Rachel Cladingbowl
Rachel Cladingbowl is a freelance writer and part of the writing team for the PreUniversity Skills Programme at UEA.
Activity
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Great - it seems that the more we read the poem, the deeper we delve in terms of meaning and perspective, which is really interesting.
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Rachel Cladingbowl replied to Wilson Ayinla
It is - were you able to recognise which type of Sonnet?
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Does it deter from conventionality in parts, though?
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Rachel Cladingbowl replied to Sam S
Glad it was helpful!
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Rachel Cladingbowl replied to Sam S
I agree, it's really important to have passion as well as aptitude.
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Taxes are interesting. My question would be, how much does the rate of tax affect the wellbeing of society? Is it better to have greater personal wealth, or is it better to invest more in taxes, ensuring public services are better funded and thus improving the lives of everyone? I was having a similar conversation with my son a couple of weeks ago as he is...
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Interesting questions.
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Yes, asking questions is a process that continues throughout life; it's not just for studying! I hope you enjoy your return to education.
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Rachel Cladingbowl replied to Mae D
I agree- asking questions is not only about clarifying a query - it takes us so much further, into areas that we might not have ventured otherwise. Essentially, all learning is based on an endless search for answers.
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Great :)
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Rachel Cladingbowl replied to Wilson Ayinla
There is a time for being critical of one's writing, but in the first draft it is important to simply get things down. Before you begin, have an idea in your mind of the basic points about yourself, including your achievements and experiences, that are relevant and that you know you want to include. Polished writing is essential, but that comes later - it...
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In this case, it doesn't matter who the reader is - you just want to portray a picture of yourself as you would like to be seen. What are your interests, your strengths, your ambitions, your passions? In essence, who are you? What can you put across enabling us to get to know you better?
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Yes, that's true!
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When you are doing the first draft of any piece of writing the most important thing is to write something down. As you know it isn't going to be the final product, it doesn't matter if it isn't polished, or you think it isn't 'good', or if you don't end up including what you have written. Many people with this issue end up sitting and staring at a blank...
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Yes, it is a life-long skill used in many different scenarios.
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Definitely - reading the whole book unnecessarily would be extremely time-consuming!
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That's good - yes, it makes a huge difference.
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I agree - daunting but exciting, and so much more scope!
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Rachel Cladingbowl replied to Pan Li
It's true that information found via Google might not be reliable- that is why it is essential to be able to identify credible sources. Google Scholar is also a good option.
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We definitely gain knowledge and understanding by asking questions - what's more, it can lead to new discussions and points of debate, as you have mentioned.
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Rachel Cladingbowl replied to Andrew F
Yes, asking questions can certainly bring clarity to a problem or issue.
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Yes, asking questions and the discussions that arise from that can bring about many different concepts and ideas that we might not otherwise have considered!
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@AnneMaguire I agree, everything we experience certainly has the capacity to touch the work of a writer, whether they are conscious of it or not. I nearly read the book you mentioned - I think with a book like that, it would undoubtedly be much more believable when written by an author who has truly experienced the life portrayed. But when writing more...
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Yes, I was going to add that one would hope all university students want to further their knowledge and abilities, then found you'd already brought it up!
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Great - I'm glad you pointed out both 'consciously' and 'unconsciously' because it's really important to understand that simply 'forgetting' or not knowing the procedure is no excuse for ommitting a reference.
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It does make sense! Certainly, it seems likely that most texts definitely can lead to some kind of discussion, although the depth of those points of discussion and any arguments that might arise from them could vary greatly depending on the issues portrayed.
Can you write something without your life influencing the work? I would say 'yes' because you...
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Great - it's interesting to think about how we feel about the poem now, and how much more depth it might suddenly appear to have.
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I think it is rather interesting that a poem discussing 'liberty' appears to be breaking out of its expected form somewhat.
I'm not sure about the syllables on line 13, but I would guess he wrote it like that to make the words fit and flow in a satisfactory way - although 10 syllables is the expected guideline, I don't think the format is so strict that it...
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Rachel Cladingbowl replied to Michelle Morgan
Reputability is really important, in terms of printed material and online resources, so it's good to point this out. I hadn't heard of Blinkist - that's interesting!
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Revision cards are good, a lot of people find them very useful.
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Is that the method you would usually choose?
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Yes, I think that is a good idea - it helps to reinforce the material.
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Motivation is everything - I don't know you but I can still feel your drive and enthusiasm! Doing something you are really passionate about is the key to reaching your potential. In my personal life, I have several friends who have returned to studying later in life and they are mostly single parents - they have all completed their degrees, and felt a great...
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Contact time varies enormously, depending on what subject you are studying, but preparation before a lecture should not be too overwhelming, just some basic research and some thoughts on what might come up. If you do too much beforehand, you might find the lecture doesn't take the direction you were expecting.
