Sunday, April 27, 2008
A General Update
This evening I finished taking notes on the final book on my major field list, a detailed examination of the national laboratory system in the U.S. between 1947 and 1974. With that out of the way and my two minor field lists completed last week, I am now done reading the 200 or so books and articles included on my reading list for generals.
This is simultaneously a moment of great triumph and terrible dread.
My exam is in a week, so in a sense I am actually ahead of schedule.
In another sense, this is arguably going to be among the seven most stressful days of my academic career as I try to anticipate what questions my various professors could pose during the five day gauntlet that is the general examination. I intend to make copies of previous exams from a folder in the history department offices tomorrow and then start brainstorming possible essay topics.
There are likely to be between 6-8 essays, a total of 12,000 words maximum written between May 5th and May 9th. Although I have written plenty of essays in the past, normally, I don't have to worry about this sort of intense time pressure. Given that this examination determines whether or not I stay in my Ph.D. program, it would be a real shame to come down with writers' block. So the plan is to outline at least 2 possible essays for each of my three fields. I'm not planning to do a detailed outline of the kind I have preferred in the past, wherein I basically end up writing a full draft longhand with a mechanical pencil and a stack of old-fashioned college-rule. More likely, for the sake of time (and my own sanity...what little of it remains), I will go through my notes, compile a list of viable sources, try to array them in a logical order and then write an introductory paragraph complete with well-crafted thesis statement. Since I typically find the introduction to be the most difficult section of the paper, this tactic will hopefully obviate some of the normal frustration I feel staring at a blank word processing document and the blinking cursor ticking the seconds away. Plus, once I push over that first domino and have all the other sources in place, the rest of the essay-writing should flow in a straightforward fashion.
The plan is not ideal. After all, my professors are unpredictable and there is no guarantee that the questions I outline will in fact be on the exam. On the other hand, however, this strategy the best I can devise based on the factors over which I have control, and I think it strikes a good balance between writing 6 full draft essays and just making a list of books for an infinite array of potential topics.
And if all goes well, I'll be so busy coming up with brilliant ideas for my general exams that I won't feel compelled to go online as often. Which is about as perfect a way for me to end this blog post as any, so I'll sign off for now.
(1) comments
This evening I finished taking notes on the final book on my major field list, a detailed examination of the national laboratory system in the U.S. between 1947 and 1974. With that out of the way and my two minor field lists completed last week, I am now done reading the 200 or so books and articles included on my reading list for generals.
This is simultaneously a moment of great triumph and terrible dread.
My exam is in a week, so in a sense I am actually ahead of schedule.
In another sense, this is arguably going to be among the seven most stressful days of my academic career as I try to anticipate what questions my various professors could pose during the five day gauntlet that is the general examination. I intend to make copies of previous exams from a folder in the history department offices tomorrow and then start brainstorming possible essay topics.
There are likely to be between 6-8 essays, a total of 12,000 words maximum written between May 5th and May 9th. Although I have written plenty of essays in the past, normally, I don't have to worry about this sort of intense time pressure. Given that this examination determines whether or not I stay in my Ph.D. program, it would be a real shame to come down with writers' block. So the plan is to outline at least 2 possible essays for each of my three fields. I'm not planning to do a detailed outline of the kind I have preferred in the past, wherein I basically end up writing a full draft longhand with a mechanical pencil and a stack of old-fashioned college-rule. More likely, for the sake of time (and my own sanity...what little of it remains), I will go through my notes, compile a list of viable sources, try to array them in a logical order and then write an introductory paragraph complete with well-crafted thesis statement. Since I typically find the introduction to be the most difficult section of the paper, this tactic will hopefully obviate some of the normal frustration I feel staring at a blank word processing document and the blinking cursor ticking the seconds away. Plus, once I push over that first domino and have all the other sources in place, the rest of the essay-writing should flow in a straightforward fashion.
The plan is not ideal. After all, my professors are unpredictable and there is no guarantee that the questions I outline will in fact be on the exam. On the other hand, however, this strategy the best I can devise based on the factors over which I have control, and I think it strikes a good balance between writing 6 full draft essays and just making a list of books for an infinite array of potential topics.
And if all goes well, I'll be so busy coming up with brilliant ideas for my general exams that I won't feel compelled to go online as often. Which is about as perfect a way for me to end this blog post as any, so I'll sign off for now.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
"If you have an election lasting more than six weeks, consult a doctor..."
