to not only tell a story but also to refer back to the medium as a metaphor for life’s theatricality and as a central referent to humanities ephemeral nature and inevitable doom.
• truth a factual statement The majority of photographic theorists today agree that photography has a “that-has-been” quality of truth .
• exploration travel for the purpose of discovery Methodology, Research and the Archive Methodology: I begin my process with what I call photographic sketches: discoveries, ideas, imaginings; aesthetic explorations … images of place.
• 3rd coming next after the second and just before the fourth in position ______________________________________________ It wasn’t always bad… Like that morning Patrick Mahony the 3rd called me a hot babe, he just said it to me ‘your one, hot babe’ and then he walked on… he didn’t even try and kiss me.
• build on be based on; of theories and claims, for example I build on those images through reading fictional novels, non-fiction historical texts, seeking out pop cultural references, film, television, music etcetera and mining the archive.
• explore travel to or penetrate into Exploring our nomadic state by signification and multiplication, I boldly state “we are all wanderers now”.
• posture the arrangement of the body and its limbs They are either in full presentation stance, in mid-step (the awkward posture of stilted movement) or in process performance (entering a scene in which they will present a particular pose).
• shorten make short or shorter Stillness (the image) as the signifier of culture The wanderer as signifier of the primal Stills: When speaking in film terminology, Photographs are referred to as ‘Stills’, they are a fragment: a truncated, shortened , cut, condensed, reduced, abridged or curtailed element of the whole.
• series similar things placed in order or one after another This work is a series of suggestions: suggesting narrative, suggesting time, suggesting place… suggestions without declaration.
• effectively in a manner producing an intended result Philosophical and Theoretical: If we accept that the “self” is neither a genetic physical reality nor a psychological reality, if we accept instead that it is a cultural construct or a series of cultural constructs as is postulated by post-modernist theory than photography is the perfect surface medium and is used most effectively to demonstrate this by such artist as: Cindy Sherman in her ‘Untitled Film Stills’ .
• path an established line of travel or access We move forward, reaching for a direction, we try to find our way… We look for paths that appear but lead nowhere, except there, here.
• cinema a medium that disseminates moving pictures Research - Artists In Dialogue: In my research I have continually found references to both theater and film: Particularly, the theater of the absurd and European art cinema .
• desert leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch A live theater In a desert dream … A memory place, between In a town that knows no time Machines are draped in plastic, curtains are drawn, doors closed or left open, An indomitable fog has settled in for an endless winter of waiting.
• candy a rich sweet made of flavored sugar often with fruit or nuts The clouds were puffy and looked like something sweet to eat, like cotton candy from the carnival that comes once a year to the SaveMart parking lot.
• demonstrate give an exhibition of to an interested audience Philosophical and Theoretical: If we accept that the “self” is neither a genetic physical reality nor a psychological reality, if we accept instead that it is a cultural construct or a series of cultural constructs as is postulated by post-modernist theory than photography is the perfect surface medium and is used most effectively to demonstrate this by such artist as: Cindy Sherman in her ‘Untitled Film Stills’ .
• go forward move ahead; travel onward in time or space Go forward , turn around, she’s here somewhere, she must be here...
• chaos formless state of matter before the creation of the cosmos Silence, isolation, despair and carefully planned chaos are all elements of her work which I find relevant to my own.
• derive come from The Otolith Group derives their name from the structure in the inner ear, which establishes our sense of gravity and orientation.
• stack an orderly pile Sage is the color of starvation, of withering away in an arid place, of tragedy and irreverence, of the sheer an utter willingness to suffer in order to live …Sage is the color of a cloudy day in Nevada ______________________________________________ Stack the chips, shuffle the deck and deal me the queen of back luck love.
• photographer someone who takes photographs professionally As a photographer , I frame the world… and by framing it whether consciously or unconsciously I am changing it, constructing it.
• psychological mental or emotional as opposed to physical in nature Philosophical and Theoretical: If we accept that the “self” is neither a genetic physical reality nor a psychological reality, if we accept instead that it is a cultural construct or a series of cultural constructs as is postulated by post-modernist theory than photography is the perfect surface medium and is used most effectively to demonstrate this by such artist as: Cindy Sherman in her ‘Untitled Film Stills’ .
• lay out lay out orderly or logically in a line or as if in a line Work Samples and Examples: In the opening image, the theater is presented back to the audience, we are the audience of the image, looking at the theater’s audience, peopled by actors who are in turn waiting for themselves to enter the stage, they are waiting for their own play to begin…Waiting for their script to be written, their story to be laid out …for god, fate, history, or the seer to do its work.
• suggestion an idea that is proposed This work is a series of suggestions : suggesting narrative, suggesting time, suggesting place… suggestions without declaration.
• plastic synthetic material that can be molded into objects A live theater In a desert dream … A memory place, between In a town that knows no time Machines are draped in plastic , curtains are drawn, doors closed or left open, An indomitable fog has settled in for an endless winter of waiting.
• downstairs on or of lower floors of a building Someone in the downstairs apartment is singing show tunes, and I think, may be I’ll have a walk today.
• the Street used to allude to the securities industry of the United States Eggs over easy, bacon, hash browns, malt liquor and swisher sweets cigarettes… A woman passes me on the street .
• memory the cognitive process whereby past experience is remembered A live theater In a desert dream … A memory place, between In a town that knows no time Machines are draped in plastic, curtains are drawn, doors closed or left open, An indomitable fog has settled in for an endless winter of waiting.
• front the side that is forward or prominent ___________________________________________ The path of history is stretched out in front of me and it smells like breakfast, the kind mom use to cook before dad went away.
• story a record or narrative description of past events I am interested in using that stage, the stage of photography; to not only tell a story but also to refer back to the medium as a metaphor for life’s theatricality and as a central referent to humanities ephemeral nature and inevitable doom.
• mute expressed without speech The operatics of life: muted , howling screams are caught in a throat with no voice.
• unconsciously without awareness As a photographer, I frame the world… and by framing it whether consciously or unconsciously I am changing it, constructing it.
• singing the act of singing vocal music Someone in the downstairs apartment is singing show tunes, and I think, may be I’ll have a walk today.
• represent be a delegate or spokesperson for They also agree that by framing, photography is excluding and by excluding it is only representing partial truth and that partial truth is, in fact, wholly false.
• Sherman American Revolutionary leader and signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution (1721-1793) Philosophical and Theoretical: If we accept that the “self” is neither a genetic physical reality nor a psychological reality, if we accept instead that it is a cultural construct or a series of cultural constructs as is postulated by post-modernist theory than photography is the perfect surface medium and is used most effectively to demonstrate this by such artist as: Cindy Sherman in her ‘Untitled Film Stills’ .
• singe burn superficially or lightly Someone in the downstairs apartment is singing show tunes, and I think, may be I’ll have a walk today.
• unfold extend or stretch out to a greater or the full length Later, back in the studio I begin editing and sequencing allowing the story to unfold .
• inspire serve as the inciting cause of Taking seriously this idea of photography as a stage I write my script in images: an existential and absurdist inspired Operatic anti-epic of place, of Reno… Reno, Nevada.
• like having the same or similar characteristics ___________________________________________ The path of history is stretched out in front of me and it smells like breakfast, the kind mom use to cook before dad went away.
• look like bear a physical resemblance to He looks like Dad, I wonder if its dad?
• move change location We move forward, reaching for a direction, we try to find our way… We look for paths that appear but lead nowhere, except there, here.
• destination the place designated as the end, as of a race or journey We learned to love the path not the destination and that is what separates us.
• mining the act of extracting ores or coal from the earth I build on those images through reading fictional novels, non-fiction historical texts, seeking out pop cultural references, film, television, music etcetera and mining the archive.
