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Michael Gumbrell

TMA2

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I had another check through the guidance notes for tma2.

It is very clear. The tma is utterly about chapter 2. Nothing from the other chapters need to be in there.

So a very closed tma question.

Perhaps it is to make us reallt drill down onto how we write a philosophicaly logical essays.

We will see, i sure i will be on this blog bemoaning tma2 some more.

Permalink 3 comments (latest comment by Michael Gumbrell, Monday, 20 Nov 2017, 17:16)
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Michael Gumbrell

TMA 2

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So this block 2 is slightly odd, there are 4 weeks of study around the philosophy of religion. However the TMA question is very specific, it is concretely locked into weeks 2's study. So I have finished week 3 and have week 4 to do, however I have done the week that is very specifically linked to the TMA, nothing from week 3 or 4 will get into it. 

so I made a start on writing the TMA today, I have done the introduction and the unpack. so I have written the first 400 words of the 2000 word TMA with 2 weeks to spare.

That is a bit of an odd structure, previously TMA's had a focus on a particular week, however following weeks would influence what you wrote in the TMA.

With block 2 TMA that is not the case, Chapter two is king and it would harm the TMA to mention anything from week 3 or 4. Very odd. I have never had that situation before.


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Michael Gumbrell

struggling with Philosophy

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I have to admit, I am struggling with A222, Philosophy.

There sheer volume of reading, the fact that the essay's have to be written in a completely different way to other essay's,  the fact that there is a sixth essay in the OCAS, unlike every other module which has five, the prehistoric age of the website and module planer, just the whole thing really.

If I had only known, I could have done politics and economics without the philosophy.

It is very hard to motivate yourself to push through on a subject when it is really not doing anything for you.

I have come to the conclusion I just need to crack on, get whatever score I can ( it surely will be lower than my other modules) and just get through it, a pass is a pass and then I can move on to modules I will enjoy more.

When it comes to level 3 of my P.P.E pathway, I get to drop a subject and focuses on two of the three, I think it is fair to say I will going for the politics and economics elements in level 3.

When I finally get to the end of my degree pathway I can always ask if my classification can be changed to P. NLOP. E,

Politics,

No Love Of Philosophy

Economics.

Seems like a reasonable request to me...


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Michael Gumbrell

9000

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A huge thank you to everyone who has taken the time to view this blog.

The view counter just clocked 9000.

That is an amazing number of views.

Thank you.

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Michael Gumbrell

Sad news

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Sad news about the death of Malcolm Young.

AC/DC are my favourites by a long way.

I started learning guitar when i was 10, in 1976.

So when i was learning, maicolm was a big influence on my learning to play.

So R.I.P Malcolm Young,

We salute you.

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Michael Gumbrell

Yay its friday

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That was a long week.

I got the heating fixed.

Had my hopes dashed with the university challenge team.

Missed by blog counter hitting 8888.

Did what felt like endless hours of GDPR compliance and work.

Did the remaining endless hours to cvs email databases.

And topped that off with 10 of A222 philosophy reading in the evenings....

A long week indeed.

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Michael Gumbrell

University challenge team

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I got my email from the student association team.

I did not make it through to the finsl round to get into the university challenge team

Oh well, i will just have to try again next year.

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Michael Gumbrell

Friday?

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Having filled my day with GDPR at work today 

Tomorrow holds the joy of cvs data processing for mailshots...

Is it Friday yet?

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Michael Gumbrell

Is it friday yet?

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Roll out friday, i say as Wednesday just starts!

I am still ploughing through the GDPR protacols at work.

I have six hours of reading for A222 to do by Thursday.

Busy, busy bee.

And the heating has broken at home.

Cold, cold, busy, busy bee.

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Michael Gumbrell

A long week

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Looks like this is going to be a long week at work.

I have to conduct information audits with all my heads of departments. That is goong to be a boring process. However the law changes coming up with data protection under the new GDPR law means it has to be done.

The sooner we can get through the ICO 12 step to GDPR process, the better position our organisation will be to adhere to the new GDPR.

Still going to be a long week though.

