It's about 6:00am and I read the words: "I’m VERY impressed with the changes in your QPP, very! You have certainly done way more than what was required…great job!" My Qualifying Paper Proposal (known as the QPP) has been accepted.
The words hit me like a ton of bricks. I'm not quite ready to hear such positive feedback and if it weren't the quiet of morning, I'd do a happy dance right there. I reread it again to make sure that I'm not misreading it, but there it is, I've done a "VERY" impressive job from an advisor who is overall friendly but not necessarily given to exaggerations in his feedback.
The email gave me tremendous relief. I had revised my first draft substantially--not because I had to but because as I unraveled one thread of thought, it impacted others and I felt I needed to redo a bit of tapestry in order to more clearly communicate my thought. I did so, as they say, without a net. I delved into it and revised it without anyone else getting another look at it and therefore, knew there was a bit of risk in submitting it. I took the initial feedback and just went to town.
However, I was proud of this revision. I did take the feedback and turn it into something that was much clearer (for me and apparently others). I went from about 19 pages to 14 pages, removing large swaths of material while also introducing new ones. It felt like it communicated my point much more clearly and though some areas needed more work (particularly the newer content), it just made for a stronger statement of the problem.
The feedback was a needed ego boost. I knew it could backfire but to know that I took the research--based on feedback (important to remember)--in a direction that I felt was right and was validated in that approach. I know that won't always happen but I'm glad that it happened here.
You can take a look at the different version of the QPP for those interested in digging into the weeds of my work. The easier way to get a sense of the differences is to look at the different word clouds of each stage to see what are discernible differences in the content.
Want to keep up with my PhD adventures? Check out any of the links below:
Did you enjoy this read? Let me know your thoughts down below or feel free to browse around and check out some of my other posts!. You might also want to keep up to date with my blog by signing up for them via email.
The words hit me like a ton of bricks. I'm not quite ready to hear such positive feedback and if it weren't the quiet of morning, I'd do a happy dance right there. I reread it again to make sure that I'm not misreading it, but there it is, I've done a "VERY" impressive job from an advisor who is overall friendly but not necessarily given to exaggerations in his feedback.
 |
| Revised QPP Draft Word Cloud Submitted in October |
 |
| Original QPP Draft Submitted in September |
However, I was proud of this revision. I did take the feedback and turn it into something that was much clearer (for me and apparently others). I went from about 19 pages to 14 pages, removing large swaths of material while also introducing new ones. It felt like it communicated my point much more clearly and though some areas needed more work (particularly the newer content), it just made for a stronger statement of the problem.
The feedback was a needed ego boost. I knew it could backfire but to know that I took the research--based on feedback (important to remember)--in a direction that I felt was right and was validated in that approach. I know that won't always happen but I'm glad that it happened here.
 |
| Rough Draft of QPP Submitted in July |
You can take a look at the different version of the QPP for those interested in digging into the weeds of my work. The easier way to get a sense of the differences is to look at the different word clouds of each stage to see what are discernible differences in the content.
- Rough Draft Submitted - 7/12/2017
- Original Draft Submitted - 9/8/2017
- Feedback Received - 9/22/2017
- Revised Draft Submitted - 10/15/2017
Want to keep up with my PhD adventures? Check out any of the links below:
- Acceptance...and acceptance
- Orientation
- Day 1
- Week 1
- First 2 Courses Completed
- First 2 Courses Finished
- Semester 2, Here We Go
- The Existential Crisis of the Week
- The Balancing Act
- Negotiating Privilege in Higher Education
- Zeroing in on Research
- Completing the Second Semester
- My Educational Autobiography
- So Starts The Third Semester
- My Educational Philosophy...for now
- PhD'ese
- And Sometimes, You Feel It
- Semester's Endgame
- Year 1, Officially Done
- Year 2, Week 1, Day 1
- Year 2, Week 1 Done!
- 1/3 Complete!?!?!
- Click…
- Day 1; Semester 5
- Share & Share Alike
- Mind-filled and Mindful
- 5th Semester Down
- 6th Semester Is Upon Us
- It's Becoming Real...
- It Is No Longer "All About The Base"
- Year #3, Day #1: Chomping At the Bit
- Year #3: Week #2: The Lows and Highs
- Year #3: Junes No More
- Now, You Submit Your First Piece
- Year #3; Semester 2: 30 Fridays left
- And Then You Get Your Feed
Sub-series specifically about the dissertation:
Did you enjoy this read? Let me know your thoughts down below or feel free to browse around and check out some of my other posts!. You might also want to keep up to date with my blog by signing up for them via email.
Comments
Post a Comment