I think this is it for draft one!

Good lord, when did I start?!?!?

I cannot look at this anymore. I am too close to it. I have finished draft one and sent to MGJ for insights--all 32 pages. Well, 29 + bib. I even used some footnotes!

The last 2-3 pages seem anemic. That is because they are. I think I am missing some big holes but I cannot see them.

I also committed to my faculty thesis advisor that I would have a better draft to him by first of February. Guess I will!

Can it be?!?!

It is January 6th and I have one last section to write on my thesis. Well, two if you count the conclusion...{+ the part on metaphors}. I spent the past three days with a headache so I ended up working on it for about six hours today. Those two sections, clean up and cite some sources, expand on further questions this proposes, proof it myself, and voila. I will be ready to re-write it after getting input! (argh)

I have to be done with my first draft by the time classes start this week. If not, I think I will be doomed. I was thinking I was going to be laid off in late January/early February and have the gift of time in Feb/Mar to write this. It looks like that will not be likely now. Ergo, I HAD to be in movement on my paper. I am up to 31 pages. That is 10 pages up from just 2 weeks ago! Woohoo! If I proof by this weekend, I can get it to MGJ and VG for feedback. Then to my advisor and the re-writing can begin.

It seems to be never-ending but really, I just started working on writing it 5- 6 weeks ago.

I dream of the June cruise and reading crap novels!

I love this shot from our trip to Rockport, MA

The fun begins...

Let the games begin!
My proposal was approved on 11/7/07.
I was assigned my facult advisor on 11/15/07.
I have plans to write sections between 12/1/07 and 2/1/08, giving myself various deadlines.

Here is what I am up to the next 2-3 months:

I will investigate how the teaching methods of the ancients (Socrates and Plato) have influenced the teaching methods of adults in the 21st century.

I will also explore which methods are still effective in the adult classroom today.
My thesis research study will investigate adult learning theories.

After explaining a few foundational theories in adult education, I will address what teaching methods were used by the Ancient Greeks such as Socrates and Plato.

As a foundation to the ancients, I will also include some information on the pre-Socratics and the poets of the oral tradition.

I will then discuss which of these methods are still alive and well, 2,500 years later in our contemporary day of technology.

If I am not doing these items, then I am not focusing. As my buddy John H. says, "Stay focused on the end game."
Stay tuned!

Almost finished

My thesis proposal is almost done! I gues the third time IS the charm. Currently, my research question is:
"How did the teaching methods of the ancients (Socrates and Plato)
influence the teaching methods of the 21st century and which methods are
still effective?"

I may need to tighten the word "influence" to something more likely to prove....stay tuned!

New research question

I attended a Thesis Proposal Writing workshop on Saturday. I was trying to do too much in my last question and I needed to narrow thing down more. If I may try out my new research question:

Which adult learning theories are of the highest impact when we align the teaching methods of the ancients (Socrates & Plato) to the teaching methods of the 21st century?

I am still a bit broad but the areas I had previously were too WAY too big. This way I can bring in some samples of Plato and Paul if I need to and I can focus on only 1-2 adult learning theories.

From AM: The next idea is how we examine these constructs- either in a qualitative way or perhaps a mixed design - very exciting!

Darn it anyway...

All that work and now I need to start over. I submitted my proposal. It was a "great start" but I was trying to do too much. I need to look at what is it that I truly want to try and do with this thesis. I never really wanted to do Paul anyway!

Back to the drawing board......