• using an act that exploits or victimizes someone I am interested in using that stage, the stage of photography; to not only tell a story but also to refer back to the medium as a metaphor for life’s theatricality and as a central referent to humanities ephemeral nature and inevitable doom.
• diary a daily written record of experiences and observations Through the total disrespect of the space-time continuum (A woman watches as her granddaughter reads her diary ) they embrace the aporia educing effects of the contemporary image pandemonium of culture.
• philosophical relating to the investigation of existence and knowledge Philosophical and Theoretical: If we accept that the “self” is neither a genetic physical reality nor a psychological reality, if we accept instead that it is a cultural construct or a series of cultural constructs as is postulated by post-modernist theory than photography is the perfect surface medium and is used most effectively to demonstrate this by such artist as: Cindy Sherman in her ‘Untitled Film Stills’ .
• bus a vehicle carrying many passengers They let him bus tables during lunch twice a week.
• agree consent or assent to a condition The majority of photographic theorists today agree that photography has a “that-has-been” quality of truth.
• suggest make a proposal; declare a plan for something This work is a series of suggestions: suggesting narrative, suggesting time, suggesting place… suggestions without declaration.
• stretch out extend or stretch out to a greater or the full length ___________________________________________ The path of history is stretched out in front of me and it smells like breakfast, the kind mom use to cook before dad went away.
• stained marked or dyed or discolored with foreign matter The winter smells like solitude and I wander nameless in a misty fog… sage stained memories and desert rocks crutch under my feet.
• chip a small fragment of something broken off from the whole Sage is the color of starvation, of withering away in an arid place, of tragedy and irreverence, of the sheer an utter willingness to suffer in order to live …Sage is the color of a cloudy day in Nevada ______________________________________________ Stack the chips , shuffle the deck and deal me the queen of back luck love.
• color a visual attribute of things from the light they emit ______________________________________________ ‘Tell me the color of your past’ he said.
• cows domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age “We are the music makers”, we shouted at the cows as they look at us with their dull stares.
• sample a small part intended as representative of the whole Work Samples and Examples: In the opening image, the theater is presented back to the audience, we are the audience of the image, looking at the theater’s audience, peopled by actors who are in turn waiting for themselves to enter the stage, they are waiting for their own play to begin…Waiting for their script to be written, their story to be laid out…for god, fate, history, or the seer to do its work.
• car a motor vehicle with four wheels May be she was at the bowling ally the night Joshua crashed his car .
• at sea perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements In Teignmouth Electron: a sort of mixed historo-future she is using the true story of the epic failure of a man, Donald Crowhurst, who’s failed round the world sailing expedition ended in a falsified log and suicide at sea .
• reality the state of being actual Philosophical and Theoretical: If we accept that the “self” is neither a genetic physical reality nor a psychological reality, if we accept instead that it is a cultural construct or a series of cultural constructs as is postulated by post-modernist theory than photography is the perfect surface medium and is used most effectively to demonstrate this by such artist as: Cindy Sherman in her ‘Untitled Film Stills’ .
• cage an enclosure in which animals can be kept Perhaps the woman with the cage is Persephone’s mother searching for her lost daughter.
• hop jump lightly In this place I don’t see the sweat of the jackrabbit as he scurries through the hard, beaten landscape… the clearing in front of him a blacktop road… his grave splayed out in front of him… and he, like us, hopping ignorantly toward it.
• clearing a treeless tract of land in the middle of a wooded area In this place I don’t see the sweat of the jackrabbit as he scurries through the hard, beaten landscape… the clearing in front of him a blacktop road… his grave splayed out in front of him… and he, like us, hopping ignorantly toward it.
• edit prepare for publication or presentation by revising Later, back in the studio I begin editing and sequencing allowing the story to unfold.
• add to have an increased effect The series Reno, Nevada is my first attempt at bringing together the literary and filmic traditions with still photography and in it I seek to add to the dialogue of the poetic absurd.
• tomorrow the day after today No dreams of tomorrow .
• 4th coming next after the third and just before the fifth in position or time or degree or magnitude But once, he saw me walking down 4th street and he picked me up.
• awkward lacking grace or skill in manner or movement or performance They are either in full presentation stance, in mid-step (the awkward posture of stilted movement) or in process performance (entering a scene in which they will present a particular pose).
• allowance the act of permitting ‘Altamodernism’ or the New Modernism of Nicolas Bourriaud underscores that multitude but makes allowances for what is the constant primal impulse of taking root while at the same time being mobile, changeable, malleable.
• life the organic phenomenon that distinguishes living organisms We walk, we wander, act, wait, stand… without expectation we perform for life .
• wither lose freshness, vigor, or vitality Sage is the color of starvation, of withering away in an arid place, of tragedy and irreverence, of the sheer an utter willingness to suffer in order to live …Sage is the color of a cloudy day in Nevada ______________________________________________ Stack the chips, shuffle the deck and deal me the queen of back luck love.
• street a thoroughfare that is lined with buildings Eggs over easy, bacon, hash browns, malt liquor and swisher sweets cigarettes… A woman passes me on the street .
• root underground plant organ that lacks buds or leaves or nodes Perhaps we are Radicants ; taking root in the ground and histories we find ourselves in.
• pose assume a bearing as for artistic purposes They are either in full presentation stance, in mid-step (the awkward posture of stilted movement) or in process performance (entering a scene in which they will present a particular pose ).
• conductor the person who leads a musical group Perhaps this conductor is writing the score to the performance of his life.
• velvet a silky densely piled fabric with a plain back She is selling her velvet painting again: Elvis, horses, kittens and George W. Bush.
• gravity the force of attraction between all masses in the universe The Otolith Group derives their name from the structure in the inner ear, which establishes our sense of gravity and orientation.
• dream a series of images and emotions occurring during sleep A live theater In a desert dream … A memory place, between In a town that knows no time Machines are draped in plastic, curtains are drawn, doors closed or left open, An indomitable fog has settled in for an endless winter of waiting.
• enter to come or go into The frames become sets, places where characters have entered , will enter or have just abandoned.
• suicide the act of killing yourself In Teignmouth Electron: a sort of mixed historo-future she is using the true story of the epic failure of a man, Donald Crowhurst, who’s failed round the world sailing expedition ended in a falsified log and suicide at sea.
• in for certain to get or have A live theater In a desert dream … A memory place, between In a town that knows no time Machines are draped in plastic, curtains are drawn, doors closed or left open, An indomitable fog has settled in for an endless winter of waiting.
• sweat salty fluid secreted by glands in the skin In this place I don’t see the sweat of the jackrabbit as he scurries through the hard, beaten landscape… the clearing in front of him a blacktop road… his grave splayed out in front of him… and he, like us, hopping ignorantly toward it.
• boldly with boldness, in a bold manner Exploring our nomadic state by signification and multiplication, I boldly state “we are all wanderers now”.
• out in enter a harbor ___________________________________________ The path of history is stretched out in front of me and it smells like breakfast, the kind mom use to cook before dad went away.
• present happening or existing now I watch the world as it scripts itself, presenting progress because it assures and reassures audience.
• work at to exert effort in order to do, make, or perform something His brother worked at Friends Liquor store and parked cars at the Silver Legacy.
• interpretation the act of expressing something in an artistic performance We are storytellers not fact tellers, we may be truth tellers but that is also subject to interpretation .
• walk in enter by walking Archive: Working with the Nevada Historical Society archive I have found several references to performance and walking in frontier Nevada.
• sheer so thin as to transmit light Sage is the color of starvation, of withering away in an arid place, of tragedy and irreverence, of the sheer an utter willingness to suffer in order to live …Sage is the color of a cloudy day in Nevada ______________________________________________ Stack the chips, shuffle the deck and deal me the queen of back luck love.
