DD101 TMA06 Results

The results are back and it is by far the worst result I've had back to the point it barely passes however it is also the best feedback because it has explained critical analysis so much better to me. Picking a viewpoint and arguing for it is not what is required. Evaluation is the key here. I'm glad I screwed it up on a course that does not affect my final result however wish I had't picked the TMA with the most weighing. Fingers crossed for TMA07.

DD101 TMA06 Submitted

Phew...... had panic attack all of yesterday thinking that the cut-off was at midday however DD101 still has midnight cut-off so managed to get it in at 7pm ish.

Time to make a start on DD101 TMA07 which after re-reading the brief, isn't going to be as problematic as first thought. It is only 1 chapter in the book which is important and not all 3. I have read through the transcript 'Citizens and the state' which has been very worthwhile as it has got my head around what the question is asking for. Now it is just a case of putting and arguement together.

ED209 TMA03 is due sooner so really need to blitz through these. I have a couple of Sunday's at work to get my head down on these but need to get some notes down first and get my head around it all. Erika Cox's booklets could prove rather invaluable for this TMA. I really want to get both these assignments done ASAP. I can't cope with the feeling of panic of leaving these things to last minute and I am looking at ED209 TMA04 with a complete blank.....................

DD101 TMA06 Completed

I managed to finish TMA06 on Sunday, it is now in the hands of my stepdad to make better English out of what I have written. I am pretty pleased with my assignment and hope tutor sees it in the same light. This is also my first critical analysis so hope I got that bit right too. I am hoping that critical analysis actually means picking a view point and finding evidence to back it up............. fingers crossed I am not way out.

Just took mum to Crazy Bear for lunch.......... expensive make-up for forgetting her birthday............. would have just been cheaper to buy a card so should teach me for next year.

Have started notes for DD101 TMA07 and ED209 TMA03......... hoping not to leave these to last minute.

Will be submitting TMA06 later today.

DD101 TMA06 Update

Thinking back, I actually started work on this assignment back in December when I was in my last company so based on that it has taken me over 4 months and I still have left DD101 TMA06 to the last minute to complete!!! This is not a good sign however since then ED209 started which has taken a fair bit of time. To be fair it is purely the write up phase as I think I have read the chapter so many times that it is almost commited to memory.

TMA system is down on Tuesday which is a pain as the TMA is due on Wednesday and boy toy's flat doesn't have internet access but I'm sure I can work around it.

Forgot mum's birthday last week so I'm in bad books however I am making up for it by taking her to The Crazy Bear for lunch, she's been wanting to go for ages because I used to go a fair bit and all her friends have been. Set lunch £14.50 is okay, larger at £6 a bottle is less okay. I suppose it's my fault for forgetting.

Erika Cox booklets have arrived and think they are going to be very handy especially for ED209 TMA03.

Have been thinking about DD101 TMA07 and making a few notes but I have to admit that the content isn't flowing too well in my grey matter and I'm struggling to get my head around it so doing a lot of googling about legitimate authority of states.

Back to DD101 TMA06 I suppose, 400 words done, only 1,100 to go, referencing and a self refelction to go. Arghhhhhhhhh

P.S. Royal Wedding - ended up watching it, actually enjoyed it and think they are a lovely couple. Also watched the Wills & Kate Love Story (I know, I know) but although it was a little cheesy, it actually was watchable.

ED209 TMA02 Submitted

Finally at the 11th hour I have submitted ED209 TMA02 and it has been a challenge to say the least, based on this I suspect TMA04 and TMA06 which are practicals are going to be just as hellish. At least for now it's another Essay for TMA03 and in a similar format to TMA01.

I am not certain that TMA02 is my best work but I have mentioned all the key points, I just worry that it is a bit of a ramble rather than constructed well. I am relieved just to have pressed that theraputic submit button.

On to DD101 TMA06 ready to be submitted next Wednesday, at least I have most of a body for this one so it is now just a case of sorting word count, referencing and submitting. Think I will multi-task this alongside the Royal Wedding.

Juggling 2 courses

This is a first for me but with only 6 days looming until ED209 TMA02 is due, I have barely typed anything for it at all. I won't say that I have done nothing because that is far from true. The TMA02 forum on my the website has had lots of info to get me thinking so I think that I can pretty much blitz through it once I actually sit down and start typing but I've not so far left any TMAs this late to do............ I hope this is purely a glitch.

With DD101 TMA06 due a mere 7 days after ED209 TMA02 I am feeling a little behind although I have most of TMA06 typed, just need to make sense of it and reference but will leave that till the day of the Royal Wedding I think.

