Whether the Weather be: A Few Clouds (59F/15C)
In the News: Posthumous Jackson album to be released (Source: Cover Media).
Events of Note: Unit 4 continues.
* Well, it's mildly comforting for me to make the realization that the proverbial light at the end of my tunnel isn't actually that of an oncoming freight train. Still, mid-way through this Term, I'm feeling less than sanguine about where I'm situated with school. That said, I'm a perfectionist, which can be to my detriment, at times. Although I'm a writer, I'm less than confident when it comes to accepting that I may have an audience, some day. In fact, that I do at all on any given day. Much less, that they might actually be interested in reading anything that I've written. A crisis of confidence in my own creativity, I guess.
* By extension, I am not a quiz or test taker, by nature, nor by design. Up to a certain point, I have a photographic memory, which serves me well with basic, visual memorization. Last night, I dreamed the figurative illustration of the "Rule of Nines" for A&P. When I was writing my thesis, I dreamed my illustrative figures, as well as my 150 word abstract on a regular basis. In talking with my Departmental colleagues at the time, this seemed to be a fairly common occurence.
* With my weekend now half-gone, it's time for me to have some relaxation. I'm going to put together a package for my family/whanau back in New Zealand. My daughter has two little cousins, Arwen (5 years) and Sophia (1 year) who just love getting fun, family, fan mail from us here in America!. Thanks to prompt air-freighting and no more surface mail any longer, a parcel takes a little under 10 days to reach the South Pacific. According to my mother, each of our parcel arrivals is greeted with enormous excitement-bigger than (dare I say it) Christmas!. Typically, it's the little treats that I think of including that are what is most appreciated. Some pretty little trinket, book or picture that I've managed to locate, that captures a special mood or a unique moment. I miss many different and random parts of life in "En-Zed". Running on 'island time' (not to be confused with PST, either), Pineapple Lumps (a chewy candy made with real pineapple juice, and covered in real milk chocolate), the geographical closeness of the big surf waves with the alpine snows, the quirky, part-Maori humor-a little bit self-deprecating, a just little bit snarkastic...
* Physically, I'm holding my own, in so far as I don't push myself. Listening to my music really, really helps me mentally. I think that I'd go a different shade of stranger, if I didn't have that alternative reality to temporarily escape in to when things get rough on me. I have to go back to my PCP (primary care provider) again on Monday, which might determine how pear-shaped my subsequent week becomes. One more reason why having Seminars on Mondays really messes with me. Just have to make the best of it, is all.
* My husband is home from work after a 14 hour day, so I'd better go and see what we have for our dinner menu, tonight. My daughter is feeling better, after a rocky night herself, last night.
Have a great Saturday night, all!. See you on the Boards!.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Unit 4 Blog Response
Word Min(d)ing: Why I Do and You Should, Too.
When I first started as an undergraduate English major, much was made of the MLA (Modern Languages Association) style format that we used to cite our secondary sources. Our tutors and professors were extremely strict about us absolutely adhering to correct citation. No exceptions nor oversights. Good, thorough note-taking in the research and preparation of our papers was considered to be just as important as completing the paper itself. Even peripherally, I almost invariably heard of the scandals of those students who fell spectacularly from grace, after being found guilty of findings of plagiarism, which almost always resulted in outright failure and/or dismissal and permanent exclusion from the University. Such dishonesty could cast a long shadow over a Department for quite sometime. Particularly distressing, were those students who 'lifted' entire passages and even chapters from well-known academic texts, with the intent of presenting the material as their own. New Zealand being a much smaller academic community, also made it nigh on impossible for such disgraced students to continue on in any capacity, at any university. Later, as a graduate Public Health student, the style and citation requirements changed to APA, which I found easier compared with MLA in some purely techinical respects. To me, APA just flows better, is all.
If there is one, single experience in academic writing, that offers a true appreciation of the significance of carefully citing sources, it is writing a Master's or PhD thesis. A thesis repreesents a significant body of work. It's hundreds of pages long. And, you thought writing ten pages was hard?. Try writing mechanically sound multiple numbers of chapters!. Chapters which are subsequently written, re-written...and re-written, again. As with Dr. Sands, I am not saying that from some elitist 'ivory tower' sort of a standpoint. When you carry out your own, independent research for the purposes of writing a thesis, you're handling so much different material. Knowing and acknowledging the difference between all of those different threads is crucial. You're developing your own, original contribution to a thesis toipic, and distinguishing yourself from what has already been written on the subject, as well as critically reviewing the research that has happened before your own. It can seem overwhelming, but it's part of being a scholar. This process adds weight and significance to your work and sets you apart, as well as alongside, everyone else who is also a member of your academic discipline.
I can only imagine what must go through an author's mind when they find that their ideas, words and/or images have been 'kidnapped' or stolen. It would be gutting. Really. Not giving credit where credit is due is dishonest. Not to mention, disheartening. If I found it had happened to me, I would document it, and report it to whoever had published the material in question.
Periodically, on the websites where I write, the issue of online or electronic plagiarism flares up. Because the internet's boundaries are that much more fluid, and indeterminate in some ways, I think that people do push the boundaries. However, there are also a lot of people writing on the internet, who have never had formal training in acknowledging their sources. Just as in real life, there will always be people who challenge and flaunt authority. Further, determining exactly what consitutes free and fair, may also be open to subjective interpretation. I think that the online environment still has a ways to go in figuring out a code of conduct that works for most users and the material they put 'out there'.
Please-give credit where credit is due. It's not that I don't mind. Oh, I do. And, if you value writing, then you should, too!.
