Welcome to the World of Academia...

Today, I got an e-mail from my potential supervisor regarding the first draft of my research proposal. Now, since I'm relatively new to the world of academia (i.e. with research proposals, etc. since I have been enrolled in the course option), I wrote one using my previous experiences with proposals and questions. However, I discovered that there were different styles/approaches to research proposals, and the one I wrote is too vague.

What I plan to do now is to read some literature on stereotyping on mathematics education, so that I can get an idea of what research has been done, and then propose what I would like to do. So, I'll get on that after I move. Since my place won't be air conditioned anyway, I can go downtown to the library, look up articles, read them, make some notes, and then type up a second draft via this method. I hope that this can be done by the middle of August. We'll see.

It's kind of bizarre, the world of academia... The people who create and structure the programs ask you to take reading courses so that you can fine tune your research question. However, in order to get approved, you have to write something that is somewhat precise, and kind of already determined. (i.e. it cannot be vague). There in lies an interesting question. If I already know what I want to research, then wouldn't I already have a Ph.D somewhere, and be doing my own research? It's kind if interesting really. Oh well, part of the learning process for me in the world of academics, I guess.

Right now, concentrating on packing boxes, and the move. After the move, concentrating on reading articles on stereotyping in mathematics education, and coming up with a more precise research proposal.