Analytical Writing Journals作文日志

Hereby I start my journals on GRE preparation. Although GRE has been my buzzword since as far as one year ago, this is where the systematic approach commence.

And why I using English in these pages?

It’s obvious for I need more practices to pick up my long-abandoned English composition. Another consideration is that with English pages fewer folks can tolerate continuing reading them, making these journals rather private, though presented to the public.

Nonetheless, any comment on my errors are appreciated. My grammer sucks alongside with my organiztion.

Journals for Jan:

How it begins?

Last modified on 2009-08-08 10:56:34 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Thanks to all my failures, I can rely on one basic principle to get something done. That little something is “awareness”.

Throughout our lives we are mostly dominated by our “mind”, which is random and basic, after we are all animals. If you try to accomplish something solely by your mind, you won’t go very far. All New Year resolutions are doomed in this way and that’s why we need something called “plan” and “self-management”. However, the little fortress of awareness which keep up trekking on our intended path are perennially harried by our more powerful and more dominant army named “mind”. All sort of skills, techniques and tricks of planning must base on waking up awareness or it will become futile like all your attempts before.

Besides the above nonsense-screed above, I made several things to implement the preparation. A Gantt-Chart showing the proposed progress, a check-list for vocabulary, and jounrals. All are focus on the said purpose, keeping me aware of what I should doing, comparing with what I AM doing.

What’s left out is how to deal with feedback from myself, my visceral self. Instincts tell you what’s wrong of your plan immediately but is usually ignored by the awareness. Still don’t have a remedy to that, or maybe that’s where the catch is.

Excuse for my poor English.

Jan 12th

Last modified on 2009-08-08 10:56:35 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

It’s really difficult to do anything constructive in home, after all, it’s designed for recreation and divertion.

Even if nobody is at home, you may not resist temptation from all around.

Maybe I should check my e-mail? My twitter? QQ? 校内？Pornographic Membership license?

Despite from said ones, a single piece of cake will successfully distract from what you should doing, not mention a big TV.

Thus it’s wise to locate somewwhere suitable to do you study, what’s more prudent it’s to do it with someone who can supervise you, you name it.

Argument writing seems to be “not so terrifying” so far, but without a systematic and comprehensive drill it’s nowhere near success. Especially the span of my preparation is so insufficient (March 15 will be my AW test day).

Well…I guess it’s time to get going rather than babbling, right?

See you tomorrow.

Jan 13th

Last modified on 2009-08-08 10:56:35 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

I would like to describe today as a half-failure since I don’t mean to be harsh on myself, but I could have done much better.

Journals still holds as something quite useful to wake up my awareness when all other tricks failed miserably, as long as you can get your ass to sit down and write.

梁文道once said The Meditation by Macrus Aurellius is deemed as some sort of ascetic practice by some, for it is Stoic Philosophy that accentuates writting as a indispensable mean of trail. I can’t agree more. Part of reason, IMO, it’s that writing forces the writer put more energy on your reasonable part of mind, i.e. sub-concious part get depressed for the moment by which you can salve your disheartened self.

Now I’ve come up with a better description of me today: meddled.

Somehow I just can’t get rid of procrastination, not at the least amout. Something crucially important is constantly eluded by me. It’s grasping a handful of sand, more tight you try hold on to it, quicker it runs off you. The harder I try to dispel the feeling of insecurity, more insecure sentiments strike right at the old wound.

BTW The Meditation is written in Greek, which is not the author’s mother language.

Jan 14th

Last modified on 2009-08-08 10:56:35 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Today it’s more or less the same like 13th, but I decided to start writting this journal foremost, then I continue to tackle all those stuffs. It’s unlikely to cover for the lag in the progress, so tonight’s goal is merely completing what is designed for today. But that already seem daunting enough.

Maybe I can finish this jounral when I stop working to see what acutally will be done, just like what I did in my toefl journals.

See you. And wish United good luck tonight!

Well when most of my chore was done, the clock stroke 4AM. After the game versus Wigan Atheletic, 6AM it is thus I can’t finish this journal on time. However, this journal still played its magic since my efficiency was handsomely improve. Merit was also attributable to a simple timer which put time pressure on me to hasten myself.

