Academic Writing

At the end of this intensive week all the received information comes together. Many things have come clear and with focus like a great pre-game speech, we are ready to go out there at full power. It was great to hear that I can follow the level 7 master course in Leadership & Management. It will take more than 2 years, but the program and the group of former basketball athletes looks great. Inspiration, teamwork and togetherness will work for all these team players.

A big challenge for many of these multi-talented participants will be to make good choices and keeping all balls in the air. The different modules of the Master at Northumbria, the strategic and event organisation modules at FIBA and the different Talented Athletes Lifestyle Support tasks of Tass all have to be scheduled in the weekly program. The more these subjects are related to the regular tasks and subjects in my work the easier it will be. The subject of my dissertation for sure will have something to do with Talent recognition and Talent development in sports and in education. Finding or creating a good research gap will be part of my search starting now.

My passion for talent recognition and development will help me to ask the good questions during my search. Who, what, where, when and especially the why and how will help a lot to get answers or better questions. like the people around me know already daily discourses are my favourite form to discuss opinions, truth and my points of view. Together with practice discourses it will help me to prepare for academic discourses. On that level my point of view will only be interesting if it also partly can relate to published words and the status of these published words. The lecture of Helen Charlton about academic writing was probably the most stimulating one of this week, because she brought a tough subject like that in such a sparkling, humourful and inspirational way. We hardly could wait to start. It is going to be tough though, if we look at all the criteria that a good dissertation should have. For instance that although I can give my evidence based opinion, still I have to write that 'this paper will argue ...'

Doing and writing about good research is like standing on the shoulders of giants. With a logical and analytical overview we look objectively at other research and arguments. This can be done passionate but not emotional, so precise and accurate results can be retrieved. A lot of elements that are necessary to untangle my writing process with a good result. There are no secret weapons.

On this interesting journey what had a flying start so far it will be important to know what the secrets for success are. There are many good resources for advice to be found like the  Pat Thomson blog. Next to reading articles, books and specific literature and develop the academic writing, it is crucial to know my own necessities for performance. Interactive learning, debating, structure, discipline and time-management will be important assets for the coming period. Some are already qualities that can be used and others have to be developed to a certain level. Good thing that the pomodoro technique is always available. And there is always humour to lighten things up.

And tomorrow it is good to come home again after this fantastic and intense week. The perfect place to stay calm and carry on. LOL