ED209 TMA03 due May 24th - Very similar to TMA01 so quite happy with this one
DD101 TMA07 due June 13th - Then I say goodbye to DD101 but want this done ASAP because of ED209 TMA04
ED209 TMA04 due June 21st - First practical and looks like heavy going..Doh

DSE212 - Starts October 1st so no overlap with ED209 apart from exam time
SD226 - Starts February 4th and after reading other people's views, this is a heavy going course.

ED209 Update

I have now worked out that if I can finish fOCUSII - Collection 2 which I have started but keep loosing the will to live with and complete fOCUSII - collection 3 then I am free running until May 21st but as I am getting very much in to the readings, I am pretty certain I will finish Book 2 before Easter and therefore I am free running (TMAs excluded) till the 3rd June which is a great feeling.

I can get on properly with DD101 TMA06, TMA07 (which requires a fair bit of reading and note taking) and ED209 TMA02 which I really need to get done between now and Easter weekend, TMA03 (I am looking forward to this as the question is based around atatchment theory and disturbed/disturbing behaviour) and make a start on TMA04 (practical, scary).

Onwards and upwards. Really, really want to get DD101 done and dusted for 2 reasons: 1) It will feel like a huge achievement, 2) I can totally focus on ED209.

National Identity

I am on to the chapter in Book 2 which I think is chapter 7 all to do with National Identity and I have to say that it isn't the most interesting chapter that I have read. The chapter on Gender is far more interesting as I am a little bit of a tomboy (maybe more than a little). One study shows that ridicule by fathers to sons if they play with non-gender typical toys could be a major factor. This proved of interest when my dad told me to be more feminine on Sunday morning and use a trolley rather than carrying my clubs......... I obviously pulled him up on this.

Really really need to sort out fOCUSII stuff and Media Kit pretty soon as falling a little behind with those.

DD101 has fallen a little by the wayside but have most of a backbone to work for TMA06 so not too worried especially as it is due after ED209 TMA02 which I am loosing interest in progressively, I may work on this tonight as am back round boy toy's place. He has developed a love affair with the PS2 especially GTA: San Andreas and Lego Star Wars which to be honest, I quite like. I am now a PS2 widow therefore can study till my heart is content.

Premature Reading

Been looking at exam stuff whilst at work which has actually been pretty busy today, don't mind days like this. The options in book 4 for the seen question look interesting and I am choosing the chapter on Children and Legal Proceedings which obviously has strong links with the James Bulger case. The information is very thought provoking to say the least.

I have now Read and Highlighted up to Chapter 4 in book 2 so I am ahead in this respect but really need to push on with fOCUSII stuff and Media Kit which I am a little behind on - the odd bit is that it is probably the easiest bits!!

No further with TMA02 ED209 so really need to press on however I have 320 more words to put in to TMA06 DD101 so at least I have something that I feel is getting somewhere.

Boy toy has moved to a studio flat rental. It's small, no heating, mice (they are a little loud at night) but it does the job for now. Possibly looking at biting the bullet and moving in which him around September, we will have been together 9 months by then and I have realised that I am not quite as young as I once was so may aswell throw caution to the wind................................

ED209 TMA01 Results

Logged on to StudentHome to see if I had a result and there it was........ pretty much what I expected and after reading my feedback I suspect it was a fairly kind mark. I am not saying that my tutor has gone soft or anything but I appear to be struggling with introductions so really need to work on this along side referencing and both together would have taken me to the next OU level.

Have managed to work a little on DD101 TMA06 and bit sfor DD101 TMA07 which is either going to be a real struggle or I will end up with so much info that I am going to facilitate a major cull of info.

Really need to get on with ED209 TMA02 which is the first one due. I think I have hit a focus on DD101 because it's nearly complete with the last 2 TMAs to submit then I can kick back and hit ED209 with my full attention.

I am 15% of the way through the degree with regards to TMAs which seems a lot considering I am only 5 months in to the 4 years but hey, it sounds great.

ED209 TMA02 Progress

After a little trip to sunny Brighton yesterday buying clothes that I love but have no idea where to wear them to I am at work without a boss and messing about with ED209 TMA02 which is proving to be a bit of a pig.

I have always been told that if a question is offering 10 marks then it requires 10 different points etc....... so I have a word document which is split in to the 9 questions broken down further in to the numbers of points that I need to provide and a word count break down of 20 words per point (I know this is very simplistic but it should get me through this). By doing this I have discovered some huge gaps in which I have no idea what to put but am filling it with the notes that I made on Wednesday.

I am taking a little break (sort of) from DD101 as TMA06 isn't due till May 4th so have plenty of time at the moment. TMA07 is in my mind but only so I can clarify some bits and with the problems in Libya with regards to Legitimate Authority of a territory, I believe that I am understanding some of the material better.