• surface the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer Philosophical and Theoretical: If we accept that the “self” is neither a genetic physical reality nor a psychological reality, if we accept instead that it is a cultural construct or a series of cultural constructs as is postulated by post-modernist theory than photography is the perfect surface medium and is used most effectively to demonstrate this by such artist as: Cindy Sherman in her ‘Untitled Film Stills’ .
• perpetual continuing forever or indefinitely They represent no part of any essence but rather refer to a state of perpetual performance, of culture.
• recruit cause to assemble or enlist in the military I find and recruit actors, set scenes and record them.
• work activity directed toward making or doing something His brother worked at Friends Liquor store and parked cars at the Silver Legacy.
• solitude a state of social isolation The winter smells like solitude and I wander nameless in a misty fog… sage stained memories and desert rocks crutch under my feet.
• inhabit live in; be a resident of We move, we change, and as we move we change the places we inhabit as well as our understanding of those places.
• in turn in proper order or sequence Work Samples and Examples: In the opening image, the theater is presented back to the audience, we are the audience of the image, looking at the theater’s audience, peopled by actors who are in turn waiting for themselves to enter the stage, they are waiting for their own play to begin…Waiting for their script to be written, their story to be laid out…for god, fate, history, or the seer to do its work.
• howl cry loudly, as of animals The operatics of life: muted, howling screams are caught in a throat with no voice.
• sailing the work of a sailor In Teignmouth Electron: a sort of mixed historo-future she is using the true story of the epic failure of a man, Donald Crowhurst, who’s failed round the world sailing expedition ended in a falsified log and suicide at sea.
• endless having no known beginning and presumably no end A live theater In a desert dream … A memory place, between In a town that knows no time Machines are draped in plastic, curtains are drawn, doors closed or left open, An indomitable fog has settled in for an endless winter of waiting.
• studio workplace for the teaching or practice of an art Later, back in the studio I begin editing and sequencing allowing the story to unfold.
• nowhere not anywhere; in or at or to no place We move forward, reaching for a direction, we try to find our way… We look for paths that appear but lead nowhere , except there, here.
• searching exploring thoroughly Perhaps the woman with the cage is Persephone’s mother searching for her lost daughter.
• constitute form or compose My images constitutes a loose poetic narrative which oscillates between the sacred and the profane, not the performance of life but the waiting, walking, wandering expectations of your own life’s performance.
• self your consciousness of your own identity Philosophical and Theoretical: If we accept that the “ self ” is neither a genetic physical reality nor a psychological reality, if we accept instead that it is a cultural construct or a series of cultural constructs as is postulated by post-modernist theory than photography is the perfect surface medium and is used most effectively to demonstrate this by such artist as: Cindy Sherman in her ‘Untitled Film Stills’ .
• blank (of a surface) not written or printed on They are the blank , expectant canvas awaiting cultures projections.
• live have life, be alive A live theater In a desert dream … A memory place, between In a town that knows no time Machines are draped in plastic, curtains are drawn, doors closed or left open, An indomitable fog has settled in for an endless winter of waiting.
• write name the letters that comprise the accepted form of Then he asked if he could write me after he left.
• process a particular course of action intended to achieve a result They are either in full presentation stance, in mid-step (the awkward posture of stilted movement) or in process performance (entering a scene in which they will present a particular pose).
• taking the act of someone who picks up or takes something Taking seriously this idea of photography as a stage I write my script in images: an existential and absurdist inspired Operatic anti-epic of place, of Reno… Reno, Nevada.
• catch take hold of so as to seize or stop the motion of The operatics of life: muted, howling screams are caught in a throat with no voice.
• progress the act of moving forward, as toward a goal Our efforts of progress end where they began.
• cigarette finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking Eggs over easy, bacon, hash browns, malt liquor and swisher sweets cigarettes … A woman passes me on the street.
• canvas a heavy, closely woven fabric They are the blank, expectant canvas awaiting cultures projections.
• embrace squeeze tightly in your arms, usually with fondness Through the total disrespect of the space-time continuum (A woman watches as her granddaughter reads her diary) they embrace the aporia educing effects of the contemporary image pandemonium of culture.
• truck an automotive vehicle suitable for hauling The old man across the parking lot is getting out of his truck .
• washed clean by virtue of having been washed in water We etched them in sand and watch as they washed away.
• landscape an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view In this place I don’t see the sweat of the jackrabbit as he scurries through the hard, beaten landscape … the clearing in front of him a blacktop road… his grave splayed out in front of him… and he, like us, hopping ignorantly toward it.
• reduce make smaller Stillness (the image) as the signifier of culture The wanderer as signifier of the primal Stills: When speaking in film terminology, Photographs are referred to as ‘Stills’, they are a fragment: a truncated, shortened, cut, condensed, reduced , abridged or curtailed element of the whole.
• lucky having or bringing good fortune He told me Patrick would be lucky to have me.
• cloud a visible mass of water or ice particles suspended at a considerable altitude The clouds were puffy and looked like something sweet to eat, like cotton candy from the carnival that comes once a year to the SaveMart parking lot.
• through having finished or arrived at completion In this place I don’t see the sweat of the jackrabbit as he scurries through the hard, beaten landscape… the clearing in front of him a blacktop road… his grave splayed out in front of him… and he, like us, hopping ignorantly toward it.
• maker a person who makes things “We are the music makers ”, we shouted at the cows as they look at us with their dull stares.
• store a mercantile establishment for the sale of goods or services His brother worked at Friends Liquor store and parked cars at the Silver Legacy.
• doom an unpleasant or disastrous destiny I am interested in using that stage, the stage of photography; to not only tell a story but also to refer back to the medium as a metaphor for life’s theatricality and as a central referent to humanities ephemeral nature and inevitable doom .
• drunk someone who is intoxicated Driving as fast as we can and singing there ‘ain’t no devil, just god when he’s drunk ’ we chased death, dared it to take us.
• stain make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air The winter smells like solitude and I wander nameless in a misty fog… sage stained memories and desert rocks crutch under my feet.
• smoking the act of smoking tobacco or other substances He got caught smoking in some rich guy’s corvette.
• representation standing in for someone and speaking on their behalf Transience: I juxtapose that stillness (the stillness of the photographic medium) with the primal representation of the walker, the wanderer.
• inevitable incapable of being avoided or prevented I am interested in using that stage, the stage of photography; to not only tell a story but also to refer back to the medium as a metaphor for life’s theatricality and as a central referent to humanities ephemeral nature and inevitable doom.
• blanket bedding that keeps a person warm in bed The fog covers me like a blanket .
• begin set in motion, cause to start Our efforts of progress end where they began .
• contemporary occurring in the same period of time Through the total disrespect of the space-time continuum (A woman watches as her granddaughter reads her diary) they embrace the aporia educing effects of the contemporary image pandemonium of culture.
• competition the act of contending with others for rewards or resources It was like a year ago, I was cocktailing graveyard at the Atlantis and I saw him there, he was in town for the national bowling competition .
• changing marked by continuous modification or effective action As a photographer, I frame the world… and by framing it whether consciously or unconsciously I am changing it, constructing it.
• winter the coldest season of the year A live theater In a desert dream … A memory place, between In a town that knows no time Machines are draped in plastic, curtains are drawn, doors closed or left open, An indomitable fog has settled in for an endless winter of waiting.
• here in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is We move forward, reaching for a direction, we try to find our way… We look for paths that appear but lead nowhere, except there, here .
• continually seemingly without interruption Research - Artists In Dialogue: In my research I have continually found references to both theater and film: Particularly, the theater of the absurd and European art cinema.
