Notes from the Academic Writing Workshop

Anything that comes in your mind, write it... 

Start with the first thought in your mind.

Don't worry about the structure, structure will come along.

Edit.. Edit... Edit... Edit... And if you think you've done enough, edit some more. 

Assume that the audience don't know anything and tell them with logic.

Write simply.

Write directly. 

No need to use those big words.

Per paragraph is one idea. 

Write long paragraphs and write short sentences. 

A thesis is about developing an argument.

There are no "facts" but claims of facts.

Integrate ideas... - not a collection of "so and so said so and so" because it sounds like a collection of facts. 

My idea: "Motivation contributes to learning" (source of the idea)

Structure your time. Do not allow distraction.

Give some things up. Decide your priorities. 

When. Where. How. 

Choose a research area. And then write research questions. 

Read a general area and then decide a specific thing to do. 

Is it doable?

Is it useful?

Cheers to Professional Growth!

Just a week ago I panicked due to the information of a friend that as academic service faculties we were required to join professional organizations.

This, put me into a shock because I was not a member of one. 

The organizations I always put in my resume are my student organizations.

Although it is not against my heart and will that I am "required" to join professional organizations. 

I actually have always wanted to join one but I'm just not exposed to these kind of things so opportunities and reasons were hard to find. The interest was there... But life got in the way.

So thanks for the mandatory requirement of my University.... Hehe... I went efforts to look for organizations. I asked my professor how to join this professional organization and he discouraged me to join that org and recruited my in the organization he was currently in.

Long story short...

I paid my membership fee yesterday.

And today...

I got appointed to be a semi-board member😂.

I'm so excited!!!!!!!

Just when I thought I have too many things in my plate... I accepted a task without question. I've been complaining recently how I lack in the socialization department. But I guess I really don't lack psychological needs.. But rather I want a variety of things happening in my life. 

It is an honor to be chosen! 

Grad school... Work... Professional Organization...

I guess my romantic life has to wait. lol I'll worry about that after grad school! 

Thesis first... I'm almost there.

I'm now the assistant to the secretariat of the Philippine Educational Measurement & Evaluation Assessment. 

😂😂😂 excited for my first board meeting.

😂😂 excited to expand my network of both friends and professionals.

Cheers to more good things happening in my life.

Jack of all trades, master of none.

This is what best describes me. I should put this in my resume.

It's not actually derogatory for me because nowadays it's actually a 21st century skill. 

To be flexible and to know how to adapt and to be versatile.

I found out last week I need to join a professional organization as part of my work. 

I've always wanted to join conferences and seminars.

Luckily, I have connections now since one of my close professors just recently became the president of a professional org. And now, I'm more than excited to join seminars and conferences :)

But either way even if I'm not going to be with him I have decided that I'm now in a pursuit to expand my network.

I've been lacking in the socialization department lately and it's driving me crazyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! 

Having a complete desk job really doesn't suite me well I have to find the time to improve my professional growth aside from doing those routinely done desk job tasks. Although bonding with my scholars is very enjoyable. 

I can't wait to attend my first conference and get to see my professor again.

My Pride :)

I admit.

Working full-time did end up eating my time of doing online classes, catching up on education news and even doing my thesis.

But whenever I see the picture below, it symbolizes the beneficiaries of my efforts for the past months.

So proud of them. :)

#AnimoLasalle

Thesis Concept Paper (Part 2)

And so..

Four (4) months after...

I still don't have an approved concept paper -__-

But there is still light at the end of the thesis.

Tomorrow I will submit my 4th concept paper and I am confident on this one!

I also realized I should be changing my gmail emails now to a non-dlsu account because our dlsu.ph e-mail will be deleted soon and I will be in deep trouble because I think I used my blog and twitter with dlsu.ph

Sigh.. where did the time go?

=(

I miss my academic virtual life... BUT I'M BACK and I'm seriously back.

Won't let life get in the way again.. balance is the key.

On a side note... I am sadly not working on MOOC research as my thesis now. Lol the irony... about 11 months ago I got the light bulb idea on using Mooc as my thesis... My new thesis will be working on students benefiting from student financial aid... since.. well.. that is my calling right now due to the nature of my work as a scholarships coordinator.

But I will do research on moocs one day... after my M.A. :)

So yeah, I will still keep my twitter account and blog account.

Besides, I've made so many great academic virtual international friends on here.

One step at a time... the light at the end of the Thesis.

Thesis Concept Paper

May 14, 2014. Ha!!

I'm ready to submit my concept paper.

I woke up at 2am today and realized I fell asleep the night before trying to wrap up my concept paper.

Being a working graduate student is soooo tiring! 

So I didn't go back to sleep anymore and at 3am I started to make the final touches.

And now I'm ready to put it on PDF file so that I won't be tempted to look over it and edit it again.

It's ready for printing and submission!!!!

Just need to wait for about 2 weeks so that it can be evaluated and approved and then I'm ready for enrollment.

Thesis Writing 1 

Here I go. 

Work-Life Balance, what's that?

Sadness...

April is almost over and my last blog post was February 2014.

What happened to my march?

I didn't even post my comprehensive exam grade yet.

And it's one of my greatest accomplishments that I should be proud of.

3.91 out of 4.00!!!!

When I saw it I thought life can be over...

Okay exaggeration because after comprehensive exam I was occupied with my new job as the coordinator for internally-funded scholarships of my University.

Work has been so far awesome. Actually, life has been.

But I should not forget my masters.

So here I am ..

Blogging again..

Because I have to go back to my main priority in life.

My Masters.

THESIS HERE WE GO!

Let's get back to the wagon.

Let's do this, Toni!