Take the TA-DA! Spring Break Challenge
Hi and welcome to TA-DA's Spring Break Challenge. We will begin Sunday March 18-25, 2007.
(Due to the high amount of spam put on blogs today, we can no longer allow anonymous comments. So please log in to be part of our on-line writing group. Just click on the Comments link below this article. You will see where to leave your post. Then sign in with your Google account. If you do not have an account, please sign up for one. It's free.)
Post what you'd like to work on (if anything) over the Spring Break, and the maximum amount of time you would like to spend on it daily.
(Due to the high amount of spam put on blogs today, we can no longer allow anonymous comments. So please log in to be part of our on-line writing group. Just click on the Comments link below this article. You will see where to leave your post. Then sign in with your Google account. If you do not have an account, please sign up for one. It's free.)
Post what you'd like to work on (if anything) over the Spring Break, and the maximum amount of time you would like to spend on it daily.
Each day you should do "something" to move your thesis or dissertation forward. Some items can take as little as 12 minutes to be completed.
Please be realistic by trying to keep your time limit reasonable and low unless you're trying to defend in April/May or might have a more pressing deadline.
You can check into this post either daily, weekly or just at the end of the challenge (March 25, 2007) to let us know how well you were able to accomplished your goals. Feel free to share with us what problems you had or just check in to encourage or commiserate with others.
Post Summary
All comments posted on this blog will be forwarded to my email. You are invited to correspond with each other for encouragement and support. I will post, comment, and encourage you along the way.
Ready, Set, Go!
- What will you work on?
- How much time will you spend daily working on it?
- Tell us how much progress you are making, or problems you are having
All comments posted on this blog will be forwarded to my email. You are invited to correspond with each other for encouragement and support. I will post, comment, and encourage you along the way.
Ready, Set, Go!
posted by Dr. Carter @ Sunday, March 11, 2007
32 Comments:
At Monday, March 12, 2007,
Dr. Carter said…
Welcome all; you made it through even though you had to register. Now that that excuse is gone let's get started!!!
What will you be working on for the next 7 days??
I wil be working on one of my 4 books that I have been trying to get finished since last year.
I want to clean up all of the editing to get a full draft.
How about you?
Join me.
At Tuesday, March 13, 2007,
plural said…
Spring break for me... outline of chapter 1 and a clean office!
At Tuesday, March 13, 2007,
plural said…
Spring break for me... outline of chapter 1 and a clean office!
At Tuesday, March 13, 2007,
Dr. Carter said…
You're here early start cleaning for 15 minutes a day---by the time Spring Break get's here you will have a clean office...small steps!!!!
In the past I would clean my office/house/room during the commercials on TV...I still use that plan when the mess gets too overwhelming.
Welcome
At Wednesday, March 14, 2007,
solololo7 said…
I would like during the spring break to finish the FDI policy for Singapore and Hong Kong. But my problem is that i never accomplish my target within the time i set
At Wednesday, March 14, 2007,
Sally said…
I would like to finish the FDI policy for Singapore and Hong Kong during my spring break. But i always have the problem to stick to my schedule because i always go into so many details while i am writing so i never finish on time.
At Saturday, March 17, 2007,
RHH said…
Project for class is due Tuesday after break. By this coming Wednesday, I'd like to have the basic code for a single agent written. By Friday, multiple agent plus communication should be done. Which leaves the weekend to tweak the planning and communication algorithms.
At Saturday, March 17, 2007,
Lisa said…
I am trying to defend in May, so I calculated that I really need to finish my dissertation by April 20th, to give my committee the (polite) 3 weeks to review my dissertation before my defense in mid-May.
5 weeks to go and I have one chapter that is almost done, and 3 others with lots of random notes, plus the intro... My goal for the next week is to get TWO COMPLETE chapters. I will probably need to work pretty long days to get that accomplished (which is not unreasonable considering my April deadline). Specifically, my goal is to work a minimum of 6 hours a day. I have been successful in the past, breaking that up into a morning 3-hour session and an afternoon 3-hour session (if I'm on a roll, I can add an evening work-session, too).
It's a lot of work, but I am pretty sure it can be done, if I really put my mind to it. Wish me luck!
At Saturday, March 17, 2007,
Lisa said…
I am trying to defend in May, so I calculated that I really need to finish my dissertation by April 20th, to give my committee the (polite) 3 weeks to review my dissertation before my defense in mid-May.
