Who's doing A210 @ OU?

[NiceCupOfTea]

Hi,

Is anyone else here in the Feb intake of A210 (or October 09, for that matter)? I'm getting into the swing of studying now, not sure if TRN really sank in, tho - TMA02 hasn't come back from my tutor and I can't decide if it's an average essay or just plain c**p, really. It'd be interesting to see how other people got on with it (I did GE, btw). I've got a feeling a bit of moral support is going to be needed on this course...

ncot

Hi

I'm in the Oct 09 intake.

I have to say that you can easily get by without studying too much for the TMAs, but you should keep the exam in mind.

I basically don't study when I should, panic few days before the deadline and write my essay on the day it's due. So far I got Bs for all of them- but the difference betwee A and B is reading outside the course materials, I think.

It's a great course, although apparently it'll be revamped soon- certain parts, like the Lit&Gender are a bit outdated.

FWIW I got my lowest mark for TMA 2, I also did GE. My tutor said I should have picked a few examples and write about them in depth as opposed to trying to include a lot of points in, but then not backing them up with sufficient evidence.

Don't get upset if you get not a great mark,and read carefully your tutor's comments and try to change whatever didn't work in the next essay.

What was the GE question? I don't know if we're allowed to post about that on the internet?- I guess if it's past the deadline, it's ok.

Winnybella,

The Q was about novels critiquing their social world via realist and non-realist techniques using either GE, F or F&S. It was the non-realist bit that foxed me; lots of goth in GE, but not sure about what else. Ho hum... Onwards and upwards (i love cliches). What are you on now? And is lit&gen as dull as it sounds?

Mine was about how GE is or is not a realist novel, IIRC, so also had to provide evidence of realist and non-realist...there's some romance, social satire, grotesque...sorry, I don't remember how relevant this is to your question.

Lit& Gen are alright, my last TMA was on Color Purple, which I mostly liked and it was an interesting subject for the essay.

Frankly, I only skimmed the pages of the texbook, but what I have read does seem a bit dated.

How are you feeling about Romantics? I have never really read poetry before, so it seemed a bit daunting, but actually it was ok.

Are you planning to do a degree?

Just started on the Rom book - seems ok, Bygrave is a laugh-a-minute , feeling fine about the poetry analysis TMA. Planning an Eng|Lit degree with L3 Shakespeare next. Hope all the critics don't suck the enjoyment out of it... Do you go to tutorials?

No, I live in Paris and they don't have them here. We get phone tutorials, but they last only an hour, so they're not not that helpful.
about Bygrave.

This is my first course, next year it's between 19th century novels and Children's Lit, haven't decided yet.

Oooooo Paris! Lucky thing! Do you know what the arrangements are for doing the exam overseas? Have considered 19th century novels and children's lit, but not sure I'm ready yet.

I'll take my exam here on the 17th of June...eeek. I just realised that's 10 weeks away and I have to reread 4 textbooks, memorise 20 or so poems, ideally read more critics etc outside of the programme etc etc.

Scary.

I'm a Febber too, and I did GE - I'm still waiting for it back so I couldn't say if it was good or rubbish yet . I've done the first couple of chapters of the poetry, I like the way it seems to be very slowly making more sense and I must say I'm particularly partial to Blake.

I'm also trying to get an English Lit Degree (did we talk on here before?) and then go on to a PGCE. I'm really enjoying A210, but dreading the exam!

Nightshoe - what do you make of the poem for TMA03? Winnybella - what was your poem for 03 and any advice for us Febbers? Should we just wiffle on about caesurae, enjambment and alliteration, or wot?

I actually don't remember...it was quite obscure...I chose one by H.M.Williams, I think, but we had a choice of three.

You definitely should show that you're familiar with literary techniques etc, but thre's no point to try to talk about every single one you can find.

It's better to choose a few and then really probe them, getting at the meaning it gives to the text.

Thankx Winnybella. Got TMA02 back - not quite as c**p as I'd thought!!!!! Wasn't sure I'd got the point of the question, but it looks like I did, accidentally. Sort of. What a relief!! What are you working on at the mo?

Ibsen...well, I haven't started yet and it's due on Thursday. I read the relevant chapter in the textbook, but I have dvd to watch and cds to listen to...and write the essay. I'm not working at the moment so am at home with dd and in the evenings I'm so tired that I find it difficult to focus on the books.
What mark did you get, if I may ask?
We're not allowed to mention it on the OU forum and I never joined the FB group.

(whispers) I got 85% - I must be doing something right, just not sure what it is! Off to read about the desperate (poetic) romantics now. Good luck with Ibsen, is it the one that's causing so much anxst on FirstClass at the moment? What's the question?

That's great! Congratulations! I'm stuck in 70-80% range, but then I haven't studied much, so it's all my fault.
The question is about possibilities of staging The Dolls House in different periods. Is it causing much angst on FirstClass? I haven't even looked there recently as not to stress.
I found the romantics tmas the easiest, even though I haven't read much poetry before.

Hi All, I'm new on here and saw your chat about TMA03 for A210 NICECUPOFTEA - what do you think of it, I assume it is the Amelia Opie one - I am banging my head against the wall on this one, I just don't get it at all! Maybe we could bounce some ideas of each other I'm still waiting for the return of TMA02 as our tutor has been ill, so I don't even know if I have done well on that to spur me on!

Hi E2010, I've read the AO poem over and over and it's making more sense each time. Not sure about how much context to put in (she's pretty interesting when you look into her life & times) - will ask my tutor next w/end. How did you do on TMA01 & 02?

Winnybella - how did you get on with your Dolls House TMA?

NCOT