Permalink 3 comments (latest comment by Rebecca Rose, Monday, 13 Nov 2017, 19:24)
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Michael Gumbrell

from design and Hume

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I had a stab at a flashcard which is a reminder of Hume's problems with concept of 'from design'


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Michael Gumbrell

block 2

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Now we have the crux of block 2, the philosophy of Religion.

looking at the arguments around the concept of 'from design' and the existence of a God.

So the 3 week away TMA question is if Hume's objections to the 'From Design' argument are compelling. Hume has popped up in week 2, so the TMA material has appeared early on in the block. 

The reading for Hume is long, intense and challenging. But has to be done correctly as it will form the core of the TMA material.

So lets get that done then...

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Michael Gumbrell

Informal study group.

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Edited by Michael Gumbrell, Sunday, 12 Nov 2017, 12:16

This year looks like it is going to be hard.

For the last couple of years i have been in an informal study group with two of my PPE cohorts, Simon and Stephen.

I just wanted to thank both of them for being there for support. 

Together we might all get through this a222 module.

So thank you Simon and Stephen. Your advice, support, perspective and ability to find external materials that help rationlise the module materials is very mch appreciated.

Me, i just make the revision flash cards for us to use.


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Michael Gumbrell

All about the hits

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Once again, a massive thank you to everyone who has rrad my blog.

The view counter is about to turn 8500.

Your time spent in visiting my blog is very much appreciated.

Mike

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Michael Gumbrell

Feedback

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So i had a look at my feedback. There was alot of it!

Not entirely sure now if the 68 mark was just a kindness because it was the first essay of the module.

68 might be the peak for this module, unless i really get a grip on philosophy tma's.

We will see.

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Michael Gumbrell

tma 1

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So i got my mark back for a222 tma1.

68% thats my second lowest mark in four modules of essays.

Not that disappointed. Seems like a fair mark considering how much i struggled with the essay.

I will look at my feedback tomorrow.

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Michael Gumbrell

Cuban students

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I have just seen on the homepage that the OU has restored its learning provision to Cuba.

Well done to Simon Reed for bringing the situation to light and for affecting the chsnge in OU policy. Excellent work Simon.

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Michael Gumbrell

book one flashcard

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I thought I might do the flash cards as I go along this year:

Here's book 1 A222, personal identity


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Michael Gumbrell

a222 block 2

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so now it is time to move onto A222 block 2.

The philosophy of religion.

This is going to be a complex one.

I am not a man of faith, lets see how much this block challenges my position.

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Michael Gumbrell

The Locke defence

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As all the accusations fly around Kevin Spacey, which of course, if true, are awful.

I noticed in his statement to the press, he doubled down with his John Locke defence.

1. From Locke- you cannot be held account if there is no continuity of memory.

'From Spacey- it was 30 years ago, i have no memory of the incident'

2. From Locke- you cannot be resposible if you are ' beside yourself', there is no pyscological continuity.

From Spacey-' as well as not remembering it, i was probably drunk at the time'

So Spacey has doubled down his Locke defence of his alleged crimes.

I am not sure an 18th century philosophical defence counts in 21st courts though...

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Michael Gumbrell

8000

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My view counter is about to reach 8000.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to visit my blog.


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Michael Gumbrell

Real who?

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Went to Wembley to watch spurs versus Real Madrid.

Great stadium, (my first time at the new Wembley) great atmosphere (wembley was full, 84000 people) and a great result (3-1).

Not so good?- the traffic trying to get out after the game.

Fantastic night though.

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Michael Gumbrell

TMA Done

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Edited by Michael Gumbrell, Wednesday, 1 Nov 2017, 12:28

Well my first TMA is done and submitted.

1944 words out of a possible 2000 word count, so I am happy that I have fallen in the word count range (1500-2000). I am towards the high end of the word count, so perhaps I waffled a bit?

Well its done now, It was very hard.

Now to wait and see what the mark is, I am expecting nothing over 65%, from my tutorial I do not think we get any lee way with it being the first TMA, we seem to be expected to hit the ground running, no warm up.

Lets wait and see...

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Michael Gumbrell

TMA

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Well i have witten the first half of the TMA.

1000 words so far.

I have no idea if the words are any good.

This module has been very frustrating so far.

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Michael Gumbrell

Tele transporter

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This tma is hard, and it is only the first one!

It is no solace to find out that so many of my cohorts (facebook group) are also struggling with it.

Welcome to a222 philosophy!

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