Trust the Process...

 





Well, it's been a while since my last blog! I think my module one friends will relate that all focus has been directed towards this essay!

I hope everyone is okay and is getting through it. I know I've had days where I've wanted to throw my laptop out the window, or I've sat there re-reading the essay title about ten times because I completely lost all confidence in what I was supposed to be writing about. But we just keep going!

This is unlike any essay I've ever written, and I've written a fair few in my time. Usually I have everything formulated in my head and planned on paper with a complete vision and direction for what I want to produce, and work through from start to finish with a few tweaks here and there.

Not this time.

I would literally start a paragraph and not be sure where exactly I'd be at the end of that paragraph. And I didn't even start at the beginning; I began with my three areas of learning, used these to help me write an introduction, then wrote about my practice in relation to the three lenses, and then a conclusion. And the bibliography just to make life more fun :)

As I was in the process of writing a paragraph, I would end up searching for more research or coming across new ideas and everything would change again from the notes and references I had. Crazy! 

I'm a girl who likes planning and organisation so writing in this way was definitely an adjustment! But I think that's a good thing because it challenges you to do something you hadn't or couldn't do before, and I think it shows how far we've all come in this short time - anyone else remember the first week when our blogs consisted of us saying, 'I don't exactly know what this course is or what I'll be doing but I'm happy to be here'. We've come so far!!

Now that I've sent my first draft and am awaiting feedback I definitely feel a weight has been lifted and hope that as I continue to develop my essay I have more confidence in what I want to get across and what will help me to position and critically reflect on my practice.


I also now need to turn my attention to the Diagram! I haven't consolidated my ideas on this yet (brain has been full of essay stress) but I'm throwing around ideas of mind maps, mood boards, blocks of text, infographics... As I say, ideas most definitely not consolidated yet!

If anyone has any ideas I'd love to hear them!

Keep going everyone xx





Comments

  1. Alice Pettini3 November 2020 at 09:06

    Hi Roanne, great blog! I have felt very similarly to you whilst wring my essay. One week ago, I spent a whole day mind mapping and essay planning, but when I started my essay I didn't follow my plan at all, which initially added stress because I also love to be organised! I love that you have reflected on how we felt at the beginning of the module, we have come so far and it proves how much we just need to we trust the process!
    I am at the same point as you, still searching for inspiration for my diagram. But the one thing I have learnt from this week is that I don't learn by writing, so for sure I will try to avoid writing :) x

    ReplyDelete
  2. Roanne Cox3 November 2020 at 11:17

    Hi Alice, I'm glad you relate! I know for sure my plans would be made then go out the window, new plans would come and go, and the end result wouldn't be planned at all! It's been an interesting process.
    Yes I think you definitely deserve to hold off on the writing. Maybe by deliberately avoiding it you will come up with new ideas for what you can do instead for your diagram! We'll get there eventually! x

    ReplyDelete
  3. Emily Smith13 November 2020 at 10:40

    Oh my I relate with you so much!! I also wrote my essay out of structure I started with my areas of learning! Then the opening part of the conclusion and then filled in the gaps as I went along!! I am eagerly awaiting my feedback too! But such a huge weight off our shoulders for getting the draft in! I think that's surely the hardest part getting it all out and down on paper to begin with!!! Hopefully our feedback guides us and we will smoothly get our final essay done!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Roanne Cox13 November 2020 at 12:44

      We've definitely got a lot in common there! But I agree getting the first draft down is the hardest bit because then you have a base to work with and improve on!! Fingers crossed the diagram is easier now we've got the essay rolling!

      Delete

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