#dissertation chapter two

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Study 2019: Dissertation Chapter Two Planning (day 3)

Three days, a mountain of paper and God knows how many mugs of tea later I've finally finished my second chapter plan! I'm fairly happy with it (it's just too long) and I'm completely exhausted...

I've also been to Lichfield Cathedral Library today to research for (another) presentation I'm giving in a few weeks. I found some frankly alarming stories from the civil war! However, it makes a great start for my work to build up from.

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Study 2019: a long absence

Been a bit neglectful of my blog recently as I've had a lot of non-study related work to do for university recently and not a lot of time to do it in... However, I have managed to finish two substantial pieces of work!

Secondly, I finished the first draft of chapter two of my dissertation. There's been some major changes for my dissertation recently as I planned chapter two and had to split in in half... I was seriously worried I wasn't going to have enough detail to write the whole chapter with enough nuance in my argument but I've managed it and I am happy with my argument! The rest of this week will be editing this chapter though so I can get it into my supervisor by Sunday at the latest.

Firstly, I've completly finished my presentation on the Caroline Altar Policy at Lichfield Cathedral. This was a difficult one for me to write because I'm presenting it to non-specialists who have never studied this period before so I found it hard to decide how much, or how little, detail to include! I got there in the end though!

[lizziestudieshistory]

Study 2019: Dissertation Chapter Two

Finally got started on my second chapter plan! This is the section I am least excited about as it's on emotions and the godly sermon... While emotion is less talked about in the historiography, there is an enormous focus on sermons (understandably as they are the most important feature of godly public devotion) and discussing them can get a bit repetitive. However, the focus on emotions has allowed me to come up with a fairly new argument, although this isn't the most original part of my research.

I'm really excited to move onto my final chapter on baptism! This is completely unresearched about with a focus on religion in England as far as I'm aware and I really hope I'm not attempting more than I can do in the time I have left. Just need to get this section planned before I can start any new research!

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Study 2019: Dissertation and lectures

Working on chapter 2 today... I can't believe it! I've moved on to look at emotions during the sermon for the godly. Brought back my copy of Being Protestant in Reformation Britain by Alec Ryrie (definitely recommend) and my favourite monograph, The Art of Hearing by Arnold Hunt (also recommend if you're into early modern sermons). Of course, the infamous Nehemiah Wallington is here because of his intense emotional experience of 17th century religion. Overall, a productive evening!

This morning was lecture's on the English Cathedrals and the Reformation and later the Restoration of the Cathedrals (very heavy on religion today...) Enjoying term 2, just wish I wasn't so busy right now! 😱

(I would say excuse Captain Hook in the background but it's my favourite mug!😉)

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Study 2019: Horrors of Dissertation Research

For today I have decided to show you the true disaster that is my method for finding, reading, analysing, and annotating primary sources for the 17th century. Not only are they a pain to physically read, some are difficult to understand when you finally work out how to tackle the typeface! Welcome to the struggles of a history dissertation, if you were wondering!

The two annotated in blue are some of the nicer texts I read today. One is an extract from Henry Smith's famous sermon The Art of Hearing (1592), the other is a section of Robert Wilkinson's Lots Wife (both tell you how much you must hear the Word of God, not just read it). In yellow is Matthew 3 (Geneva Bible) that talks about John the Baptist and how emotional his preaching was... I wonder how I get to these places at times...

Honestly, the messy stacks of paper and (at times illegible) scrawling handwriting are typical of my life right now... I definitely don't know how to get the 'studyblr aesthetic' for practical research/study! Nevertheless, I have managed to get through 34 of these today, I'm exhausted and relieved it's over but quite proud of myself...

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Study 2019: Dissertation Chapter Two

Finally got a draft of this chapter I am (vaguely) happy with. I think I'm going to get a lot of corrections this time, but I have something to give my supervisor! So that's something!

I've also made a quick essay plan for one of my modules this term. At this stage it's more so I know where I'm going and I have something to bring to my tutorial on Tuesday. Hopefully, my lecturer will approve the project and I can get started!

[lizziestudieshistory]

Study 2019: Dissertation Chapter Two

Finally started writing my second chapter after speaking to my dissertation advisor on Tuesday about my plan. We've decided to split it into two chapters (one on the preacher and one on the laity) so I'm not writing one on baptism anymore, which is disappointing but necessary. (Gives me something to do in some research later on!)

I've drafted my introduction and historiography this morning and this afternoon I'll start section one on the purpose of the sermon for the minister and their two (very broad) preaching styles.

Hopefully I'll get section two done at the weekend and section 3 and my conclusion early next week, so can edit and redraft next weekend. It's a very quick turn around now as I'm in the last 6 week sprint to finish writing while I still have access to my supervisor and make the changes he suggests!

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Study 2019: Dissertation Chapter Two Planning

Continued the plan for my second chapter today. As we can see my desk has seen an explosion of papers, particularly a lot of sermon extracts! You don't want to see the floor or bed behind me... (Before anyone asks... I can spell, the red lines on my laptop are seventeenth century spellings from my sources... Prestandardisation really sucks!) I've enjoyed today a lot more, I feel like my argument is really taking off now and is becoming fully formed. Hopefully, I'll get the final section planned tomorrow morning before I go to Lichfield Cathedral to use their archives.

I do think it's getting slightly ironic that I'm using Gregorian Chants to help me focus on my work. I find that the Latin and repetitive nature of the chants really help me to concentrate, however, I'm certain the Protestants I'm writing about would strongly disapprove... Ahh well! If it helps me get through this chapter I don't care! Does anyone else use slightly odd background music in their research?