Research Methods Learning diary 2

Over the past few months I have learnt so much on my course at Middlesex and its starting to come to light that all of the previous tasks are the foundations for the final module The Project.

Over the past few months I have learnt how to set up a blog to represent me and my work, it has also connected me to my peers and tutors. I have produced and advertised my CV to inform others of my training and my goals/dreams. I have learned how to express my interests and those who inspire me and why. I now know about the Kolb theory something I had never heard of before and to understand what it was I researched it to broaden my knowledge thus helping me with my current module as it’s something I have experienced doing before. I know that on a daily basis I use the Kolb Theory to make things work better and now I evaluate my work more frequently.

The most significant work to help benefit this module and my project is the writing styles as I have learnt how to write academically which will be the main style of writing for my project, learning the Harvard way to reference will be required for significant information. I know how to market something which may benefit me if say for instance i want to market some of my new classes. I know how to write a good descriptive piece of writing and have learnt that this is my favourite style of writing. The need to market work and the use of descriptive writing may be required as part of my research dependent upon my project title.

During the course I have had to reflect and analyse my work which is not something I used to do, I have had to take into account comments and critique from my peers in order to improve it which was very valuable. I’ve also learnt that my comments to my peers are very valuable for them and can improve their work and felt I did this very well. I learnt that appropriate and useful feedback is vital for improvement.

Everything I have learnt will benefit me in one way or another especially for the next few months ahead.

Academic Writing Style draft 3

Could a sequel potentially ruin the reputation of the longest running musical on Broadway?

“Phantom of the Opera is based on a 1911 novel, Le Fantome de l'Opera, written by French author Gaston Leroux. Leroux based the novel on his own research into strange events that occurred at the Paris Opera House in the 1880s. Though the novel was not widely read or well reviewed in its own time, the adaptation of Phantom to both screen and stage has familiarised the public with this haunting love story” (Anon, By eHow Contributing Writer)


It is believed that reliable facts and figures from (The Really Useful Group LTD) shows that "It is estimated that Phantom has been seen by more than 100 million people worldwide having been played in no fewer than 14 languages. The show has won over 50 major theatre awards including three Olivier Awards, the most recent being the 2002 Oliver Audience Award for Most Popular Show, an Evening Standard Award, seven Tony Awards including Best Musical, seven Drama Desk Awards and three Outer Critic Circle Awards".

Andrew Lloyd Webber (1948) one of the wealthiest and most successful composers today, yet again the man behind the most successful musical in history and “The Oscar-winning composer of some of the most successful British musicals of all time” (Kunal and Peck 2009)

Phantoms success is yet to be topped, but for how long now that the landmark musical is faced by its sequel “Love never dies” which opens at the Adelphi Theatre on 9th March 2010.
The production is set 10 years from Phantom and far away from the Paris Opera House, Christine and Raoul are now in living in Coney Island where Webber based the story on all of the original characters after taking some advice from Ben Elton (1959).

Sequels have played an important part in the history of Hollywood during their Golden Age in the 1930's. Broadway however has had less luck. It is apparent that successful plays and musicals have often spawned unsuccessful sequels.

“In a move that some theatre experts have described as "risky". Lloyd Webber will also attempt to make history by staging the first successful sequel to a musical anywhere in the world. All previous bids to repeat the triumph of original productions have failed miserably” (Nikkhah 2009)


Maybe the sequel will celebrate the life and success of Phantom and only time will tell, and with Phantoms track record we could be in for the long, however, it could be hard to convince you that this time a sequel will actually be successful after reading “Much of the chatter I've been hearing about Love Never Dies seems to be assuming that the show will be a guaranteed disaster, a bad idea from its very conception. Part of this comes from the fact that no musical sequel has ever been successful Let 'Em Eat Cake (sequel to Of Thee I Sing), Bring Back Birdie (Bye Bye Birdie), Annie Warbucks (Annie), Divorce Me, Darling (The Boy Friend), The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public (The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas) Well, that doesn't mean that no musical sequel could ever be successful, just that it hasn't happened yet” (Caggiano, 2009) Enough to argue that this sequel isn’t what the public are craving?

