a "doc" chronicle

Last Friday I had a perfect day: concentrating and working on the dissertation all day.

In preparation for this, I organized myself during the week, completed all my job tasks by Thursday and decided to continue with anything left on Monday. During the week I did minor tasks: looked at my notes, jot down ideas, organized my documents, and set my mind to have a dissertation day. Once I sat down to write I turned off the radio, so my mind would not wonder around the news, trying to reduce to the minimum any distractions. While in the process of writing I looked at my notes, reread sections of previous chapters to connect ideas and interpret the data set, paced a little to organize my ideas, and kept going back to my writing. I followed the outline I had prepared for the findings chapter closely.

I remembered my research professor saying many times how important it was for her to have a writing day and tried to follow her advice. I also remembered my advisor saying how important it is to write – once on paper, revisions are easier to make, and a draft is closer to its end.

Yesterday was another dissertation day. Although I was not able to do as much as I wanted, writing almost two pages – the introduction for a new section that I just started – I did move a step closer to the end. My mind is full of ideas that want to be on paper. I dream about it all the time.

So during this coming week I’ll try to find and take time to continue working on my dissertation, not only in preparation for next Friday, but also to add more to this section so that Friday becomes another perfect day.

P.D. My dog Canela is sick, so please send some positive energy on my way for her to get well soon.

Labels: dissertation writing, findings chapter, outline

Going over the Methodology and Methods chapter and the first set of notes that I wrote for Chapter 4, I wrote an extensive, very detailed outline of possible headings and sub-headings for this chapter. With this my work looks more manageable. A step at a time is evident and I can concentrate on a small section. I know it will change as I get immersed in the data set and try to interpret it. I think that Gergen’s principles and Gee’s methods will provide insightful ideas for the findings subheading. I also consulted with my advisors. Their comments and support is very important in this process.

Labels: advisor, chapter 4, outline, support system

Using an outline to write chapter two helped me a lot to organize my ideas. I used the subtopics as section headings, dividing the text by topic, and making it easier to read. As I worked through it, I made changes, renaming a section or moving sections/subtopics around. The outline really helped me to organize the chapter contents and to tie in one section with the next. It also helped me when writing because I was able to add an idea to a different section the moment I thought of it, even complete sentences, that I was able to use later on or modify as needed.

I tried to follow Roberts' and Dr. Dawson's recommendations, worked with the editions Dr. Telg gave me during my proposal presentation, also used Dr. Mirka's strategy. That is, writing sentences or ideas on a piece of paper, wherever you are, saving them in a special place, and when it comes time to write, reviewing what you have and using what is appropriate at the moment. All in all, I think chapter two new draft is much better, although I know I might have to work more on it. We'll see what happens when the new revisions come in.

As the week unfolded I worked more and more hours each day. I had that feeling, that I was finishing chapter two and really wanted to make it true. My husband took care of the kitchen and cooked lunch and dinner, so that I could continue working on the dissertation. I remembered my friend Dina when she was writing chapter four, and how she needed to take little breaks when writing. I had to too, specially if I felt I was going to get a headache. Just walking a little, or crocheting a few minutes, allowed me to clear my mind and go back to work.

So, a new draft of chapter two is out. I made a list of what I still need to do, including those things I have started and not finished, and taped it on the wall by my desk. I organized my desk and placed all the journal articles about Writing in Mathematics in a folder, so that I can easily find them later on, when I work on more revisions and when I update the reference list. Cleaning my desk as much as possible, leaves space for chapter four data, my next main task.

Now I don't know if its because I have worked many hours this week, or because I have that feeling of finishing something that I don't feel like working today. But I will push myself to work at least one period of two hours. Little by little you can accomplish so much! I know that, and I push my self to do just that.

I am moving ahead and it is scary and good at the same time! :-)

Labels: outline