【www.shanpow.com--个人简历表】
Personalstatement中的社团活动【一】:如何写Personal Statement(个人陈述)
一步步教你怎么写PS（一）
PS是Personal Statement的简称，是我们申请美国研究生院的重要材料之一。一份完美的PS有可能使你申请成功的机会大大增加，同时PS也是很好的认识你自己的过程。通过写PS，你将更了解你自己，清楚自己想要什么样的生活，理清自己为什么要去美国，以后将要成为什么样的人。这对申请者来说至关重要，对admission officer来说，PS是你唯一有机会向他们展示一个鲜活的你的材料。成绩单是死的，GRE和TOEFL分数是死的，而他们要找的是一个活生生的人，是一个有血有肉有思想的人，他们在众多的申请者中寻找最适合他们的那一位，你如何认识你自己？你的motivation来自哪里？你将来如何打算？这些东西都可以帮助他们走进你，了解你，认识你，然后决定是不是接受你。U of Washington的admission officer指出，他们会把申请者分成四等： "Admit with guaranteed funding, Admit with potential funding, Tabled (a sort of admissions purgatory), and Reject." It is in the case of "Tabled" and "Admit with potential funding" applications, the admissions officer reports, that the personal statement can make a
real difference: "If there is a good match between the applicant's research interests and the particular strengths of the school, this can bump them up a level or two in the hierarchy of admission."
如何写PS？从PS教程中，我将总结出写PS的各项注意点，一步步教你怎么写PS，希望对大家有所帮助。
Preparation
PS的精髓在于将自己的motivation和Objective充分展现出来，它应该是personaland analytical, 任何generalization都需要避免，PS的关键在于用specific, personal details来展现你的个人魅力和强烈的motivation。
写PS时，要尽量完全的真诚。这是诉说一个你自己的故事，你不是在设法创造一个理想的申请者，而是just be yourself。任何的伪造都是很容易被识破的，只有完全敞开的真诚，才能真正打动admission officer，也才能真正的认识你自己，才能真正让你选择最适合你的graduate program。
用specific details来展现你的motivation很重要。这些specific details可以包括研究和工作经历、课程、你跟你所感兴趣的领域的人的交流、你读的书、你参加的学术报告会，以及任何可以展现你为何选择并适合这个研究领域的原因。
你需要明确你未来的方向，至少为自己未来5~10年的事业做一个规划，而这个规划应该很适合你所申请的这个graduate program，那也正是你选择这个领域的原因。
描述为什么这个graduate program适合你，不要用一些空洞的赞美性的语言，一定要be specific, be analytical。
一定不要出现一些粗心的错误，那只能证明你不够认真对待。
避免说一些空洞无意义的套话，避免陈词滥调。这里可以举个例子。
修改前：In the first project Imanaged, I learned many valuable lessons about the importance of teamwork.
修改后：In the first project Imanaged, I made an effort to incorporate all my colleagues as equal members ofa team, soliciting their feedback and deferring to their expertise as needed.
修改前的这句话很空洞的讲team work，没有任何details；修改后的话就展开讲了我是怎么展现teamwork的。在写PS的时候一定要注意展开这些细节。最好的方法就是以自己的亲身经历开始，让那些展现你的quality和personality的东西自然流露出来，你的那些品质不需要总结性的generalities, 人们会从你对自己经历的specific details的描述判断出你有哪些quality。
不要企图把你所有的经历都写进PS里，PS追求的不是广度，而是深度。好的PS是深入挖掘一个或两个主题、时间或观点的细节。
注意避免敏感话题，因为你不知道admission officer的个人偏见。
不要用冗余的长句。短句更加有力，因为他们更加direct和to the point。举例：
修改前："My recognitionof the fact that the project was finally over was a deeply satisfying momentthat will forever linger in my memory."
修改后："Completing theproject at last gave me an enduring sense of fulfillment."
像the fact that这种词就是完全冗余的。
Brainstorming
1. Performa self-inventory of Your Unique Experiences, Major Influences, and Abilities.
Long and short term goals
1. 这所学校为什么吸引你
2. 你对哪个faculty的研究最感兴趣？你最想跟谁一起工作？
3. 你具体想从你所申请的program中获得什么？
4. 你的事业抱负是什么？这个graduate program对你实现事业理想有什么帮助?
5. 你理想的工作的是什么？未来的5~10年甚至20、30年，你想成为一个什么样的人？
Skills and Characteristics
6. 你有哪些品质有助于你在该领域获得成功？You need to make strong connections between your experiences and the qualities you wish to convey.