5 weeks to go and I have one chapter that is almost done, and 3 others with lots of random notes, plus the intro... My goal for the next week is to get TWO COMPLETE chapters. I will probably need to work pretty long days to get that accomplished (which is not unreasonable considering my April deadline). Specifically, my goal is to work a minimum of 6 hours a day. I have been successful in the past, breaking that up into a morning 3-hour session and an afternoon 3-hour session (if I'm on a roll, I can add an evening work-session, too).
It's a lot of work, but I am pretty sure it can be done, if I really put my mind to it. Wish me luck!
At Saturday, March 17, 2007,
Dr. Carter said…
Welcome... Sally and RHH
Sally start with an outline so that even if you go into detail you know which direction you are going in. And don't write in a linear fashion. Write certain sections a day. Begin with the section you know best.
RHH let us know how much code can you do in a day?
Ready Set...and Sunday is a go. I'll need to clean my room tonight so that all of my excuses will be gone by Sunday.
One full draft of my book not a perfect draft but one that is done and ready to be handed over to an editor.
At Saturday, March 17, 2007,
Dr. Carter said…
Welcome Lisa
Many people leave the into for last. Try outlining the two chapters for this week so that on Sunday you will have a plan ready to go.
Sounds good; 3 hours in the morning and 3 in the evening.
Are you a morning person or an evening person like me. I am a night owl. I can think more clearly at night...in the morning I am lucky if I can spell my name clearly before 10am.
If you are a morning person then try writing in the morning and editing at night otherwise try doing the reverse.
We all wish you luck...April 20, 2007 Here you come...
At Sunday, March 18, 2007,
Michelle said…
I accept the challenge!
I am working on the rewrites of my research design. It is my goal to complete each step in detail at least one a day; complete the letters for information and consent; and begin creating my testing tools.
I plan on spending at least an hour a day, but really want to try for three. But I am taking small steps.
Thanks for this invite.
Michelle
At Sunday, March 18, 2007,
Dr. Carter said…
Welcome Michelle
small and steady steps will get you closer to your goal of 3 hrs.
Today I will read the text and make notes where I need to get more information for each chapter.
At Sunday, March 18, 2007,
Michelle said…
Greetings. I wish everyone success in meeting their Spring Break Challenge goals.
I plan to read through the five chapters of my draft and order the reference section and appendices properly. Then, the Table of Contents and List of Tables will be tackled. In addition, I need to scan in one final document. Finally, I would like to submit my IRB renewal application.
To accomplish all this by Friday of this week, I need to dedicate an average of four hours per day.
Dr. Carter, I thank you for all the support, information, and inspiration that you have given me over the two years that I have known you.
Michelle H.
At Sunday, March 18, 2007,
Michelle said…
Greetings. I wish everyone success in meeting their Spring Break Challenge goals.
I plan to read through the five chapters of my draft and order the reference section and appendices properly. Then, the Table of Contents and List of Tables will be tackled. In addition, I need to scan in one final document. Finally, I would like to submit my IRB renewal application.
To accomplish all this by Friday of this week, I need to dedicate an average of four hours per day.
Dr. Carter, I thank you for all the support, information, and inspiration that you have given me over the two years that I have known you.
Michelle
At Sunday, March 18, 2007,
Nykia said…
I accept the challene!
I am working on my dissertation proposal. I would like to have it almost complete by next Sunday, minus the intro.
Good luck to everyone!
At Monday, March 19, 2007,
Rodney said…
Hi Doc -
I plan on catching up with my interview coding... More interviews means more falling behind.. let he challenge begin!
At Monday, March 19, 2007,
Dr. Carter said…
Hello Rodney
Welcome to our Spring Break Challenge!
How many interviews are you going to code per day? How many do you have to enventually finish coding 11 or 202?
At Monday, March 19, 2007,
Dr. Carter said…
Nykia, and Michelle H
Welcome to our Spring Break Challenge...
Great approach Nykia leave the into for last!!
Michelle H you are almost done! be sure to rest in between because you need a clear mind or a good friend when you are making edits...sometimes you need both.
At Monday, March 19, 2007,
Dr. Carter said…
Priyanka
Welcome...when creating something like a list you can always try the 12-15 minutes a day...or decide how many will you do per day.
At Monday, March 19, 2007,
suchitra said…
i am planning to read through all the articles and get my Literature review started.i also want to get my intorduction strated .It is whole lot .I really do not know where to start all i know is I want to finish it this week.Any suggestions?
I will keep posting my results.
