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Original poster

PROCRASTINATORS over here. Brand new thread for October.

175 replies

winnybella · 25/09/2011 21:59

How was everyone's summer?

So...after having sniffed our new lovely course books, did anyone start yet on actually reading them?

This year I'm doing A215 Creative Writing and A300 20th C. Literature. Full time, then. And I'm supposed to go back to work within next few weeks Hmm After having procrastinated terribly last year and barely scraping by I am somewhat erm, well, I'm rather panicking about managing it all this year.

Let's start moaning about our first assignments!

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wildstrawberryplace · 05/10/2011 09:51

Actually, just remembered I did take a photo of my revision!

Pic on my profile.

Original poster
winnybella · 05/10/2011 10:25
Grin

How was Enlightment to Romanticism, by the way? I have to take it next year, I think.

Re: A215 posters, I looked last year at the old First Class forum where they had posted their work and tbh most of it was pretty dismal, so I'm holding on to the thought that my TMAs won't be the only ones the tutor will be chuckling to herself about

Yeah, it was 11.30pm for us here in Paris. Finally I turned off the light and fell asleep and DP came to bed at 1.40am and she was lying there playing with DS's old laser (lots of noise, lights flashing type) gun Hmm Bizarrely, she was ok this morning and happily trotted off to the nursery, but I feel sorry for them as no doubt she'll be a bit of a nightmare later on.

Right, I've got to finish this application letter, really need to do it now...

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schroeder · 05/10/2011 11:55

I did from enlightenment to romanticism last year too.

I hated it to be honest, but everyones different. I went into it hoping for history, but it was very bitty with each book (and there was 7 -8 I think) needing you to master a completely different dicipline, so there wasn't really much of a progression.

I learn't more about Opera, Poetry, Philosophy, History of Art, Architecture, Science, Methodism, Social policy, Literary criticism and Slavery than I had expected (or wanted) and somewhat inadvertantly picked up some historical knowledge too. Hmm

It's rather a clever course; it gives you an interseting way of looking at the period and there were parts of it I was interested in, but nothing in it was straight forward, especially the TMAs which all seemed to be particularily obtuse.

Like I say you may like it-many people on the the forums raved about it, but I know I wasn't alone in being frustrated.

One tip I woud offer is to pick and choose which topics you cover; it really wasn't neccersary to cover them all in the same detail. As long as you study the stuff for the TMAs, you can use the same stuff again for the exam. I studied very diligently a whole load of stuff I was never marked on.

Crikey sorry for the long post-good procrastination though Grin

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Prolesworth · 05/10/2011 11:58

Grin at your revision photo WSP

wildstrawberryplace · 05/10/2011 12:36

Well I had the opposite experience to Schroeder of Enlightenment to Romanticism - I thought it was great. I thought it was very well planned and organised - my 2 courses this year seem a bit bitty and wobbly in comparison. But mainly once it "clicked" after the first TMA, I thought it was brilliant and I actually found the TMAs quite interesting (apart from the Humphrey Davy one). I think whoever wrote the course was touched with genius. It's a gem for literary types.

Also, I think it is a dream for procrastinators - like Schroeder said, no need to study the whole thing although of course one would start off intending to (Grin). I really fell behind, just gleaned the info I needed for each TMA without reading the set texts, and when the advance notice of exam topics came through I picked subjects I had done my TMAs on and didn't bother with the rest. Apart from the prac. crit. which was nobchops Byron so I had to read Canto III of Childe Harold and make notes on it etc.

But I would recommend it thoroughly, especially if you like culture, history of ideas, literature etc.

Original poster
winnybella · 05/10/2011 14:52

Argh. Just tried my hand at freewriting, inspired by one poster's example of her effort which was full of free associations, jumping from one thing to another, interesting imagery etc.
Mine went along the lines of "fuck, it's late, I haven't done anything useful today, I've got to pick DD up from nursery in 30 minutes, oh damn, need to find out about swimming classes for DS, gah, I'm so fucking lazy, why is he making so much noise, just want to lay down and everyone to leave me alone for a bit...' Grin

I think focused freewriting might be more of my thing Hmm

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Original poster
winnybella · 05/10/2011 14:53

Oh, and thanks for the From E to R info. Sounds great.

