I spent today downtown in various UT libraries trying to find sufficient materials for an essay on Scottish universities during the Enlightenment. When I got home, I made an honest survey of my books and concluded that I don't have enough material to cover the topic. Great.
So then I skipped fellowship (not unusual except that I had actually intended to go) to try to find sufficient online journal articles for another topic, and came up with nothing. *sigh* So today was a total waste of time.
Not to mention the essay's due Tuesday and I haven't a clue as to what I can possibly write this essay on. Well, I think I'm okay with the topic--to what extent was the Enlightenment a backlash against organized religion?--but I haven't figured out a slant/angle to pursue, so I can't really start the research until I do. I've got a pretty good feel for the subject, at least, but not having any idea for a thesis is really tough. I know it sounds backwards, but for me, the most efficient way to write an essay is to think up a possible thesis, then do the research and see if it matches. If it doesn't, I change the thesis, but at least starting with a thesis I can limit my research right from the get go.
Man. I've got a major (literal) headache right now. But, strangely enough, I'm not yet freaked out. *sigh* Hopefully I'll be inspired and a thesis/approach will come to me in the shower tomorrow--strangely enough, that's when I usually get my inspiration essays. =P
Ah well, off to sleep now! I've been sleep deprived all week, so maybe that's keeping me from being able to think properly!