“Musical sequels are a very risky business. The 1960 smash Bye Bye Birdie was a thinly veiled satire of Elvis Presley. It ran for 607 performances. In 1981 the creative team behind the show produced a sequel called Bring Back Birdie. Nobody wanted him back, and the musical folded after four performances” (Botto, 2006)

So enough said? Made your mind up yet? It could be decided that there are a lot of sequels on record that have failed to be successful, so you can understand the negative critism towards “Love never Dies”. In a recent online video Andrew Lloyd Webber admits to saying that “Love Never Dies has been in the making for seventeen years” and that “The story of Christine and the Phantom didn’t really end” (The Really Useful Group LTD, 2009). Let’s not forget, this has been in the making for seventeen years and Webber has proved to be more than capable of producing fantastic, successful musicals. Maybe this time it will change the opinions of audiences worldwide and be the only successful sequel in Broadway history.



References

1) Anon, eHow Contributing Writer http://www.ehow.co.uk/about_4569129_facts-phantom-opera.html?cr=1 [accessed 24th November 2009]

2) The Really Useful Group Limited, http://www.thephantomoftheopera.com/ [accessed 26th November 2009]

3) Kunal, D, and Peck, T, 2009, “I have cancer says Lloyd Webber”, The Independent, [online] 26 October, Available from http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/i-have-cancer-says-lloyd-webber-1809423.html [accessed 24th November 2009]

4) Nikkhah, R, 2009, “Andrew Lloyd Webber attempts to make history with Phantom of the Opera sequel” The Telegraph [online], 04 October, available from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-news/6257769/Andrew-Lloyd-Webber-attempts-to-make-history-with-Phantom-of-the-Opera-sequel.html [accessed date 25th November 2009]

5) Chris Caggiano,
http://ccaggiano.typepad.com/everything_i_know_i_learn/2009/05/phantom-sequel-to-have-march-2010-premiere-.html [accessed 17th December 2009]

6) Louis Botto, http://www.playbill.com/features/article/101485-The-Broadway-Sequel [accessed 16th December 2009]

7) The Really Useful Group LTD, http://www.loveneverdies.com/?video=lnd-launch-edit#video [accessed 15th October 2009]

Reflection on Writing Task Draft Copies

I have now posted my draft copies of my three writing styles and have started to receive a few comments which I am hoping over the next couple of days will develop into conversations where I will welcome plenty of positive and constructive critism. I have taken some time to reflect upon Task D and have realised that I actually don’t find having to do lots of written work as monotonous as I thought. I say this because my role as a teacher doesn’t involve much if any written work, certainly not to the extent of what I have had to produce for my degree with Middlesex.

Personally I think that my marketing piece is written well and I stuck to my guns about not writing too after research from Michael Cohn stated “Keep the language simple and direct, Buzzwords and jargon can turn people off. Always try to speak plainly about what you are marketing. If some technical vocabulary is necessary, make sure that the terms are explained and examples are given. No matter how sophisticated the readers are, they will become impatient with text that does not get to the core message quickly and efficiently” http://biznik.com/articles/marketing-writing-how-to-maximize-its-effectiveness . I understand that some people may disagree hence why I will be interested to read what people think.

I must articulate that I found the descriptive writing the least challenging as I have always found this style of writing easier to generate. I was often capable of descriptive writing at school as writing stories and poems was something I was gifted at. I think I have a creative imagination and this helps me immensely in the classroom when I am teaching dance as my choreography is frequently about telling a story or portraying an emotion.

My least favorite example of writing is the academic style as I am out of practice and it has been a long while since I have written a form of essay with quotations and research back-up. It did take me the longer to write this style and do welcome all critism as I do feel this is a weaker area for me. I have followed my guide to referencing my quotes the “Harvard” way and feel that my question “Phantom of the opera the current longest running musical on Broadway, will a sequel ruin its reputation?” is relevant and already in discussion.