这里列举一些admission officer认为很重要的qualities：
Seriousness of Purpose (to pursue graduate education)
? Intellectual Ability (to handle graduate study)
? Intellectual Curiosity (about the field you wish to enter)
? Creativity (as reflected in the way your mind addresses issues in the field of your choice) ? Open-Mindedness (to ideas, people, and circumstances different from your own)
? Maturity (as demonstrated by being responsible and trustworthy)
? Concern for Others (either by devoting time to social service activities such as tutoring or by being considerate and empathetic to others' feelings; the latter is more difficult to pull off in an application essay)
Initiative (as in the ability to start a project or take on a responsibility on your own) ? Enthusiasm (as demonstrated by your eagerness to engage in activities)
? Confidence (in your ability to handle difficult situations and novel challenges)
? Being Organized (as in the ability to stay on top of multiple tasks)
? Sense of Humor (as in your ability to find humor in difficult situations; in many ways this is an index of maturity)
? Diligence/Persistence (as demonstrated by your ability to stay with a task until you complete it; this is particularly relevant for programs requiring a dissertation)
? Leadership (as shown in your ability to inspire others to work together to reach a mutual goal) ? Risk Taking (as shown in your ability to deal with uncertainty in order to reach your goal) ? Insight (as reflected in your ability to use introspection to understand aspects of yourself, such as your preferences and your motivations)
? Optimism (as reflected in your ability to find positive aspects in seemingly negative situations) ? Compromise (as in your ability to be flexible in negotiating with others; at a more abstract level this can mean the ability to reconcile ideological opposites or dialectical pairs among others or within yourself)
? Overcoming Adversity (as demonstrated by your resourcefulness in dealing with serious problems such as divorce, death, illness, etc.)
7. 你所拥有的skills（比如communication,leadership, analytical)，注意用specific details来展示你的这些skills
8. 你比其他申请者的优势在哪里？
9. 你可以贡献给你所申请的学校哪些东西？（给你的fellow students，你的faculty,你的broader community)
10. 你认为你为什么会在这个program的申请中胜出？
11.让admission officers对你感兴趣的最compelling的原因是什么？
Background/Accomplishments: Personal
12. What's special, unique, distinctive, or impressive about you or your life story? What details of your life (personal or family problems/history, any genuinely notable accomplishments, people or events that have shaped you or influenced your goals) might help the committee better understand you or help set you apart from other applicants? 哪些人影响了你的选择？
13. Have you had to overcome any unusual obstacles or hardships (e.g., economic, familial, physical) in your life? 你所必须克服的困难？
14. Have you borne significant care-giving responsibilities for family members? For an ailing parent, a sibling, a disabled or aging relative, a child? How has this impacted your academics? Your professional life? Your goals and values? 你从小就需要照顾什么人吗？囧，这点对独生子女不利哎。。。
15. (If you live in U.S. but are not a native-born American) How did you deal with the challenges of moving to the U.S. from your home? Did you experience culture shock? How did you adapt? What was most difficult for you? What aspects of your new home did you enjoy the most? 在美国如何适应的问题，看来美国交流经历还在这个personal方面可以起到一些作用~
16. If work experiences have consumed significant periods of time during your college years, what have you learned (leadership or managerial skills, for example), and how has the work contributed to your personal growth?
Background/Accomplishments: Academic
17. When did you originally become interested in this field? What have you since learned about it-and about yourself-that has further stimulated your interest and reinforced your conviction that you are well suited to this field? What insights have you gained? 你如何对这个领域感兴趣的？
18. How have you learned about this field-through classes, readings, seminars, work or other experiences, or conversations with people already in the field?
19. Are there any gaps or discrepancies in your academic record that you should explain?
20. Can you recall a specific incident that convinced you that you had chosen the right career path?用一个具体的事例来证明你为何选择了正确的道路
2. Consult Friends, Relatives, Colleagues, or Professors for Ideas
别人往往可以看到你性格特征中你自己没有注意到的地方，所以向别人请教可以帮助你更好地了解自己。不妨来做一个调查问卷，向了解你的请教~
I am applying to _________ and must prepare a personal statement as a part of that process. I want to be sure to include all relevant data about myself and my background, so I am soliciting information from various individuals who know me and whose judgment I value. Thank you for your help.