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Interesting points - there has been quite a lot of discussion on the idea of a universal basic income recently, but the point that has stuck with me the most is that, according to the article I read (which I can't recall now, sorry!), universal basic income is much more than just a handout, it could actually inspire people to achieve more because the stress of...
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There is an extremely extensive library of papers, books and resources available for use at university. The approach to study is, of course, much more independent but also much more inspiring - my son tells me that at his university in the North of England there are more than 1 million books and even more online resources on top of that.
Any good lecturer...
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Rachel Cladingbowl replied to Chiara C
There is definitely a lot to be said for smaller group settings when it comes to having the confidence to speak out and voice your thoughts and opinions. Tutorial groups at university tend to be small, which is really beneficial in this way.
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Peer-reviewed sources are excellent - as you have pointed out, it's really important to use credible sources from the internet.
It's great the way questions lead to further questions and can expand the topic so much more!
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Yes, freedom in confinement is certainly a relatable topic at the moment! It's a great example of how poetry can be timeless, irrespective of what the poet's thoughts were at the time of writing.
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Yes :)
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Rachel Cladingbowl replied to Cathy W
Hi Cathy, I gave a quick description of my thoughts on ''pensive citadels' below. Sundry means 'various; different types' so 'sundry moods' would presumably apply to 'various, different moods.' 'Sonnet' refers to the style of the poem itself, which should be written in a certain style and follow certain rules to be classed as such.
I agree with your...
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Rachel Cladingbowl replied to Alex Lardner
A citadel is a fortress, or a tower. So I would say that 'pensive citadels' would be referring to the students as contented and thoughtful, up in their towers of learning. It's a personification, as of course, the citadel isn't pensive, but rather the students are. It doesn't have to be an actual tower, of course, although many of the oldest universities were...
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Rachel Cladingbowl replied to Natalie Louise Gunn
That's great!
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Yes, I think if you constantly hold the main point, or the essay question in your mind and make sure everything you write about is in line with that, it can help you weed out anything irrelevant. Sometimes you have to be a little bit ruthless, especially if you feel you've included some really good material - it might be good but still not relevant!
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Yes, for a personal statement it would definitely help to keep in mind the point of what she is writing - applying to study psychology - and make sure that everything links to that. This should also be the basis for any other written work, such as an essay, an article, or even creative prose - it's always important to keep to the focal point.
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Rachel Cladingbowl replied to Ainslie Talbot
Yes - the style of writing could make a big difference to how she is perceived, don't you think?
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Rachel Cladingbowl replied to Sofie Greaves
I completely agree that many drafts are likely to be necessary - the first one or two will just be the backbone; an idea of the end result. It will need to be polished and added to, to make it as good as it can be. Getting someone else to read it, or reading it aloud is certainly a good idea.
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Rachel Cladingbowl replied to Zeynep Ayhan
That's a good point!
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Rachel Cladingbowl replied to Alessandro C
I think that's an insightful description of Gina!
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I agree that it's definitely very important when applying for a job - the only thing any future employer has to go on is what you have written on your application. In a sense, you have used words to paint a picture of yourself!
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I don't think you should worry as knowing your weaknesses gives you the opportunity to work out the best solution. I don't know where you are planning to attend uni, but in the UK at least, lectures are likely to be recorded (lecture capture) so that you can watch the lecture back afterwards and thus take in anything you missed at your own pace. I don't know...
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Yes, its a real difference and I think for many students the independent studying at uni really increases passion and motivation, which is great.
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I think it is a really good idea to be prepared in that way - it will definitely help at uni.
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Good points to discuss - the last point is certainly a bone of contention!
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I agree that becoming efficient at extracting keywords and key points from any material you are presented with is vital. Whether you prefer tech or pen and paper is personal preference - I usually go for the old fashioned approach but my son is at uni and he swears by his Ipad Pro which he decided was perfect for him to keep all his notes in order and worth...
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It's definitely true that we take in information and retain it better when we're truly interested in a subject. Discussions are great and can be invaluable at university with fellow students.
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Definitely - and I would add it would also mean that they are missing out on the chance to reach their own potential and the fulfillment that comes with that.
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Yes - it's good that you pointed out the importance of referencing when you have used the work but used your own words. Obviously we should always use our own words, but it's essential to note that it may still be someone else's research or ideas!
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I really like how you pointed out the difference between being able to recall information and actually grasping a good understanding of a topic - the two can be very different!
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Yes, sometimes asking a question is essential in order to move on and keep up with a topic, so it's very important to do so.
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@AnnaP Thanks for posting that link, that looks like a very interesting article. Of course, the results of every study depend upon the conditions of the research. It's an interesting topic definitely worthy of more investigation. Of course, it's also important to check the credentials of any article - I don't know much about Medium, but I believe it is a site...
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Yes, that is very true - an interesting slant as it shows how persuasive writing is also used for propaganda.
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Yes, absolutely!
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Good points - I found your thoughts on happiness and a country's economy particularly interesting. I know there has been research on the world's happiest countries, and I recall the Nordic countries all being near or at the top.
