IP Q and A

Twigga wrote: Is the Initiate made aware of which Knights are checking their journal before they begin?

Is it possible for them to request an alternative reader if they feel uncomfortable with the judgements of a particular person being passed on their journal? (unfortunately, personality clashes do happen, and we are all human...)

Not usually unless the Knight tells them. It's kind of a "I'm free, I've got this" kind of thing.

That's part of the reason for the two person checks is to ensure fairness. There's not an official policy in place about having someone else check out a journal but depending on the circumstance, it could be done. Typically with the way we record and share how we check and what message we sent to the Novice, there's oversight on the process.

But say you feel I'm being unreasonable in my requirements on your journal because I'm holding a grudge that you wouln't share your last mint with me . You are welcome to go to any Knight and bring it up with them. They already have access to your journal, and the IP checks section of the forum, so can see the requirements I'm making of you (provided I'm reporting them but then you can submit screen shots and all that and that's a bigger deal than just butting heads over the IP)

If you don't feel comfortable with any Knight, you could either start with your IP Team Sponsor (if you have one), the IP Team Lead (MadHatter) if you're comfortable with him, or you could even reach out to the Clergy too. If they're not Knights themselves, they'll know who can help you. But anyone else can look into it and see if I'm being fair and just holding up the standards, or are trying to keep you from making Initiate. (because mints are worth fighting for!)

I suppose this is all a kind of unnoficial process... that a new Novice wouldn't know. I think we need to find a good place to put something like this. *puff*

Next question: My journal is FAR from tidy. It's not just that I have stuff in there that's out of the IP order, but I have stuff in there that really isn't IP! However I think much of it is informative on who/what/when/where/how... it's appropriate for a TM or the clergy to read; but probably not necessary if my only intention is to attain Initiate rank (Like my super heroine greeter-of-all-newcomers elizabeth). Is it better for me to make a separate "Read this for passing IP" journal, or am I better off just leaving it all for you guys to comb through? I have insights on "Jediism to me" in posts that I didn't stick a title on but on the other hand, I value your guys' time and it may only be necessary for a future TM or the seminary folks to read the WHOLE thing.

Twigga wrote: Next question: My journal is FAR from tidy. It's not just that I have stuff in there that's out of the IP order, but I have stuff in there that really isn't IP! However I think much of it is informative on who/what/when/where/how... it's appropriate for a TM or the clergy to read; but probably not necessary if my only intention is to attain Initiate rank (Like my super heroine greeter-of-all-newcomers elizabeth). Is it better for me to make a separate "Read this for passing IP" journal, or am I better off just leaving it all for you guys to comb through? I have insights on "Jediism to me" in posts that I didn't stick a title on but on the other hand, I value your guys' time and it may only be necessary for a future TM or the seminary folks to read the WHOLE thing.

You journal is your journal to arrange as you see fit. It just needs to include all the lessons! When I was doing the IP I wanted to watch my growth and mindset along with the IP so I posted my non-IP stuff right along with my IP in the same journal. My IP had separate posts and were titled with the lessons and that's really all we'd ask for. If they're not titled, we might miss it but that's a simple fix. All you''d have to do is send the link to where it is. We do have some standards were looking for (listed in the IP lessons themselves) but beyond that, the journals are for you, not for us. Do what helps you learn best. We can work around you!

We can link to individual posts?!? I don't know how to do that! Can you show me? I keep referring people to "fourth page in, third down"! :laugh: I think it could save everyone some spoons... In fact, that might be a nice way to get my journal in order for ease of reading - an "Index" with the links in... Some of my posts are well past the 1hr edit duration... *ponders*

The guidelines for the IP are pretty clear; however we all come from vastly different backgrounds. One person's best efforts will look quite different from another. Some will have given their all, but not have met requirements. The heart can be true Jedi, but the writing skills are just an insurmountable effort; particularly where English is a second language, or Specific Learning Difficulties are involved. How are those cases handled? On the other side, some of us may have met the guidelines, but it's clear to a knight-reader there's potentially more juice left in us. Do we, as Initiates, gain the benefit from all that reading and reflective work the knights do, and actually get questions for consideration and feedback on items, even when they are "Done"?

Twigga wrote: We can link to individual posts?!? I don't know how to do that! Can you show me? I keep referring people to "fourth page in, third down"! :laugh: I think it could save everyone some spoons... In fact, that might be a nice way to get my journal in order for ease of reading - an "Index" with the links in...