• watch look attentively I watch the world as it scripts itself, presenting progress because it assures and reassures audience.
• pop make a sharp explosive noise I build on those images through reading fictional novels, non-fiction historical texts, seeking out pop cultural references, film, television, music etcetera and mining the archive.
• wandering travelling about without any clear destination My images constitutes a loose poetic narrative which oscillates between the sacred and the profane, not the performance of life but the waiting, walking, wandering expectations of your own life’s performance.
• fragment a piece broken off or cut off of something else Stillness (the image) as the signifier of culture The wanderer as signifier of the primal Stills: When speaking in film terminology, Photographs are referred to as ‘Stills’, they are a fragment : a truncated, shortened, cut, condensed, reduced, abridged or curtailed element of the whole.
• sweet having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar Eggs over easy, bacon, hash browns, malt liquor and swisher sweets cigarettes… A woman passes me on the street.
• declaration a statement that is emphatic and explicit This work is a series of suggestions: suggesting narrative, suggesting time, suggesting place… suggestions without declaration .
• television an electronic device that receives television signals and displays them on a screen I build on those images through reading fictional novels, non-fiction historical texts, seeking out pop cultural references, film, television , music etcetera and mining the archive.
• hot having a high or higher than desirable temperature ______________________________________________ It wasn’t always bad… Like that morning Patrick Mahony the 3rd called me a hot babe, he just said it to me ‘your one, hot babe’ and then he walked on… he didn’t even try and kiss me.
• frontier a wilderness at the edge of a settled area of a country Archive: Working with the Nevada Historical Society archive I have found several references to performance and walking in frontier Nevada.
• writing symbols imprinted on a surface to represent sounds or words We were writing our dreams in the clouds on a windy day.
• selling the exchange of goods for an agreed sum of money She is selling her velvet painting again: Elvis, horses, kittens and George W. Bush.
• learned having or showing profound knowledge Sometime back, perhaps a day perhaps a century We stopped expecting the thing itself And learned to content ourselves with the effort.
• tune a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence Someone in the downstairs apartment is singing show tunes , and I think, may be I’ll have a walk today.
• assure inform positively and with certainty and confidence I watch the world as it scripts itself, presenting progress because it assures and reassures audience.
• think judge or regard; look upon; judge I think I know that stranger.
• account for be the reason or explanation for Postmodern asserts that there is a multitude of “selves” however, it does not account for the primal: That element in us with resists culture, the uncontrollable, unpredictable, unknowable in us.
• gathering the act of gathering something I am not attempting to form a literal narrative but rather a loose gathering of signs, the historical now of a place.
• just and nothing more But I can’t see her now I just see the street sign ‘Welcome to Reno, Nevada!’
• sketch preliminary drawing for later elaboration Methodology, Research and the Archive Methodology: I begin my process with what I call photographic sketches : discoveries, ideas, imaginings; aesthetic explorations… images of place.
• tragedy an event resulting in great loss and misfortune Sage is the color of starvation, of withering away in an arid place, of tragedy and irreverence, of the sheer an utter willingness to suffer in order to live …Sage is the color of a cloudy day in Nevada ______________________________________________ Stack the chips, shuffle the deck and deal me the queen of back luck love.
• recognize perceive to be something or something you can identify He didn’t recognize me.
• movement change of position that does not entail a change of location They are actors, caught in a moment of presentation or stunted movement .
• find discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of We move forward, reaching for a direction, we try to find our way… We look for paths that appear but lead nowhere, except there, here.
• drinking the act of consuming liquids Then us… in a car with windows down, drinking White Zin from a box because we were out of whiskey.
• log a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches In Teignmouth Electron: a sort of mixed historo-future she is using the true story of the epic failure of a man, Donald Crowhurst, who’s failed round the world sailing expedition ended in a falsified log and suicide at sea.
• scream utter a sudden loud cry The operatics of life: muted, howling screams are caught in a throat with no voice.
• inner located inward The Otolith Group derives their name from the structure in the inner ear, which establishes our sense of gravity and orientation.
• music an artistic form of auditory communication “We are the music makers”, we shouted at the cows as they look at us with their dull stares.
• entering the act of entering They are either in full presentation stance, in mid-step (the awkward posture of stilted movement) or in process performance ( entering a scene in which they will present a particular pose).
• beaten formed or made thin by hammering In this place I don’t see the sweat of the jackrabbit as he scurries through the hard, beaten landscape… the clearing in front of him a blacktop road… his grave splayed out in front of him… and he, like us, hopping ignorantly toward it.
• prophet someone who speaks by divine inspiration She may be Tiresias, the blind prophet of history who lived as a woman for seven years or she may be simply a woman: waiting, playing solitaire, as expectant as the rest of us.
• chase go after with the intent to catch Driving as fast as we can and singing there ‘ain’t no devil, just god when he’s drunk’ we chased death, dared it to take us.
• investigation an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities Reno, Nevada An investigation into place: as construct, as presentation and as projection.
• stretched (of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching ___________________________________________ The path of history is stretched out in front of me and it smells like breakfast, the kind mom use to cook before dad went away.
• settle become resolved, fixed, established, or quiet A live theater In a desert dream … A memory place, between In a town that knows no time Machines are draped in plastic, curtains are drawn, doors closed or left open, An indomitable fog has settled in for an endless winter of waiting.
• accept receive willingly something given or offered Philosophical and Theoretical: If we accept that the “self” is neither a genetic physical reality nor a psychological reality, if we accept instead that it is a cultural construct or a series of cultural constructs as is postulated by post-modernist theory than photography is the perfect surface medium and is used most effectively to demonstrate this by such artist as: Cindy Sherman in her ‘Untitled Film Stills’ .
• tied bound or secured closely Historically the theater of the absurd is tied to the philosophy of Existentialism and Absurdism .
• abandoned forsaken by owner or inhabitants The frames become sets, places where characters have entered, will enter or have just abandoned .
• reaching the act of physically reaching or thrusting out We move forward, reaching for a direction, we try to find our way… We look for paths that appear but lead nowhere, except there, here.
• create bring into existence Tacita Dean, British artist and filmmaker, creates 16mm films with loose poetic narratives.
• mixed consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds In Teignmouth Electron: a sort of mixed historo-future she is using the true story of the epic failure of a man, Donald Crowhurst, who’s failed round the world sailing expedition ended in a falsified log and suicide at sea.
• rather more readily or willingly They represent no part of any essence but rather refer to a state of perpetual performance, of culture.
• act behave in a certain manner We walk, we wander, act , wait, stand… without expectation we perform for life.
• future the time yet to come Through their films they are presenting a future of the past - lived through archive.
• structure a complex entity made of many parts The Otolith Group derives their name from the structure in the inner ear, which establishes our sense of gravity and orientation.
• scene the place where some action occurs They are either in full presentation stance, in mid-step (the awkward posture of stilted movement) or in process performance (entering a scene in which they will present a particular pose).
• become come into existence Days became weeks and weeks became years.
• someone a human being Someone in the downstairs apartment is singing show tunes, and I think, may be I’ll have a walk today.
• elements violent or severe weather Silence, isolation, despair and carefully planned chaos are all elements of her work which I find relevant to my own.
• driving the act of controlling and steering the movement of a vehicle or animal Driving as fast as we can and singing there ‘ain’t no devil, just god when he’s drunk’ we chased death, dared it to take us.
• use put into service ___________________________________________ The path of history is stretched out in front of me and it smells like breakfast, the kind mom use to cook before dad went away.
