BLOG ENTRY FOR TUESDAY 22ND JULY

After a long break from blogging, due to holiday, I have had the luxury of reviewing and revising my work after a signifcant break from it. It is always useful to put aside any piece of writing for at least two or three days before giving it a final proof reading. However as my draft still needs a lot of work, this time away gave me a chance to reflect on the purpose and key arguments explored in this literature review and I have therefore made some different choices about the form, order and content of this review. I feel that it is taking some shape now and after a further two or three revisions, I will have a more final version. As always, any comments or questions about this revised work will be welcomed.

BLOG ENTRY FOR WEDNESDAY 14TH MAY 2008

This week I have rewritten this literature review. I have attempted to show the process of rethinking which I’ve engaged with and I’ve also tried to show that rewriting is a messy process, which it certainly is here. Have re-read this literature review now, it seems somewhat disjointed and there are lapses in some of my thinking. This is always the case with first drafts of my writing as it tends to take me several attempts to get my writing into good shape. But the process of writing academically can be seen as a struggle to sharpen thought and understanding. It is impossible for me to write perfectly in the first attempt – I need at least 4 or 4 goes.

Next week I will upload my latest rewriting which will include some reworking of the power of the text and other reading strategies useful to students. Any comments on these areas or any others, would be gratefully received!

BLOG ENTRY FOR SUNDAY 27TH APRIL 2008

I’ve now completed the first draft of my online literature review. Having had a chance to read it through, some of it appears to be disjointed and will require quite a lot of editing in the rewriting process. In my rewriting I tend to make changes to the whole so I can begin to get a sense of the argument that I’m making throughout, which in this case is as a socio-political activity embedded within a widening participation context. I have attempted to show how non-traditional students can find themselves outsiders to the university’s habitus, but will need to do more work on this to make the argument structure stronger.

I would welcome suggestions from fellow bloggers of effective reading strategies they have utilised – please post comments as soon as possible!

BLOG ENTRY FOR FRIDAY 18th APRIL

This week I finished off adding the QOOQRRR reading strategy. I have decided that I need to draw on further reading models from a wider variety of literature than I had initially considered. Therefore, next week’s submission will cover 2-3 other methods of reading. However, the models I use are open to negotiation – if any bloggers out there have any suggestions for useful reading models, please let me know!

The problem I am going to have with this literature is the word count, which I am in danger of exceeding already. My approach will be to finish the initial write up and then start editing and making sounds links between each section as some of them appear a bit disjointed. Any suggestions from fellow bloggers on making links between sections and any areas that could be edited will be well received!

BLOG REFLECTION FOR APRIL 11th 2008

This week I have attempted to re-structure some of the literature review so that the relevant blog reflection links are under the corresponding writing – I hope this makes it easier to navigate. Any comments on the current structure would be gratefully received. I’ve also added in a draft bibliography which still needs a few references added to it but is largely in place. Finally, in terms of writing, I’ve looked at one of the key reading strategies, in an attempt to highlight the extent to which this sort of strategy can be empowering for both non-traditional and traditional students. Whilst this sort of method can seem perhaps mechanical, I’ve argued that it can be a way in for students who are less confident in their academic writing; after all, the quality of the reading and subsequent note making tends to impact on the quality of academic writing. Next week I intend to finish off the first draft and then turn my attention to the re-writing process. Any comments or questions would be very helpful.

BLOG REFLECTION FOR APRIL 2ND 2008

A key point that was raised by Joelle, was that my writing in this literature review has been in a linear style. I think this is really important as it reflects my own shortcomings about a) my preference for presenting more polished writing and b) my penchant for undertaking drafts using old fashioned pen and paper… not an ideal approach for undertaking an online literature review I hear you murmur! However, despite these limitations, I have attempted to be reflexive about them and to try and present my work in its most foetal stages. Next week or at the latest by the week after, I intend to finish my first draft and will then undertake the process of re-writing, which I hope will illuminate the extent to which my thinking has evolved throughout this process, partly due to the reading I have undertaken and largely due to all of your comments. You should certainly start to see your ideas incorporated in the rewriting process. As for writing in linear fashion, it’s something I naturally have tended to do.

BLOG REFLECTION FOR FRIDAY 7TH MARCH 2008

This week I have attempted to consider the role of coursework in this literature review, arguing that non-traditional students, with their responsibilities outside of university, can struggle with the levels of reading that universities tend to require, largely because of an unacknowledged paradigm shift towards coursework. It seems to me that if non-traditional students as well as traditional students can utilise practical study skills, then it can help them critically engage with their work more quickly.

I have often found that the hard part about studying is getting started and that if I can just have a method, it will allow me to get going. I may well change what I do – which is also an important point – but I still need a starting point. Being a flexible learner, and have a variety of study skill resources as part of your academic tool kit is perhaps the most practical and useful advice we, as tutors or fellow students, can give.

Comments?