HEAD(hed), (n.) 1. the top part of the human body or the front part of an animal where the eyes, nose, east and mouth are. "Your brain is in your head." DIBS(dibz), (n.) 2. a thick, sweet syrup made in countries of the East, especially the Middle East, from grape juice or dates. [Arabic "debs"]--World Book Dictionary, 1976.
“I observed in the herbage a number of weather-worn stones, evidently shaped with tools. They were broken, covered with moss and half sunken in the earth. Some lay prostrate, some leaned at various angles, none was vertical. They were obviously headstones of graves, though the graves themselves no longer existed as either mounds or depressions; the years had leveled all. Scattered here and there, more massive blocks showed where some pompous tomb or ambitious monument had once flung its feeble defiance at oblivion. So old seemed these relics, these vestiges of vanity and memorials of affection and piety, so battered and worn and stained—so neglected, deserted, forgotten the place, that I could not help thinking myself the discoverer of the burial-ground of a prehistoric race of men whose very name was long extinct. Filled with these reflections, I was for some time heedless of the sequence of my own experiences, but soon I thought, “How came I hither?”” An Inhabitant of Carcosa B...
Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps
Finding The Gaps in Doctoral Research
Get link
Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps
-
Here is actual footage of what identifying gaps in the literature have been like so far.
The process has taken us through gathering resources, annotating and organizing but there are too many questions, too many gaps, too many choices to make and right now, they all seem legitimate. But which is most important? It might be too early to say that any of them might be “that one question”, the Holy Grail of research. I must choose wisely.
“A literature review should demonstrate that it represents the latest work done in the subject area” (Galvin and Galvin, P. 62). As one considers which part of the outline constitutes background material that builds the case for the topic, those gaps are more easily, more readily addressed. Some are simply identified and filled by this or that book from the shelf. Other gaps are filled by looking into unpublished work. Regardless, following the map of the outline toward the application of the topic, textbook instruction becomes more weighty and some areas that seemed to be well supported suddenly reveal weaknesses, gaps. Perhaps another way to look at it is that many resources gathered thus far were for the exercise of learning to gather and record material. Now after some sifting and filtering, the less important is discarded and more meaningful material is needed. Regardless, when one weighs the latest work on the subject and the direction of intent, the “deep gap” is becoming more evident.
Considering that some connection must be made between Marcus Aurelius’ personal writings in his Meditations and the ministry of Christian leadership, the journey is becoming deep and arduous, in a manner of speaking. There is plenty of research on the man and his writing, and there is bountiful material in the subject area of leadership. There is also enough information on philosophy and theology and the harmony of the two. What is not being seen at present is a direct connection of Meditations to Christian leadership. So one will venture that direction to see what he finds.
“Mind the gap” as they say!
____________
Galvan, Jose L. and Melisa C. Galvan. 2017. Writing Literature Reviews: A Guide for Students of the Social and Behavioral Sciences. 7th ed. New York: Routledge
“Keep constant guard over your perceptions, for it is no small thing you are protecting, but your respect, trustworthiness and steadiness, peace of mind, freedom from pain and fear, in a word your freedom. For what would you sell these things?” EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 4.3.6 b –8
Legend has it that the astronomer Ptolemy (1st century A.D.) suggested that falling stars were caused by the gods moving in the heavens, thus knocking stars out of their places. Somehow people reasoned that that if the gods were moving, they must be getting close to earth so they would lift their "prayers" or "wishes" (literally, "desires") whenever they saw the stars falling in hopes the gods would notice and grant a favorable answer. But how does one wish on falling star? Once you see it, it's gone before the wish or prayer can be made! The answer is simple: meteor shower. That's how to get your wish. Mrs. Ann Hodges had a wish fall right into her lap. Sort of. In 1954 Mrs. Hodges was sleeping on the couch when a 8 1/2 pound meteorite fell through her house and into her living room where it bounced off the radio and struck her left hip leaving her with a bruise. Not sure what she was wishing, but that's not how to do it. Epictetus hel...
