Don't miss our weekly PhD newsletter | Sign up now Don't miss our weekly PhD newsletter | Sign up now

PhD Discussion Forum

The following thread is brought to you by our sister Web site PostgraduateForum.com. If you wish to reply or post your own thread, you will be redirected to this site.

This Category:   PostgraduateForum.com > PhD Advice / Support


Message

Final year support thread


User: Hugh - 02 July 2016 01:33

Quote From TreeofLife:
Quote From Hugh:


Thanks! Did you repeat linking to literature in the overall discussion?

And also did you find your conclusion was repetitive too?

Initially I just added the key references in, but then my supervisors said I had to put all relevant references in, so yes I linked to all the literature in the end. My conclusion was basically a collection of key achievements so this was repetitive too.

Thanks! :) this makes me feel a bit better now.

I can't wait to get these final two chapters done then I can take a break :)

User: Zutterfly - 04 July 2016 09:45

So, what are everyone's plans/goals for this week?

User: chickpea - 04 July 2016 11:30

Quote From Zutterfly:
So, what are everyone's plans/goals for this week?

I am having a week's annual leave (sorry!). Slightly anxiety-provoking given how much there is still to do, but I know I can't work through the entire summer with no time off, and this is a logical place in my writing to have a breather.

User: Hugh - 04 July 2016 13:51

Quote From chickpea:
Quote From Zutterfly:
So, what are everyone's plans/goals for this week?

I am having a week's annual leave (sorry!). Slightly anxiety-provoking given how much there is still to do, but I know I can't work through the entire summer with no time off, and this is a logical place in my writing to have a breather.

That's good, it's important to take a break! I hope you have a lovely one :)

User: Hugh - 04 July 2016 13:57

Quote From Zutterfly:
So, what are everyone's plans/goals for this week?

This week I'm hoping to complete my discussion chapter. It hasn't actually taken me very long to write (you were right about that!). But I'm nervous about it, and I think it'll be sent to my supervisor with a disclaimer saying this is the very first draft - please go easy on me!

What are you doing this week?

User: Zutterfly - 04 July 2016 19:04

Chickpea- you have the right idea! I would be having a week off after submitting my conclusion chapter, but I am off to another conference at the weekend and I am still preparing my paper. I plan to have a week off in early August as I really do feel like I need a break!

Hugh- Today I have been starting the editing process. I have been working on my introductory chapter that is only half finished. I have not accomplished very much today- I am writing about the policy background of my work and I find it depressing and mind numbing. So, this week I aim to have most of the policy section done, and have completed my conference paper.

Do not be worried about feedback. Right now I would love any feedback even if it is a bit negative. My sup has had one of my chapters for two months now...

User: chickpea - 04 July 2016 19:31

Sorry Zutterfly, that's rubbish that you're having to wait so long for feedback. I hope they get back to you soon.

User: Hugh - 05 July 2016 11:27

My sympathies with you Zutterfly, it must be awful having to wait so long!

Quote From Zutterfly:


Hugh- Today I have been starting the editing process. I have been working on my introductory chapter that is only half finished. I have not accomplished very much today- I am writing about the policy background of my work and I find it depressing and mind numbing. So, this week I aim to have most of the policy section done, and have completed my conference paper.
.

Best of luck with that! I haven't written my introduction yet, but I've placed policy background in the literature review chapter. I wonder if I should shift it to introduction ... I do worry about repetition. I feel with my discussion and conclusion chapters there is quite a bit of repetition, lets see what supervisor has to say.

On another note, have any of you included the coding framework/codesheet in the appendices? I just feel like if I do, my appendices will just be way too long, and I wont be able to bind the thesis into one file.

User: Zutterfly - 07 July 2016 16:54

I also worry about repetition, but I really think it is best to have the whole thesis draft before attempting to identify and edit this. I imagine that it will be much easier to detect and address once you have a full thesis draft- or at least I hope...I have about 12k to cut from my thesis!

I did consider putting the coding framework in the appendices and I think I may do this. My appendices are already very long though. I was reassured by a friend who submitted at my institution last year that they can bind up to 500 pages in one file, so it may be worth checking with the printing services at your institution. Even at present with my overly long thesis and appendices, it doesn't hit 500 pages. I plan to deal with the appendices in one 'chunk' of time later and see if there are any that are worth leaving out.

User: chickpea - 07 July 2016 17:54

What's a coding framework? Have you both used a type of analysis that requires this, or is this something that a thesis should have and that I've never heard of? Eek!

User: Hugh - 07 July 2016 18:42

Quote From chickpea:
What's a coding framework? Have you both used a type of analysis that requires this, or is this something that a thesis should have and that I've never heard of? Eek!

It's based on type of analysis - not required by default. Don't worry.

User: Hugh - 07 July 2016 18:44

Zutterfly: that's true, better to include at first, and then take it out. I'll do that, thank you!

I think I'm going to have to cut about 10K too.

User: Zutterfly - 07 July 2016 18:50

Quote From Hugh:Zutterfly:
that's true, better to include at first, and then take it out. I'll do that, thank you!

I think I'm going to have to cut about 10K too.

I think that worrying about cutting before the full draft is together will just be too distracting, so I think it is the best plan!

We will have to keep updating each other when we are cutting word counts for motivation haha

User: chickpea - 07 July 2016 20:08

Quote From Hugh:
Quote From chickpea:
What's a coding framework? Have you both used a type of analysis that requires this, or is this something that a thesis should have and that I've never heard of? Eek!

It's based on type of analysis - not required by default. Don't worry.

Thanks Hugh - I thought that would be the case, but you never know :o)

User: Hugh - 08 July 2016 10:00

Quote From Zutterfly:


We will have to keep updating each other when we are cutting word counts for motivation haha

Will do :) It is going to be a pain!

On another note, when do you use double quotation (") and single quotation (')? I'm so confused!