BLOG REFLECTION FOR THURSDAY 28TH FEBRUARY 2008

This week I have attempted to think about the ways in which non-traditional students are positioned by their text books. Drawing on Foucault’s notion of discourse, I’ve attempted to begin unpacking the power relationships between the student and the text, highlighting how non traditional students tend to be subordinate to the text.

You will notice that in this text I have a reference I need to check up on. A good tip when you are in the flow of your writing is to make notes like this and to check up on references afterwards so you don’t lose your focus. It’s a minor point, but worth sharing!

In reply to a request from Sandra for a brief biography I’ve provided a very small snapshot of whom I am and why I’m writing. I hope this allows you to contextualise my work!

BLOG REFLECTION FOR FRIDAY 22ND FEBRUARY 2008

This week I’ve attempted to start the rewriting process and have taken the theoretical concepts as my starting point for this. I wanted to evolve the writing on the basis of further reading I’ve undertaken in the area of Bourdieu. The writing process is constantly evolving, and I would argue that only by writing, critically reading the writing, reflecting on the writing and then rewriting can you get a sense of any gaps in the writing. Although quite a bit of my second attempt remains unchanged, I have attempted to sharpen up my theoretical focus. Next week I move on to consider the next two headings; the power of the text and the role of coursework.

Fellow bloggers – comments and /or questions on the rewriting process are welcomed.

BLOG REFLECTION FOR FEBRUARY 14TH 2008

This week I have attempted to define who non-traditional students are and the ways in which they can be affected by widening participation policy. This is turn raises the question of study skills; if universities are tending to recruit more non-traditional students, those who perhaps do not possess the necessary cultural capital to achieve their full potential at university, then it seems probable that their study skills (of which reading is key) will need to be developed. Now that I have my first three headings written, in draft form at least, I can start to review and amend and consequently refine my paper. The process of writing a first draft, whilst often painful (and this was no exception!) has provided me with a basis from which to improve – watch this space!

BLOG REFLECTION FEBRUARY 2008

This week I’ve attempted to start the writing process around my key concepts and policy backdrop. I’ve used the key theoretical concepts outlined in this essay before, so am familiar with them and consequently, my writing may seem quite polished. However, I intend to rewrite these sections as the weeks go on and my thinking evolves. I often find it difficult to start something new, and therefore I may take small chunks of writing from related and good quality pieces writing that I have previously undertaken in order to avoid staring at a blank page. I find it much easier, when getting started on something new, to evolve an existing piece of work, than to start again from scratch. Perhaps that explains why to some extent I see writing as a sort of jigsaw puzzle, which just needs the right pieces slotted into the appropriate places and then it will work.

Fellow bloggers – please comment on key policies that you think may be more relevant to this writing than widening participation policy. However, if you think widening participation policy is relevant at this time, then please say so!