Meeting with my supervisor

I met him today in the morning (I'm so happy he is not on holiday!). We talked about the GJCT. He wanted me to make a few minor corrections. And about PJT he cleared my doubts. He came up with new ideas though. Anyway, we'll see how it'll go.

I'm lucky to have him as my supervisor. He's always generous to me and understanding. I don't remember a time I left his office unhappy. Whenever I walk in desperately, he cheers me up and makes me believe that I can do it.

I know not everybody is as lucky as me!

Tomorrow I will start working on the PJT.

PJT, no no!

For a few days, I haven't done anything. I sent my GJCT to my supervisor and he didn't reply. It gave me a good excuse for not working. But today I forced myself to work on my PJT. As expected, I couldn't do much. It's too difficult and I'm lost. I don't know what I'm supposed to do. So, I sent an email to my supervisor asking for a meeting this week if he's in town. I hope he is! I really need his help.

Until then, bye.

Chapter 1 Introduction

Since I can't start working on my PJT (I'm subconsciously trying to put it off as much as I can), I started writing my first chapter today.

Let me start by saying I hate writing literature reviews and introductions. I could only write two paragraphs in like three hours, not productive enough I know. Even just making a reference list alone takes so much time for me.

Well, tomorrow I will hopefully continue writing my introduction. First, I was feeling good about starting writing. It gave me a feeling of accomplishment, but then I remembered I will have to send it to my supervisor and he might want me to change everything I've written so far (all this effort gone puff). Just the idea of this gave me the creeps. So, I guess I won't send it to him right after I finish it. I will wait for a while. Maybe it will feel less painful then.

EDIT: Ok, I was feeling uneasy all day today. Something was bothering me, and I knew what it was. It was my conscience. I got back to working on my introduction. I more or less finished the first chapter. The rest can only be completed after I finish the whole dissertation. Now, I'm done. Do I feel less uneasy? No, something is still eating me inside. *sigh*

GJCT written

Luckily, my supervisor replied to me in an hour yesterday. So, today I sat down to write my GJCT. I need to go over it again with a fresh mind later, but to save time I already sent it to my supervisor to review.

When he replies, I will start to write my PJT this time...which gives me nightmares. It won't be as easy as GJCT. But I have to do it anyway, right? So, I will.

Right now, just waiting for my supervisor's reply. I did enough for today.

Verb list

I made the verb list my supervisor had asked me to do and sent it to him today. I can start working on my first task (GJCT) after he replies. Hopefully he will reply before next week.

I also formulated another research question as they wanted me to.

All is fine.

1st progress report

I presented my first progress report today. It wasn't as bad as I expected. Well, at least it was all constructive criticism.

So, now the whole design of my study changed. They wanted me to add a new research question and in order to answer that question I need to create a new data collection tool. And to do all this, I need to teach a linguistics class at the department in the first semester which is ok.

So, my work plan is:

1. Make a list of all the verbs I will use in my tasks, categorizing them as intransitive, transitive, alternating, and what not. My supervisor wants to see this list first so after he gives permission I will sit down to create my tasks. I'm planning to make this list on Thursday-Friday and send him by the weekend.

2. Right at the beginning of the semester, I will pilot these tasks. After revising what's necessary, I'll give these tasks as a pretest to my students.

3. During the semester I will teach the linguistics class.

4. At the end of the semester I will give the same tasks as a post test.

My next progress report will be in January. So, by the end of January I'm hoping I will have collected my data. And who knows maybe I will have written a few sections in literature review.

Sounds good, eh?

See you after I make the list!

Ready for tomorrow? Yes, baby bring it on!

Ok, here I am! Ready to write my dissertation? Almost.

Where am I? After a year off in the states, I'm back in Turkey. Honestly, although I tried hard (well, maybe not that hard) to work on my dissertation while in the states, I almost forgot what my dissertation topic was. But thank God, people at the Social Sciences Institute and my jury committee are there to remind me that I am still a PhD student.

Last week was a hassle. I had to solve some bureaucratic issues because the lovely secretary of the institute, who will be called `The Bitch` from now on, threatened me by kicking me out of the program if I don't present a progress report this week.

So, tomorrow I will be presenting what I have done so far to my jury committee. What bothers me most isn't the fact that I haven't done anything so far but the fact that I was late in organizing this meeting. One of the members in my jury committee is sure to give me a hard time. I'm ready for that!

Why I set up this blog? To keep the log of my PhD work in the hopes that it will motivate me to work harder. Although it feels like I will never be able to finish my PhD, now that they have reminded me I'm a student, I feel a little bit closer to the end. At least now I can imagine myself working like crazy. Yes, I can see it ahead. I don't know if I'll be able to finish it by the end of next summer as I was planning (planning? No, wishful thinking rather) but at least I can imagine myself working on the conclusion part (ha ha!)

Ok, tomorrow will suck but I'll definitely be back to tell you how it went.