See the post number 319160 at the top of your post? That's a link to the specific post. You can right- click and copy that, then link it like:

Which looks like:

Twig's question about linking posts

Awesome!

As we are working through the IP if at some point we feel like we're losing direction or something similar, is there anyway we can ask for someone to review over what we have written so far? Just like a quick look over, to get some feedback?

Lizzy wrote: As we are working through the IP if at some point we feel like we're losing direction or something similar, is there anyway we can ask for someone to review over what we have written so far? Just like a quick look over, to get some feedback?

Hi Lizzy, we do have an IP-Team available, of which I am one (others can be found here ), and we are available to help with this sort of thing , you can also ask any of the knights if you wish

Thank you!

Twigga wrote: The guidelines for the IP are pretty clear; however we all come from vastly different backgrounds. One person's best efforts will look quite different from another. Some will have given their all, but not have met requirements. The heart can be true Jedi, but the writing skills are just an insurmountable effort; particularly where English is a second language, or Specific Learning Difficulties are involved. How are those cases handled? On the other side, some of us may have met the guidelines, but it's clear to a knight-reader there's potentially more juice left in us. Do we, as Initiates, gain the benefit from all that reading and reflective work the knights do, and actually get questions for consideration and feedback on items, even when they are "Done"?

The IP Team was built around giving folks some more individual attention and help where needed. But when I made it, I didn't realize the number of Novices we actually have!!

On ESL, or learning difficulties, we actually have arranged one time that I know of, special attention to a Novice. The plan was to hold a conversation with them after they had gone through the material to help reenforce what they learned. Then they could write out their response. There were two Knights who volunteered to help them with it.

The problem with a web pressence is the written word is the most convenient form of communication. Easiest way to record for a vast majority. But that doesn't mean we won't consider video journals or audio ones. Or recorded conversations in text or audio/video. These mostly depend on what Knights are available to provide dedicated time to walk a Novice through the lessons. I got the impression that what we offered for that Novice was new ground. They haven't made it through the IP yet so I can't say how that trial worked, but since it was offered once, I don't see why it couldn't happen again

The IP team can provide feedback as well as Knights. But it's up to the Knight if they are going to message you or write in your journal. You are always welcome to ask anyone to read over anything in your journal for some feedback too. When I send out messages to Novices on their final journal, I usually will praise a few things I really liked or sometmes comment on a half-formed thought. I just haven't had the time to do them in a long while.

It sounds like time and hands are short Kit. Can you tell me more about the IP team, what the responsibilities are, and how we can participate and help?

Twigga wrote: It sounds like time and hands are short Kit. Can you tell me more about the IP team, what the responsibilities are, and how we can participate and help?

That's actually something I've been wondering; I'm not yet a Knight -- can I be a part of the IP team?

If im not mistaken it's Initiates and above that can volunteer for IP team (Gotta complete the work before you can help others. )

I've searched the Forums and picked out a couple of bit and pieces that relate to the IP Team from previous threads. Hopefully this answers some of the basic queries without Kit having to type it all out again:

Kit wrote: The IP Team was built to help Novices through the Initiates Programme. Our purpose is to read your IP entries, and offer helpful guidance, answer questions, catch where the minimum standards aren't met (such as word count), and act as your cheer-leading squad! Our goal is to provide you with the support you need to complete the IP and hopefully minimize the questions the Knights will have when you submit it for approval.

You won't be seeing messages from us for all of your posts, but if you have a specific question about your journal or would like a review, please feel free to send one of us a message!

If you would like to opt out of the IP Team's attentions, please send me a PM and I'll make a note on our spreadsheet!

Kit Later wrote: I'm excited to announce that we are testing a new way to run the IP Team that involves our team members sponsoring Novices. This'll give Novices a little more individualized attention and quicker turn-around for final review submissions.

Kit Further wrote: The IP team is looking for volunteers! We're looking for people to fill the following roles:

Heralds (2-3 positions):
-message new novices to introduce the IP Team.
-Required rank: Initiate or higher

Sponsors (no limit):
-review an assigned caseload of IP journals (includes updating a checklist/spreadsheet) - minimum caseload is 5 journals
-answer questions from assigned novices
-advise IP Team Delegator of inactive or plagiarized journals
-Required Rank: Apprentice or higher

It's important to know that commitment and communication is key.

as someone who has had learning difficulties myself, I am more than happy to help people do Alternative forms of journaling.

