Thursday, December 16, 2010
Article submitted
Well, I have been absent from my blog mostly because I have been writing and researching. I am VERY Happy to announce that I have submitted my article titled: Teaching Philosophy Statement: Conduit for Preservice Teachers Exploring Hegemonic Ideologies (Bonofiglio, in publication 2010) (yeah... I cited myself :-) wild man)
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
QuickWrite Check-In 11.9.10
I had a productive week writing, which is amazing considering the week I had. My assistantship duties really hindered my writing time and I was not faithful to my scheduled writing times. I had to fit in other times for writing. However, I had some nice downtime this weekend to do some sustained writing. As of right now I have a full framed working draft of my article. I think my introduction is coming along nicely also. The conclusion is another issue. I can't think of my conclusion just yet. I don't work this way and so I am having to side step Belcher a bit. I can't compartmentalize my starting and finishing like this. My conclusion sort of comes to me. I have a conclusion, but the hook of it will reveal itself as I come to it.
Amal and I had a nice writing conference today also. Her work and mine comes from the same theoretical camp in a way. It was nice to talk with someone who has read the same foundational pieces and to be able to read her work and know the foundational pieces she engages in her work as well. She mentioned that she likes my writing style. I appreciated that comment as I've worked very purposefully to connect my creative writing identity with my academic identity and feel this is a constant area of insecurity for me.
What I wish is to have some sustained time to just focus on my article. I am enjoying the writing and how it is developing now. I'd like to give it some substantial time, but I need space to do that in. I need to be able to work with it, step away from it, and go right back to it w/out the outside world distracting me in between. Alas, that is a Utopian dream I fear.
Amal and I had a nice writing conference today also. Her work and mine comes from the same theoretical camp in a way. It was nice to talk with someone who has read the same foundational pieces and to be able to read her work and know the foundational pieces she engages in her work as well. She mentioned that she likes my writing style. I appreciated that comment as I've worked very purposefully to connect my creative writing identity with my academic identity and feel this is a constant area of insecurity for me.
What I wish is to have some sustained time to just focus on my article. I am enjoying the writing and how it is developing now. I'd like to give it some substantial time, but I need space to do that in. I need to be able to work with it, step away from it, and go right back to it w/out the outside world distracting me in between. Alas, that is a Utopian dream I fear.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
I would like to take a day of just writing. I feel like I would like to go away somewhere with just my computer and my article work and write. It is right there and I am highly motivated. I get really irritated when other things distract me from the thinking. I feel almost like this is some sort of weird procrastination thing. It makes me almost not want to get to the writing. I've been forcing myself to sit down on my writing times to do the work. The work included this week reading as well as actual finger to key or pencil to paper writing. It also included some editing. I reorganized my outline and was able to see where different holes were that need to be clarified. This is actually helping to solidify the argument. It is shaping the body of the paper. I feel I have a solid and complete abstract. The abstract is keeping me true to the focus of the article. I often times tend to derail in my writing and go off on my soap-box. I think by having the abstract there, always in my sight, I have a mission almost. Plus, this is what the journal I have selected is expecting to read about. I want to be ready to mail something out by the start of December. I have to stay focused. I also have to chunk out more time to get done.