1. What do you think is most important for the admissions committee to know about me?
2. What do you regard as most unusual, distinctive, unique, and/or impressive about me (based on our association)?
3. Are you aware of any events or experiences in my background that might be of particular interest to those considering my application to graduate school?
4. Are there any special qualities or skills that I possess that tend to make you think I would be successful in graduate school and in the field to which I aspire to become a part?
一步步教你怎么写PS（二）
Topic Selection
上边我们讲了通过brainstorming的方式来挖掘自己，现在你手上应该有一大把的经历想要来诉说。你可以深入描述一段经历，也可以写多个经历，但是写的事情越多，每件事情可能就不能做到非常深入了。下面给出一些指导来帮助你narrow down your topic.
Finding the pattern that connects
一定要寻找那些跟你申请的program相关的经历
Conveying something meaningful
一定要找到一个能展现你独一无二personality的经历
Painting a complete portrait
一定要全面展现出你的能力，如果你只说自己的一段经历，这段经历应该能全面展现你的各方面能力；如果你要说自己的多种经历，这些经历之间应该互为补充。
Standing out
一定要突出的unique的地方，如果你觉得实在很难做到unique，那就be more specific and personal.
Keeping your readers interest
从别人的角度来思考，如果你是读者，你读这篇文章的时候会想要了解更多吗？
Staying grounded in detail
一定要用事实说话，一切言语都要建立在事实证据的基础之上。
Answering the question
每个学校针对PS提的问题可能不一样，一定要保证你选的topic能回答大部分学校的大部分问题，PS也要根据学校的问题进行适当调整。
What to avoid 一下几点千万要避免！
Resorting to gimmicks 不要用那些小花招，小伎俩，咱还是应该严肃点
Focusing on negative 应该重点突出你的positive attribute
Repeating information that's listed elsewhere in the application 千万别重复那些你在简历里已经展现出来的东西，需要展现你更加personal的东西
Being too controversial
Seeking pity
You can describe misfortunes or a disadvantaged background, but do not use them as an excuse for bad performances or to seek pity. Doing so not only could sound manipulative, but also means that you haven't emphasized your strengths sufficiently. Thus, as in the case of weaknesses, you should bring up obstacles in your past only to show how you have overcome them.
想要通过PS来解释自己某方面不足的同学请特别注意上面第二点和第五点。注意表现你positive的一面，表现你如何克服困难的一面，少些negative的东西，也不要刻意去解释什么。
一步步教你怎么写PS（三）
Graduate statement themes:
你必须搞清楚的几个问题：
? Why have I chosen to attend graduate school in this specific field, and why did I choose to apply to this particular school's program?
? What are my qualifications for admission?
? What is special, unique, or impressive about my life story?
The future over the past
admission officer想要从PS看三点：你来自哪里?你想从我们的program中得到什么？你未来的打算是什么？
你的PS应该重在未来的职业规划，而不是重复过去的荣耀。如果你过去的经历确实很出彩，一定要多一些分析，不要罗列你的成绩
Why Graduate School?
Early exposure to your field: 避免用一些陈词滥调，比如“I have always wanted to..."
Do not rely solely on your initial reason and forget to justify your choice with more recent
Personalstatement中的社团活动【二】:personal_statement模板50篇
I am keen on sports and outdoor pursuits. I have enjoyed a range of activities from countryside walks to kayaking and abseiling. Because of this I feel I would particularly enjoy the fieldwork the course offers. I have been able to combine this interest in sport with a part time job as a leisure attendant at local sport centres. As part of this post I was asked to lead a youth sports and activities group which aims to promote sport among young people in my area. This activity has also allowed me to introduce other young people to activities that I have enjoyed. This role has also helped me to develop skills that would help me while I am at university. The sports
group involves arranging individual sessions as well as trips out
This has improved my organisational skills, which has reflected my ability to combine part-time work with college effectively. Working as part of a team and serving members of the public has
also improved my social skills, making me more confident when working with others
I wish to study at university, not only for the knowledge that I will gain from the course, but also
for the experience of university life has to offer. During my two years at college I have participated in various activities. For example, I represented the college at an open day, volunteered as a collage council representative for my form group, participated in a blood donation scheme and was also involved in the shoebox appeal. These activities meant that I have to be confident, approachable and polite. I feel these are characteristics that will enable
me to get involved with student life at university
My ambition is to participate in conservation work abroad, before gaining experience in a career based in this area. I feel the experience outlined above and the knowledge I will gain
from the course will enable me to achieve this ambition.