Not Bad, not bad at all.

Jan 15th

Last modified on 2009-08-08 10:56:35 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Not until now(11PM) am I able to start to make any progress on GRE, but I don’t wanna push myself to 6AM hence I have no choices but delay some of today’s  tasks. Maybe simply reviewing vocabulary and reading topics and/or writting outlines for argument are what I should aim at tonight.

But there is something I wanna share first. It’s about a concept, “Synergy”. If you are asked to do a multitude of tasks toward a single goal, I reckon it’s best to connect them together to render a synergy which enormously enhanced the effectiveness and clearness when performing tasks. It’s a bit of abstract, and I can only try to explain it better when more experiences are obtained. I guess a few solid examples will be provided then.

Again, see you when my work is done.

Works are more or less done and now it’s 4AM. I don’t write any outlines for I feel that before I fully grasp all error types and corresponding attack modes it’s unwise to gloss-over all these outlines. As mentioned before, outlines, as essential factor in argument preparation, should be incorporated into the synergy of topic reading-outline-practice with clear purpose, but not merely to complete the assigned tasks. After all, I feel it’s not far more the day I fully grasp those errors, maybe before 19th.

Jan 16th

Last modified on 2009-08-08 10:56:35 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Only way to console me is to treat today as a “Control Group” to test all motivational measures

It’s a weird thing that when she is down anyhow, I can’t get anything done either. The bond is so strong that almost unbelievably embedded in my sub-conscious.

In short, today is ruined and more pressure and chances of failing are imposed on “tomorrows”. How did I accomplish such a distinguished thing?

Well… simply let the inside “cascade” of mind flows to control do. I guess it’s the nadir, I HOPE it’s the nadir or my GRE will be ruined.

See you  in a better day.

Jan 17th

Last modified on 2009-08-08 10:56:35 GMT. 1 comment. Top.

Guess what I wake up really really early this day.

When I mean really early…I mean 1PM

Then I guess I should get more things done today.

You know accountability really drives me harder.

Hence I must claim here what I wish to do today:

Topics and outlines, review old and new vocabulary.

And make up for 3 article practices.

Intimidating, huh?

See you.

Jan 18th

Last modified on 2009-08-08 10:56:35 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

I have just finished a article on argument involving yellow-legged frogs and trout(WTH..) which I believe is the worst article I have ever done.

You can see that the deteriorating of English composition is damning rapid, for I just come up with some not bad ones in Jan 14th.

Now I guess it’s better for me to move on. Tingting told me not to assign too much emphasis on vocabulary but more on AW itself. I guess that’s wise.

I’ve got one more to do and a few lists to review and learn.

God bless thou.

Jan 19th

Last modified on 2009-08-08 10:56:35 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Good to see you alive and well!

I made a vital decision today, I choose to adjourn my memorizing of The Redbook for it consumes too much time which too scarce to me, and it is offering little benefits to my preparation on AW taking place only two months from now.

It’s really hard to make the choice in that it used to exert more motivation and proud to me, and I seldom finish something huge like the Redbook before.

Anyway, though late at night, I have to complete things listed in my schedule, i.e. reading topic, making outlines and revise compositions.

Hope you faring well.

Hey! It’a 9AM in the morning of the next day,and I have to admit that none of above was fulfilled last night but I guess I can make up for it now? Maybe waking up early is an option for there is no need to DO vocabulary on time.

Sigh… I will try.

Jan 20th

Last modified on 2009-08-08 10:56:35 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Now that my argument preparation is meddled, I fortuitously refered to the official introduction from ETS about AW which resolved tons of myth haunting in these days.

Say, a popular excel file enumeraing each single topic in the pool also featuring a outline which is from unknown source, committed several serious DON’T mentioned by ETS.

The most obvious one, attack the statement itself rather the reasoning course to it, say the topic come up with a statement that XYZ company’s profit is generally desirable in towns with ABC trait. Then the outine in that excel file hastily assails this statement. WRONG! What you should do is reasonning line to it rather than the end of it, or no solid ground could be established to develop any valid argument or counter-argument.

I guess I can discover more error in it on my completion of sequential tasks on the schedule. So, see you later.

