Dissertation motivation!

pavlovs_dog

have a meeting with my supervisor today - wish me luck!


thinking of you today Sali xx

cupid_s

Might not help all you nice people now but I think reference manager is much nicer than endnote. It is my bestest friend (at the moment)

And good luck p_d

Morn

Ahhhh, taking into account that in my last post I was thinking that this was 100% doable, I am back in the depressing state of not actually being able to do the ******* thing.

This is getting frustrating as it is due in 2 weeks and I am so behind it is unreal.

I simply can not focus on the task in hand, and as my supervisor is rubbish I am left with nowhere to turn.

:mad:

pavlovs_dog

morn ive been where you are, and its not pleasant but the only person who can snap you out of your vicious circle is YOU.

i recommend you take the rest of the day off. put your affairs in order - tidy the house, get some food in, pay the bills etc (eg get rid of all the distractions that suddenly becaome appealing when you should be working), then have a relaxing soak and an early night tonight. tomorrow, you sit down with a cup of tea, soft music in the background, and make a list of EVERYTHING you need to do for your dissertation. choose a sensible one to start with (eg, write 300 words of introduction) and dont get up until it's done

once that is done, take a break for a while, and then start with the next thing on your list.

you CAN do this

pavlovs_dog

forgot to mention - my meeting went really well. i have access to 5 classes of students to get my research questionnaires completed, so that will be done next week. i am down to the last few books and journals to read, and thats research finished. line in the sand time! i have a good day or so now to finalise my aims and compile my questionnaire. i have a huge tin of celebrations left over from christmas which i will take with me as a bribe

i suggested a 'submission date' (28th march) for the first full draft, to motivate me to work. that gives me two weeks straight to write the first draught, which i think is do-able. 600-800 words a day isnt really all that daunting when you break it down into little bits!

we have finally got an exact submission date (2nd may) for the finished version, and i have found out that in terms of style, presentation etc, other than good academic form, there are no rules! so there will be no rush to get it bound on stupidly expensive paper for an overinflated price

anyone know where i can buy a REALLY BIG paperclip

Jolaaled

This thread is so helpful....but i feel so stuck with my dissertation.

I've done loads of reading now and need to submit a 7K draft introduction asap.
My supervisor has o.k-ed my research study and methodology, but i am just have great difficulties in applying the literature search and previous study findings, to my own study area.

I can't seem to get a proper plan in place, to outline a logical path from previous study findings, to my own research area.

I'm getting very stressed about it and can't think straight anymore. I seem to have absorbed myself totally in my topic for weeks now, and feel that i should be able to at least get a draft intro together..but just can't... and now i feel like giving up completely.

If ANYONE has any tips..please please please let me know.

thanks so much, guys.

pavlovs_dog

i dont know what area your dissertation is in, but i found a really good section in a book called 'researching second language classrooms'.

in takes you through what normally goes in each section, and then gives you quotes from real life studies so you can see how its done properly, before setting 'exercises' that encourage you to think about how to apply the knowledge to your own study.

its an applied linguistic book, but should be fine for most humanities based dissertations.

failing that, there are loads of books about writing a thesis/reserach project/dissertation. perhaps one of those would help you?

Jolaaled

pavlovs_dog wrote: »

i dont know what area your dissertation is in, but i found a really good section in a book called 'researching second language classrooms'.

in takes you through what normally goes in each section, and then gives you quotes from real life studies so you can see how its done properly, before setting 'exercises' that encourage you to think about how to apply the knowledge to your own study.

its an applied linguistic book, but should be fine for most humanities based dissertations.

failing that, there are loads of books about writing a thesis/reserach project/dissertation. perhaps one of those would help you?

thanks, Pavlov..i'm gonna try and source a copy of this book..as, by chance, my dissertation area is non-verbal communication, so there must be similarities.

jay11_2

Morn wrote: »

Ahhhh, taking into account that in my last post I was thinking that this was 100% doable, I am back in the depressing state of not actually being able to do the ******* thing.

This is getting frustrating as it is due in 2 weeks and I am so behind it is unreal.

I simply can not focus on the task in hand, and as my supervisor is rubbish I am left with nowhere to turn.

:mad:

I feel the same, and it's so frustrating, mine's not due for a month but I'm out on placement so time is limited. Dunno if I'm much help, I just try to write something on the basis that it at least gets my thoughts on paper and is something to work with.

Not much help, but I do sympathise,

X Jay

sali_mali

Hey Jolaaled, if you're having trouble with your literature search, book an appointment with one of your librarians, they're miracle workers! I was struggling with mine, and my librarian taught me how to choose which keywords to use in a search, how to refine them as you go and pretty much wrote up a search plan for me! They've been trained on all of this, and in my experience are happy to help

I'm still waiting to hear back from my supervisor after sending off my first draft on Tuesday. Very frustrating because I know I'll probably have lots to do for my second draft and I want to hear the bad news and get it over with!

P.S. Thanks PD, glad your meeting went well