At Monday, March 19, 2007,
Dr. Carter said…
Hello Suchitra
How many articles do you have to read? divide that number by 6 and that should tell you how many per day you have to read.
Be sure to read with a purpose: read and take notes at the same time being careful to ask if the article supports your research question or negates it or is neutral.
Start your bibliography at the same time. Get started....
At Wednesday, March 21, 2007,
John said…
Dr. Carter,
This is a great idea! My break is the actual Easter week, so I can only post the "plan" now.
1. Go to South Africa from East Africa for 25th anniversary.
2. Make outline of email to prof on topics for dissertation so I can get his advice.
3. Send E-mail prior to trip to prof updating him on progress. Suggest calling him when in S.A. where he lives.
4. Make notes in daytimer on the phone call.
5. Spend rest of time enjoying 2nd honeymoon guilt free.
At Wednesday, March 21, 2007,
Dr. Carter said…
Hello All
Welcome John
Michelle H are you done? did you hand it in? are you sleeping now?
Today is Wednesday. I was so tired last night but I did something on my book....Remember do something no matter how small for at minimum 12-15 minutes a day...
Here is somethings that can be done in 15 minutes
Cover Page
Creating a signature page
Table of Contents
Acknowledgement page
Checking your references
Formatting your document
Creating a bibliography
Creating an outline
Creating a to-do list for the next day
Writing a transition paragraph
Writing an introductory paragraph
Writing a summary paragraph
Now what? find another excuse about not having time to finish your thesis, proposal or dissertation.
Keep going.
At Friday, March 23, 2007,
Dr. Carter said…
Hey all
It's Friday our Spring Break is about to come to an end!!!
2.5 days left...How are you all doing out there? Did you get done what you said you would do?
It's time to check in
At Sunday, March 25, 2007,
Dr. Carter said…
Thank you, Dr. Carter, for organizing the TA-DA! Spring Break
Challenge. Participating in this supportive virtual community helped me to keep
my dissertation writing a priority for this week.
I accomplished 90% of what I had set out to do.
I read through 4 of 5 chapters. (I am awaiting feedback from a reader
of Chapter 5.) I re-ordered the Bibliography and appendices. (Manually
organizing the Bibliog took over 20 hours. I suggest that anyone
beginning their dissertation first master ProCite or End Notes, electronic
bibliog tools that simplify rewrites.)
The TOC and List of Tables are set. Also, I did not need to scan in 2
documents. I reproduced them by typing and cutting and pasting. (Less
disk space needed)
I spent 9 hours, on average, over the 7 days of this challenge. I
could only dedicate this time because I was on Spring Break from my job.
(I plan to print, photocopy, and distribute the completed dissertation
for my committee by no later Tuesday, March 27.)
Michelle H
At Sunday, March 25, 2007,
Dr. Carter said…
Hello All
I just published Michelle H comments.
Thank you all for participating in our Spring Break Challenge.
I still have work to finish on the book but the outline is done...and each section has some words in it.
I wish you all the best in completing your thesis or dissertation.
At Tuesday, July 24, 2007,
Janet said…
Hello All:
Today, I will work on my significance section, define terms, and look at lit on Korean immigrants to see their theoretical framework.
Please keep me in your thoughts.
Best,
Janet
At Wednesday, July 25, 2007,
Janet said…
Hello All:
Today I will revise introduction based on recently reviewed articles (include assimilation lit), define terms (look to see if Ibrahim does this in his paper), review AERA and submit.
At Thursday, July 26, 2007,
Janet said…
Today,
I will finally define my words, and review my intro.
At Friday, July 27, 2007,
Janet said…
Good morning all:
Today I will continue working on the definitions, and revise chapter 3 based on my advisor's suggestions.
Keep me in your thoughts.
Janet
At Monday, July 30, 2007,
Tommy said…
Hello and Welcome to what will be an experience of a life time. I found "Dissertation House" to be a confidence booster. Dr.'s Carter and Tull really did a great job in helping our cohort to appreciate what it takes for success. So listen-up and get ready for an eye opening week.
Since completing "Dissertation House, I have finished a draft of Chapter 3 (Methods), 80% of Chapter 1, and I am developing a reference excel file to assist with Chapter 2 (Lit Review).
I am so thankful that I attended the "Dissertation House" at UMBC. I am sure once completed, you will feel the same.
Tommy
Oh! you'll learn that your story is already in your head. You just need to put it down on paper. :)
Again, Thanks Dr.s C & T for the shared opportunity.
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