I am a bit afraid of the first final draft draft. But, also excited. Thus far all of the feedback has been amazingly productive for me. I've never had this level of feedback. I have never had a piece of my work move to this level either. It is exciting. It is exciting to think of what potential is inside of me also. It is fun really. I want to write. It isn't a chore as it has felt like in the past. Some of my other writing feels more "chore" like because it is more about just getting an assignment done. This is not about an assignment it is about actually contributing to my field's conversation. That is why I am here. I am wondering if doing this sort of thing earlier in the PhD program would be of value in the authenticating of our identities as academic writers? Would I have been ready? I don't think I would have been ready my first. Not even sure I would have been ready my second year. So, perhaps this 3rd year was perfect for me. Something for discussion anyhow. But, I digress. I think I am going to go work on my paper in the last couple of minutes :-) of this quickwrite... ciao
I am a bit afraid of the first final draft draft. But, also excited. Thus far all of the feedback has been amazingly productive for me. I've never had this level of feedback. I have never had a piece of my work move to this level either. It is exciting. It is exciting to think of what potential is inside of me also. It is fun really. I want to write. It isn't a chore as it has felt like in the past. Some of my other writing feels more "chore" like because it is more about just getting an assignment done. This is not about an assignment it is about actually contributing to my field's conversation. That is why I am here. I am wondering if doing this sort of thing earlier in the PhD program would be of value in the authenticating of our identities as academic writers? Would I have been ready? I don't think I would have been ready my first. Not even sure I would have been ready my second year. So, perhaps this 3rd year was perfect for me. Something for discussion anyhow. But, I digress. I think I am going to go work on my paper in the last couple of minutes :-) of this quickwrite... ciao
Friday, October 29, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Comparing Outlines
In analyzing my outline along side the model article outline I had an "Aha" moment. One could even say it was a "Duh" moment, but that would be negative and counter-productive. My model article moves its article along by using headings that engage a micro structure of description. We sequentially move along as he describes a natural procedure for implementing Bakhtianian views of language in the classroom for more active student learning and engagement. This is what I want for my article, but I have been stuck in the micro-structure using problem-solution and causation. I want to move to description to tell the story.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Week 10-25-10: TO DO
1. Read Belcher Chapter 6 (Done: 10-22-10)
2. Rework Query- (Done: 10-26-10 and sent to Mary for edits)
* Couldn't do until I gave myself time to rework article: Sunday 10-25-10
3. Outline My article (DONE)
4. Outline Sample article (DONE)
5. Complete Lit Review (for conceptual background support)
Time Writing:
10-20-10: After TE 921 on the way home I had some good thoughts while considering my discussion I am going to have with Susan Thursday. Also, need to work on PPT for practicum talk at advisee meeting which is aligned w/this article. 10pm-11:20pm (watched TV)
10-21-10- wrote in my office a lot in the morning: 10:15-11:20; 2:30-3:40 (some of this time I was working on my power point)
10-22-10- Mostly just worked on my powerpoint in between my busy day. Didn't keep track. I took the night off since it was a special family night. Had a great advisee meeting with really productive feedback on my practicum. So, some questions to think about in considering the TPS: what is my goal for the pre-service teachers, concerns working with my own interns etc.
Weekend was a wash except for Sunday. I had to read for 921 on Saturday and had family obligations. Sunday I worked on article thinking about the comments from Mary and Lisa. Totally new outline for article. I'm feeling a little bit more in control, but at the same time I feel like I am not sure how to open myself up to the "conceptual" part of this. I am having a hard time just letting myself be free to write. Are conceptual pieces suppose to be harder or is this just my insecurity? I worked on "writing" and "staring" for about 2 hours off and on because I would get up and do dishes, cook, sit on the couch etc. when I felt a bit overwhelmed.
Today: 10-25-10
11:45-1:00 - Wrapped up query sent off to Mary. Abstract also redone will repost to wiki when I hear back from Mary on query since it is similar in language.
2. Rework Query- (Done: 10-26-10 and sent to Mary for edits)
* Couldn't do until I gave myself time to rework article: Sunday 10-25-10
3. Outline My article (DONE)
4. Outline Sample article (DONE)
5. Complete Lit Review (for conceptual background support)
Time Writing:
10-20-10: After TE 921 on the way home I had some good thoughts while considering my discussion I am going to have with Susan Thursday. Also, need to work on PPT for practicum talk at advisee meeting which is aligned w/this article. 10pm-11:20pm (watched TV)
10-21-10- wrote in my office a lot in the morning: 10:15-11:20; 2:30-3:40 (some of this time I was working on my power point)
10-22-10- Mostly just worked on my powerpoint in between my busy day. Didn't keep track. I took the night off since it was a special family night. Had a great advisee meeting with really productive feedback on my practicum. So, some questions to think about in considering the TPS: what is my goal for the pre-service teachers, concerns working with my own interns etc.
