I am not sure about whether it suits for covering letter, since it mostly shows the line of research previous as well as subsequent. Could you give some advice as to improve this letter? Thank you.
Dear Members of Research Committee,
I am writing to apply for Research Studentship in ---. I have completed the master thesis at --- University under the direction of Professor --- entitled "---". This thesis was published last winter in format of e-book and is further now in process for publishing in a paper book. (---)
My research has begun from the long lasting interest on the specific relation between literature and philosophy. In particular, during my stuides in --- I have focused on the alterity embedded in "autobiography" as a part of modern narrative, peculiarly "crisis of narrative" e.g. Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground. In process of clarification of this point I have attained much of ideas from French postmodernism or (post)structuralism. Further, through the psychoanalytical reformulation of the status of modern subject I have come to the point where crisis of narrative would be bounded by the discrepancy of modern subject.
Into this correlation of philosophy with literature within the tradition of French poststructuralism I have connected the context of German modern philosophy commenced from transcendental philosophy of Kant, over the period of three year coursework and research in ---. At that time I have transformed the modern literary form such as autobiography, letters or novel into the neologism "Topo-Patho-Graphy" as a main title of master thesis. I have attempted there to show the possible reappropriation of the pathological at once employed in Practical Philosophy of Kant and revived by German Philosophy of Culture (Cassirer) & French Epistemology of Science (Canguilhem, Foucault).
In the near future, especially with regards to the pathology in an era of late capitalism, I have a research plan to develop more points about the possible subject of the common motivated by the idea of communism, entitled ---. It would be distinguished from the normative approach of Critical Theory, although I have obtained this initial idea from Benjamin and Adorno.
In addition to the theoretical journey, as a graduate student I have combined research and teaching simultaneously. Over one year of writing a master thesis I had a chance to lead a tutorial seminar about ---. In order to find an effective teaching skill I have before participated in preparation seminar led by Professor ---. There we have read together two different philosophical texts such as --- and ---, stressing how to effectively convey the content of philosophical one to laity who are strangers to philosophy. The result obtained there, in terms of teaching skills I have then presented and discussed in colloquium where other professors and colleagues of the institute participated. Further, on the part of content, I have attempted to answer the question, to what extent love is a philosophical category, with the help of lacanian psychoanalysis and Badiou. Since the thema Eros, in particular two different perspects about Eros based on two different forms of narrative, namely tragical and comical one played a decisive role in developing my thesis, I have eagered to verify explicitly my implicit hypotheses by addressing and discussing them in the process of seminar. My research interest included, I have organized this course with my colleague in the direction of practicing the specific teaching skill being attained from the previous seminar. So the seminar proceeded in three steps, namely presentation of literature students, discussing the main points of relevant parts of text and feedback or summary. Though I myself am a foreign student, out of the experience of their appreciating my enthusiasm for the stimulus to more reading of relevant texts and my contribution to their critical thinking as well as to expansion of their research interest, I have realized the possibility of actual practicing of philosophy on the level of trans-nationality and interdisciplinary. I would be glad to send the final report to you, if necessary.
In terms of practicing philosophy or theoretical practice, not only do I refer to actual issues such as financial crisis, but rather reformulate it through the paring of Kant and Marx or Philosophy and Economy interdisciplinary, which I think might be urgent in an era of skeptics about the legitimacy of philosophy. As showed in the sketch of theoretical transgression or transposition form French theory over German philosophy to english-speaking Continental philosophy, I believe that my research would make a contribution to expanding width and depth of Post-Kantian Philosophy in your centre.
I have enclosed my curriculum vitae, and you will be receiving my letters of recommendation in the near future. Please let me know if I can provide additional information or writing samples to help you in evaluation of my application. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely yours,
Dear Members of Research Committee,
I am writing to apply for Research Studentship in ---. I have completed the master thesis at --- University under the direction of Professor --- entitled "---". This thesis was published last winter in format of e-book and is further now in process for publishing in a paper book. (---)
My research has begun from the long lasting interest on the specific relation between literature and philosophy. In particular, during my stuides in --- I have focused on the alterity embedded in "autobiography" as a part of modern narrative, peculiarly "crisis of narrative" e.g. Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground. In process of clarification of this point I have attained much of ideas from French postmodernism or (post)structuralism. Further, through the psychoanalytical reformulation of the status of modern subject I have come to the point where crisis of narrative would be bounded by the discrepancy of modern subject.
Into this correlation of philosophy with literature within the tradition of French poststructuralism I have connected the context of German modern philosophy commenced from transcendental philosophy of Kant, over the period of three year coursework and research in ---. At that time I have transformed the modern literary form such as autobiography, letters or novel into the neologism "Topo-Patho-Graphy" as a main title of master thesis. I have attempted there to show the possible reappropriation of the pathological at once employed in Practical Philosophy of Kant and revived by German Philosophy of Culture (Cassirer) & French Epistemology of Science (Canguilhem, Foucault).
In the near future, especially with regards to the pathology in an era of late capitalism, I have a research plan to develop more points about the possible subject of the common motivated by the idea of communism, entitled ---. It would be distinguished from the normative approach of Critical Theory, although I have obtained this initial idea from Benjamin and Adorno.
In addition to the theoretical journey, as a graduate student I have combined research and teaching simultaneously. Over one year of writing a master thesis I had a chance to lead a tutorial seminar about ---. In order to find an effective teaching skill I have before participated in preparation seminar led by Professor ---. There we have read together two different philosophical texts such as --- and ---, stressing how to effectively convey the content of philosophical one to laity who are strangers to philosophy. The result obtained there, in terms of teaching skills I have then presented and discussed in colloquium where other professors and colleagues of the institute participated. Further, on the part of content, I have attempted to answer the question, to what extent love is a philosophical category, with the help of lacanian psychoanalysis and Badiou. Since the thema Eros, in particular two different perspects about Eros based on two different forms of narrative, namely tragical and comical one played a decisive role in developing my thesis, I have eagered to verify explicitly my implicit hypotheses by addressing and discussing them in the process of seminar. My research interest included, I have organized this course with my colleague in the direction of practicing the specific teaching skill being attained from the previous seminar. So the seminar proceeded in three steps, namely presentation of literature students, discussing the main points of relevant parts of text and feedback or summary. Though I myself am a foreign student, out of the experience of their appreciating my enthusiasm for the stimulus to more reading of relevant texts and my contribution to their critical thinking as well as to expansion of their research interest, I have realized the possibility of actual practicing of philosophy on the level of trans-nationality and interdisciplinary. I would be glad to send the final report to you, if necessary.
In terms of practicing philosophy or theoretical practice, not only do I refer to actual issues such as financial crisis, but rather reformulate it through the paring of Kant and Marx or Philosophy and Economy interdisciplinary, which I think might be urgent in an era of skeptics about the legitimacy of philosophy. As showed in the sketch of theoretical transgression or transposition form French theory over German philosophy to english-speaking Continental philosophy, I believe that my research would make a contribution to expanding width and depth of Post-Kantian Philosophy in your centre.
I have enclosed my curriculum vitae, and you will be receiving my letters of recommendation in the near future. Please let me know if I can provide additional information or writing samples to help you in evaluation of my application. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Sincerely yours,