Jan 23th

Last modified on 2009-08-08 10:58:50 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

年饭 is something cumbersome but necessary. Because of this I was left no time today to do scheduled reading exercises.

Sigh… Soon after class I was “lured” into my mom’s car and sent to 饭局 and were dying till 2AM.

But what triggers my happiness is that tomorrow I am going to meet with friends… and in 25th date with my girl~ yeah baby yeah

I totally omitted yesterday’s journal for my sloth. I really hate that part of me, without my girl there exists no way to save me from this.

Ah… I really hate to admit this. Totally weak. Totally incompetent. Totally dastard.

I used to wonder why I always need some extrinsic force to amend myself, but now I realize that

“no men is an island, entirely of itself.”

Ah… I miss her.

Jan 27th

Last modified on 2009-08-08 10:58:50 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Long time no see!

I’ve planned a lot but achieve little due to the lack of time pressure.

It is not uncommon for me to make a 15min practice 2-hour. But this “temporizing” kills!

As well I found that my ability to solve Analogy problems is lame. It’s so lame that I almost lost faith!

Sigh…

I tried to re-schedule my time to utilize morning time for these tasks, yet too much distractions are daunting hence late at time seems to be the only suitable time slot.

See you later. 牛年快乐！

Jan 28th

Last modified on 2009-08-08 10:58:50 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Wow…It’s really “early” indeed…

Without time-pressure I guess Reading wasn’t something huge for me, but I guess I’d have to re-adapt to it when imposed time pressure…

My goal is to achieve full-score on Reading!

Yet AW was always looming… Ever since the  除夕 no substantive progress had been made and I am really worried about it.

March 16th, not very far from now, even tangible!

I shall not beg for any blessings for nothing would be endowed to the undeserved.

Fighting, baby, fighting.

Jan 29th

Last modified on 2009-08-08 10:58:50 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

More and more sloth I became, even my girl admonished me.

Why? Keeping like that then I ain’t complete nothing.

Holy…Shit!

Anybody lend me a hand? Or a parachute?

Even journals are getting increasingly shorter…

Hey…If anybody watching this one, plz leave me some comments on how to motivate myself…

Jan 30th

Last modified on 2009-08-08 10:58:50 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

I guess a miracle just took place.

Completing 5 passages of GRE reading , long and short, with only 1 question done wrong!

Holy…

Don’t know if it’s a illusion or whatsoever, but combining 东方之猪’s tricks and my reading principles seems to amount to a significant improvement of my reading skills.

Hope it sustains.

Yet there is a problem with the methodology of 王丹丹 since her skill taught basically confuses me, even impaired my ability to compose an outline of any issue. I hope this would be a plateau period before an skyrocket hike or I could be in a BIG trouble.

Frustrating as it is, I still reckon a solution could be work out like reading, i.e. combing essence of what is taught with my principles and instincts. Plus, a competition stem from the Think Tank seems to evoke postive reactions, but that’s remained to be told.

Feb 1st

Last modified on 2009-08-08 10:56:34 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Holy… It’s February now.

My reading performs so miraculous that it almost thrilled me…

Yet the primary goal in this stage is AW, but unfortunately it’s the very trouble-area…

Plus the Analogy section also sucks…

Sigh…Anyway I’d better start doing something right now…

Feb 2nd

Last modified on 2009-08-08 10:56:34 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

My marginal progress is diminishing everyday…I guess this the canker due to procrastination. When you procrastination one task, others are all affected hence undermining the big plan. Notwithstanding the environment is indeed not suitable for study yet the self-discipline problem remains primary.

Procrastination, the ultimate problem looming me for years, had not been properly cured. Provided that the environment is not subject to change, improvements are far more valuable thus worth more compensation. It is said that reward could lend you a hand when dealing with procrastination problem yet I found myself virtually remain unaffected after giving rewards which is set up by myself. This fact in part is in that I haven’t taken the rewards seriously since they are not something really satisfying. Maybe I am a over-satiated people for living in an well-off family in a modern city for way too long, thus making me hard to satisfy.

Pathetic, isn’t it?

Talking about the real stuff, I’ve a new progress chart to goad, hopefully, myself.