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Prolesworth · 05/10/2011 18:06

winny, have you read any of Natalie Goldberg's stuff on writing? She's brilliant on morning pages etc

schroeder · 07/10/2011 11:02

Proles, how am I ever going to manage to do an essay by the 22nd?

This is tough, talk to me about the cold war will ya? I need some interaction and I don't know anyone on this course and the OU forum has only 1 post and that's from the tutor. Hmm

Prolesworth · 07/10/2011 11:56

oh I know, they give you hardly any time to get that first TMA done Confused

What's the TMA question about this year? Mine was "What does the cold war tell us about the importance of political ideas?"

schroeder · 07/10/2011 12:09

Sounds pretty similar- 'What do differing interpretations of the Cold War imply for our understanding of the role of ideas in politics?'

I've spent ages writing stupid notes in the little boxes only to find that they do not save because of the way I have to run the thing through Chrome because the OU are so behind the times it does not work with windows 7 Hmm

2000 words I've forgotten how to write and it's half term soon.

Prolesworth · 07/10/2011 12:13

I know what you mean - I didn't bother using those little boxes to make my notes because I was often working on different computers (and the notes are saved locally in a text file).

I know the question seems really huge and general (remember rocking in a corner gnashing my teeth over that one myself) but it's not too bad once you get going, honest! You can do it Brew

schroeder · 07/10/2011 12:50

Oh you are lovely- I feel a bit better.

I have just written the question at the top of my paper and wrote a bit of an out line like that. Grin

I just got the fear then for a minute.

How's everyone else getting on?

Original poster
winnybella · 07/10/2011 15:02

Seems like quite an interesting topic, schroeder- I think it's just that 'first assignment of the year panic.' I'm sure once you'll start you'll be fine Smile

I have sent my CV out to the temp agency I used to work with once, didn't hear anything back yet.

Had a look at the TMA1 guidelines for the Creative Writing.

Made a white bean soup.

Took a shower.

Talked on the phone.

And now it's time to go and get DD from nursery.

I'm hopeless.

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wildstrawberryplace · 10/10/2011 13:46

So, it looks like this year is going to be a good vintage for my procrastination.

I have one hour before the school run and have done zilch work, despite having intended to spend today getting caught up with last week's stuff.

I can sense a bit of a theme here Hmm

Still I do have a shiny sink and clean linens and duvets after today's displacement activities.

schroeder · 10/10/2011 14:31

Hi everyone I have done about 45 mins (pathetic). But I have been to sainsburys and stocked up on bubble bath. Hmm

It is amazing the sheer quantity of bubblebath that is consumed in this house. Confused

Curlybrunette · 11/10/2011 20:23

I've got an exam on Monday and panic is creeping in. I've hardly revised and right now am sat on MN whilst watching one tree hill. WTF

schroeder · 11/10/2011 20:54

Right Curly have you got a plan?

If you just do a bit tonight-get your notes organised or something you'll sleep better for it I think.

You can do it Smile

said · 11/10/2011 21:06

What course curly? Agree that even just doing the famous revision timetable displacement activity will focus the mind a bit on what you need to do.

schroeder · 12/10/2011 15:13

How are you doing today Curly?

Feeling better?

I have got hardly anything done; I spent ages trying to turn my coursework cds into mp3s I don't know if I'm stupid or they are protected-pah will dig out old cd walkman and do it that way.

Then I stupidly printed out a load of stuff I have already got

So that was worthwhile.

Original poster
winnybella · 14/10/2011 22:07

This thread's become very quiet...Is no one procrastinating?

I am

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schroeder · 14/10/2011 23:18

I'm procrastinating where evry bugger else is I know not.[hhmm]

Maybe doing their corsework lik ethey're supposed too [hshock]

schroeder · 14/10/2011 23:19

Shit am a bit tipsy [hsmile]

wildstrawberryplace · 15/10/2011 11:46

I've been double procrastinating, ie avoiding the thread as it reminds me that I'm procrastinating Hmm

Original poster
winnybella · 15/10/2011 14:27

How are you getting on with A215, wildstrawberry? I did couple of freewrites and that's it. Otoh everyone on the OU forum seems to be either an accomplished writer or a very enthusiastic student Hmm

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