Twigga wrote: It sounds like time and hands are short Kit. Can you tell me more about the IP team, what the responsibilities are, and how we can participate and help?

Thank you for digging those up for me Brick there's been a few changes so I'll go ahead and rehash it

The IP Team is intended to act as Novice's point of contact for questions. It was created to bring some support to the IP which was a very lonely process and we noticed a lot of Novices just disappearing. The intent is to have each Novice assigned to a Sponsor who reads their journal entries as they're posted. Sponsors provide support with prompting questions to expand your journals, keeps an eye on lesson requirements to ensure Novice's journals are meeting the minimum standards, and just be an all-around cheer-leader for when you need it. At least that's the idea, but with the limited hands and the overwhelming number of Novices I didn't realize we had, that's still a future goal.

I turned the Team over to MadHatter , he's been a most excellent lead over the last six+ months and may have changed a few things, so if you want clarification, details, or wish to volunteer, go toss a PM at him. But Initiates and up are encouraged to join the team. As Ari said, you need to have already gone through the process to be able to help others (at least officially)

I took a look at the Wikipedia link on Plagiarism; and it was a bit confusing. It says that plagiarism is defined very differently in journalism, academia, and in law. It even implies that plagiarism in the arts is seen, at times, quite positively.

Would I be right to understand that the definition of plagiarism within TotJO is along the lines that you’ve described here? Less than 20% coming from other sources (even if they are cited in the bibliography) and no phrases taken out of other individuals' IP posts without acknowledgement?

What constitutes an appropriate citation? Can I write "Sponsors provide support with prompting questions to expand your journals, keeps an eye on lesson requirements to ensure Novice's journals are meeting the minimum standards, and just be an all-around cheer-leader for when you need it." (Thanks Kit)? Or is that still unclear?

Twigga wrote: I took a look at the Wikipedia link on Plagiarism; and it was a bit confusing. It says that plagiarism is defined very differently in journalism, academia, and in law. It even implies that plagiarism in the arts is seen, at times, quite positively.

Would I be right to understand that the definition of plagiarism within TotJO is along the lines that you’ve described here? Less than 20% coming from other sources (even if they are cited in the bibliography) and no phrases taken out of other individuals' IP posts without acknowledgement?

What constitutes an appropriate citation? Can I write "Sponsors provide support with prompting questions to expand your journals, keeps an eye on lesson requirements to ensure Novice's journals are meeting the minimum standards, and just be an all-around cheer-leader for when you need it." (Thanks Kit)? Or is that still unclear?

I'm actually working on a lesson/article that will clear up all of that but the details are still foggy because I haven't written anything down so it may change from what I say here.

In our world, plagiarism is copying or paraphrasing another's words without proper citation. Honestly, paraphrasing will be hard for us to 'catch', but citing that is a necessary part of integrity and morals too.

I'm planning a very simple citation process, Novices are welcome to use a more advanced one but most of what we're concerned about is that there are quotes and links. Your example would not be enough (who is Kit? Where did they say this? is this a part of a larger whole?). So in a journal you would write something like:

Words words words, "Sponsors provide support with prompting questions to expand your journals, keeps an eye on lesson requirements to ensure Novice's journals are meeting the minimum standards, and just be an all-around cheer-leader for when you need it." (1) words words words...A Team is a group of people working together(2).



(1) Kit: https://www.templeofthejediorder.org/forum/ip-study-hall/121084-ip-q-and-a?start=20#319311
(2) Dictionary.com http://www.dictionary.com/browse/team?s=t

Where (1) is referencing a direct quote (known by using the quotation marks), and (2) is a paraphrase (referencing where I learned the information from, but written in my own words). It's important to include all your references when you do research for a few reasons. The main one is to credit those who you got the information from, but it also lets you check back on your references if you need to share them with someone else, AND it allows the Knights to be sure you're using proper, legitimate, and reliable sources. Now if you already know what a team is, you don't need to reference it, this was just an example

Should, perhaps, a fourth part to Lesson 0 be added to get Novice's to post the dictionary definition, as well as their understanding of plagiarism and how to avoid it?

All of this could be new to people who are some way through their IP Kit... How do we go about fixing things? Do we just wait to the end of the IP?