I guess posting in the front page of my blog would enhance my motivation to accomplish them since posting on my room isn’t quite working. I hope that I am that kind of person who really cares about his own accountability otherwise this would be in vain.

See you.

Feb 4th

Last modified on 2009-08-08 10:56:34 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

My serious selection on programs started yesterday.

I guess most of us begin this by browsing websites of dream schools, namely HYPS.

Yet browsing them exerts plenty of zeal and motivation, one have to be realistic otherwise dream schools might turn out to be incubus. Competition must be uberfierce, not to mention the probability of being offered is obviously not significant at all.

Placement daunts me as well. If the U.S fail to restore its former prosperity I may have to return to home where scanty careers were left to be chosen…

Sigh… I guess I’d better start writing my issue now.

Hope thou faring well!

Feb 5h

Last modified on 2009-08-08 10:56:34 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

How to be a early riser? Did rise up early instrumental to my GRE preparation?

It’s 5AM now. Obviously I stayed up rather than waking up so early.

Actually I tried to be early riser every now and then and enjoy temporary success.

However when the burden(study,GRE, you name a few) gets heavier I am more reluctant to rise early due to an false belief that I am more efficient in the morning, I mean, stayed up to the morning.

Feb 6th

Last modified on 2009-08-08 10:56:34 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Accountability did drive me to deliver my promise which enhance my efficiency as well as my productivity.

陈国辉 really damped a lot people in the GRE class tonight, yet he fails to discourage me for I had been disillusioned.

Disenchanted as I am, I still longing for an quality education to pave my road ahead. They called HYPS dream school and that’s true since most of us, namely 99% of us won’t get to there. But there are several other institutions that worth serious consideration.

Location, location, location. I like BIG CITY. 

Let’s turn to GRE. I was at a lost last few days about issue writing and my girl had been instrumental in pulling me out of quagmire and I guess AW is back on track.

Yet what’s saddening me is that Reading had betrayed me. Under time pressure and difficulty in the article, my performance dropped so significantly that I am a bit angry about this. Notwithstanding the looming problems in General Test it’s wise for me to focus myself on AW since only 38days are left and I am still not confident about this.

May the force be with you!

中招

Last modified on 2009-02-07 17:01:53 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Unlucky

 东主领野

是日不做作业

调整睡眠

How I get my ass moving

Last modified on 2009-02-08 20:38:58 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

It is inputed in English not because Zhuangbility but the fact that this post is gonna be included in my GRE journals…

I am still savoring the ecstasy this night brought me, everything seems so beautiful and all those stuff went wrong seems to be a precursor to the success tonight like all the failed experiments of Thomas Edison. When I tell you what happened tonight you will feel deluded by its triviality yet I still reckon this as an important progress. It’s just a tiny progress in front of tons of failed trail and don’t-works-for-me techniques, but it is virtually glorified by these screw-ups like a droplet to a lone wanderer after a hard journal through the desert. When I came back home tonight it’s already 11pm and what’s ahead of me are:

One issue practice

Two versions of Issue topics

Five compendium Issues topics

Five good sentences to be included to the “Armory”

Plus some non-compulsory tasks:

Find and/or make a good new plan for the AW preparation and the general test

Get to know what AW is REALLY about

…etc.

Daunting as it started, I still managed to accomplish most of routines and a couple of non-compulsory ones.What’s more important is that I FELT the pleasure of getting something done, especially when they started to be intimidating but I conquered them and lifted my mood! That’s the spirit of GTD and any other personal management model.

What I did actually?  (From the most important to the least)

Cut off the Internet

It’s a shame but I’ve got to admit that I am not a little Internet addicted. Actually I can do only trivial things that not require any brainpower input when I’m online. Even worse when I had access to internet by any means I WILL access and that entails incessant distraction to the current task.

It’s just a random thought that taking my notebook to the desk of my dad, a weird place that no WI-FI signal can be found. But it had come to realization. It’s not a perfect place to study but only there I can be Internet-deprived. Cutting off the internet is the sufficient condition for the following factors 

Be in a good mood (and quench the bad mood)

You know it’s always easier to win when you are winning. Sounds paradoxical but it’s true that we human are inborn avoiding about anything whose failure seems to be a certainty. You are most likely to do what you’re familiar with and good at first. Many are not doing anything outside Reading when they were preparing for TOEFL since reading is usually the easiest part and others seems to be too balky to even start.

