2nd draft is upon me

On 2/16, I got feedback from David:  

"This is a fine first draft.  I'm impressed.  I encourage you to stake the strongest and clearest set of claims you can and argue vigorously for them.  I also encourage you to find out more about the history of the University and of education.  Does it matter to your argument that the University is an invention of the middle ages, a time when Europeans weren't reading Greek literature, even in translation?  I've suggested some materials for you to look at.  You'll find others as well.  Talking more about your own sense of vocation as a teacher would strengthen your argument as well.

Excellent progress!"

I am now in progress of diving deeper into the questions he asked in his feedback.  I got more books from the library yesterday to address the things, based on his recommendation.  I also realized that the work on something like this can never truly be complete.  At some point, good enough will have to be good enough.  

Another tidbit is that I realized there is a theme in the area of my interest:  Adult education.  Maybe and Ed.D. would be ok to pursue?  I prefer a Ph. D. in a content area but we shall see.

Today I am focusing on my paper for Tragedy since my Hinduism paper is done (draft 1).  I also have Antony & Cleopatra to read so I better get busy instead of sitting here in my blog!

I also met with Arieahn this week (after my meltdown).  I have 2-3 courses to propose, working up course descriptions and objectives.  (Leadership Lessons from Literature, Communicating Across the Organization, and Implementing Corporate Training Programs).  Time to get busy!

I turned it in!

My cleaned up draft went to my advisor Sunday night 2/3 while the Patriots were losing the Super Bowl. 

Next stop:  Hyde Park to meet with David!

In summary....

A colleague recently asked me what I have learned from the writing of this paper. I found it to be a very interesting question. I have learned a number of things and I have reinforced a number of things that I thought I knew and now have the history and the scholarship to support that knowledge. A primary lesson in this has been the reinforcement that my job is to facilitate learning. It is not to be the “sage on the stage” and impart wisdom to the students. I have learned that I can add my voice to the process, yet my voice will help students find theirs. Dialogue is a critical component not just to higher education and adult learning theory but also to life itself. The practice of dialogue builds relationships and it is a critical art. Rhetoric as a tool can be useful. When information that is logistic or process oriented in nature, rhetoric is a necessary tool. The use of rhetoric in teaching what I do when teaching the Learning Assessment Seminars at DePaul University can be both dialogue and rhetoric; it is not bad to be both.

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!