I'm scared of my essay, can somebody help e GET A GRIP??

[HamblesHandbag]

Long story short:

I finished my course (PGDip) last summer. And shortly afterwards received the certificate, Whoop! Applied for jobs.

It turns out that this was an administration error and I hadn't actually passed and I'm not qualified as X.

I failed two essays from my last work-based placement and they need completely re-writing. I cried for a fortnight - DEVASTATED/MORTIFIED/EMBARRASSED. Then ignored the work until "after Christmas".

I've NEVER failed anything before and average marks are mid 60s (ranging from 50s-70s).

However, now I'm not in the workplace or in lectures, I feel lost and scared of my essays. They sit growling at me from my desk. Most days I fanny around avoiding them. WHY??

This is so important if I want a career in X.

thank you thank you thank you seriously, you've all really helped.

I am going to go and start (again) now. And I will dig out my library card for monday.

I'M GOING IN!!

I'm really glad you're going to get this done and going into the Uni is the first step. Please make sure that they know you need some support. You (or the state) have paid for this course and have passed everything else so it is in their interest to help you through now. They won't want a fail on their records.

Did you belong to the students union? They may have some useful advice for you so it would be worth speaking to them

Yes you can do this. I once had 900 words left to write for an MA essay. If I didn't write it I wouldn't get the MA. I worked out the astronomical amount it would cost me per word if I didn't do it. Then finished it at about 5 words a time!

Hopefully after you memories resurface, you'll be able to reconstruct your client list so you'll have the practice to connect with the theory.

Pinkpussycat - it's always the very last bit that is the hardest! So hard to maintain the momentum when you only have weeks to go.

Hambles - congratulations on your pregnancy.

I am sure the uni would have been a tad worried that you were working as a qualified social worker without actually being a qualified social worker!

I had completed my 2nd year placement (BA in Social Work) but moved and discovered I was pregnant for 2nd time during my degree! So I still have 7 essays to complete before I can complete my second year. So much so, that it has now taken me one a half years to complete these essays (the baby I was pregnant with is 19 months now). There is more to it, but my uni have been lovely, especially since this is the second/third time I have deferred.

Like you, trying to get down to do the essays is sooo hard. I now have four kids and just keep putting it off as a lost cause. I started again 2 days ago and just came on mn for some inspiration!! Found your post.

So, if I can do 7 essays, you can surely do 2 little ones. Especially if they are placement ones. They are not academically marked so shouldn't be too hard.

In my second placement, my practice educator told me she wasn't too sure about one of my essays in my portfolio. She asked me to ask a tutor to look at it. I gave it to one of my lecturers and she said she would have passed it with a mid 50's mark, if I referenced some reading on same sex relationships. ie discrimination. Tutor gave me the books to reference it with.

The uni should help you now.

I am astonished because if that portfolio doesn't pass you are up shit creek. How did noone notify you? What about your practice educator? He/she tells you if you have passed? Are the Uni saying it has been an external verifier (sp) that has questioned those essays?

Sorry I know I have waffled, maybe since you are clearly not doing a ba or ma it is completely different.

Anyhow, good luck, you can do it. Two easy peasy non academically marked essays. You got so far, just a teeny bit more now.

thanks Tricky, and yes, two teeny tiny easy peasy essays... I WILL do them!

just to clarify, I'm not working yet - I wasn't successful in any of my job applications (and there weren't that many to apply for in my field).

My practice educator passed my portfolio and the uni markers failed it. I was notified by e-mail, but wasn't checking for this as last year we were notified by letter.

I did the MA route and stopped at PGDip (the only difference between them is for MA you do the dissertation).

Good luck with your work, it's so much harder working around children isn't it?

HamblesHandbag - ok I understand the situation a bit better now.

You really can do it! I can tell you how worth it it is. I have also gained qualifications with three children, it has been incredibly hard but the sense of achievement is huge.

Keep us updated and we will continue to encourage you!

Oh than you Belgo. I'm going to GET A GRIP!

Have you started yet Hambles?

I have written about half of one, but it's poor quality.

So on friday I stepped back from it and started looking at it as if it's new and sketched out some ideas of theories to cover.

I now need to make some notes again. Bloody half term will mess that up!

but I am feeling more positive about it, thanks to you lot.

Pleased you are feeling positive. Do you know anyone on your course or even from your Uni, who has completed the same portfolio as you? I presume the essays make up part of your portfolio.

You have probably thought of this,or maybe don't want to ask anyone. I had emailed my portfolio to a couple of people on my course who hadn't managed to complete theirs at the time.

I have also forwarded my essays onto some and vice versa.

Anyhow, you prob don't need to do anything like that, as you will be full of theories, perspectives and critical analysis now, and in absolutely no need of inspiration.

Kids and half terms are not a good combination. Good luck.

Sounds good handbag. When you get writing again, do not think about the quality while writing the first draft - concentrate on getting it down on paper. I used to find having a crap radio programme on at the same time helped, as my critical voice would then critique the programme, and not my writing. I appreciate that this strategy may not be for everyone. I think it may relate to possible ADD.

The best essay writing tips I ever got were:

1. Formulate the title as a question; the essay then answers the question. Writing this question out and having it in front of you as you write helps to keep all points relevant.

1. Tell them you're going to say it; say it; tell them you've said it.

May be of no help, but good luck

Works for presentations, too :)

Tether - I love your number 2. I will keep that in mind.

tether's tip, I mean