Personal Statement Sample - biology
生物 2009-10-10 11:22:42 阅读563 评论0 字号：大中小
As with science in general, I find it interesting, often fascinating, and I feel that I could gain much from studying it at university University has always appealed to me because of the wealth of experiences it has to offer as a student. Although I enjoy English Literature and Chemistry: I am especially keen to study Biology and Psychology. For me, the main appeal of the course lies in the variety of topics that will be covered. The aspects of Biology I find particularly interesting are neuroscience and how the immune system functions and responds.
In Psychology, I am very interested in what makes people unique and how different factors
shape our personality
At present I am employed at McDonald's where within one year of work I got promoted to a Floor Manager. Then I rapidly got promoted as a shift Manager. Being at this position it gives me numerous of responsibilities. For instance I am responsible for the whole resturant, ensuring the good communication flow exists between the crew members, correct procedures are followed, restaurant goals are achieved and ensuring that every customer gets 100%
customer satisfaction
This experience especially allowed me to use my interpersonal skills to the full. In my reference, my employer remarked on my willingness to learn, my enthusiasm and initiative as
well as my ability to work independently and as part of a team
I have a variety of hobbies outside school. When time allows, I find playing football, tennis, and listening music, a change from my studies. My other pursuits include more physical activities
such as attending the gym, dancing and cycling
At present, I am putting most of my effort into achieving the best grades in my 'course to allow me to reach the next target in my education. I understand that university life will be very challenging, but I am confident that it will give me the best chance to achieve my potential, and lead the way forward to a successful career. I hope that this application indicates that I am a
promising candidate.
Personal Statement - Bioengineering
生物 2009-10-10 11:21:41 阅读364 评论0 字号：大中小
"Scientists investigate that which already is. Technologists create that which has never been."
I chose engineering as a life pursuit because I wish to engage in both. This choice was enhanced by a personal yearning to apply all that I learn; I wanted to be able to implement my physical and mathematical abilities in real life situations. I feel higher education would enable
me to realise this aim.
Although all aspects of physics and engineering intrigue me, I am particularly interested in the medical application of these two disciplines. When considering which field I might enter I realised that the only discipline that appealed to me, other than engineering, was medicine.
Having researched the crossover between medicine and engineering I decided that
bioengineering provided the perfect blend.
In order to improve my grasp of A-level Physics and Mathematics, and develop a better understanding of the options available to me in Higher Education, I have made extensive use of the online lectures of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). I was particularly
receptive to the teaching methods of the Physics lecturer, Professor Lewin.
Supplementary reading has widened my horizons and encouraged me to examine elements above and beyond the A-level course. Some of the books I have encountered include 'A Brief History of Time' by Stephen Hawking and also 'Mr. Tompkins in Wonderland' by Nobel Prize
winner, George Gamow. The latter was more than simply 'a physics book' to me - the presentation of the physical principals within a love story proved to be extremely captivating. Following the debate regarding students' declining abilities and the 'dumbing down' of the A-levels I have undertaken a study of material from the older, and in my opinion more challenging, 1996 syllabus. Books such as 'Essential Principles of Physics' by Whelan and
Hodgson have been particularly enlightening in this respect.
I feel that theoretical concepts are easier to understand and more easily absorbed when they are tangible and therefore I have applied to the Year in Industry scheme, hoping that this will enhance the application of my mathematical and physical skills. Due to personal issues during the A-level exam period I was unable to achieve my potential and did not meet all my predicted grades. In order to amend this I have chosen t o retake some modules during my gap year
whilst at the same time studying a new subject and expanding my language skills.
I consider that my multicultural upbringing, including 12 years in Japan, Dubai and the Sudan have led to me being a well-rounded and colourful person. As a consequence of this time I benefited by gaining knowledge about different traditions, an insight into diverse cultures, and
a furtherance in my linguistic abilities. This granted me the ability to adapt to different environments swiftly and comfortably, which would explain my enthusiasm for meeting new people. Moreover, the contrast in the living standards in these different environments has
shown me the importance of science and technology in our lives.
Professionals have confirmed for me that bioengineering is an intellectually challenging field, requiring commitment and motivation. I have always believed in fully devoting myself to all that I do, and with my particular interests and experiences, I feel that only an opportunity to study
bioengineering at university will enable me to express my abilities in their entirety.