Weekend was a wash except for Sunday. I had to read for 921 on Saturday and had family obligations. Sunday I worked on article thinking about the comments from Mary and Lisa. Totally new outline for article. I'm feeling a little bit more in control, but at the same time I feel like I am not sure how to open myself up to the "conceptual" part of this. I am having a hard time just letting myself be free to write. Are conceptual pieces suppose to be harder or is this just my insecurity? I worked on "writing" and "staring" for about 2 hours off and on because I would get up and do dishes, cook, sit on the couch etc. when I felt a bit overwhelmed.
Today: 10-25-10
11:45-1:00 - Wrapped up query sent off to Mary. Abstract also redone will repost to wiki when I hear back from Mary on query since it is similar in language.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
10.19.10 In Class Reflection
Hello Dear Academic Writing Self~
Epiphanies are nice when they happen. They lend themselves to very nice learning and windows to wisdom. I have realized this week that when I am feeling overwhelmed I don't necessarily shut down, but I go into a form of auto-pilot. The interesting thing though... my mind doesn't stop "writing". I think I can actually write while dreaming. I kid you not! Problem: it doesn't always make itself to paper...which reminds me I had a great thought this morning and forgot to write it down. This is a HUGE problem! So, in regards to this course and the purpose of this quickwrite or my participation in sitting here in this classroom. How did my week(s) go. Aside from enjoying football watching time and plenty of family obligations, I had some moments of true productivity, but not with Belcher. I can't seem to work with Belcher AND be totally productive in my article work. I can't seem to multi-task with the documentation tool (i.e. my calendar) and stay faithful to my writing. I can reflect on my writing time, which I will do here.
______
While working on editing my query letter and after talking with Mary I was very productive in working on my abstract, arguments and query. Mind you, none of these are done, but they helped me work on those chunks of my actual article. I found that when I was struggling with tightening up any one of those documents I would go back to my article and work on that argument in the article. Sometimes this would lead me to some reading, or a quote I needed to elaborate on or get rid of. This helped me to see that actually quotes in my paper were a problem. Yes, Belcher did help me see this also. Although, Belcher also gave me a mini shut-down moment thinking about writing a lit review, which sent me off into another world for about 2 days: The world of the lit review genre and what that means for an article. I left that world on purpose and I left it without anything to bring home as evidence I was there outside of a folder of articles that might be reminiscent of a suitcase of travel sized bottles of toiletries.
Epiphanies are nice when they happen. They lend themselves to very nice learning and windows to wisdom. I have realized this week that when I am feeling overwhelmed I don't necessarily shut down, but I go into a form of auto-pilot. The interesting thing though... my mind doesn't stop "writing". I think I can actually write while dreaming. I kid you not! Problem: it doesn't always make itself to paper...which reminds me I had a great thought this morning and forgot to write it down. This is a HUGE problem! So, in regards to this course and the purpose of this quickwrite or my participation in sitting here in this classroom. How did my week(s) go. Aside from enjoying football watching time and plenty of family obligations, I had some moments of true productivity, but not with Belcher. I can't seem to work with Belcher AND be totally productive in my article work. I can't seem to multi-task with the documentation tool (i.e. my calendar) and stay faithful to my writing. I can reflect on my writing time, which I will do here.
______
While working on editing my query letter and after talking with Mary I was very productive in working on my abstract, arguments and query. Mind you, none of these are done, but they helped me work on those chunks of my actual article. I found that when I was struggling with tightening up any one of those documents I would go back to my article and work on that argument in the article. Sometimes this would lead me to some reading, or a quote I needed to elaborate on or get rid of. This helped me to see that actually quotes in my paper were a problem. Yes, Belcher did help me see this also. Although, Belcher also gave me a mini shut-down moment thinking about writing a lit review, which sent me off into another world for about 2 days: The world of the lit review genre and what that means for an article. I left that world on purpose and I left it without anything to bring home as evidence I was there outside of a folder of articles that might be reminiscent of a suitcase of travel sized bottles of toiletries.
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