• curtain hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window) A live theater In a desert dream … A memory place, between In a town that knows no time Machines are draped in plastic, curtains are drawn, doors closed or left open, An indomitable fog has settled in for an endless winter of waiting.
• impulse an impelling force or strength ‘Altamodernism’ or the New Modernism of Nicolas Bourriaud underscores that multitude but makes allowances for what is the constant primal impulse of taking root while at the same time being mobile, changeable, malleable.
• may thorny shrub of a small tree having white to scarlet flowers Someone in the downstairs apartment is singing show tunes, and I think, may be I’ll have a walk today.
• effort use of physical or mental energy; hard work Our efforts of progress end where they began.
• name a language unit by which a person or thing is known He ordered a bud light and asked my name .
• eggs oval reproductive body of a fowl used as food Eggs over easy, bacon, hash browns, malt liquor and swisher sweets cigarettes… A woman passes me on the street.
• seriously in a solemn manner Taking seriously this idea of photography as a stage I write my script in images: an existential and absurdist inspired Operatic anti-epic of place, of Reno… Reno, Nevada.
• remember recall knowledge; have a recollection But I never said “I remember … I’m making a life, sculpting it from circumstance.”
• seeking the act of searching for something I build on those images through reading fictional novels, non-fiction historical texts, seeking out pop cultural references, film, television, music etcetera and mining the archive.
• Tell a Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer; according to legend an Austrian governor compelled him to shoot an apple from his son's head with his crossbow (which he did successfully without mishap) ______________________________________________ ‘ Tell me the color of your past’ he said.
• player a person who participates in or is skilled at some game The second image is that of a woman who may be a player , a reader, or a seer.
• cow female of domestic cattle “We are the music makers”, we shouted at the cows as they look at us with their dull stares.
• assert declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true Postmodern asserts that there is a multitude of “selves” however, it does not account for the primal: That element in us with resists culture, the uncontrollable, unpredictable, unknowable in us.
• away at a distance in space or time ___________________________________________ The path of history is stretched out in front of me and it smells like breakfast, the kind mom use to cook before dad went away .
• luck an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another Sage is the color of starvation, of withering away in an arid place, of tragedy and irreverence, of the sheer an utter willingness to suffer in order to live …Sage is the color of a cloudy day in Nevada ______________________________________________ Stack the chips, shuffle the deck and deal me the queen of back luck love.
• privilege a special advantage or benefit not enjoyed by all That is our privilege .
• cotton a bushy mallow plant bearing bolls with fibers used to make fabric The clouds were puffy and looked like something sweet to eat, like cotton candy from the carnival that comes once a year to the SaveMart parking lot.
• humanity all of the living inhabitants of the earth I am interested in using that stage, the stage of photography; to not only tell a story but also to refer back to the medium as a metaphor for life’s theatricality and as a central referent to humanities ephemeral nature and inevitable doom.
• anti not in favor of (an action or proposal etc.) Taking seriously this idea of photography as a stage I write my script in images: an existential and absurdist inspired Operatic anti -epic of place, of Reno… Reno, Nevada.
• drink take in liquids Then us… in a car with windows down, drinking White Zin from a box because we were out of whiskey.
• fact a piece of information about events that have occurred They also agree that by framing, photography is excluding and by excluding it is only representing partial truth and that partial truth is, in fact , wholly false.
• there in or at that place We move forward, reaching for a direction, we try to find our way… We look for paths that appear but lead nowhere, except there , here.
• also in addition They also agree that by framing, photography is excluding and by excluding it is only representing partial truth and that partial truth is, in fact, wholly false.
• forward at or to or toward the front We move forward , reaching for a direction, we try to find our way… We look for paths that appear but lead nowhere, except there, here.
• shouted in a vehement outcry “We are the music makers”, we shouted at the cows as they look at us with their dull stares.
• await look forward to the probable occurrence of They are the blank, expectant canvas awaiting cultures projections.
• the true conformity to reality or actuality In Teignmouth Electron: a sort of mixed historo-future she is using the true story of the epic failure of a man, Donald Crowhurst, who’s failed round the world sailing expedition ended in a falsified log and suicide at sea.
• text the words of something written I build on those images through reading fictional novels, non-fiction historical texts , seeking out pop cultural references, film, television, music etcetera and mining the archive.
• reduced made less in size or amount or degree Stillness (the image) as the signifier of culture The wanderer as signifier of the primal Stills: When speaking in film terminology, Photographs are referred to as ‘Stills’, they are a fragment: a truncated, shortened, cut, condensed, reduced , abridged or curtailed element of the whole.
• resist withstand the force of something Postmodern asserts that there is a multitude of “selves” however, it does not account for the primal: That element in us with resists culture, the uncontrollable, unpredictable, unknowable in us.
• fired having lost your job I heard he got fired though.
• world the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on ___________________________________________ Facades crash down of the real world I built my life around.
• throat the passage to the stomach and lungs The operatics of life: muted, howling screams are caught in a throat with no voice.
• painting creating a picture with paints She is selling her velvet painting again: Elvis, horses, kittens and George W. Bush.
• dull so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness “We are the music makers”, we shouted at the cows as they look at us with their dull stares.
• seek try to locate, discover, or establish the existence of I build on those images through reading fictional novels, non-fiction historical texts, seeking out pop cultural references, film, television, music etcetera and mining the archive.
• sign a visible clue that something has happened or is present But I can’t see her now I just see the street sign ‘Welcome to Reno, Nevada!’
• effects property of a personal character that is portable Through the total disrespect of the space-time continuum (A woman watches as her granddaughter reads her diary) they embrace the aporia educing effects of the contemporary image pandemonium of culture.
• constant uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing ‘Altamodernism’ or the New Modernism of Nicolas Bourriaud underscores that multitude but makes allowances for what is the constant primal impulse of taking root while at the same time being mobile, changeable, malleable.
• still not in physical motion Stillness (the image) as the signifier of culture The wanderer as signifier of the primal Stills : When speaking in film terminology, Photographs are referred to as ‘Stills’, they are a fragment: a truncated, shortened, cut, condensed, reduced, abridged or curtailed element of the whole.
• literary relating to or characteristic of creative writing The series Reno, Nevada is my first attempt at bringing together the literary and filmic traditions with still photography and in it I seek to add to the dialogue of the poetic absurd.
• apartment a home in a building divided into separate dwellings Someone in the downstairs apartment is singing show tunes, and I think, may be I’ll have a walk today.
• philosophy the rational investigation of existence and knowledge Historically the theater of the absurd is tied to the philosophy of Existentialism and Absurdism .
• look perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards We move forward, reaching for a direction, we try to find our way… We look for paths that appear but lead nowhere, except there, here.
• wholly to the full or entire extent They also agree that by framing, photography is excluding and by excluding it is only representing partial truth and that partial truth is, in fact, wholly false.
• form a perceptual structure Therefore, photography is a form of lies, which are also true.
• tradition a specific practice of long standing The series Reno, Nevada is my first attempt at bringing together the literary and filmic traditions with still photography and in it I seek to add to the dialogue of the poetic absurd.
• expedition an organized group of people undertaking a journey In Teignmouth Electron: a sort of mixed historo-future she is using the true story of the epic failure of a man, Donald Crowhurst, who’s failed round the world sailing expedition ended in a falsified log and suicide at sea.
• despair a state in which all hope is lost or absent Silence, isolation, despair and carefully planned chaos are all elements of her work which I find relevant to my own.
• yesterday the day immediately before today No thoughts of yesterday .
• regret feel sorry for; be contrite about No regrets no expectations.