Today is going fairly quickly as been pretty busy (this is a first!!) and I'm off shortly to a customer with a car for them to drive and see if they can fit golf clubs in the back........... I have done this so many times in my 7 years in this game that I know exactly what will happen...... remove the driver and the bag and electric trolley will be comfy.

I am starting to get to grips with the idea of fitting study in whenever possible even if you only have a few mins to spare. It's amazing how much you can actually get done in a very short time and also because it is only for a very short period, you actually tend to remember far more. It really helps that OU stuff is all online and I have a job which gives me total internet access.

DD101 TMA05 Submitted

AS with most of my days off at the moment I didn't get a lot done yesterday as boy toy was off so we spent day together and got nothing productive done really.

Boss was out at a meeting this morning so it gave me a chance to finish DD101 TMA05 which pretty much involved referencing, layout and contents page. I am a little worried that I havem't used enough sources and I am certain that this will be pointed at in my PT3 when it comes back. Have now submitted TMA05 which is a nice feeling so I'm on to DD101 TMA06 and ED209 TMA02. Both have been started but not all that far in to them.

Work is fun but the level of business in dire, basically working 55 hours a week for minimum wage and it is satrting to depress the weaker ones, I'm just glad that I live at home with very few outgoings although saving for Masters Degree could prove tough although have discovered that I can get a Career Development Loan for up to £10k.

I wonder if a voluntary position with the Police can lead to a possible job??? I know I would earn less but there is a vast difference between 55 hours a week vs 37.5 hours......... All that extra OU work I could do.

11th hour ED209 TMA01

Made a final amendment and have submitted ED209 TMA01 before the morning meeting. Not normal for me to have submitted on the day......... hope this does not become a habit.

Focus now on DD101 TMA05 and although well over word count, I am far happier with the new version to the previous one. (Only 2 more to go after this!!!) Think I need to book a long weekend to blitz TMA06 and TMA07 so that I am free of them.

Part 2 on a Sunday

I have managed a little headway on ED209 this evening and and reading and highlighting Chapter 4. ED209 TMA01 is still in rough draft form but it doesn't need any major changes so am putting it to one side for a while.

Current Assignments in Progress:

DD101 TMA05 - Complete but will recheck before submission day 22nd March
DD101 TMA06 - Still is really rough draft stage but started it before Book 2 arrived so want to read and highlight the relevent stuff and have a play around with it. I have found the reading for this TMA to be a little one sided.
DD101 TMA07 - Still reading and highlighting but it's pretty interesting
ED209 TMA01 - Rough draft but no bad due 15th March
ED209 TMA02 - Have looked at it and read the material but not going to start until DD101 TMA06 is written and I'm happy with it.

My eyes have got a little sore from reading this evening. Turns out everyone was feeling ropey after last night escapades so it's quite in the house this evening. Mum couldn't work out how she got quite so drunk then we pointed out the shots!!! She is a little ashamed. I think I will have a couple of quiet nights Monday and Tuesday as I need to be at train station on Wednesday at 8.15 to start the journey to Disneyland Paris!!!! Can't wait.

First Day Take 2

New job seems to have more humans than the last one, they seem like a nice bunch of guys with ladish humour............... ahhhhhhh normality. Fingers crossed that this works out till my BSc is done and maybe possibly part-time for MSc if I can't afford 1st choice.

Been looking at MSc lately and have decided on a first and second choice. 1st choice is Uni of Liverpool because it is the best for my chosen path of Forensic Psychology, my 2nd choice would be Uni of Middlesex due to locality. Liverpool is going to be mega expensive and really can't make head nor tale of scholarships etc............

Done very little OU stuff as been on big chill since Friday although DD101 TMA04 is due on Tuesday so will need to stay in for a bit over weekend to check it over after getting DD101 TMA03 results back on Sunday.

Managed to do a little on DD101 TMA07 reading and highlighting but will take it to work on my first Sunday to spend time as not totally sure what it is asking for to be fair. Still have to write up DD101 TMA06 in full but have total supply of notes to pull from. ED209 TMA01 has come back from stepdad with revisions......... I asked him to read it to a point that he understood it and I wasn't too far off.

Last Day Again

As the title suggests it is my last day at this job after only 2 months in it, on to new pastures as of Tuesday. Got to say, I may actually miss some people here and most definitely a few of the cars.

I now have a 1,700 words for ED209 TMA01, all I have left to do is make sure I haven't rambled and sort out my reference section. Buzz words, Piaget, assimilation, accomadation, equilibrium, schemas, sersori-motor, pre-operational, concrete operations, formal operations. Not sure whether or not to mention Vygotsky, so far I haven't but I suppose I have got a further 300 words to add if I wanted to. In DD101 word counts were precise which I actually almost prefer to this idea of a word count between 1,500 to 2,000.

