Been carrying out a post mortem on my tma. The guidelines for overall marks says that the assignment was competently conceived and written. I think I can now understand that the language may sometimes be striking, but sometimes stale and unfocused. I used the imperfect rather than pluperfect tense (was instead of had been), also ‘he watches’ would have been stronger than ‘watching’ in my poem. My tutor would have liked me to use more of the ideas generated in the focused freewrite into my part 2 poem. Also, I could have concentrated more of my reflection on the poem, which was still thorough and satisfactory.
Last night, I went to bed down-hearted with a cold and lost voice as well as what I perceived to be a disappointed tma mark. There is room for improvement. Had I have not lost track of dates, maybe I could have redrafted my poem and made more of it rather than rushing it in a couple of days. More time had certainly paid off for restrictedvision whose tma work is ‘worthy of publication’.
Have I been carried away with the methodology of starting writing to give ideas, commentaries and diaries instead of actually writing itself? I haven’t been able to write everyday. I haven’t even started this week’s chapter.
My head is throbbing. I feel so tired and low generally. I was having a look at my academic record. One course that I dropped out of had a first TMA result of 82%. If I can drop out with that high a mark….
Beth said,
March 21, 2006 at 10:49 am
Don’t get down-hearted, Mia (hark at me!!). It’s early days yet and TMA01 is only designed as a diagnostic. You had very little time to produce your TMA and it does sound as though it was a good attempt. A Clear Pass is something to be proud of at this stage, I think. It takes time to get to know your tutor and find out what they expect from you.
I have a lot of sympathy for how you are feeling. I’m finding A215 very difficult and unrewarding and came downstairs this morning intending to withdraw. Obviously, the TMA put a different complexion on things but, all the same… I’m not liking this course much and I really don’t like the lack of feedback. I wish I was in a tutor group that was lively and hard-working. Individuals may be so – but the FC element just isn’t taking off. I need it to – badly. Perhaps you are the same? Hopefully we can make up the shortfall in the way that we have been doing. We’ll hold each other up and get through it, one way or another.
The one thing I took away from this TMA was the need to allow lots of time – and I just expressed this in an email to my tutor. Given that a rough calculation led me to believe that each line of poetry had to carry as much value as approximately 50 words of prose, each and every word has to carry a great deal of weight. As such, it means that all the hours spent on editing and revision are hours well spent.
I am going to have to be a much better student this year than I have ever been before – writing my assignments early, instead of at the last minute (or on extension) and use every free moment for the polishing.
I’m not getting carried away with early success either. It’s only 5% of the overall mark. It may well have been a fluke. This next one is 15%… when I think how much time I put into TMA01… I’ll be at 02 for *weeks*
Whatever possessed me? I could have been doing a nice programming course… with proper answers, and proper marks with nines in them… and answers in the back of the books and everything… *sob*
Mia said,
March 21, 2006 at 12:30 pm
A215 doesn’t really follow on from M263 (building blocks of software). I even enjoyed the hoverFrog objectOrientedCourse though how I got through the November home exam after giving birth 3 weeks earlier (I know I wouldn’t have coped 2 days after giving birth!).But then, those courses had fact- either your piece of code worked, or it didn’t.
Anyway, following the next course thread in the bar, I expressed an interest in taking the level 3 creative writing course when it is presented! Mad, must be mad.
Beth said,
March 21, 2006 at 12:36 pm
But it’s the madness that lends flavour to the writing. I’d like to be as mad as Lord Byron, wouldn’t you?
arif said,
July 16, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Hi Mia,
Would you be interested in selling your M263 (building blocks of software) course materials? Pls reply.
M. said,
July 16, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Sorry arif, but I keep my course books. I am now doing M257 and occasionally refer to the texts.
Glenn Mogan said,
August 17, 2007 at 5:11 am
Hi Mia.
I am thinking of doing A215 and I have found your website extremely helpful.
Thankyou for doing this website. I was wondering if you had any tips or advice about how to do wel in the course?
Regards
Glenn
M. said,
August 17, 2007 at 9:22 am
Hi Glenn,
I am not the best person to ask for tips for this course. Have you tried looking for the FirstClass conference called OUSA A215? There, you will find many a helpful soul, some who did the course at the same time as me.
Get a supply of notebooks – amazon sold out a few times of the moleskin ones that some of us were raving about (not me though). Start writing – doesn’t matter what, brainstorm, take notebook to bed and if you wake up – write then. Haiku as well. The course covers fiction, poetry and life-writing. The ECA is (the 2006 one) made up of 2 of those though you could go for life-writing in verse!.
Good luck,
Mia
mia said,
August 20, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Hi Mia
I am starting (i hope) the course this year. I am looking forward to it. Re the notebook how many do you get through? Also looking back now, did A215 help your creativity, help you form strong story lines and good charaterisation.
Regards
mia said,
August 20, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Sorry should have used spell check.
M. said,
August 20, 2008 at 7:50 pm
Hi Mia!
Well, I think I was a bit on the lazy side. I went through 2 A5 notebooks for the tmas, and another handful or so for general writing and exercises. I went to Wilkos and bought those coloured tab things too. Unfortunately, I have not done any creative writing since the course – nearly 2 years! Shame, though I have thought about doing the level 3 course when it comes out.
Get into the habit of writing. I lapsed and it was hard to get back into it. A daily haiku is what one of the early activities suggest. Take a notebook and pen(cil) with you to bed and write when you wake up – perhaps to capture that dream…
Good luck and best wishes,
Mia