• separate standing apart; not attached to or supported by anything We learned to love the path not the destination and that is what separates us.
• failure an act that does not succeed In Teignmouth Electron: a sort of mixed historo-future she is using the true story of the epic failure of a man, Donald Crowhurst, who’s failed round the world sailing expedition ended in a falsified log and suicide at sea.
• time the continuum of experience in which events pass to the past A live theater In a desert dream … A memory place, between In a town that knows no time Machines are draped in plastic, curtains are drawn, doors closed or left open, An indomitable fog has settled in for an endless winter of waiting.
• sing produce tones with the voice Someone in the downstairs apartment is singing show tunes, and I think, may be I’ll have a walk today.
• non negation of a word or group of words I build on those images through reading fictional novels, non -fiction historical texts, seeking out pop cultural references, film, television, music etcetera and mining the archive.
• play engage in recreational activities rather than work Work Samples and Examples: In the opening image, the theater is presented back to the audience, we are the audience of the image, looking at the theater’s audience, peopled by actors who are in turn waiting for themselves to enter the stage, they are waiting for their own play to begin…Waiting for their script to be written, their story to be laid out…for god, fate, history, or the seer to do its work.
• understanding the condition of someone who knows and comprehends We move, we change, and as we move we change the places we inhabit as well as our understanding of those places.
• road an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation I follow along the road dutifully all the while knowing these frames are stages, plateaus of performance.
• leave go away from a place A live theater In a desert dream … A memory place, between In a town that knows no time Machines are draped in plastic, curtains are drawn, doors closed or left open, An indomitable fog has settled in for an endless winter of waiting.
• score a number that expresses accomplishment in a game or contest Perhaps this conductor is writing the score to the performance of his life.
• discovery the act of finding something Methodology, Research and the Archive Methodology: I begin my process with what I call photographic sketches: discoveries , ideas, imaginings; aesthetic explorations… images of place.
• provide give something useful or necessary to The body or “self” is overlaid with culture’s construct, it becomes a surface which receives and projects images that culture provides .
• devil an evil supernatural being Driving as fast as we can and singing there ‘ain’t no devil , just god when he’s drunk’ we chased death, dared it to take us.
• change become different in some particular way We move, we change , and as we move we change the places we inhabit as well as our understanding of those places.
• past earlier than the present time; no longer current ______________________________________________ ‘Tell me the color of your past ’ he said.
• look at look at carefully; study mentally “We are the music makers”, we shouted at the cows as they look at us with their dull stares.
• liked found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form He said that he liked me but he didn’t live around here.
• ended having come or been brought to a conclusion In Teignmouth Electron: a sort of mixed historo-future she is using the true story of the epic failure of a man, Donald Crowhurst, who’s failed round the world sailing expedition ended in a falsified log and suicide at sea.
• welcome the state of being received with pleasure But I can’t see her now I just see the street sign ‘ Welcome to Reno, Nevada!’
• drive operate or control a vehicle He drove me to the store in a black trans am.
• out moving or appearing to move away from a place, especially one that is enclosed or hidden ___________________________________________ The path of history is stretched out in front of me and it smells like breakfast, the kind mom use to cook before dad went away.
• novel an extended fictional work in prose I build on those images through reading fictional novels , non-fiction historical texts, seeking out pop cultural references, film, television, music etcetera and mining the archive.
• connection a relation between things or events I form a connection to place and begin to construct the characters.
• sand a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral We etched them in sand and watch as they washed away.
• interested showing curiosity or fascination or concern I am interested in using that stage, the stage of photography; to not only tell a story but also to refer back to the medium as a metaphor for life’s theatricality and as a central referent to humanities ephemeral nature and inevitable doom.
• reflect throw or bend back from a surface She uses cultures memory to reflect back upon itself.
• day time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis Sometime back, perhaps a day perhaps a century We stopped expecting the thing itself And learned to content ourselves with the effort.
• physical involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit Philosophical and Theoretical: If we accept that the “self” is neither a genetic physical reality nor a psychological reality, if we accept instead that it is a cultural construct or a series of cultural constructs as is postulated by post-modernist theory than photography is the perfect surface medium and is used most effectively to demonstrate this by such artist as: Cindy Sherman in her ‘Untitled Film Stills’ .
• mix mix together different elements In Teignmouth Electron: a sort of mixed historo-future she is using the true story of the epic failure of a man, Donald Crowhurst, who’s failed round the world sailing expedition ended in a falsified log and suicide at sea.
• character a property that defines the individual nature of something The frames become sets, places where characters have entered, will enter or have just abandoned.
• between in the interval A live theater In a desert dream … A memory place, between In a town that knows no time Machines are draped in plastic, curtains are drawn, doors closed or left open, An indomitable fog has settled in for an endless winter of waiting.
• sacred made, declared, or believed to be holy My images constitutes a loose poetic narrative which oscillates between the sacred and the profane, not the performance of life but the waiting, walking, wandering expectations of your own life’s performance.
• week any period of seven consecutive days They let him bus tables during lunch twice a week .
• abandon forsake; leave behind The frames become sets, places where characters have entered, will enter or have just abandoned .
• false not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality They also agree that by framing, photography is excluding and by excluding it is only representing partial truth and that partial truth is, in fact, wholly false .
• blind unable to see She may be Tiresias, the blind prophet of history who lived as a woman for seven years or she may be simply a woman: waiting, playing solitaire, as expectant as the rest of us.
• breakfast the first meal of the day (usually in the morning) ___________________________________________ The path of history is stretched out in front of me and it smells like breakfast , the kind mom use to cook before dad went away.
• wash clean with some chemical process We etched them in sand and watch as they washed away.
• central in or near an inner area I am interested in using that stage, the stage of photography; to not only tell a story but also to refer back to the medium as a metaphor for life’s theatricality and as a central referent to humanities ephemeral nature and inevitable doom.
• state the way something is with respect to its main attributes They represent no part of any essence but rather refer to a state of perpetual performance, of culture.
• cook transform by heating ___________________________________________ The path of history is stretched out in front of me and it smells like breakfast, the kind mom use to cook before dad went away.
• idea the content of cognition Taking seriously this idea of photography as a stage I write my script in images: an existential and absurdist inspired Operatic anti-epic of place, of Reno… Reno, Nevada.
• town an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city A live theater In a desert dream … A memory place, between In a town that knows no time Machines are draped in plastic, curtains are drawn, doors closed or left open, An indomitable fog has settled in for an endless winter of waiting.
• project a planned undertaking The body or “self” is overlaid with culture’s construct, it becomes a surface which receives and projects images that culture provides.
• knowing alert and fully informed I follow along the road dutifully all the while knowing these frames are stages, plateaus of performance.
• theory a belief that can guide behavior Philosophical and Theoretical: If we accept that the “self” is neither a genetic physical reality nor a psychological reality, if we accept instead that it is a cultural construct or a series of cultural constructs as is postulated by post-modernist theory than photography is the perfect surface medium and is used most effectively to demonstrate this by such artist as: Cindy Sherman in her ‘Untitled Film Stills’ .
• learn gain knowledge or skills Sometime back, perhaps a day perhaps a century We stopped expecting the thing itself And learned to content ourselves with the effort.
• twice two times They let him bus tables during lunch twice a week.