Ok, folks. Today is the Pennsylvania primary, the first major milestone in the 2008 presidential campaign since...well...the last one about 6 weeks ago.
The polls are relatively close, but it seems likely that Clinton will beat out Obama, by at least 5%, enough for her to proclaim a victory and justify continued participation in Indiana, North Carolina, and so on, all the way through to Puerto Rico and the convention.
However, pending some blatant finagling of delegates or a sudden rush of superdelegates, such a victory can not overcome the mathematical advantage in pledged delegates in the Obama camp.
Nevertheless, the media circus and the mudslinging into which this campaign has long since devolved will continue, perhaps until November.
I take great comfort in knowing, however, that the United States is not alone when it comes to flawed electoral processes. After all, things aren't going so well on that front in Zimbabwe either. For those keeping track, the Zimbabwean presidential elections were held almost a month ago on March 29. For the first time, the country's president Robert Mugabe seemed to be in danger of losing control over the government he has ruled since Zimbabwe declared independence in 1980. Accusations of vote fraud, ballot tampering, and intimidation have all been voiced by members of the opposition, and right now it seems highly unlikely that despite the economic and political mess Mugabe has created and his lack of popular support, he may be sticking around a little longer.
So now, I will ask one question, and leave the floor open for you to respond:
Who will drop out of their respective election first? Hillary Clinton or Robert Mugabe?
Personally, I'm betting on Mugabe...but we'll see how things go after the polls close in Pennsylvania.
(1) comments
Ok, folks. Today is the Pennsylvania primary, the first major milestone in the 2008 presidential campaign since...well...the last one about 6 weeks ago.
The polls are relatively close, but it seems likely that Clinton will beat out Obama, by at least 5%, enough for her to proclaim a victory and justify continued participation in Indiana, North Carolina, and so on, all the way through to Puerto Rico and the convention.
However, pending some blatant finagling of delegates or a sudden rush of superdelegates, such a victory can not overcome the mathematical advantage in pledged delegates in the Obama camp.
Nevertheless, the media circus and the mudslinging into which this campaign has long since devolved will continue, perhaps until November.
I take great comfort in knowing, however, that the United States is not alone when it comes to flawed electoral processes. After all, things aren't going so well on that front in Zimbabwe either. For those keeping track, the Zimbabwean presidential elections were held almost a month ago on March 29. For the first time, the country's president Robert Mugabe seemed to be in danger of losing control over the government he has ruled since Zimbabwe declared independence in 1980. Accusations of vote fraud, ballot tampering, and intimidation have all been voiced by members of the opposition, and right now it seems highly unlikely that despite the economic and political mess Mugabe has created and his lack of popular support, he may be sticking around a little longer.
So now, I will ask one question, and leave the floor open for you to respond:
Who will drop out of their respective election first? Hillary Clinton or Robert Mugabe?
Personally, I'm betting on Mugabe...but we'll see how things go after the polls close in Pennsylvania.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Living the Dream
One major shortcoming of life here at Old Ivy, beside the imposing reading load, is the general lack of entertainment in town. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of shops and restaurants, but by the time a typical grad student leaves the library most of those are closed. There's a movie theater, but it only shows two movies at a time, and if you've seen (or don't care to see) both then you're in a bit of a rut. Perhaps most disheartening for me personally has been the lack of a weekly pub quiz. Not that I always attended such activities on a weekly basis when I lived in a big city with multiple trivia related activities on any given night...but it was nice to know it was available.
Here there is one bar with a pub quiz and they hold it once a month. I've organized a history department team and we've done pretty well for ourselves. Unfortunately, the bar's quiz master retired last month and it looked like there would be no more pub quiz for the rest of the year.
This would have been cause for frustration, but a friend of mine let me know the situation and we came up with a plan. And now, tonight, after years of attending pub quiz events, he and I will be graduating---no longer will we be mere mere players...now we are the quiz masters. The theme rounds, the mystery theme rounds, the generally random knowledge...all under our control.
I'm quite excited, but have not been able to tell anyone. I figure if I tell my teammates that I won't be able to play, they may be less likely to attend because they think (WRONGLY) that I am solely responsible for our successes. So I'm going to just treat it like any other quiz night, send out my standard e-mail, and see who shows up. We'll see how things go after that.
