These are two words that I don't ever want to hear again. I plan to forget I ever heard them at all. Even my professor said he tried to study these concepts but eventually gave up because his mental health insurance wasn't that great. Also, my infatuation with historiography is over. This is unfortunate because I have finally learned to spell it.
Tonight the professor told us that writing is about failing. I was glad to hear this because I am no longer able to write; my brain has become useless for the purpose of writing about history. I think part of my problem is that I am used to writing narrative and now I have to write analysis. I'm having trouble with this concept and I think it is mostly because I'm scared silly. Ever since we discussed these bizarre ideas (to me, anyway) in the title, I have been absolutely out of my mind. I can't think straight at all anymore when it comes to writing the primary source paper that is due very soon. I'm afraid to write a single word because I'm sure I will be doing it all wrong.
On a more positive note, I made A's on my historiography test and my book review, as well as on my kiddie lit mid-term and my Ozarks history mid-term. So, all is not lost. At least not yet.
8 comments:
Congrats on the A's and good luck with the rest! I feel your pain. I have not started my paper for Archaeology yet. I hate history and ancient history hates me apparently! Writing is about failing? Whoa??? I don't understand. Was he trying to encourage or discourage you? I hope it encouraged you regardless! Hang in there!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks, Nicki! Yes, he was trying to encourage us. It is good to know that failure is a normal part of the process. It's just a part of the process that I am not accustomed to!
Ok, that is good to hear! Sorry! My fried brain has been a bit of a ditz lately!! Still haven't started the paper!
I hear you, girl! Sometimes you can think too much and it gets in the way of writing! I feel the same way about history. I think it's because it's not really analytical - it's factual. I like to analyse, not plough through facts. You know you can do it though.
Ha! My lit crit prof has similar feelings about stucturalist criticism and deconstructive criticism. this ought to be a fun unit. I'm glad I found your blog!
Nice to meet you, leenthebean!
Try writing an outline.... OR try writing a rough draft. Then show it to your instructor OR another class member. You don't have to follow my advice. I just wanted you to have some options if you needed them. Good luck, and share what happens, won't you? I'll bet you do just fine.
Oh - and congratulations on the great grade!
E.,an outline and a rough draft were both required for the assignment. Also, we are critiquing each others papers. It's been a long process, but I think it will help make us better writers. We turn in the final version next week.
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