I am very happy I didn’t have to wait a whole week, they sent the confirmation report today! It is still hard to read in parts and feels negative but I just keep telling myself not to take it personally. One thing really positive they said was that my project was timely and really significant to the field. They also complimented my presentation despite the fact that they thought I had missing information from it.

They had a bit to say about my research questions and method and I skimmed over that because I’m still not quite ready to take it on with the right attitude. I did like it that they pointed to the research questions as much as the method because I too was thinking their issues arose, not from a lack of understanding, but from my lack of communication. They didn’t understand what I was trying to achieve, so therefore they didn’t understand why my chosen method was the best. And when it comes down to it, that is a fault of mine, in writing the research questions and also communicating the aims of my project. Noted. But still difficult feedback to read.

The other thing I found challenging was that they didn’t think my literature review was critical enough, but I would have said that was one of my strengths. Well perhaps I’m rusty on the critical side of things. Perhaps I was more trying to show the gap in the literature rather than be critical of what does exist.

In the end I don’t feel like I did the other day. I think I can come out of this with MY project intact. And as I said, I will learn a lot and that is ultimately the most important thing. Plus every time I see the bit that says “Confirmed – subject to minor revisions” I feel very, very happy. MINOR revisions! There is a meme which I probably can’t source properly but I’ll add it:

So yes, I am REALLY happy with that magic word “minor” in the official response.

On that note, it’s Friday, 4:10pm and I’m sneaking off early because everyone else left 10 minutes ago and I have had a long week, very emotional and so on! Plus I’m doing nothing but assignment feedback for ALC students all weekend. I did finish my enabling students’ marking today though! Yey! x2