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@VictorL.Nazaire The main point is to see if the preparation you did before watching the second resource made a difference to how much you connected with the lecture and how much you remembered and were able to take away from it.
To address Hams Eissa's comment below, I would say that whilst note-taking during lectures is good practice, extensive...
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I think you are right about preparation putting you in the right frame of mind for the lecture, which in turn helps you to get the most out of it.
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I agree that discussions with other students can be very beneficial - it's a great way of exploring new thoughts and concepts that you might not have thought of otherwise and can also be quite reassuring.
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A good lecturer should always welcome questions from students, in my experience that is certainly the case. My son is currently a university student and he finds his lecturers very receptive to his questions, which he sometimes asks when he passes them when walking along, apparently!
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It's really important not to let part-time work take over so that you cannot make the most of your university experience, even though it may be difficult. In terms of preparing for a lecture, even a small amount of basic preparation can make a lot of difference in how you receive the lecture.
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I completely agree with your point about helping someone else in the room - I think that is a very common occurrence!
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I think it's true that many students are not confident to ask questions at school, often because they don't want to speak up in front of other people. This often becomes much easier with maturity and with practice. A good lecturer should always welcome questions. A big part of learning at university is to develop critical thinking skills and to question the...
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Yes, it's definitely true that the more questions you ask, the more you want to ask - curiosity is a wonderful thing and can take you a long way!
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You are quite right about that, it is a typing error! Many thanks for bringing it to our attention, it will be corrected!
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Yes, I think he should definitely do this!
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It's possible that you could have a number with a footnote - it is very repetitive!
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Yes - though it doesn't have to be the same words or sentences, instead it could be the same idea.
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Very true - not doing the work themselves definitely means they are not learning from researching the topic and therefore wasting their time at university.
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Great - I would just add that it is not just word for word, but also paraphrasing or just using an idea that could be plagiarism and would need referencing. If it comes from another source and isn't common knowledge, it is someone else's work.
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You've made some good points - the last one is quite interesting.
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These are really good points, you've approached the lecture topic from lots of different angles, which is excellent.
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Rachel Cladingbowl replied to issy waston
Yes, and preparing in this way may allow Bob to follow the lecture with greater ease, allowing him to get the most out of it instead of struggling with terms and concepts and therefore missing vital elements.
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Yes, questions are essential; in fact, the most important element for learning at any stage in life is the process of questioning, whether it is of material you are faced with, your own ideas, or those of other people.
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Discussing alternative viewpoints can be vital and is a really good way to develop critical thinking skills. Debating with friends can be really helpful, both in terms of raising new ideas and boosting enthusiasm.
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Brilliant!
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Yes - thorough interpretation of the data is essential in order to make sense of it.
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Yes. Good questions lead to more questions, and understanding of a topic is therefore greatly enhanced. It can be very useful to share perspectives - it can often lead to us looking at something in a complete different way.
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Talking with friends can be very helpful - it's often very useful to hear someone else's perspective, or just to know there is someone in the same boat who you can always chat with. My son started uni last autumn and I know that over the last couple of years this is something he has relied upon a lot, for support and motivation.
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Rachel Cladingbowl replied to Cameron L
Yes, ask all those questions at uni and get the most out of your experience! In the past, I didn't really like asking questions but I was always glad when other people did!
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It's great that you ask so many questions - there is always something else to find out no matter how far down the road you are!
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Keeping to a word count can be very difficult and I find I have to be quite ruthless sometimes! If you can, try not to become too fixated on things like phrasing during the first draft, particularly if it causes you to lose motivation, as it's something that can easily be worked on later. Polishing the finished article is usually easier when you have the...
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Rachel Cladingbowl replied to Freya Cannon
I agree that it is much too chatty and informal - she definitely needs to address that.
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That's brilliant!
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Having the self-discipline to actually start and focus on what you are setting out to do is definitely half the battle! With writing, just getting on with it and putting something down is progress - you can go back and make changes, and expand on your points, later.
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That sounds good.
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Rachel Cladingbowl replied to Laura Sillitoe
I agree with you - she has included many good points, but there are still points that don't feel necessary. Perhaps she could have expanded on the most important facts a bit more?
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I agree. If you have a basic understanding of the lecture topic it will certainly make it easier for you to follow the lecture and also for those interesting questions to form in your mind which will take your learning to a deeper level. Without preparation, you might have to work harder to keep up with the lecture and therefore wouldn't be able to go that...
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Definitely - university is an amazing opportunity, so it is important to get as much as possible out of it.
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Absolutely.
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I think it's good that you mentioned emailing your tutors - it's important to realise that if you don't manage to ask the question during the lecture or lesson, you can still seek answers. Certainly in secondary school, many students let their questions go answered due to a lack of confidence in speaking out, but that can be detrimental to learning.
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I agree that asking questions can fuel enthusiasm. A good question can take you that little bit further in your quest for knowledge on a subject.
