Qual 2/Dissertation Fieldnotes

In preparation for revising my proposal for Qual 1, I talked with a friend of mine that was traveling with me in Belize.  She and I were taking a class together in Belize via OSU.  We suffered so...  I think that everyone should go to Belize to revise their proposals -- we'll see if I still think that after I get my grade and response on the proposal!  She read my draft and loved all of the feedback that I had received.  She is working on her first problem statement exercise for a class and as I read hers, I can see a little more about how these need to evolve and become so definite and concise.  The reason I feel sorry for her is that she is just experimenting with a topic and doesn't even plan to keep with it for her ultimate study -- but this is just her second semester of course work, so I bet she'll be okay.

I also was able to discuss my topic and proposal with the instructor of my Planning and Change class (Dr. Adrianne Hyle) and also with a professor who accompanied the trip for observation -- Dr. Julie Thomas.  With all of the feedback and discussion, I felt like I became more comfortable with my topic and with what I want to study.  My goal is to be absolutely confident about my topic -- even if I am checking out many ideas for data gathering and analysis. I gotta know it backwards.  Right now I feel like it takes me too long to explain it or to make it make sense.

Anyway.... As I dusted off the last copy of my proposal from Qual 1 this past summer, I read over it and it seemed so wordy!  It also seemed off base compared to where my chatty discussions have led me.  By the time I am done with this whole project, I bet I will have the shortest dissertation in the history of academia.  I want to just say what I have to say and not fluff it up with a bunch of words.  And that is how the rough draft struck me -- too many words and divergent of where I want to be now in terms of topic.  Maybe a 'know it; say it' approach. 

So that makes me wonder if my proposal has to be/look just like everyone elses?  I like color and headings and visuals and white space.  That might be totally unacceptable for a proposal or a dissertation.  But maybe I could write it in such a way that I like it and then change it to the way the academy likes it after I have all the stuff done.  Does that make sense?  I would rather just write it how I want, but I am not my own audience.

In discussing my revised proposal with Dr. Hyle, she suggested that I become more certain about my stand and terminology on 'assessment' and 'learning'.  I need to get a certain vocabulary and stick with it throughout the paper -- that would help.

Dr. Thomas wanted to make sure that I deal with perceptions (wording from my early draft) because perceptions by outsiders and faculty and students and instructors all influence the cause.  She thinks that many profs do online courses to get out of meeting onland.  A cop out.  I gotta decide if I want to address that audience or if I want to address people/educators who accept the reality of online courses and want to proceed and learn about them.

I don't know if this dissertation will every happen.  The lit review scares me to death.  The other stuff seems doable. Oh well, I am off to STW.