I still have been sick but I am still working on the paper. It is coming along.

Work Time: 3 Hours

I got really sick yesterday -- and although I still am not feeling 100% I am working today! I am still working on the paper -- I have left a lot of loose ends with some of the sections that I am going to try and fix up today.

Work Time: 3 Hours

Still working on Paper!!

So I was super burned out from school and work last week and I did absolutely nothing. I figured out the other day that I have written over 75 pages of papers in this semester alone and that is not including the work I have done for this job. So I decided I needed a break. But today I am back to work. Still working on my paper. It is really coming along. I am sure I will be done with it by the end of this week. Anyway that is about it.

Work Time: 3 Hours

WOW! I felt so much better about what I am doing the writing and work is coming so much easier. I think I was so stressed with writing it correctly that I couldn't figure out how to word everything but now I realized I am just answering questions and that isn't too bad. I have about 6 pages today and to be honest I am not nearly done. I have about 3 or 4 more sections to write. We will see how it goes. I think a lot better now.

Work Time: 4 Hours

Questions Answered

I got a chance to talk to Dr. Shumway today. It was really helpful. I think I have been so consumed with what exactly a literature review is that I haven't been able to really write the paper. So I talked to him today and he was like "Lauren, I just want you to answer questions." For instance where has the field come from? Where is it going? What are significant topics? and What are some areas requiring further research?" He also gave me a journal to look up that has also of articles that are like a literature review. I have a bit more direction now which I think will help. He told my I could organize my findings according to chronology or theme or both. I think I am going to do both. I spent sometime in the library going over the Progress for Human Geography Journal

I haven't put in as many hours as I usually do these last two weeks because my life is a bit crazy with school. I have had so many papers to write it is unbelievable.

Work Time: 1 Hour

I have just been working on this paper! I felt a bit frusterated today because i realized i was citing things wrong... Ah well. So I spent sometime fixing some mistakes. Then i revised some of my introduction and organized everything according to theme.

Work Time: 3 Hours

Today, I spent time writing and also organizing some of the articles. It is hard especially when one article covers three topics to make sure you have covered all the information. I am learning a lot doing this. Oh I also got a bit confused with citations for Chicago/Turabian style. In all the articles I am reading they put the citation in parenthesis but I thought it was supposed to be footnotes. And then when i looked through all the articles bibliographies they had cited theirs differently. I think I will need to ask Dr. Shumway what I am supposed to do. I still didn't get it figured out. The End

Work Time: 2 Hours

Literature Review

Today I officially started my literature review (I mean I had an outline and introduction before but not really anything else) it really hasn't been as bad as I thought it was going to be. It really comes down to organization. I have to admit I am definitely learning a lot. For instance I wish I would have annotated the margins of the articles a little bit better. I did write some things but I wish I would have paid more attention to that. I think because I was so unaware of the direction I was going it was hard for me to do that. Well I am pretty sure I should have this literature review done by next week. I can't imagine it would take me longer than that. Although it is hard to make sure you have everything in order. Um I think that was it for today. I have to say that I love this job! I am acquiring so many valuable skills as I do these assignments. For one I have recognized that my writing skills have improved a lot since I am reading and writing everyday. It makes a difference. Anyway that was all for today.

Work Time: 3 Hours

Today I finished up revising the annotated bibliography and the conceptual map. I had to import the map into PowerPoint because it is a different program than Dr. Shumway's. Since the map was too big I had to break it down according to different branches. I hope that the presentation makes sense and it is what he is looking for. I just finished emailing Dr. Shumway with the update on everything and attaching the two assignments. I feel bad I haven't completed the literature review but it has been a lot more work that I was expecting. I have my basic outline for the paper and the sources and part of the introduction but that is about it. So I guess tomorrow I will spend the whole time writing. I am hoping it won't take me too long. Well I guess that is it.

Work Time: 4 Hours.

Today I spent the whole time revising the annotated bibliography checking grammar and making sure I had adequately evaluated each article, highlighting some area of improvement. I have to admit though some articles I couldn't think of anything to make their research better. Then I spent the rest of the time updating my conceptual map and adding the references to the articles in it. It went by really quick today.

Work Time: 4 Hours

Well I hadn't done all the hours that I wanted to this last two weeks. So I wanted to get done 5 more hours to add to my time card. So I put those on the time card and did them over the weekend. I spent time reviewing some last articles and striving to get a new one, which I felt would be really good. I only accomplished one hour of Friday and two hours on Saturday so that means I have two hours to complete on Monday from the last pay period. Don't worry I won't count them for this pay period. As for today I will work for about 3 1/2 hours and two hours will go to last week and 1 1/2 hours for this new pay period. I plan on starting my paper today. We will see how it goes. I think this literature review will take a lot more time then I initially intended. So we will see when I get it done. Maybe three or four days (hopefully). I think it will be difficult to present a comprehensive evaluation of all the material I have read. Anyway I better get to work.

Work Time: 1 hours

Conceptual Mapping

I worked a lot on my conceptual map tonight. Going through the books and articles that I had read and identifying terms and words to add to the map. I found most of my terms from a Natural Hazards text book written by Keith Smith from Scotland. I still have alot more to add to the map. But it is definitely coming along. I also read another article. Only 2 more to read, Yeah Hooo!

Work Time: 4 Hours

I was only able to work for a couple hours today. I had so much other stuff going on with the choose to give campaign. In between the presentations we had to do I was in the lab reading articles and summarizing them.

Work Time: 2 Hours