• settled established in a desired position or place; not moving about A live theater In a desert dream … A memory place, between In a town that knows no time Machines are draped in plastic, curtains are drawn, doors closed or left open, An indomitable fog has settled in for an endless winter of waiting.
• stare look at with fixed eyes “We are the music makers”, we shouted at the cows as they look at us with their dull stares .
• carefully taking care or paying attention Silence, isolation, despair and carefully planned chaos are all elements of her work which I find relevant to my own.
• total the whole amount Through the total disrespect of the space-time continuum (A woman watches as her granddaughter reads her diary) they embrace the aporia educing effects of the contemporary image pandemonium of culture.
• stretch extend one's limbs or muscles, or the entire body ___________________________________________ The path of history is stretched out in front of me and it smells like breakfast, the kind mom use to cook before dad went away.
• true consistent with fact or reality; not false Therefore, photography is a form of lies, which are also true .
• say utter aloud But I never said “I remember … I’m making a life, sculpting it from circumstance.”
• utter without qualification Sage is the color of starvation, of withering away in an arid place, of tragedy and irreverence, of the sheer an utter willingness to suffer in order to live …Sage is the color of a cloudy day in Nevada ______________________________________________ Stack the chips, shuffle the deck and deal me the queen of back luck love.
• machine a mechanical or electrical device that transmits energy A live theater In a desert dream … A memory place, between In a town that knows no time Machines are draped in plastic, curtains are drawn, doors closed or left open, An indomitable fog has settled in for an endless winter of waiting.
• perform get done We walk, we wander, act, wait, stand… without expectation we perform for life.
• bad having undesirable or negative qualities ______________________________________________ It wasn’t always bad … Like that morning Patrick Mahony the 3rd called me a hot babe, he just said it to me ‘your one, hot babe’ and then he walked on… he didn’t even try and kiss me.
• fate the ultimate agency predetermining the course of events Work Samples and Examples: In the opening image, the theater is presented back to the audience, we are the audience of the image, looking at the theater’s audience, peopled by actors who are in turn waiting for themselves to enter the stage, they are waiting for their own play to begin…Waiting for their script to be written, their story to be laid out…for god, fate , history, or the seer to do its work.
• silver a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography His brother worked at Friends Liquor store and parked cars at the Silver Legacy.
• kiss touch with the lips or press the lips (against someone's mouth or other body part) as an expression of love, greeting, etc. ______________________________________________ It wasn’t always bad… Like that morning Patrick Mahony the 3rd called me a hot babe, he just said it to me ‘your one, hot babe’ and then he walked on… he didn’t even try and kiss me.
• brown of a color similar to that of wood or earth Eggs over easy, bacon, hash browns , malt liquor and swisher sweets cigarettes… A woman passes me on the street.
• year the period of time that it takes for a planet (as, e.g., Earth or Mars) to make a complete revolution around the sun The clouds were puffy and looked like something sweet to eat, like cotton candy from the carnival that comes once a year to the SaveMart parking lot.
• see perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight But I can’t see her now I just see the street sign ‘Welcome to Reno, Nevada!’
• reader a person who can read; a literate person The second image is that of a woman who may be a player, a reader , or a seer.
• closed not open A live theater In a desert dream … A memory place, between In a town that knows no time Machines are draped in plastic, curtains are drawn, doors closed or left open, An indomitable fog has settled in for an endless winter of waiting.
• drawn showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering A live theater In a desert dream … A memory place, between In a town that knows no time Machines are draped in plastic, curtains are drawn , doors closed or left open, An indomitable fog has settled in for an endless winter of waiting.
• information knowledge acquired through study or experience There is no such thing as bad news… just new information , Recalculate.
• science a branch of study or knowledge involving the observation, investigation, and discovery of general laws or truths that can be tested systematically She uses narrative juxtapositions that blur the line between fact and fiction, history and science fiction.
• add join or combine or unite with others The series Reno, Nevada is my first attempt at bringing together the literary and filmic traditions with still photography and in it I seek to add to the dialogue of the poetic absurd.
• changed made or become different in nature or form The trees don’t have leaves anymore and I can’t smell the sewer since they changed the caps.
• stranger an individual that one is not acquainted with I think I know that stranger .
• call utter a sudden loud cry ______________________________________________ It wasn’t always bad… Like that morning Patrick Mahony the 3rd called me a hot babe, he just said it to me ‘your one, hot babe’ and then he walked on… he didn’t even try and kiss me.
• grave a place for the burial of a corpse In this place I don’t see the sweat of the jackrabbit as he scurries through the hard, beaten landscape… the clearing in front of him a blacktop road… his grave splayed out in front of him… and he, like us, hopping ignorantly toward it.
• quality an essential and distinguishing attribute of something The majority of photographic theorists today agree that photography has a “that-has-been” quality of truth.
• receive get something; come into possession of The body or “self” is overlaid with culture’s construct, it becomes a surface which receives and projects images that culture provides.
• shout utter in a loud voice; talk in a loud voice “We are the music makers”, we shouted at the cows as they look at us with their dull stares.
• smoke a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas He got caught smoking in some rich guy’s corvette.
• White a member of the Caucasoid race Then us… in a car with windows down, drinking White Zin from a box because we were out of whiskey.
• search look or seek Perhaps the woman with the cage is Persephone’s mother searching for her lost daughter.
• speaking capable of or involving speech or speaking Stillness (the image) as the signifier of culture The wanderer as signifier of the primal Stills: When speaking in film terminology, Photographs are referred to as ‘Stills’, they are a fragment: a truncated, shortened, cut, condensed, reduced, abridged or curtailed element of the whole.
• now at the present moment But I can’t see her now I just see the street sign ‘Welcome to Reno, Nevada!’
• content satisfied or showing satisfaction with things as they are Sometime back, perhaps a day perhaps a century We stopped expecting the thing itself And learned to content ourselves with the effort.
• paint a substance used as a coating to protect or decorate a surface (especially a mixture of pigment suspended in a liquid); dries to form a hard coating She is selling her velvet painting again: Elvis, horses, kittens and George W. Bush.
• simply in a simple manner; without extravagance or embellishment She may be Tiresias, the blind prophet of history who lived as a woman for seven years or she may be simply a woman: waiting, playing solitaire, as expectant as the rest of us.
• try make an effort or attempt We move forward, reaching for a direction, we try to find our way… We look for paths that appear but lead nowhere, except there, here.
• pick look for and gather But once, he saw me walking down 4th street and he picked me up.
• no longer not now That being the case, the factual claims of ‘documentary’ in photography are no longer valid.
• then at that time She’d always ask me “what was it you had to do today?” and then I’d answer, “I don’t know” or perhaps, “I suppose there was something”.
• stopped (of a nose) blocked Sometime back, perhaps a day perhaps a century We stopped expecting the thing itself And learned to content ourselves with the effort.
• leaving the act of departing I’m not even sure how I got there and I don’t remember leaving … but here I am somewhere else now, I think.
• perfect being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish Philosophical and Theoretical: If we accept that the “self” is neither a genetic physical reality nor a psychological reality, if we accept instead that it is a cultural construct or a series of cultural constructs as is postulated by post-modernist theory than photography is the perfect surface medium and is used most effectively to demonstrate this by such artist as: Cindy Sherman in her ‘Untitled Film Stills’ .
• space the unlimited expanse in which everything is located Through the total disrespect of the space -time continuum (A woman watches as her granddaughter reads her diary) they embrace the aporia educing effects of the contemporary image pandemonium of culture.
• leaf the collective amount of leaves of one or more plants The trees don’t have leaves anymore and I can’t smell the sewer since they changed the caps.
• working a mine or quarry that is being or has been worked Archive: Working with the Nevada Historical Society archive I have found several references to performance and walking in frontier Nevada.

