sigerson: (stabbity!)
[personal profile] sigerson
I have first drafts for both papers.

Neither draft could be handed in at this point--aside from paragraphs like "insert transition here" and "make this point better", they suffer from serious structural flaws at the moment. I couldn't even show them to friends for critique yet, the arguments are so sloppy. But now...Now I have clay to work with, words to shape and revise, opportunity to sit, restructure, and rethink.

The first round of rewrites will be structural. Should I cut this concept? How do I shape what I'm saying so it makes sense? Am I missing a portion of the argument? Does this paragraph belong here or there? Did I forget to prove part of my thesis?

The second round is improvement. Have I fully said what I wanted to say? Are there better ways to say it? Do I need to restate the argument halfway through to keep the reader with me? Does this need a better transition? And where did that citation go?

The final round is finesse. Is this language overblown? Did I miss a comma? Is this sentence too alliterative? Why did I start the last five paragraphs in the same way? Have I got everything on the Works Cited page?

Both are due Friday.

I like working this way. Partially because I'm lazy and don't like working for ten hours at a time on the same thing, and because this means I get decent amounts of sleep and breaks. But also because I'm training myself to work consistently, over periods of time, building up with a plan.

Oh, I'll still panic when I turn them in and have that wave of "everyone is smart but me!" feeling. But I think...I think these can be A or A- papers. And what's more, I think I'm getting used to writing, and I liked these topics. I even think I might try and write a paper over the summer.

The icon is pretty much just to show it off, not because I'm stabbity at my papers.

Date: 2006-05-15 12:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] shellaby.livejournal.com
It seems like you have excellent time management skills - will you teach me your mad skillz? Good luck with the papers!! *hug*

Date: 2006-05-15 01:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ltlbird.livejournal.com
Wow. Several rounds of editing... I guess that's why I am not cut out for academia. I think 2 rounds is the most I ever, ever did. I am impressed with both your thoroughness and the organization of your plan for it. As well as your discipline. Go you!

Date: 2006-05-15 02:52 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] magdalene1.livejournal.com
I really like your description of process!

Soon you too will be standing over Tokyo in your bloodstained sweater, triumphant in the Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny.

Date: 2006-05-15 10:06 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] sigerson.livejournal.com
Does this mean I get to spray gore at the camera? Rule!

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