Head Office of the November Procrastinators General

[schroeder]

November thread started [√]

Complete this week's work [x]

Hello everyone. I've been avoiding this thread for the last few days as then I would have to admit that I am not writing my essay. I'm past the extension. Think I'll email the tutor and say that I won't submit.

I think I might have found the reason for at least some of the procrastinating and brain fog- had blood test and apparently have subclinical hypothyroidism-so not the real deal, but it can affect some people quite badly.

Voila! I'm not really lazy, it's just my thyroid. Not my fault

Schroeder - Would that be the 'great man' theories then? Born not made etc?

Er Keynesian I don't think so. ( I hope not because I don't what you're on about )

I'm pretty cross actually, I've had a reply from my tutor which is purely a quote from the rubric, which I have obviously already read.

Am I to take this reply as meaning he is not willing to give any further advice, that I should have gathered the specific meaning of 'early' in this context without any guidance.

If it is the case, I think it would be better to tell me that, rather than just copying and pasting a bit of blurb, that doesn't even answer the bloody question!

Still in misery this morning. (is too late to change courses do you think?)

I have just reactivated my facebook account in desperation and some kind person has posted their tutorial handout which has revealed the answer to what is early? (Gramsci or earlier apparently)

My Tutorial was very short and not very relevant am very miffed with my tutor who is a git, in my view, of the highest order of bloody gits.

How is everyone else doing?

That is odd: Gramsci is 20th century ffs, hardly 'early'!

In the absence of tutorly guidance on this, I'd address the issue of what 'early' means briefly in the essay itself, in the 'defining terms' part. Sometimes it's a tricky/ambiguous term like that in the question that gives a clue as to the meat of the answer, but I don't know what the exact question is so might be talking crap.

you can do it schroeder!

I am not sure I can, am in a right old state. I just don't understand what they want from me. I really don't know what to do.

I don't know anyone on the course to talk to and my tutor is worse than useless, in fact his reply to me just got me all riled up, so I couldn't write anything.

There is nobody on my tutor group forum and they have shut down the main one, not sure why.

I'm off to see what course I could transfer to.

Can I help? I'll PM you.

bloody hello schroeder what a blow! Your tutor does sound a bit of an arse.
Do you really think you'll change courses? Hopefully proles will have some good advice. Chin up

He is not my favourite person at the moment no.

I'm trying to cobble something together, not sure what to think about the course as a whole, I really don't want to do a course that starts in Feb because that would mean having to study in the school holidays and a possible overlap in October.

The trouble is my tutor group is tiny and we're not meeting very often (my tutor lives in another country) If he isn't going to be forthcoming with advice-then what is the point? What am I paying for if not some kind of support?

Thankyou for your kind words and yes proles has gone above and beyond today- I was on a bit of a precipice this morning.

You know I've been thinking. OU is kind of hit and miss with tutors isn't it? My tutor last year was really good - reminded me of one of those teachers at school who would always go the extra mile and just brought a spark to the learning.

One of my tutors this year is also good, but the other one seems lazy and his heart is not in it. Same thing as with schroeder, silly and self evident "advice" given via email. I am still waiting for my first TMA back...it will be 14 days tomorrow from the date I submitted. I realise the turn around is within 14 days but it just says so much...every other tutor has returned TMAs within a few days. Ooh I wonder if he is a procrastinator? Maybe he's posting on "tutorsnet" now, on their procrastination thread

Anyway, OU - when it works it is great, but it takes just the smallest thing for the whole experience to be soured somewhat or maybe that's just me.

900 words so far this morning, have just switched the 'putor on, s'funny I just cannot write at a computer screen, it comes out so slowly, I need my A4 pad and cartridge pen.

You are right straw the right tutor can make all the difference, as can a good tutor group to chat with, I don't think I have either this year, although it's probably too soon to tell about the tutor group.

The thing that really bothered me about my lack of tutorials and crappy c&p-ed answer to my query, was that when I went on stupid facebook there were all these people on the same course, getting longer and more frequent tutorials and useful handouts. Jammy bastards.

I need to get typing if I'm to acheive my aim to have a massive in my hand by 8pm.

Well done on the progress schroeder

I've found that fellow students are usually happy to share tutorial notes and other tips they've gleaned from tutorials if you have a less than forthcoming tutor, so it is worth hanging out in the facebook group for that alone, I think.

I never had a bad tutor with the OU, but some were definitely more enthusiastic and supportive than others. Some tutors are very strict about not giving out advice about TMAs though aren't they (on the grounds that those who can't attend tutorials would be disadvantaged, I think).

Eugh. For the first time ever I am not glad of my early finish at work on a Friday, because I have to go home and transform my 1000 shit words into 3000 erudite, properly referenced and coherent ones. By midnight. DP has promised me a big treat if I get it all done though.

It's about whether the translator's main responsibility is as a reader or as a writer and how the roles of reader and writer are different for a translator as opposed to a normal reader/writer. It's all academese and bollocksy at the moment, although DP said I explained my argument to him really clearly when I was saying it out loud the other night. I had had a bottle of red wine by then though.

3000 words is any of it allowed to be waffle?

I have oft wished I could just burble out what I mean under the infuence of and that would do the job. Surely all they want to know is that we did the work and understood it? But no I've got to produce a big essay that is written beautifully in the correct academic style and all that shit and I just don't wanna.

(Have achieved the required 2000 for my tma, just the stupid references bibliography crap to do now)

DONE. I now have the biggest glass of red imaginable.

It's not beautifully written, but all my ideas are there in some way/shape/form.

Hope you're doing ok with your referencing!

well done Persephoney and schroeder!

Yes, well done you Friday finishers!

No one is in crisis at the moment then? I'm just about to be...why, why, why do I put things off? I'm happily faffing about Christmas shopping but I have a mountain of work that is about to turn into an avalanche and I'm doing the la la la fingers in ears thing.

When is your deadline strawb?

Deadline is 13th BUT I am going away tomorrow and won't be able to work while I'm away really due to childcare, then MIL is coming to stay and will need entertaining and I'll have DS with me all day from 9th, so in reality, I need to get cracking now if I have any hope of making the deadline. I'm getting that feeling of rising panic because I know I've got about 4 clear days between now and the 13th - well I have the evenings too, but is nothing sacred ?

Ok then time to crack on and make an imaginary deadline for a day or 2 before you are due to go away.

Will that work for ya or does it have to real? (goes off in to fantasy of father ted-like booze and fag fueled all nighter)

How is everyone getting on?

I have achieved bugger all this week as ds has been off poorly.

Who wants to start the december thread? with a better title than this crappy one of mine

Hi Schroeder, how is DS now?

I'm ahead of schedule... Just goes to show what extra time there is available if I'm not going down to the South West every or every other weekend to see DH... and the weather's been crap for cycling and gardening. My favourite displacement activities! ! Hmmm...

I've recently joined a mentoring scheme/trial at uni so maybe it's having to 'report in' so to speak that's motivating me! :o

On the mend thanks, just a cold.

Ahead of schedule! I remember being ahead of schedule once.

It has just occurred to me (as DS went out to buy his GF an advent calendar)... I have done absolutely nothing toward Christmas!

I have just had this realisation today aswell it is december tomorrow!