The opposite is true as well. Despite the fact that  I accomplished so much tonight  when I occasionally catch a glimpse of the remaining numerous tasks my enjoyment is dampened to minimal. But back in earlier tonight when I sighted that there was only one routine task left I was given enormous joy. The mechanism is the same:

We tend to be tricked by partial fact. Yet the positive side or the negative side is totally up to you. I sincerely suggest you to alway look on the bright side of the light. I had suffer enough for guilty feelings that impede me from doing anything productive. 

Do everything for a genuine  purpose

You won’t get anything if you getting things done merely for getting things done. I had written 30 outlines for issue yet gain virtually nothing from it. The reason is that I force myself to write them without true purpose. I knew my AW is at stake and writing outlines are essential yet somehow I failed to establish connection between them until tonight. Probably the bane is the internet for it constantly interrupt me from thinking how should I approach certain stuff and deprive me of any reflection needed to deliver quality tasks.

A genuine purpose is so near and so far, without reflection in depth it’s likely to be overshadowed by false purpose from without.(I must study hard for I am a good student! I must do this or my GRE would fail! I must do this otherwise I will disappoint myself again)

Accountability

Limit your time of doing the worst task which MUST be performed first.

Do shun from the intimidating bulk of stuff

Request yourself to complete only the easiest stuff

Stay Calm by deep breathe

Feb 14th

Last modified on 2009-08-08 10:56:34 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

I was writing these for quite a few days…

That means I am on fast track! Voila!

What helped to lift me from the slump are:

1\ Several Books including ZTD, Todoolist

2\My Moleskine. A perfect Kill when you feel resistance in writing something, just unfold its pages, and the rest will be history.

3\My foremost but only sage decision: Unplug myself from the Internet!

4\A progress chart. Feeling actually get something done is one of biggest drives.

5\Good Plan. Any Calendar will, Google Calendar or iCal or Paper Calendar, will do, what matters is your plan.

6\Accountability. Tell the whole world you wanna write 12 outlines per day. The pressure will push you to complete the work. Helpful especially when you are considering the option of procrastination.

Feb 17th

Last modified on 2009-02-16 18:07:11 GMT. 0 comments. Top.

Recently I reduce the frequency to write journal. It is partly in that I am becoming more and more productive every and I engaged myself with increasing workload. Yet I know it’s not a very substantial reason to escaping journaling. 

I decide to jot down a few words because a tiny miracle just happened. Until tonight I have never wrote an issue over 540 words within 45 minutes even in this morning. Yet I succeed in creating a 668-word shit tonight! Voila!

What happened inbetween?

The primary magic comes from my girl, a brilliant tutor in AW qualifying herself with a glowing score of 5.5. She keeps instructing me with this shitty-business of AW and she’s even more diligent in doing this than that so-called advisor from TOO SILLY. I can’t thank her more. I love you.

Now I will try to jot down the tricks she informed with me over phone before they leave me without trace:

1\Make sure you have 3 points to present

2\Elongate the opening first

3\Then write down 3 TSs.

4\Insert examples of scenarios after TSs.

5\Insert transfer and summary sentences before and after the examples.

6\Make the point richer by adding another evidence to the main point or adding a few conceding sentences to show your critical thinking.

7\Quickly summarize your main points in ending.

8\Proofread if you have sufficient time

9\Savor the moment

In general, you have to refrain yourself from elaborating too much evidences and/or deductions at one time. Expand each single evidence, example, point to its appropriate size then start another with “More over, In addition, Furthermore”. This approach not only increases word count but also make your article more persuasive because readers receive one evidence at one time and when they are almost be persuaded, another fully elaborated example or point strikes. They shall surrender.

That’s really simple but I reckon it takes months to grasp and implement.

I hope such improvement is not ephemeral, the next step is to stabilize my workflow of writing issue.

Ah, a wonderful moment to share with you.

P.S. My work: