ARRGH! It's revision time-exam in 10 days!

[winnybella]

Anyone else? I'm doing A210 Approaching Literature with OU.

Have to revise a couple of novels and plays, pick about 10 poems and figure out what they mean, memorise them etc. And also have a look at theory, critics etc.

I got a decent tma average, but I have been sort of only reading the material that was relevant to them and there is so much of the course material that I skipped.

Need some encouraging stories that I can do it. Anyone else's revising now- for this or other course?

No one?
Am panicking here

Yes you CAN do it. I've just finished my exams and managed to revise 15 novels in 2 weeks, somehow.

Thank you Castle. How did it go? Are you with OU as well?

I think I might just manage, if I study about 8 hrs a day for next 9 days.

I wish I spent more time studying throughout the year!

The revision was stressful, and it was almost a relief to have the exams. I'm not that good at time management, and had only just finished 2 essays. I know exactly what you mean about wishing you'd spent more time studying

I'm not with the OU, I chose to study at a local university, as it's quite good for my degree subject (English and German Literature).

Good luck with the exam, the revision's the worst part, honestly

Getting to the exam and realising that you know absolutely nothing must be worse! Revision is a nightmare. Just the fact that I know I should be studying and not being on here

winnybella you CAN do it! Pick your novels, plays and poems early, and make a page of notes on each of them (bullet points). Memorise the poems if you can (maybe record them on tape and keep playing them?). Cramming intensively can be really good for getting stuff to stick in your brain, so don't worry too much about not having studied more over the year. No-one ever reads all the course material! . Come and post again if you want a discussion about what the poems mean . GOOD LUCK!

Thanks, Bousy.
The poems...so far I only memorised Blake's Tyger, tyger...I have to admit that the whole concept of transcendence escapes me ie Wordsworth, Shelley...but that's probably because I haven't read the coursebook- for the assignments we only had to analyze the poems iyswim.
Arrgh.
And I'm still here.

Yes, that's fairly heavy stuff. Always worth with OU courses being very clear about what you really need to learn for the exam - i.e. is there a good chance that the Romantics will come up? I haven't done your course, but in my course books the key learning points were always very clearly flagged, so a quick skim through might give you the gist of it.

I do love 'Tyger, tyger', though I probably never really understood the full significance - for me, it's all about 'Did he who made the Lamb make thee?' - i.e. how can you square the savagery of nature red in tooth and claw (Wordsword ) with a gentle and beneficent God?

Yes, the Romantics will definitely come up. And Lit &Gender poems. And novels. And plays.

Fuck.

Just read 'Yellow Wallpaper' and relevant chapters in the coursebook.

I can't even face doing the Romantics.

Great Expectations is so long- i've read it but don't remember that much.

Shit.

Great Expectations synopsis

Don't waste time re-reading whole novels, just try to get a few bullets on paper for each of the topics - that way you at least have a grip on the bare minimum.

Thank you Bousy! This is great!

True, I do remember a bit, so just reading that plus establishing themes etc should be fine.
We are supposed to refer closely to the text, though. Not exactly quote but perhaps describe some key scenes that are relevant to the question iyswim, so hmm...it seems some perusing and refreshing memory of certain passages is unavoidable.

I got back my last tma- 2.1 thankfully, because I started writing that essay few hours before the deadline!

Absolutely, refresh a few passages, much quicker than re-reading the whole thing. Well done on your TMA.

I've finished my exams last week (which is why I have time to hang around offering my invaluable advice ) - it's great when they're over and you're suddenly free again!

Arrgh.

Am supposed to be revising. My father called and talked and talked for ages.

I have 7 evenings left. So much to revise.
Have to pick 8-10 poems and get to know them very well. Skim through 3 novels to refresh my memory. Same for 3 plays. And theory etc.

It is now officially a disaster.

Plenty of time. Just work out what you're going to do each night, get as far with it as you can then stop, leave at least one session free at the end to cover anything that didn't get done thoroughly, and you're there.

Thanks.

Ok, will not panic. It's just that it seems everyone else's been revising for at least a month and I'm just starting now.

Right, will do 2-3 poems today plus a bit of theory. Same tomorrow and half Sunday. DP will take care of the kids, so should get time in the day, as well. Then Sunday evening and Monday will go through the novels-I do know them well, but there are scenes to be tied to the themes etc. Tuesday just one play-I think I'll go for an extract question on the exam and we know from which play it will be. Wednesday more theory re Realism etc etc, some critics' quotes etc.

Does that sound doable?

Hi Winnybella,

Sending lots of good luck vibes to you for revision / the e**m. What novels/poems have you chosen?

NCOT

NCOT I'm so sorry I never answered your email re A. Opie! My life has been v.hectic lately. How did it go?

I chose P&P, Color Purple, The Yellow Wallpaper, New Dress for prose plus will have a look at F&S as a backup.

Not sure about the poems yet, a bit of Blake, Wordsworth, Shelley and Keats plus a couple of female ones, probably LEL and someone else.

I think I'll just go for the extract question ie Rover.

How's the course going?

Hi, it's going well. Opie was a pass 1 mark! Seems the more I stress over an essay, the better the grade (and, to be fair, the poem was a load of tosh). Now waiting for no.4 to come back (comparing Byron with Keats. Chalk and cheese come to mind...). Did you see the FirstClass post ages ago last listed loads of old e**m questions? I can mail it to you for practise if you want...

'last listed?' Bah! Too much caffeine!!

Well done! You're on a course for distinction, then!

Is the post by a girl with initials S.H.? If yes, then I have it. If not, it would be great to have it, thanks.

I'm a mess this morning, spent some time studying, poor DD hasn't been out yet, I should take her for at least a short walk.She's watching tv now- bad mummy. Am still in PJs!

The post was by a very helpful bloke - I'll send it to you anyway, just in case... Let me know if it helps

Lovely! Thanks!

Ok am off to get dressed and take dd out.

Oh, this is great! Perfect. Thank you so much.

ARRRGH.

AGAIN. My father called. And. Talked. For hours. It's a long story, anyway, I havent't spoken to him for years before last week and so couldn't get off.

I fortified myself with some wine while listening to him and when he finally got off- guess what, no more willpower to study.

5 days left. I thought I was aiming for a distinction or 2.1, now I'm wondering whether I'll pass at all.

How can I master 8 poems, 2 novels, few short prose text and a play in 5 days. And theory etc. Ok, I have read everything except the poems, but I need to reread some.

I need some encouragment. Pleeeaase.

Break it down into a manageable amount for each day. And take the phone off the hook while you're studying!