I really ought to be getting on with DD101 TMA06 but have gone off the boil a little with it, mostly because I think the arguements in the text book against migration are rubbish. There are a lot of real world arguments as to why migration is a threat to the UK economy but they aren't even touched on. A great example is that the text book suggests that migration is vital for the NHS because there aren't enough junior doctors or nurses but if you look at this from the other point of view, there is the argument that suggests that we wouldn't need the extra doctors and nurses if there wasn't so much migration. Mind you an article in the Daily Mail suggests today that hospitals are being over-run with drunk people so maybe there are external forces at work.

My 3 days unemployed will be spent with boy toy so should get an idea of whether he is actually growing on me or whether in fact I need to move away!!! It turns out he is quite painful after a few beers and assumes that because I talk to another male, I am in fact having a fling with them. Have told him that he is on a 3 strike rule and he is 1 down.

Wouldn't mind reading and highlighting Book 1 Chapter 4 today but think that might be a little cheeky. Hmmmmm, do I actually care?!?!?!?!?

OU vs JFK

I was expecting my results for DD101 TMA03 yesterday as I am certain that it was a 14 day turn around however they have not appeared and to be fair, I am not expecting a stonking grade but still want to know.

Today is another wind down day at work and apart from constantly checking for my TMA result, all I have done is investigate the conspiracy of the assasination of JFK which isn't really productive but it is saving me from boredom and I fancied a bit of a break from TMAs.

I've been looking at websites regarding the ED209 exam which I know is a long way away but it helps to know now what I really need to pay attention to!!

I have now more or less finished reading and highlighting ED209 Book 1 Chapter 3 so feeling a little more confident that I can get ahead fairly rapidly.

Can't believe DD101 TMA04 is due on Feb 8th, that seems to have come around rather fast. TMA04 is complete and has been submitted however I will check it over before the deadline in case changes need to be made. TMA05 is still being checked over for SPAG (Spelling, punctuation and grammar)then I'll submit (I just like pressing the button). TMA06 is still a work in progress. TMA07 has been thought about but put on the back burner awaiting arrival of DD101 second mailing which arrived Monday.

The Final Week

The end is nigh and I'll be away from work on Friday evening so counting the hours till I actually get a Saturday, Sunday and Monday off work!!

Managed to finish reading and highlighting ED209 Book 1 chapter 2 and have started in 3 but really can't get away with that on a normal business day at work, can only really get away with anything that can be done on computer rather than looking like a total student and getting the books out on my desk!!

Been looking at ED209 TMA01 and am pretty happy with the material that I have written in terms of key concepts, definitions etc.... just need to put it in to a better format. ED209 TMA02 is most certainly on the back burner for a little while or at least till DD101 TMA06 is out of the way.

Moved my Pug 205 CTi in to it's garage yesterday after 4 months being left to the elements on the drive way. Had problems starting it before which is why I didn't run it for ages however once the jump leads were connected she fired up straight away. Stupid French car. Now to start the work so that she is roadworthy by March........ money and time required. Got insurance quote for £200 for the year though so very happy with that.

Sunday Sunday

Another Sunday at work and another chance to hit the books.

Yesterday is amanged to highlight and read through Methods and Skills up to section 6 which also leads to ED209 TMA02 which is gong to be a nice one so I am doing notes on that one whilst I go. Today I am hoping to read and highlight up to the end of Chapter 3 in Book 1. There is an awful lot of reading for ED209 but they do have great examples when explaining tricky stuff which is helpful.

Current TMAs in progress:

DD101 TMA06 - Migration - Have notes, now just trying to create 1,500 of sense out of it.

DD101 TMA07 - States - I am actually going to wait till the Part 2 materials arrive (hopefully Monday) before I get in to this as it requires a fair bit of reading and making sense of stuff

ED209 TMA01 - Piaget - This is in skeleton form with about 1,100 words out of the required 1,500 to 2,000 but I am happy that I have at least started it.

ED209 TMA02 - Sharon's Study - This is actually a really nice assignment on Methodology so had a go at it whilst reading through Methods and Skills Handbook yesterday.

ED209 Progress

I have actually made a start on ED209 TMA01. Piaget is a bit of a dude, his theory pretty much states that children show the same development as molluscs............. how cruel is evolution!!! ED209 TMA01 is proving easier than DD101 TMA06/07. TMA07 is proving to be a bit of a pain to be fair, the actually section on legitamacy within states is tiny therefore I am actually doing to have to draw from the other chapters to make 1500 words........ Doh!!!! Might even give in to researching other sources.

Came 4th in poker tonight which has cheered me up.

Resigning on Friday which is going to be bad, they aren't going to take too well.