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This Canadian Utility Stock Is Positioned for Long-Term Growth

Let’s dive into whether Brookfield Renewable (TSX:BEPC) is a fit for most investor portfolios or if now is the time to wait on this name.

• Latest Posts
• Here’s a Top Value Stock You May Not Have Heard of That’s Worth Buying NOW - June 28, 2024
• This Canadian Utility Stock Is Positioned for Long-Term Growth - June 28, 2024
• Don’t Wait, Now’s the Time to Load Up on This Canadian Utilities Giant - June 27, 2024

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In this era of electrification and artificial intelligence (AI), we’re going to need a lot more electricity. Power generation companies have generally been viewed as long-term dividend stocks to buy for passive income. And they still are. But one Canadian utility stock I think investors may want to consider for a range of longer-term catalysts is Brookfield Renewable ( TSX:BEPC ), a company with the ability to ride some pretty robust secular growth trends higher over time.

Let’s dive into why this particular utility stock is worth considering right now.

Clean energy is the future; we all know it

Putting the debate around whether climate change is real or not, it’s becoming increasingly clear governments and individuals around the world would prefer a future with more green energy and not less. We’re seeing incredible demand growth for electricity that’s able to be generated near large metro areas and done so in a sustainable fashion.

Brookfield Renewables’s portfolio of diversified clean energy assets provides such clean energy to a number of key regions in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. The company currently has an installed capacity of 21,000 megawatts of energy and has plans to increase this number significantly over time.

As demand for clean energy rises, investors may expect some additional pricing power to materialize over time. If that’s the case, this company could be well-positioned to provide even greater earnings growth.

The numbers make sense

From an earnings perspective, there’s certainly a lot to like about Brookfield Renewables and its current valuation. Trading at less than four times earnings, Brookfield Renewables is able to not only invest in its core asset base but pay out a very juicy 4.8% dividend. At current rates, this model appears to be highly sustainable. And if more pricing power and government investment is seen over time, these numbers could feasibly improve in a big way.

Interestingly, the market doesn’t appear to be sold on this company despite its strong recent results. In the first quarter of 2024, Brookfield Renewables reported an 8% year-over-year rise in funds from operations, with earnings per share coming in at US$0.45 per unit and available liquidity of US$4.4 billion. Given this stock trades at a market capitalization of a little more than $5.2 billion at the time of writing, investors are able to get the company’s core assets for almost free. That seems like a steal to me.

Bottom line

I think the secular tailwinds supporting Brookfield Renewables’s recent rise will be here one, five and 10 years from now. Accordingly, this is a value stock, and I think it should be considered given its strong fundamentals and balance sheet. Indeed, at its current valuation, there are few utility stocks out there that can match this one right now.

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