Wednesday, 28 September 2005

The Merry-Go-Aground

The past three weeks have consisted in little more than artless rearrangement of claims as I wheel around "the merry-go-aground."  What do I mean?  Witness:

I decide that Claim 87 belongs before Claim 63.  After moving Claim 87 there, I realize the cogency of Claim 87 requires Claims 73-86 immediately precede it.  I proceed to front Claim 87 with Claims 73-86 and it is a full seventeen seconds before I remember Claim 76 sounds ridiculous when not preceded by Claims 69-72.  Out come the cranes again (dropping dreadful claims like they're heresy, dropping dreadful claims into the ocean) and Claims 69-72 now precede Claim 76 again.  Claim 69 then draws my attention.  Logic demands I prove points before assuming them proven: Claim 69 relies on the point I establish in Claims 63-68.  I deposit Claims 63-68 before Claim 69 and out comes the shame again (pouring from my mouth as profanity, pouring from my mouth like obscene devotions).

And there I am.  Back where I started.  Only more frustrated.  More annoyed.  And a couple hours older.

Sep 28, 2005 9:12:39 PM | Academia, Dissertation, Literature

1 Comment

aPantomimeHorse

I'm currently writing an expository book for first-time programming, and it's the same deal. I wonder, though, whether you or I have the less chartiable audience: I think my standards for sequential logic is much higher than other authors in my genre, so I feel a self-imposed obligation; in academic writing, however, if you fail to make your point digestable, you're in danger of not getting a favorable reading and being accused of not having a point at all. I'll say I'm better off.

Posted by: aPantomimeHorse | Thursday, 29 September 2005 at 08:42 AM

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