The situation

Hi! Let me tell you the actual situation of my dissertation. I finished Chapter II in January and then I had to prepare for my exposition in the seminar with the professors and the other students. I had been re-reading the "DRP", the book that I work on, and after the exposition I decided to stop and write what I had up to that point, before I went on reading. What has happened in the last month is that this "quick writing" of what I had has been getting confusing and is taking a long time. I'm stuck! Partly because I was trying to explain too much, so I then re-wrote the index of Chapter III to simplify it. But I also realize that, since I stopped reading the DRP, I do not have the whole picture in mind, only the first third of that book, so I am probably being too detailed and too focused on the part what I re-read lately. Therefore I am thinking of finishing reading the book before I go on with anything else. I did not want to do that in fear that it would mean leaving what I have of Chapter III unfinished and then having to come back. But to be honest, I am not even sure of what I need to have in this Chapter III, how much is necessary and how much would be superfluous. So today I started re-reading the version of Chapter IV that I have, and then I will realize how much I need in Chapter III as a preparation for Chapter IV! At one point I also considered eliminating Chapter III altogether, because the most important Chapter is the fourth one. But someone advised me to keep it.
This is the thing: Chapter IV is the main one because I explain each of the concepts that Schelling is taking from Aristotle. But Chapter II deals with the concept of God in a general way, so I need a transition from II to IV in which it becomes clear what Schelling is attempting to do and how he understands his rational science, so that it will be clearer why he needs Aristotle. Then in Chapter IV I go into detail into the particular way he uses Aristotle. But the need for Aristotle and not, say, Plato or Kant, still has to be addressed. So I do need Chapter III, even if some of the points will have to be repeated in Chapter IV. Maybe it's ok because it will be under a different perspective: III says "Schelling wants x, y, z" and Chapter IV says "notice how a, b, c from Aristotle are perfect when you need x, y, z". Right?
I remembered today that Buchheim once suggested writing Chapter IV first because then I would know what I need to have in the third one... I will consider it after I re-read the DRP.
So the plan for tonight is going to mass and then to the gym. I need that! Will I make it? Tune in tomorrow to find out...
The plan for tomorrow is to re-read Chapter IV and decide on the points that I would need in Chapter III and write the schema for it, leaving aside all that is not necessary! And, since the library will be closed over Easter, I also have to decide what to take home and what work to do, if at all. I'll tell you about that later...
Ok, see you tomorrow.

Wel come gallegos

Welcome to this new blog that I am starting as an "accountability tool". I read today a very good article for PhD students that need help writing their dissertation. They mention a kind of coaching offered by students who have just finished their PhD to those still struggling with it. They both meet on a weekly basis. The one who is writing reports on what she did the previous week, hands in some pages and they decide together what the next step will be. This is the way my old professor Nubiola used to work with his students. I wish today I had someone to coach me like that, someone who had already gone through this process. Since I don't, I thought I could try to coach myself, and have this blog as "accountability tool" for all of you to see. I have actually been thinking of this idea for quite some time, but thought it could become a further distraction. Now I think it's worth a try.
Here I will post at the end of each day what I have accomplished and what is due the next day, and you can see if I did what I had planned. At the end of each week I will post some pages or the like, and will decide on a work plan for the following week. I would be really grateful for your comments and opinions, and especially for rooting for me. You're welcome to poke me or scold me or correct my English! It feels somewhat rusty... but it will also be good practice so that is why I will write in English.
Thank you!!