I have also give thought to Task E and I have commented on many peoples blogs with positive and constructive feedback which I hope helps people deliver excellent final copies of Task D. I also feel that this is really important as it’s a task where I ask myself “is this right?”, “Is this the best it can be?” I can only move forward with my writing styles if people comment and I find this hard as I feel my work is dependant upon someone else because I have delivered the best I can at this stage. I understand the importance of this task and I understand how feedback is important as a teacher to give and receive.

I look forward to reading your comments and they will go to great use helping me with final copies of my writing styles.

Writing Style 1

Phantom of the opera the current longest running musical on Broadway, is it ready for the final curtain?


Winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical, The Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Theatre Company and Andrew Lloyd Webber's masterwork is a timeless story of seduction and despair. Set at the Paris opera house, a beautiful soprano Christine becomes the obsession of a mysterious, disfigured musical genius.

The Phantom of the Opera had its first preview on the 27th September 1986, and then officially opened at Her Majesty's Theatre in London on the 9th October of the same year, starring Michael Crawford as the Phantom.

Based on the book by Gaston Leroux in 1911 and directed by Harold Prince, Phantom later opened on Broadway on January 26th 1988 and played its 6,000th Broadway performance on June 13 2002, and you can’t help wonder if Phantom is ready for the real final curtain?

Well according to the musical's website, it has been seen in 124 cities in 25 countries and played to over 100 million people, not to mention total worldwide box office takings of over £3.5bn ($5.1bn). Phantom is the highest-grossing entertainment event of all time, enough evidence to say that the romance and the fright continues to attract audiences worldwide.

Go and see for yourself and take a trip to the prestigious Majestic Theatre on Broadway and see how this landmark musical production is holding up after almost fourteen and a half years, “That’s all I ask of you”.


247 West 44th Street
Running time: 2 hours 30 minutes with one 15 minute intermission
Schedule: Monday through Saturday at 8 PM. Wednesday and Saturday at 2 PM

Academic Writing Style Pointers

What makes a good piece of academic writing?

• It answers the question set.
• It demonstrates understanding and clarity of thought.
• It provides evidence of reading and research.
• It supports any assertions by evidence.
• It is well structured.
• It is written in an appropriate style.
• It flows logically from one section to another, and from one paragraph to another.
• It is appropriately referenced.
• It is interesting to read!

http://www2.napier.ac.uk/gus/writing_presenting/style.html

When researching this style I found a lot of information from universities as people at university are required to do lots of writing!!! Many of these universities described the same important points to academic writing.
I choose to use this extract from Glasgow Caledonian University.

Features of Academic Writing
The emphasis in academic writing is on facts and interpretation of the facts. These should be presented in a logical way using an academic writing style.

Some Academic Writing Tips

• Use straightforward language.
Take care with grammar and sentence construction. Avoid using a note-style of writing.

• Try not to use pompous language.
For example: use "find out" rather than "endeavour to ascertain". Try not to use jargon or clichés

• Provide definitions.
Include explanations of technical or unusual terms, unless you can reasonably expect your reader to know them.

• Use impersonal language.
Essays and reports should be written in the third person singular. Avoid personal terms such as 'I' or 'We'; the word 'It' should be used instead:
For example:
"I decided to interview the Tourism Planning Officer..." should read
"It was decided to interview the Tourism Planning Officer..."
The only exceptions to this may be where you are asked to link theory to your own professional practice.

• Be precise.
Avoid using terms such as 'nice', 'good' or 'excellent' that lack a precise meaning One person's idea of what is meant by 'good' is not necessarily another's.

• Be concise and to the point.
For example: Use 'now' or ‘currently' instead of phrases like 'at the time of writing' or 'at this point in time'.

• Try not to make generalizations.
For example: "Everyone agrees that cold calling does not produce results".
While this may be true you can only make such statements if supported with evidence. Instead you should write:
"According to the Mori Report (2000), cold calling does not produce results."
http://www.gcal.ac.uk/student/coursework/writing/index.html

This writing style is the one that I am going to find the hardest to use as it’s very precise and must be well referenced as well as sticking to all of the above pointers. I will certainly give it a try though.