生物 个人陈述 模板
生物 2009-09-17 10:32:31 阅读344 评论1 字号：大中小
I will never forget my experience of working alongside doctors to fight against the horrible disease, AA, in China in 200X. This work taught me the great impact of disease control and prevention and motivated me to apply for the biostatistics program at Yale University, with the ultimate career goal of becoming an
influential professional or researcher in the field. I firmly believe that my constant thirst for knowledge, high regard for the work in the biomedical and public health fields, and my courageousness will drive my
graduate studies and help me achieve personal and professional success.
I first became interested in biostatistics when the AA epidemic breakout in China in 200X. As a member
of the University Red Cross Association, I was responsible for assisting the university hospital to publicize disease prevention methods, distribute medicine, and complete health surveys. I learned from that process the value of survey dates in supplying useful strategies for disease prediction, prevention and control. Afterward, when I served as Vice President of the Student Union, I organized an introductory
lecture and health survey about hereditary disease for the local community. I truly enjoyed these voluntary public health services, as I was able to use my knowledge to enhance the quality of life for my fellow man. These achievements gave me the determination to fully devote myself to public health
services and global health care development.
My academic training to this point has provided me with a wide range of general knowledge and skills related to the biological sciences. This training is an excellent first step in preparing for the professional career that I desire. As an undergraduate student in bioengineering at BB University, I acquired a solid foundation in the theoretical concepts associated with genetics, molecular biology, immunology, and biochemistry. I also gained knowledge in the several areas of industrial significance, including
bio-products, fermentation, and biotechnology. In addition to the comprehensive studies in my major field, I received as well extensive training in mathematics and computer science, both of which were of great benefit to my study of biostatistics, an important area in various industrial and scientific research efforts.
For example, as I learned during my summer internship as an Assistant Researcher at the DD
Pharmaceutical Company in 200Y, biostatistics has a vital role in the development and marketing of new medicines, in the control of the quality of products, and in the tracking of consumer trends, attitudes and purchases. I have also worked as an undergraduate research assistant for a map-based cloning project in the ZZ Biology Center, where I used statistical methods to develop WW genetic markers and to calculate the probabilities of recombination. These hands-on training activities gave me a clearer understanding of and a deeper insight into the biostatistics of biological and clinical problems.
I look forward to furthering my knowledge of biostatics at Yale University. Indeed, I believe that Yale’s dynamic environment coupled with the emphasis placed on both statistics theory and real-life biological issues in the biostatics program will prepare me well to stand out in future competition. Therefore, my well considered decision to choose your program will certainly help me realize my dreams. I am confident
that with Yale’s beneficial guidance and training, I will be well on the way to becoming a noted
professional in the area of public health.
Personalstatement中的社团活动【三】:Personal Statement 写作终极建议
personal statement 写作终极建议：附伯克利大学文科PhD申请成功的PS原文以及伯克利老师的细致点评！pdf原文请去微博xwuesjsattva，上面有一条微博写这个的微盘上下载 作者： 严雪文sjsattva 我自己的感觉是，PS不仅仅是看你是不是essentially relevant,
training/expertise/research experience, 最关键的还是那些非常软的东西，就是你怎么写，而不是写了啥。。
1. Philology!语言，用词，句法。我不是在说用于是不是地道或者正确，我是在说你的PS如果能写作style的语言非常高端，对评审老师而言非常重 要。（真的真的真的。intellectual pretentiousness在这时候会变成你非常厉害，读过书的证明。也许我说的只是文科。）所以，不要认为一个native speaker就一定能改好你的文章，那往往只是改错而已。英语单词实在太博大精深。详见我附的例子中那个老师是如何如何Obsessed with the choice of words and the writing style.
