Thesis and Other Whatnot

Right. So my thesis for my research paper is as follows...

"Fantasy books invite children to use their imaginations and explore their worlds creatively; reading fantasy books encourages creative thinking, innovative problem-solving, and the curiosity to explore unorthodox options."

Honestly, I have not gotten very far with my paper. Today, I printed out three more sources to read through making my grand total of sources come out to five. -fanfare- I will probably be working on that later tonight.

I just read Rebecca's blog and I honestly agree with her sentiment. It's not that I hate what I am doing in my classes - the problem is that everything is stacked up on each other. I would really enjoy learning about this topic for my research paper if I didn't have all my other work to deal with. Yes, I know that's how the real world works. I am not going to say I like it though.

Lately, I've been feeling like my writing has been stagnant and just... wrong sounding. Like what I've written so far in my blog. I feel like I have this wooden thing blocking the fluidity of my thoughts so that they come out wrong. I am kind of scared that the Economics paper I turned in today had the same problem.

I wrote two pages more in my book this week. Yes, I wrote them in government class, but they are written.

By the way, if I haven't answered your comments, it's not because I'm not reading them. I am used to having a reply button on comments so that the author is notified when I reply is made. From now on, I will simply leave my comment below the first. My bad, mea culpa, es tut mir leid, etc. Sorry.

Gah, I feel like I have more to say but I can't remember it. Kind of like how I feel when I am in a debate.

Wooden words. Ugh.

College?

Let's see, I just got back from a college visit about six minutes ago and realized that I had to write this blog post for tomorrow. At least I remembered...
I visited Elon University in (-drum roll-) Elon, NC. I liked it for the most part; the student body is around 5000 people and that seems a bit big for me. Also, I signed up to sit in on a Creative Writing class and the professor never showed up. Other than that, I enjoyed the trip. Their mascot is a phoenix, which doesn't hurt.
Alas, I have done little (aka nothing) with my Senior Project this week except draft an email and perhaps write three lines in my book. I'm too busy worrying to do anything. And I'm only half-joking when I say that.
If I think about what I still need to do, I might a) have a panic attack b) freeze with worry or c) laugh hysterically until everyone around me thinks I've lost it. Which might happen.
Hopefully, the stress and deadlines will push me to get an extraordinary amount of work done and give me hope for the future. That would be nice.

Topic

This week was Senior Retreat. It was quite enjoyable, though walking up hills is not my favorite thing to do. Anyway, that is why I desperately need to work on my cumulating homework instead of loafing around...

Anywho, I have a research paper topic now. I am going to research how fantasy novels encourage creativity and innovative problem-solving instead of disconnecting the reader from the real world. I kind of would rather learn about power addiction, but I know that that would be a vastly greater time commitment if I pursued that. Two of the sources I had listed before were actual books, and honestly, I have enough on my plate without adding a super serious/intense research paper to the mix. I am still interested in learning more about addiction to power, but I think my new topic is more feasible. I would much rather spend time actually writing my book instead of diving into such a deep topic.

I need to contact my critique group and send out what I have already written. I also need to stop avoiding my email.

Talking about my book, I finished another bit last night. It's exciting to see it emerging bit by bit.

I feel like I have more to say, but I can't remember what it is. Pff.

Whatnot

Right now I am trying to figure out a new thesis for my research paper. I've been at it for... half an hour? More? I'm having difficulty finding a subject that has an argument around it and if I do think of something, I can't find any research about it. Can I do a research paper using sources that do not specifically talk about my topic but a topic very much closely related? I am not sure.

Really quickly, one my Senior Project proposal form, the title was "Chaos in Your Soul." That is not what I plan to title my book (though it is nifty); this phrase is from a quote by Friedrich Nietzsche. He said, "You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star." I sure hope he's right. By the time this project is over, I might have a galaxy. Anyway, this connects to the main character's Elemental Classification and my viewpoint on life in general. That's why I titled my project that.

Side note - Is it okay to address a topic that is controversial in Oakbrook? Could I do a paper advocating gay marriage or abortion? I'm not going to, I am merely curious.

Right now I have thirteen tabs up on Firefox and they all have to do with my project. Nyah.

Let's see, now it's been an hour and a half thinking of a thesis. And counting...

So I did my presentation on Monday and it went better than I thought it would. I (finally) got my Mentor Agreement form signed and turned in. And I got written comments from the Board today. From the looks of it, everyone agrees that this project will be demanding and they aren't sure if I can complete it in time. I entirely understand this, but I know that I have a deep (burning, engulfing) passion for this project that has been building over the past three years. I will get this project done on time. There is no other option. Even if it wasn't for Senior Project, I would complete this book before I graduate. No other option.

Something else the Board mentioned is that I should try to find a male reader for the critique group. That makes sense, I just don't know many young males interested in doing this. Any takers? I'm going to have to think about that...

So once I get my outline of the book done, I am going to post it here. The date for that should be somewhere in October so I have time.

In non-Senior Project stuff, I signed up to take the October ACT yesterday and signed up to tour Elon University and hopefully sit in on one of their Creative Writing classes (cross your fingers). If not Creative Writing, then either Psychology or Sociology. I'm super excited about that too. Whoo. Now I just need to go do all my papers, projects, and whatnot over the weekend. Yippee.

R-R-Rewind

You know all that stuff I said earlier? Disregard it. All of it.

I realized I'm not really passionate about writing a nonfiction high school book. I think I was fooling myself into thinking that...

So now I am going back to my original, original idea. I am writing a fantasy novel. I actually mentioned it in my very first post - "Starburst" is its working title though I am going to change it because apparently the term is trademarked.

This novel is set in a fantasy world where people have the abilities of the four elements, but expanded. Instead of just air, water, fire, earth, people can have specific abilities (like Air vs Gust) or something beyond those four (like Light or Spark). The main character Pasin is a freak in this world (Falleon) because she does not have any Elemental ability. She's an orphan as well, and is rejected at every turn. However, one fateful day in the marketplace (yes I know it sounds cliche) Pasin reaches the boiling point. A flash of light and heat, and then a descent into mental darkness.

When Pasin wakes up, she is being tried for disturbing the peace and attempted assault by use of a power she doesn't recognize. Somehow, she finds herself at the palace as one of the ladies of the court, vying for the attention of King Oramus. But Oramus has secrets of his own and intrigues run deeper than Pasin realizes.

Wow. It sounds so cliche. I don't want to give what happens away, but I want you to understand what's going on so... impasse.

Oh and huzzah huzzah! I have found a mentor! Dr. Edna Ellison who has nine books for sale on Amazon and helped tremendously with a scholarship I did last year. Huzzah huzzah that is a massive load off my mind.

So now the research paper. Originally, I was going to do it about whether homework is helpful or hindering students, but now I'm not sure that fits. I was thinking about writing something about addiction - not drugs or tobaccos, but either process addiction (gambling, shopping) or psychological (addiction to power). I'm not sure how to make a paper out of that and I kind of need to go to Government. So ciao.

Mentor

So... I still don't have a mentor. I've talked to several people and whatnot. Right now, I am looking at someone who helped me with a scholarship I entered last year. I emailed her two/three days ago, but she hasn't answered. Goodness, the phone is inevitable, isn't it? -sigh-

I'm reading some published books on high school and I really realize that formatting is important. There's one book that has boxes and colors and it's engaging to read - then there's a book that is about a foot tall with only black and white text and ridiculous margins. I doubt anyone has checked it out for years.

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On an entirely unrelated note... I really want to have another month of vacation. With absolutely no asssignments to do, no required books to read, and no chores/housework. Ugh.