One of my favorite subjects. I’m so intrigued by the symbols, rituals, myths, and artifacts of different professions and communities — by the elaborate ways we organize ourselves and make sense of the world. Learning about the rites of passage assistant principals face, and listening to classmates talk about their own professional transitions really deepened my understanding of the work of professional educators.

I’m sure graduate students are socialized as well, but so much of my attention right now is focused on the work itself that I’m not really sensitive to the overarching process.

Though I don’t have much more than a solid introduction written, it was good to talk some more about our literature reviews. I have really enjoyed reading for this assignment. Distinct themes have emerged in the research I have compiled, and I feel good about the gap I’ve identified. But while the pieces of my outline all relate well to each other, I have been struggling with a through line. I think the problem is that I don’t have a strong enough purpose statement.Right now, there isn’t a very compelling argument or question to drive the review and help it cohere.