truepenny | Self-validation

I have just discovered a remarkably compelling reason for writing my dissertation the way I have (completing my argument first, and then going back and adding the secondary sources one by one): I can NEVER remember which critic said what. I need a particular quote about Hamlet and Gertrude, and I have no idea of who said it. This is no big deal; I've only incorporated three critics into my Hamlet chapter thus far. But what if I'd done all the reading first, the way you're "supposed" to? I'd be completely up the creek. And note-taking wouldn't have saved me, because (a.) I take lousy notes. Always have. And (b.) I wouldn't have written this quote down anyway, because I only this moment recognized that it is relevant to my argument in any way at all. I do that a lot, too.

So suddenly my system makes sense.

That's a good feeling.