procrastination- how do you get over it?

apoorstudent

I sympathize! How about this one "Meaning is context-bound, but context is boundless". That was a quote used as an exam question I had yesterday (Discuss etc. at the end). Hmm... difficult trying to break that one down!!

^ Eh, why do they do it!?

I had an exam today... I think it went ok actually. I only revised 2 out of 10 topics, but thankfully the little that revised was on the exam!

Tallulah22

why do they do it?? In regards to writing questions out so mind boggling

well done in your exam

apoorstudent

Tallulah22 wrote:

why do they do it?? In regards to writing questions out so mind boggling

well done in your exam

Hah, oh crap. I understood what you meant... I thought I'd quotes Oompa Loompa but obviously not!

And thank you Just another 4-hour exam to go on Thursday, then 2-weeks of freeeeedom!!

Tallulah22

im on my weeks freedom now, have no exams now and i start lectures as of Monday. Best of Luck on Thursday

jago25_98

The language is created to create the academic society.

Careful you aren't already institutionalized.

In the end I gave in and started using the same arrogant language. It can work nice for you. The examiner picks up on your language and things go your way.

There is proof of this. A computing graduate once submitted an article to a Geology journal and got it published. Not such a big deal until you relise the paper was written by a computer program using lexical patterns and jargon!

byb3

go to the library, you can't get distracted there because the only distractions are work.

scorpio_princess

studentphil wrote:

Yes, you probably should.

I find it really shocking that they dont teach you very well at university. At degree level it is very hard and you need teaching more than any other stage in your schooling because of that. Yet no one seems to have any time to help you or teach you anything and I do feel most let down about that.

It is bad, considering how much you're paying to be taught! Is this quite common amoungst full time students - I mean, to complain about the standard of teaching? I have a friend who had major issues about the teaching of her photography course at Derby uni - she was virtually teaching herself!

I'm an OU student, and I have to say the teaching is excellent. I attend tutorials every couple of weeks, which are really great - not as formal as lectures, but real quality teaching nonetheless. I can call or email my tutor whenever I like (within reason of course!) and failing that, there's a great online students association - each course has at least one dedicated conference, plus a few extra ones for chitchat when you feel the need to procrastinate (which, incidently, I do a lot of!). As for the course books, part of the course fee includes most of the teaching material in the form of textbooks (mostly written in plain English, although there's always a self-important academic making you feel stupid somewhere in the books!), dvds, cds, online library, plus other resources, depending on what kind of course you're on. All in all, it's a great way to learn - and you're never made to feel thick or scared of the tutor, I love it!

Anyway, I do think it's a real shame if you feel like you're not actually learning much - there's no point in rushing through modules if nothing is sinking in. Is there any kind of complaints system in place at your uni? I'd feel compelled to say something to the powers that be f I were that unhappy.

scorpio_princess

apoorstudent wrote:

An example of what really pis!es me off about academic writing:

'Modern rationality is exemplified by the proliferation of large scale organizations, as really began around Weber's time.'

I'm sure it means something really simple, but why can't they just say it how it is? Is this a deliberate ploy to make me feel stupid? Having looked up each word separately, I'm still none the wiser. Is it any wonder that I avoid studying at all cost?

I've often thought that academic articles are written to make you feel inadequate - I end up reading the same sentence over and over, forcing me to think 'what is wrong with me, why am I not getting it?' But actually, I reckon even they don't know what they're on about! And because the poor students reading their article won't question it because they're too busy trying to look like they understand it - hey presto, they look clever without having to explain what they're getting at! Well that's my theory and i'm sticking to it

apoorstudent

scorpio_princess wrote:

I've often thought that academic articles are written to make you feel inadequate - I end up reading the same sentence over and over, forcing me to think 'what is wrong with me, why am I not getting it?' But actually, I reckon even they don't know what they're on about! And because the poor students reading their article won't question it because they're too busy trying to look like they understand it - hey presto, they look clever without having to explain what they're getting at! Well that's my theory and i'm sticking to it

^Yes! I feel like this too often. But the scary thing is, most people on my course aren't pretending to understand it - they actually do. But they went to posh schools, whereas I went to a mere state school. That's my excuse

It is bad, considering how much you're paying to be taught! Is this quite common amoungst full time students - I mean, to complain about the standard of teaching? I have a friend who had major issues about the teaching of her photography course at Derby uni - she was virtually teaching herself!

^I think the problem is that they just assume that you know all the different theories. But they forget that we are undergraduates, and what they often teach us is their specialist subject, hence they get tangled up in all the technical jargon which is second nature to them (but not us!!). In a way, it's good because we learn A LOT. But then, it can be confusing, and means a lot of extra reading has to be done...

Edna_Bucket_2

Just remember everyone, that the only thing you can safely put off until tomorrow is constructing a Time Machine.