Original Research Is Done
I'm pleased to report that after my little burst of enthusiasm about American political thought earlier (I really do love this field, just in case it doesn't show *smile* but I cannot begin to express how sick to death I am of this dissertation), I sat down as I had planned, and banged out the rest of the dissertation introduction, which marks the last of the original research for the dissertation (I hope -- there's the likelihood that my chair will have a number of suggestions, but I don't anticipate those requiring significant new research). I had saved the introduction/lit review for last, because I honestly was not entirely sure of some of the findings for each chapter, and I wanted to be able to introduce those properly in the introduction (makes sense, eh?) rather than having to go back and do a significant rewrite. That's not to say I didn't have a working introduction, but it was really rough, more of a bullet outline of key points and question -- useful for writing the final version, but hardly a substitute.
I still have not put together a conclusion, but that won't involve original research -- just a rehashing of my findings, some speculation, and what will actually be a pretty interesting discussion as to why the Progressive era is still so misunderstood. However, I'm holding off on a conclusion until my chair goes through and gives me further instruction. No use writing a conclusion that could be blown to hell by requests for changes from my chair. I don't expect that, but then again, I'm not willing to gamble on it.
And of course, there's massive massive editing. And then arranging everything according to the College of Social Sciences style guide. Pain in the backside... but progress is progress.
I think a trip to the gym is in order (nervous energy to shed), and perhaps a glass of wine later to celebrate.
[Posted at 19:18 CST on 02/02/02] [Link]