When I first started as an undergraduate English major, much was made of the MLA (Modern Languages Association) style format that we used to cite our secondary sources. Our tutors and professors were extremely strict about us absolutely adhering to correct citation. No exceptions nor oversights. Good, thorough note-taking in the research and preparation of our papers was considered to be just as important as completing the paper itself. Even peripherally, I almost invariably heard of the scandals of those students who fell spectacularly from grace, after being found guilty of findings of plagiarism, which almost always resulted in outright failure and/or dismissal and permanent exclusion from the University. Such dishonesty could cast a long shadow over a Department for quite sometime. Particularly distressing, were those students who 'lifted' entire passages and even chapters from well-known academic texts, with the intent of presenting the material as their own. New Zealand being a much smaller academic community, also made it nigh on impossible for such disgraced students to continue on in any capacity, at any university. Later, as a graduate Public Health student, the style and citation requirements changed to APA, which I found easier compared with MLA in some purely techinical respects. To me, APA just flows better, is all.
If there is one, single experience in academic writing, that offers a true appreciation of the significance of carefully citing sources, it is writing a Master's or PhD thesis. A thesis repreesents a significant body of work. It's hundreds of pages long. And, you thought writing ten pages was hard?. Try writing mechanically sound multiple numbers of chapters!. Chapters which are subsequently written, re-written...and re-written, again. As with Dr. Sands, I am not saying that from some elitist 'ivory tower' sort of a standpoint. When you carry out your own, independent research for the purposes of writing a thesis, you're handling so much different material. Knowing and acknowledging the difference between all of those different threads is crucial. You're developing your own, original contribution to a thesis toipic, and distinguishing yourself from what has already been written on the subject, as well as critically reviewing the research that has happened before your own. It can seem overwhelming, but it's part of being a scholar. This process adds weight and significance to your work and sets you apart, as well as alongside, everyone else who is also a member of your academic discipline.
I can only imagine what must go through an author's mind when they find that their ideas, words and/or images have been 'kidnapped' or stolen. It would be gutting. Really. Not giving credit where credit is due is dishonest. Not to mention, disheartening. If I found it had happened to me, I would document it, and report it to whoever had published the material in question.
Periodically, on the websites where I write, the issue of online or electronic plagiarism flares up. Because the internet's boundaries are that much more fluid, and indeterminate in some ways, I think that people do push the boundaries. However, there are also a lot of people writing on the internet, who have never had formal training in acknowledging their sources. Just as in real life, there will always be people who challenge and flaunt authority. Further, determining exactly what consitutes free and fair, may also be open to subjective interpretation. I think that the online environment still has a ways to go in figuring out a code of conduct that works for most users and the material they put 'out there'.
Please-give credit where credit is due. It's not that I don't mind. Oh, I do. And, if you value writing, then you should, too!.
July 31, 2010
Whether the Weather be: Cloudy/foggy (45F)
In the News: Earthquake in Iran (CNN).
Events of Note: Unit 4 in full tilt.
* Oh, what a day! (oh, what a night!). This morning, my daughter and I set out with (what I'd thought) was the modest intent of wrapping up her ballet lessons for this week. Which, we duly did. After which, there was an awful lot of sidetracking and distractions. She has been feverish for much of the day, and for all of tonight. It's 12:53am, and I am still sitting up working and writing, having only just gotten her settled enough to sleep in our big bed. My husband's watching her now (while propping his eyes open with something-who knows what). So, I've only just posted my initial response to DB. Typically, I prefer to do this by Friday at the latest, but life had other plans in mind, today.
* One highlight of today amidst all of the chaos, was a visit from a marine biologist friend of ours, who is off on a tall ships expedition to study and survey a large ocean-based/bound trash heap off the coast of Hawaii. She was here, sorting through my husband's vast collection of recycled and pre-loved food service quipment and supplies to acquire some much-needed donations for the ship's galley. I so envy her impending adventure, although I don't begrudge her night-watches perched atop of that rigging!. My brother-in-law and his girlfriend stopped by, too, which was fun, although it was hardly Summertime visiting weather.
* Oh, and I absolutely had to go grocery shopping-and I got horribly overcharged-and had to go back to the grocery store and have them put some money back on my card because of it!. Ack!.
Well, I'm heading out for some shut-eye. I'm getting too old for burning candles, besides. Tomorrow?. Research. Oh, joy!. I so need a better social life!.
In the News: Earthquake in Iran (CNN).
Events of Note: Unit 4 in full tilt.
* Oh, what a day! (oh, what a night!). This morning, my daughter and I set out with (what I'd thought) was the modest intent of wrapping up her ballet lessons for this week. Which, we duly did. After which, there was an awful lot of sidetracking and distractions. She has been feverish for much of the day, and for all of tonight. It's 12:53am, and I am still sitting up working and writing, having only just gotten her settled enough to sleep in our big bed. My husband's watching her now (while propping his eyes open with something-who knows what). So, I've only just posted my initial response to DB. Typically, I prefer to do this by Friday at the latest, but life had other plans in mind, today.
* One highlight of today amidst all of the chaos, was a visit from a marine biologist friend of ours, who is off on a tall ships expedition to study and survey a large ocean-based/bound trash heap off the coast of Hawaii. She was here, sorting through my husband's vast collection of recycled and pre-loved food service quipment and supplies to acquire some much-needed donations for the ship's galley. I so envy her impending adventure, although I don't begrudge her night-watches perched atop of that rigging!. My brother-in-law and his girlfriend stopped by, too, which was fun, although it was hardly Summertime visiting weather.
* Oh, and I absolutely had to go grocery shopping-and I got horribly overcharged-and had to go back to the grocery store and have them put some money back on my card because of it!. Ack!.
Well, I'm heading out for some shut-eye. I'm getting too old for burning candles, besides. Tomorrow?. Research. Oh, joy!. I so need a better social life!.
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