Thursday 12 January 2012

The Proposal

As I mentioned previously I am currently writing my proposal for my Masters dissertation. Its due in at the start of next week and by some miracle I am nearly finished. I have about 400 words of the 3,000 word limit left to write plus a final read through which will no doubt include some rewriting and editing. It has been a very stressful process and I am looking forward to having a few days break from it before getting back to the research and reading for the actual dissertation.

There are two reasons why it has been so hard to write. The first is because I am truly passionate about the subject I am looking at and really want to do a good job with the dissertation and get a good grade for it. If I don't get the proposal right, this will effect the dissertation itself. So I think I have been psyching myself out of it by over thinking everything and worrying if its good enough!

The second reason is because I have been struggling to narrow down my focus as all aspects of it fascinate me! Trying to answer questions such as "what are the key aims of your study" and "which theories are you going to use" is not easy when you want to study it all!!! As for detailing your chapter structure, how on earth can you decide what is going to be in Chapter One, Two and Three and in which order when you have only done initial research on the subject! Aaarrgghh! Despite this I am as I said nearly finished. I have a chapter structure and I almost have my theories and methods sorted out, so not a bad day.

 Encase you were wondering, my dissertation is based on the First World War, in particular war commemoration and war memorials. It sounds a bit morbid but actually its fascinating. The First World War witnessed so many changes and its aftermath was no different. Many of the mourning customs and traditions that we use today were created in the wake of the First World War. Its also interesting how different memories are at play within the war memorial. It is not until you study issues such as collective and cultural memory that you realise how little control you have over what you remember and how.

My dissertation is due in at the start of October 2012 so I am sure this will not be the last time I talk about my study! However for now, Goodnight!


2 comments:

  1. Well done and well said. You'll do fine with the whole dissertation.

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    1. Thank you for your support! The credit for the Chapter Structure has to go at least in part to you as you caused the major rethink!

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