I'm currently a student with the Open University, studying towards a degree in English Language and Literature.
Today is the official start date of my latest Open University course. My third course so far and the first literature module on my degree path.
Above: some of my course materials for Approaching Literature.
Music: ‘Lille’, Lisa Hannigan
Above: The gorgeous Mr Darcy with Elizabeth Bennett in the BBC’s 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. Still counts as studying! Honest!
Well I did something today that I really thought I wouldn’t. I decided to deliberately NOT to do an assignment for my current OU course. It’s all the assessment calculator’s fault (a doodah on my course website which allows me to work out my overall likely grade). Having had a play around with it yesterday I worked out that as long as I get a pass 2 mark in my exam, i.e. 70% or higher I will get a Pass 2 grade for the entire course whereas if my exam grade falls below 70% I’ll end up with a grade 3 mark for the overall course regardless of how well I do in my final two TMAS.
Music: Right now I’m a little obsessed with this song.
Some of the things that have kept me from blogging these past few weeks:
Senzazione - A theatrical funfair with a low carbon footprint (in other words all the rides are human powered!)
The latest news on the Open University’s new Children’s Literature course:
“The course U300 - Children’s Literature - will have an annual presentation from October – June, starting October 2009. Regarding content, the teaching will, as with other literature courses, revolve around the set texts, but as they will by their nature be shorter, there will be a greater emphasis on how these texts illustrate themes and issues in children’s literature, rather than just on analysis of the books. There are two blocks of work (out of 6) on poetry, storytelling and performance (one block) and picture books (one block), which would differ from adult literature courses. Our standard short description is as follows:
“Why has children’s literature been so influential in children’s and adults’ lives? How is it changing in today’s globalised, media-conscious world? This new course introduces major themes, issues and debates in the field and provides in-depth case-studies of key examples of literature for children, from both contemporary and classical sources. Students will study a range of fiction, poetry and creative performance produced for children from the 18th century to the present. Course study involves a combination of reading, reflecting and writing on children’s literature and on associated images and illustrations, audiovisual theoretical and critical material in print and online. Students will also have the opportunity to carry out a longer piece of individual work.
“The longer piece of work referred to is the End of Course Assessment (ECA), which will be a 4000-word essay involving some independent research. This will be in place of an exam.”
Colour me very tempted!
And if I could write my ECA on Northern Lights? That would be perfect! Not so much studying as pure indulgence:)
Update: the course code has now been changed to EA300.
Phew! Such a long, long week I have had. Firstly I had the third TMA of my U211 course due, left to the last minute as ever. Why, oh why, do I do this to myself!?
But on top of that my job had me off on a 5 day intensive (super intensive!) digital video editing workshop this week so between that and all my OU stuff my poor little brain is fit to explode with the huge volume of information it has being forced to digest this week.
Music: ‘Bullets’, Editors
Well, I knew when I submitted my last assignment that it was a poor effort and as expected I got a very low grade, my lowest OU grade ever as it happens. A measly 65%.
Given how ill I was I probably should have requested a week’s extension but I didn’t and there we have it. As it is, I’m in danger of falling badly behind in my studies so an extension might not have been a good idea anyway. I was well enough to return to work last Tuesday but I found that I was overly tired for the rest the week, with little energy to do anything by the end of the day other than rest. Consequently, I did no studying at all until Saturday.
So this evening’s agenda is studying, more studying and some dabbling in my sketchbook. Hope everyone is well and thanks to everyone who took the time to wish me well. It’s appreciated:)
Music: ‘The Fall of the World’s Own Optimist’, Aimee Mann
I am sick! And have been so ALL BLOODY WEEK! After nursing what was a low grade head cold all of last week, at the weekend it decided to evolve in to a much more serious and painful chest/throat infection and there is no sign of it shifting as yet. Consequently I have been laid up all week and I think I’m beginning to suffer from cabin fever.
I have coughed so much that the muscles at the very base of my abdomen hurt! It’s all very annoying and has left me very behind in my OU studies as along with the chest infection and the sore throat, I’ve also been having blinding headaches. To cap it all I had my second assignment for my course due this week. I got it done eventually but it’s pretty rubbish. I waffled on for the requisite number of words but I’ve failed to address certain parts of the question which should lose me a stack of marks. Still, at least I’ve managed to hand something in as it was touch and go for a while as to whether I would have managed to get anything written. I’ve put enough of an effort in to pass it (I think! I hope!) but have not had the energy to do anymore than that.
I rather stupidly made the effort to go into work yesterday and as a result I have been ordered to stay home for the rest of the week and even take Monday off to make sure I’m properly recovered.
Also can I just point out that if one of your work colleagues comes into work looking a bit under the weather mention it gently. Do not, as one my co-workers did, look at them in horror and tell that they look absolutely terrible. Honestly, I wanted to wear a paper bag over my head on my way home I felt so self-conscious!
Anyway back to the coughing...sigh, I hate being sick :(
Oh and I’ve turned comments off on this post as trust me! I’m feeling sorry enough for myself without needing any extra sympathy from elsewhere ;) I shall be back tomorrow to show off another gorgeous Etsy purchase I made recently.
Music: ‘Sick and Tired’, The Cardigans
The rumoured Open University course on Children’s Literature is no longer a rumour. While not officially announced yet, it has been assigned a course code - U300 - and even a reading list.
The first presentation is scheduled for October 2009.
Music: ‘Lyra’, Kate Bush
My exam date for U211 was announced on my student homepage today:
Tuesday 7 October 2008
It’s in the afternoon, a fact I’m very happy about - I am NOT a morning person!
Anyway back to trying to write a coherent answer to TMA02!
So after taking a study break on Easter Saturday and Sunday I hit the books again yesterday and promptly hit a wall. I sat and read the same page at least five times and barely took in a word. I tried reading really slowly but to no avail. My concentration had gone awol and my mind was flitting unproductively all over the place - what should I have for dinner...oooh Battlestar Galactica’s back in only two weeks...mmmn still some Easter Eggs left, wouldn’t hurt to have a little more chocolate...you get the point.
Music: ‘I Feel It All’, Feist
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