Days 21-23: Importance of Issue, Objectives

My grandma passed away on April 25, 2007. Therefore, Days 21-23 have been pretty hectic for me.

Nevertheless, I managed to bring along a book to read whenever I could and made some progress, although I didn't blog about it.

Most of what I have been reading these past few days was on semiotics. I found this very helpful in trying to help me with my introduction chapter. I rewrote (again!), part of the intro and also made some changes in my objectives.

I plan to get the mindmap look right before I delve into the details in actual writing than just bolstering ahead wildly like I did last time. I told myself I already have most of the materials I need for the intro chapter anyway. The most important thing is I need to get my foundation right.

Because if my research questions or my objectives are not clear, that would result in a lot of wasted time ahead down the road. So I keep tell myself to be patient.

Here is the latest revised version of my mindmaps. It has grown bigger from the previous version, so I have to split the map again.

(Click to see bigger map)

Day 20: New Mindmap (Again!)

Ah, well, without much further fanfare, here it is!

I realize I have to get some more books on semiotics, because I got stuck already at the theoretical level! :-P


I have to keep reminding myself that I'm looking for hidden connotation, and nothing else!


Well, Ciao for now!

Day 19: New Mindmap for Intro Chapter

I don't know how many times I have written and re-written my introduction chapter! The thing is, if I have been working on the same file and on the same computer and with the same software, it wouldn't be too difficult to track.

But my working habit is as erratic as my thought and wild imagination would take me! So, that's too bad indeed. Because I think I may have made a new world record already for the most-rewritten opening chapter dissertation in history! hee hee hee

Well, but this time, I do have a lot of confidence! That's the big difference! I made very little change to my latest installment. And I sort of have pretty clear idea where I am heading to. I'm far from finishing the first intimidating chapter, but at least I don't get stuck at the first two headings anymore (background and importance of issues).

Now, for the first time, I think I am quite articulate about it. At least I am quite firm on my standpoint and know from what angle I'm going to look at Bushido.


Therefore, without any further explanation, let's take a look at my latest installment:

(Click on graphics to see bigger-sized photo)

Today I also discovered in my private collection at home a textbook I bought when I first started this Ph.D. program that I never got around to read yet titled, "Mass Communication Theory." At that time I bought that book out of sheer "hunch" because I felt that since I'm a graduate of School of Communication Arts, I'd better know a thing or two about such theories.


Well, in fact we all have to take those courses as an undergrad. And, I'm so embarrassed to admit to the whole world, I got an A in it. How, I really had no idea! The thing is, after 20 years of not using it at all, consciously, that is, in my line of work, it is really difficult to try to recall any of those theories.


So, you could say that I bought that book that was written by one of the faculty of my School, Faculty of Communication Arts at Chulalongkorn University, out of sheer sense of insecurity! I simply need something to fall back on in case somebody ask me one day!


And, would you believe it, approximately 3 years after I bought that book (without much chance to really read it except for flipping through the first few chapters), I picked it up again today and delved right in enthusiastically with so much hunger. Why? Because now the focus on my dissertation has become chrystalized and I realized that that book was sent to me somehow with a definite purpose! I am going to do a Content Analysis for my Dissertation! And it is described in minute details in the very last chapter of the fateful book!


As I read more and more, I realized that I have been doing content analysis all along without realizing it! Even in my line of work when I was in the private sector. It has become my second nature. We just did not call it that way, that's all. And when you are in the setting of a private sector, the word "theory" did not come up that much. You just work on your own experience and more of a guts feeling or tried and true approach of the information you have from the field.


Needless to say, this boosts up another confidence for me, which I have to watch it carefully, otherwise I would get too carried away and it could get too dangerous now that I am trying to do things in the academic field. I could not operate like a 007 I used to anymore! I need a backup team, so to speak. And my backup team presents itself as all kind of references, and theory!


I start to understand now, how some people, once their engine has started, could continue to work around the clock, especially young people! Although I'm not that young anymore (unless "young-at-heart" also counts!,) I feel that I could go on and on non-stop on my project. I have to remind myself all the time to take a break to eat, exercise, sleep, and do other things that human beings do!


And this reminds me that I should have gone down to exercise long time ago already! Gee, I think I have spent too much time polishing my ideas on my mindmap! Never mind, I know that the clearer I could get my ideas upfront, the easier my work would be later. I don't want to rewrite my intro chapter and in essence rewrite the world record again, that is!

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**N.B.** Just realize I should change my objective a bit from looking for "Mindfulness Theme" to "Mindfulness Motif." I think this is called Mindlessness! :-p

Day 15: Why Bushido is Still Relevant

Today I didn't have much time to do research or write because I had to teach spochan to the kids and also take Japanese class myself. (Taihen da!)


But since I made a resolution to myself to make some progress on my dissertation everyday, I managed to put my thoughts together on a mindmap, and also make a mental note of which books I would use as reference to my point. In fact, I used to write some articles about it already in Thai. So, when it's time for me to put it together in my dissertation, it's easier for my to put them all together when I look at it from my mindmap.



Without much further fanfare, here it is:

(Click to see a larger mindmap)

I also did some more speed-reading on a Thai textbook in Thai titled, "Japan Built Its Nation with Patriotism and Loyalty," by Ajarn Yupa Klangsuwan and still could not make up my mind which part(s) of the book would be most useful to me for more in-depth reading and quoting in my dissertation.

In this book (p.115, as footnote 13), Bushido was referred to as a "Law" developed since the Kamakura era (1100s) for the "higher-class" samurai to teach responsibility and preach ideology and was later adopted in mid 19 century as the ethical code of conduct to help build the nation with patriotism and loyalty by focusing on selfless sacrifice.

Although according to this book Bushido was said to have had an influence from Zen, it was labelled as a "Confucius' Thoughts and Way of Life."

Ok, not bad for a busy day like this, ne? :-)

Day 7: World Premiere

Hello World,

Can't Believe I'm starting another blog.

Well, I'll keep it brief to serve its purpose.

I'm logging my daily progress on my dissertation as opposed to emailing it to a few of my closed friends.

My goal? To get over it within a year.

Don't laugh! I've been stuck for more than 3 years.

So, today I decided to open this blog after working on a mindmap to update my advisors on my latest work-in-progress.

Today it's extrememly hot in Bangkok and I have hypoxia again! Darned! Just when I thought I would have it right and get going!

Tonight I hope to be able to update some more.

Please pray for me, world, for my dissertation is for you all.

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Late Addition: To see my update for advisors, which is yet to be finished, go here For some inexplicable reason, I could not send my file from Google Documents to this blog. hmmm.... I wonder why? Is it a signal that I should do more meditation?

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