The questions are written, the prizes have been purchased, and answer sheets are printed. Tomorrow will mark a return to general exam studying, but tonight is going to be a blast.
(Possible update on how things go forthcoming...)
UPDATE (4/18): The quiz went very well, and as a friend suggested afterwards it might have actually been the most fun I have had in months. I think I may actually like hosting pub quizzes more than playing in them, and not just because of the ready access to free beer. No, I enjoy the creativity involved in writing the questions, making sure that there's diversity in the subjects covered while simultaneously trying to strike a balance in overall difficulty. And I like reading the questions and bantering with the crowd. It reminded me of my old college radio show, only with more alcohol. I was informed after the game that people enjoyed the questions and the hosting skills of both myself and my co-quizmaster as much if not more than the previous holder of the position. And yesterday as I was walking to class, a random grad student greeted me with a friendly, "Hey, Trivia Man! You're a celebrity." To which I could only reply, "Thanks!" I'm already looking forward to next month's quiz. I almost wish I could host again next week. (I've already written the questions!) But with general exams coming up, it's probably best to hold off until next month to focus on my reading.
(1) comments
One major shortcoming of life here at Old Ivy, beside the imposing reading load, is the general lack of entertainment in town. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of shops and restaurants, but by the time a typical grad student leaves the library most of those are closed. There's a movie theater, but it only shows two movies at a time, and if you've seen (or don't care to see) both then you're in a bit of a rut. Perhaps most disheartening for me personally has been the lack of a weekly pub quiz. Not that I always attended such activities on a weekly basis when I lived in a big city with multiple trivia related activities on any given night...but it was nice to know it was available.
Here there is one bar with a pub quiz and they hold it once a month. I've organized a history department team and we've done pretty well for ourselves. Unfortunately, the bar's quiz master retired last month and it looked like there would be no more pub quiz for the rest of the year.
This would have been cause for frustration, but a friend of mine let me know the situation and we came up with a plan. And now, tonight, after years of attending pub quiz events, he and I will be graduating---no longer will we be mere mere players...now we are the quiz masters. The theme rounds, the mystery theme rounds, the generally random knowledge...all under our control.
I'm quite excited, but have not been able to tell anyone. I figure if I tell my teammates that I won't be able to play, they may be less likely to attend because they think (WRONGLY) that I am solely responsible for our successes. So I'm going to just treat it like any other quiz night, send out my standard e-mail, and see who shows up. We'll see how things go after that.
The questions are written, the prizes have been purchased, and answer sheets are printed. Tomorrow will mark a return to general exam studying, but tonight is going to be a blast.
(Possible update on how things go forthcoming...)
UPDATE (4/18): The quiz went very well, and as a friend suggested afterwards it might have actually been the most fun I have had in months. I think I may actually like hosting pub quizzes more than playing in them, and not just because of the ready access to free beer. No, I enjoy the creativity involved in writing the questions, making sure that there's diversity in the subjects covered while simultaneously trying to strike a balance in overall difficulty. And I like reading the questions and bantering with the crowd. It reminded me of my old college radio show, only with more alcohol. I was informed after the game that people enjoyed the questions and the hosting skills of both myself and my co-quizmaster as much if not more than the previous holder of the position. And yesterday as I was walking to class, a random grad student greeted me with a friendly, "Hey, Trivia Man! You're a celebrity." To which I could only reply, "Thanks!" I'm already looking forward to next month's quiz. I almost wish I could host again next week. (I've already written the questions!) But with general exams coming up, it's probably best to hold off until next month to focus on my reading.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Even Dr. Zaius couldn't save him...
He held his own in The Ten Commandments.
He was great in Touch of Evil.
But he'll always be Taylor to me.
R.I.P. Charlton Heston.
(Barring something unforeseen my next post will not involve death! Stay tuned...)
Update: YouTube is a cruel entity at times. 24 hours later and YouTube removed the Simpsons clip. Please enjoy this clip which, sadly, is not at all inspired by Falco.
(1) comments
He held his own in The Ten Commandments.
He was great in Touch of Evil.
But he'll always be Taylor to me.
R.I.P. Charlton Heston.
(Barring something unforeseen my next post will not involve death! Stay tuned...)
Update: YouTube is a cruel entity at times. 24 hours later and YouTube removed the Simpsons clip. Please enjoy this clip which, sadly, is not at all inspired by Falco.
