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Dec 5, 2010
When is enough enough?
Ok so as I have mentioned in my last post I have been writing my these paper since the beginning of the semester. But now I have a question for you: is there a limit to taking someone's advice on a paper? Let me explain...
As I have been writing my thesis paper I have been meeting with my professor, and in each of these meetings he asks me numerous questions and makes suggestions of ideas I should research or themes I should look into in my paper. Now some of this advice has been very helpful and I think has developed my paper into a more mature academic writing, but it has now gotten to the point that I am confused where my paper is heading and if I should include everything my professor has suggested. Where is the point when you say enough to the advice and just continue on? Or is it that you must keep exploring new possibilities for your paper to make it better?
I want to be respectful to my professor and research all the questions he hopes for me to answer in my thesis but it has become overwhelming and exhausting to look in-depth to so many different perspectives. What would you do if this situation happened to you while writing a paper with a consultant? Would you try and make all the consultants suggestions or say enough is enough and forget them?
As I have been writing my thesis paper I have been meeting with my professor, and in each of these meetings he asks me numerous questions and makes suggestions of ideas I should research or themes I should look into in my paper. Now some of this advice has been very helpful and I think has developed my paper into a more mature academic writing, but it has now gotten to the point that I am confused where my paper is heading and if I should include everything my professor has suggested. Where is the point when you say enough to the advice and just continue on? Or is it that you must keep exploring new possibilities for your paper to make it better?
I want to be respectful to my professor and research all the questions he hopes for me to answer in my thesis but it has become overwhelming and exhausting to look in-depth to so many different perspectives. What would you do if this situation happened to you while writing a paper with a consultant? Would you try and make all the consultants suggestions or say enough is enough and forget them?
Thesis Paper Suggestions
I don't know why I haven't thought about this before, blogging about writing my thesis paper, especially considering how I am continually writing, editing, and perfecting it since August. My paper is comparing Sophocles' play "Antigone" to Hawthorne's short story "Roger Malvin's Burial." Now most people I've talked to at Richmond have read or heard of "Antigone" but "Roger Malvin's Burial" is not as popular as Hawthorne's other works (such as "The Scarlet Letter"). I def suggest reading "Roger Malvin's Burial," its short (only about 12-15 pages and very deep) but now I'm digressing, back to what this blog is about...
Anyways some suggestions I have for future thesis paper writers that has helped me tremendously in this process:
1-select a professor that you have already had in class or have a connection with as your thesis adviser if possible. This will help with communication between you and for you to be able to openly discuss ideas
2-schedule meetings with your professor periodically to talk about your papers progress. I meet with my professor once a week and it really forces me to progress little by little so I have something to present at the next meeting to my professor
3-make mini-deadlines during your writing process, that way it won't be so overwhelming at the end. How I did it was every two weeks I turn in 5 pages for my professor to read and edit, that way there is less for me to do at the end.
4- (lastly) ASK FOR HELP FROM YOUR PROFESSOR!! Don't be shy, ask your professor for help if your stuck, THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE THERE FOR! They know this is your first time writing something of this magnitude so take advantage of their wisdom.
Hope this helps :)
Anyways some suggestions I have for future thesis paper writers that has helped me tremendously in this process:
1-select a professor that you have already had in class or have a connection with as your thesis adviser if possible. This will help with communication between you and for you to be able to openly discuss ideas
2-schedule meetings with your professor periodically to talk about your papers progress. I meet with my professor once a week and it really forces me to progress little by little so I have something to present at the next meeting to my professor
3-make mini-deadlines during your writing process, that way it won't be so overwhelming at the end. How I did it was every two weeks I turn in 5 pages for my professor to read and edit, that way there is less for me to do at the end.
4- (lastly) ASK FOR HELP FROM YOUR PROFESSOR!! Don't be shy, ask your professor for help if your stuck, THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE THERE FOR! They know this is your first time writing something of this magnitude so take advantage of their wisdom.
Hope this helps :)
Dec 2, 2010
How could I contribute to the Writing Cener?
After our discussion with Prof. Essid I began thinking of a proposal I could make to the writing center to attract more students and to make the writing center more proficient. What I had suggested to Prof. Essid during class was the first part of this proposal, creating either a facebook or twitter account to get the word out about the writing center. But this proposal can also be more versatile...another way we could use a facebook or twitter is to post when the writing center has available appointments (such as a no show). These can be posted online where students can check and walk-in if they need some last minute help, without having to make a formal appointment.
Just some thoughts I think could help the writing center out :)
Just some thoughts I think could help the writing center out :)
Dec 1, 2010
Censoring Students, Censoring Ourselves Article
Today I was assigned to the group editing Sherzel's paper, which was reviewing the article “Censoring Students, Censoring Ourselves: Constraining Conversations in the Writing Center” by Steve Sherwood. I thought Sherzel did a very good job with her article review, both summarizing and analyzing the article in a very condensed format. Through Sherzel's review I found the article to be quite intriguing, posing the problem is it better for a writing consultant to tell/give the student warning on writing what could be seen as an offensive standpoint in a paper or is it not the consultants responsibility and doing so would impede on the writer's first amendment rights.
I think we need a balance between these two standpoints. I think it was Fed in our group who stated that it is not our job as consultants who tell a writer if a paper is offensive and to change it, but instead we should bring up our concern to the writer and ask them to go to their teacher for continual help on the matter. I think this is a nice balance between not raising the issue at all and impeding on what the writer wants to convey to his audience: first raise our concern to the writer in session and then allow them to go to their professor to get feedback if the material is indeed offensive or not.
I think we need a balance between these two standpoints. I think it was Fed in our group who stated that it is not our job as consultants who tell a writer if a paper is offensive and to change it, but instead we should bring up our concern to the writer and ask them to go to their teacher for continual help on the matter. I think this is a nice balance between not raising the issue at all and impeding on what the writer wants to convey to his audience: first raise our concern to the writer in session and then allow them to go to their professor to get feedback if the material is indeed offensive or not.
2nd visit to the Boys & Girls Club
I have to admit I was hoping to get more out of these experiences working with the boys and girls club. At our last visit Long and I just pretty much sat around talking for lack of students to work with. We tried walking around to get involved with some other activites going on in the building or atleast to see the dynamics around the building but our efforts were in vain.
I know that these visits to the Boys and Girls Club were not what Prof. Dolson had invisioned, mostly because of the long conversation we had last time after going, but also because its evident that there are many political moves being made behind the scenes. I usually try not to get involved in politics but it seems to me that the original intent of this project--finding pearls of wisdom for the elderly in the community--has been lost; and with it has been our loss of time.
Hopefully in the future Prof. Dolson can work out some of the political kinks the 'higher-ups' have put in place. But for now I have to say that I feel that I did not gain any experience nor insight from working with the boys and girls club.
I know that these visits to the Boys and Girls Club were not what Prof. Dolson had invisioned, mostly because of the long conversation we had last time after going, but also because its evident that there are many political moves being made behind the scenes. I usually try not to get involved in politics but it seems to me that the original intent of this project--finding pearls of wisdom for the elderly in the community--has been lost; and with it has been our loss of time.
Hopefully in the future Prof. Dolson can work out some of the political kinks the 'higher-ups' have put in place. But for now I have to say that I feel that I did not gain any experience nor insight from working with the boys and girls club.
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