2. Structure and logic! 我不是在说你一定要按照一个模版讲一个故事。但是每段的结构是必须这样的：一个有逻辑的总起句，除非你能一个场景、一个引号吸引读者注意（但那一般也只是 第一段。。），然后解释、举例，然后结论。一定一定一定是这样！好文章都是这样的！相信我！一个总起句！不能超过两行，把一段说清楚。
3. 重要的不是你写你做了什么，而是你对你做的是如何思考的，给了你什么启示，你如何反思你的“成就”的，和你想申这个学位有毛线关系。（要知道各种申请的人 中简历牛逼的肯定很多，经历牛逼的也许更多。千万别把你的PS变成扩展版的简历哦！）无论是学术申请，写书、写理论、写研究；还是应用型学科申请，写研 究、写实习、写课程；你重点永远不是你读了这本书，这本书主要内容是什么，我觉得好有趣啊！而是，这个内容为什么有趣了？对你之后的研究有什么启迪和灵感 了？否则，你不是纯粹在卖弄你干过神马吗= =
废话少说，上范文。。。注脚是伯克利老师的评价。
"Luscious fare is the jewel of inordinate desires,"1 cautions2 the author of The Gentlewoman's Companion (1673), one of many early modern conduct books I surveyed this past year for an honors thesis entitled "'Chaste, Silent, and Hungry': The Problem of Female Appetite in Early Modern England, 1550-1700."3 As indicated by the title, this project explores a provocative but as of yet scarcely studied facet of early modern gender constructions: female food desire.4 I use the word "desire" here rather deliberately, as early modern definitions of appetite extended well beyond the physiological drive to eat to encompass all those physical (and shameful) longings associated with the body. And, in a culture where women
were by definition immoderate and sensual, female food appetite, I argue, constituted an unruly5 desire that demanded both social and moral discipline. In brief, my research concerns the patriarchal control of women's bodies in sixteenth and seventeenth-century England vis-a-vis a cultural idea about food desire and satiation as suggestive and immodest.6 In lieu of a formal introduction of my research interests and aspirations I offer a summary of my senior thesis, which earned me the 2003 Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research at the University of California, Davis.7 This first venture into seriouswww.shanpow.com_Personalstatement中的社团活动。
historical scholarship has affirmed my passion for early modern culture and history; and it has given me the confidence to assert and contest my opinions regarding the status of women in early modern Europe and the current state of early modern historiography.8 Continuing along these avenues of research in graduate school, I would like to use my thesis as the basis for a future dissertation. Though I remain wary about committing myself prematurely to a specific topic of research, I am also eager to elaborate, modify, and complicate9 my original assertions about the nature of the "problem" of female appetite in early modern England. Indeed, many of the conclusions reached in the thesis, such as my claim that the cultural eroticization of feminine appetite in early modern England betrayed a deep-seated masculine mistrust of female sexuality and sexual power, serve as starting points10 for future research and study.
On a more basic level, writing a thesis gave me the chance to become better acquainted with the essentials of historical research. Suspecting that normative discourses in early modern England participated aggressively in the monitoring of women's appetites, I navigated the sea of early English printed sources in pursuit of the slightest mention of food and diet. Those sources I encountered during my research, which ranged from the popular conduct book, The Education of a Christian Woman by Juan Luis Vives, to the anonymous sex manual, Aristotle's Masterpiece, challenged my basic understanding of history and the original premise of my thesis in ways not anticipated. From deciphering esoteric type-fonts to
developing an awareness of the importance of time and funds, I experienced the mundane realities of research that inevitably stunt the historian's aspirations. Even more important was my gradual acceptance of the fact that early modern sources, no matter how we read them, do not always accommodate modern biases and expectations.11
Though I cannot predict the course this project might take in graduate school, I expect that it will address the following themes and issues. First is the overarching issue of distinguishing the phenomena I observe from other forms of food restriction and obsession, namely the modern ritual of dieting and its most extreme manifestation, an eating disorder.
Though not willing to evade those complicated (and controversial) parallels between modern and early modern usages of food and food symbolism to control the lives of women, I also wish to offer as an historian a nuanced portrayal of how early modern conceptualizations of female appetite were infused with contemporary, historically contingent notions of sexuality and gender.
Furthermore, the question of female agency in a project devoted almost exclusively to male prescriptions for diet and behavior demands further discussion. Admittedly, on more than one occasion, my own extensive use and analysis of conduct books and various obstetric manuals, works composed primarily by educated men, caused me to pause and wonder whether it was best to relate a history about women's actions or the patriarchal apparatus under which those actions were oppressed. While I refuse to see women as simply passive receptacles of masculine command, I neither wish nor aspire to focus solely on their achievements; for, in my mind, the history of women and the history of patriarchy are inextricably related.12 My goal, then, will not be to detail just another example of how women in history were dominated by men, but, rather, to interrogate the means, in this case food, or, better yet, the cultural meaning of appetite, by which women's desires were suppressed or denied.13
Indeed I am proud of my thesis and, given extra time, could say much more. But I should also stress that that at the heart of my specific research concentration lies a more general interest in early modern European history, cultural and women's history to be more exact.14 To date, my knowledge of the early modern period has been informed and my imagination sustained by an array of courses on early modern history and literature (I
