Hues of dewdrops: The Last Thesis

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

The Last Thesis

This will be the last Ph.D thesis that I will be marking as an Examiner...will be calling it a day after 34 years with the department, with this university...

Am very glad. Indeed! Time for me to make way...time for the younger ones to take over...time for me to enjoy my golden years...with my other half who has already retired two years ago..time for us to do the things we did not get to do while busy raising our children..attending to the affairs of work..time too to spend with our grandchildren..watch them grow up while we still can..

Good theses are hard to come by. Throughout my years as an academic and scrutinizing these thick compositions, those that are a pleasure to read..are only a handful.

Most are difficult to comprehend. Mostly because of grammatical mistakes, organizational aspects, objectives not clearly defined, gaps in knowledge were not clearly identified, methodologies unjustifiable and not clearly explained, repetitive sentences and facts, textbook materials... and numerous other annoying weaknesses.

Part and parcel of being a good supervisor for one's own postgraduate student is to ensure that, during the writing process of the thesis, his or her students are properly guided throughout the duration and the thesis then thoroughly checked.

A good supervisor takes pride in having his or her students' thesis readable and projecting a good impression to the examiner (be it the internal or external examiner). If the examiner is happy, there are higher chances that the students' viva session would be a smooth one...and not a heartache...adding more stress to the anxiety faced during the defending session.

Wallahualam..

4 comments:

sintaicharles said...: Kudos for a job well done. your contributions will always be remembered. I guess I'll never make it to PHd, not even masters. my CGPA was under 2.5; January 15, 2015 at 1:25 AM
Al-Manar said...: I feel certain one day you would feel happy to realise that you had a wonderful past, career with status and all; but the present is even better and can even be more rewarding; especially if you can get used to be addressed as one of us, not one of them!

Please continue blogging and enjoy reminiscing. There is a house by the sea where the 'new couple' are welcome.; January 31, 2015 at 5:06 AM
Umi Kalthum Ngah said...: Dear sintaicharles,

You are and always been a good teacher. Everybody has their small roles to play in this world. Imagine a house without a kitchen, or a back door or the window? Everybody cannot be the main entrance...if not then..what else is there in the house to enjoy living..right?
Thank you for your kind words...; February 5, 2015 at 6:50 PM
Umi Kalthum Ngah said...: Dear PakCik Hassan of Al Manar,

Yes..Pakcik...I am one of 'us' right now...just like you, I enjoy reminiscing...We will be at the house by the beach..Insya Allah...

"New Couple"? Aha...Couple enjoying their golden years will be more apt..

Thank you for your kind words, PakCik Hassan...; February 5, 2015 at 6:53 PM

These dewdrops...

These dewdrops of opaline hues…
Clinging on till their time is due…
But even in that tiny spell…
They do their best to dwell…
On their duty to dispel…
The rays dancing through their prismic crystal…
As such too we should do…
As long as our hearts still continue to chime…
And the early morning rays spill of sunshine...
When hark! Our ears behold sweet melodies from our feathery friend…
Then good deeds, helping hands we should lend...
True to our words as long as we can still stand…
While beneath our feet, this good earth lay…
Whose days too are numbered and ebbing away…
Just like the dewdrops which sit fizzling…
On edges of leaves so green and appealing…
And on petal rims softly unfolding…

6th book - Come! BE a Writer!...

I wanted this book to be of use regularly, always referred to, to act as a fountain of ideas for those who aspire to be writers and wish to live as one. This book is about writing. Therefore, do not just read it. Instead, use it. Often. Flick through it, roll your eyes and move your fingers across its pages, fold over its edges so you may remember where you suddenly pick up some important points along the way. Make full use of the book. Let the pages be limp with use. Then, don’t forget to write! ("You Want to Write?" is written in the Malay Language (Bahasa Melayu)).

My Fifth Book..

The changing of the guards atop the stone fence encircling the old city has always been the object of intrigue for a pair of huge eyes, belonging to a maiden; behind closed windows and iron bars..a princess by the name of Salsabila. So was the hustle and bustle down at the market square; the bartering, the calls for merchandise spilling over the small lanes. How exciting! But alas! The princess could only watch from up in the tower. Was Princess Salsabila able to make her dream come true? To be able to immerse herself in the streets without revealing who she really was? What could she do? What were her tactics? (This book is published in the Malay Language or Bahasa Melayu).

Book Summary

Insyirah further extends her studies to another part of the globe in the field of medicine. Being far away from her family and friends did not deter nor dampen her spirit in her pursuit to be a doctor. She pays special attention to her well-being as a practising Muslim; in her clothing, in her manners as well as the way she carries herself while carrying out her daily affairs in the western part of the world. Steadfast in faith (iman) becomes her guiding torch whilst carrying on with her life in a land so far away. Her helpful and understanding housemates and friends (though not of the same faith), tinged her life with colourful events even though it is full of ups and downs. But then, her previous memories with Ilham Budi (whom she had to break up with because of family objections and interference due to different status and family background) continue to haunt her…(This book is a sequel to the book “Daffodil Untuk Insyirah and is published in Bahasa Melayu)

Blurb On The Book Cover

“The scarf! Its colour! How lovely! Purple. Not as dark as the remia. In a delightful softer hue. Indeed it is my favourite shade!” said Hanis, her voice in a muffled tone. Nurul smiled. Flashing her even white teeth, she said, “ Hanis! If you really want to know, that is the colour of lavender!” Hanis asked, her face puzzled, “Lavendar? What is that?” “Well! You have fallen in love with the colour. You haven’t even tasted its scent! Certainly, it will drive you raving mad! Hahaha!” Nurul replied with laughter. “The lavender plant only grows in a place blessed with the four seasons. Like in England! So, if you want so much to be able to see it with your own eyes then this is what you would have to do! Study hard. Motivate yourself so much so that one day you will be able to be in that place of your dreams…the land of the English lavender, okay?” said Nurul, further instilling Hanis’s heart. There was silence. But then in an instant, the look in Hanis’s eyes moved further and further away towards the unseen distance…(Published in Bahasa Melayu)

Book Summary

He emerged gleaming like a drop of glistening pearl. Afiq was a victim of a broken home, being brought up by his granny back at the kampung. To overcome his sense of insecurity and despair, he often rebelled and resort to bullying at school. Switching schools while living back and forth, between his mother and father’s abode was a normal routine. Experiences got the better of him and eventually he matured; when one day, his father, Haji Azam put him in a school. From that moment on, his life took a turn. The purifying touch from Sekolah Al Muttaqeen...(Published in Bahasa Melayu)

Book Summary

For the first time in her life, Insyirah had the opportunity to further her studies at Sheffield, United Kingdom, a place very much foreign to her. Circumstances became much easier as she had her cousin Iskandar who was already there. How would a young girl be able to cope with all the challenges of life in a country whereby the culture was very much different to the one that she had been used to before? Find out how Insyirah dealt with obstacles in her life and matured ultimately, her life interspersed with events, colouring it with lovely memories, as beautiful as the daffodils...(The book is published in Bahasa Melayu)

Hues of dewdrops

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

The Last Thesis

4 comments:

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