So the work begins!!

Hi Guys!!

Today I started on my longitudinal study. Started my introduction with the birth history, ethical considerations and family history. It was better than I thought as over the summer I have been collecting bits of information and references that I can try and cobble together. After this I looked at some of the examples that are on Moodle and some of it isn't that dissimilar which is good in one way but slightly unnerves me in another. So I feel like I have more or less completed the introduction, but I will be forever tweaking... 734 words, I don't think that I need to go much over that otherwise I may be struggling to keep within the word count guidelines which I know has been a hot topic at the moment...

Really enjoyed Rachels lesson today, also meant me choosing the country Liberia (yes I know hardly anyone knows where it is) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13729504 but I think that it will make for a very interesting research project to see all of the differences between their culture and ours.

I have found so many podcasts that would be useful for our course both 1st year and 2nd so if you need any help then please let me know.

Right... break over... I have to get on to compile my baseline assessment. :D

Signing off...

C xx

Great Book!!

Hi everyone!

I have come across a great book for our course, for Fionas assignment the longitudinal study:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Observe-Children-Sheila-Riddall-Leech/dp/0435987666/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316948757&sr=1-1

I don't know if you have already got it but I thought it may be useful.

Signing off

Claire xx

Wow!! Year 2!!

Hi everybody!!

Wow I cannot believe that my last blog post was in February!! It seems like that was forever ago but then only 5 minutes ago, the same with the beginning of this course.

Now being a 2nd year -- and believe me, if I can do it anyone can!! I can't believe that its almost getting serious now. Not that the first year wasn't serious but I have done many courses at NWHC so its almost like a 2nd home, knowing where everything is etc (even though they like to move things) but going up to Warwick in less than a year is very scary!! Talk about a transition dip!!

Going back to college/uni was great, really nice to see everyone again and it felt like it gave me a focus for my time. I meant to get so much stuff done while I was on holiday but with one thing and another they never got done.

The project about a 2nd world country and our longitudinal study which seems scary now as I really don't know what Im doing is very exciting as this will be something that I enjoy... am I convincing you?! lol trying to convince myself :P Also I am looking forward to the masculinity module as well.

As I am so out of practice I really don't know what to put on here and I hope that anybody reading this actually wants to get any information out of it as usually it is just random ramblings and there may be one bit of information in there.

But for any 1st years that may be reading this feel free to add me on Facebook: just search Claire Brannan and you can email me if you need any support. If I don't know I may be able to point you in the right direction but all in all don't forget to support eachother and trust the tutors to give you support as well. Its not like an us and them thing and its not competitive. The more you help eachother the more you will get out of it. erm... yeah I think thats it without me getting all mushy.

Right I better be off, I might put a bit more later

Signing off

Claire xx

Today hasn't been a good day, Ive had this feeling bubbling up for the last week or so, recently we've had a new puppy and shes brilliant. Just what me and my family needs.

The past few days have been really hectic, it feels like everything is left down to me and Im a bit sick of it atm tbh...

anyway best be off.

xx

Wow, I've just had a look at how long its been since I last actually did a new post... and it has been a long time.

I'm glad that now all of first assignments are done and out of the way but now coming in today we have another few assignments to do so we can never relax.

I hope everyone had a good Christmas, mine was crap. My Dad died on the 20th so it sort of set the tone for the rest of Christmas and New Year, but I did managed to cook Christmas dinner without giving anyone food poisoning so that was one was a small glory.

Today is my first day back and it feels really surreal, its just feels like I'm not meant to be here, and the last 3 weeks have just been such a whirlwind, now trying to get back into normal life is getting difficult.

It feels like I should be at home and still mourning but I can't I just feel like he's still here but not that he's gone, but today feels different...

Hm... not liking this...

C xx

Stressed!!!

I have just realised that I mainly use this blog to moan, I don't mean to but this is a great way to actually let out my feelings without annoying my friends or family, well verbally anyway....

This week I have been trying to get these assignments done. I am really really really struggling with grammar, unfortunately I write as I speak and I understand that this isn't the best way to write 'academically' but I don't know how else to write. Otherwise I will be concentrating too hard on the way of writing insted of the content and this isn't the right way round.

Another thing is starting to get on my wick, is this referencing marlarky, I keep getting conflicting information so when I think I'm doing it the right way I find out thats wrong and then when I do try to change it its still wrong. Just starting to get very frustrated and I really don't want to start thinking whats the point?

Had my draft essay marked today, there was some good feedback but the problem is that the feedback I got was generally about grammar, referencing and trying to make my essay flow. Also about putting in references without using direct quotes, how else do you do it?? I'm so frustrated and confused...

Today started really badly anyway taking an hour and a half to get to bloody college but thats by the by. I am feeling a bit guilty as my bad mood is being taken out on my family... I should just learn to shut my mouth I think...

Anyway the Christmas tree is going up tomorrow (yes, I know its early) but I am looking forward to it, I'm looking forward to having a day not thinking about assignments but I'm sure it will be at the back of my mind making itself known.

Its been ages

Wow, I can't believe how long its been since I last blogged.

The last few weeks I've been trying to complete my assignments but I've been a bit stuck, Lin's essay I haven't really got a problem with as I vaguely know what I'm going to write. The only problem is that I can't find any of the research that I'm looking for. Very annoying!!!!

The one that I'm having a real problem with is Rachels but today was good and I managed to actually get my head around it... sort of...

Feeling so grotty today, I can't wait for this cold to bugger off to where it came from.

I hope that everyone has a good weekend and that next week is better than this one.

Signing off for now..