Dissertation motivation!

bec54

Hello everyone

What a fab idea for a forum!

I'm just doing my masters dissertation on employee retention & the role of performance, reward and job satisfaction (yawn!) - due in 1 May, but then I have another 6000 word assignment due in on the 8th. Am pretty much counting down the days (not in panic yet, as in how am I going to get it done) but until I get my life back. I've been doing it now for 3 years part time with a full time job and am so glad the end's now in sight.

Will definitely need some motivation for this final push now (another topic in my lit review) as I can already feel myself start to wind down! Any tips would be very much appreciated!

Well done to Equinox & squirrelchops - bet it's such a relief! (and hope that you're feeling better now!)

top_drawer_2

hi everyone!

The draft of my diss is due on the 4th of next month and so far I have around 500 words written - I'm so frustrated as I have sat and worked on it all day yesterday and again today.... It the same old, same old - I just can't get what I want to say onto the screen/paper. I've done better since Ive starting going back through journals that Ive found make similar points to the ones I need too and putting the point/para in while its in my mind but I am struggling with the connecting parts to support my arguement.

My actual diss is not due until May but I would really like to get the chance to have feedback as I have never even written an essay for my diss tutor (I didnt know she existed till I met her...) so I dont know what she terms "useful". I also have four exams the week after the hand in date _pale_

I'm finding though that even though Im giving myself regular breaks Im feeling quite down about things again - no where near as bad as previously but I'm craving social contact and I dont have any opportunities to make any .... All my lectures/seminars have finished now, somehow having less to do means I get even less done IYSWIM.

Jen

aberstudent09

Wow! Well done to whoever made this forum up. I thought I was the only one but we are all just as bad as each other.

I got a 2500 word essay to hand in on Thursday that I am working on at the moment.

My diss is due straight after easter break. So, I will have after Thursday and three weeks to get 12,000 words written.

I like many feel really bad about not having written it yet. Its just easy to worry about other things etc. I had 66 for my proposal which is 10%, but leaves 90% of 40 credits on the diss.

Will be on here often, hoping for all of your support and would also love to help others too.

Best of luck,

John. xx

bec54

Hi top_drawer

I find it very daunting when I first start writing.

What works for me is to start with the rough outline - so do your sub headings, Introduction, Lit Review, Research methodology etc, then split your word count up between the sections (e.g. for mine my intro is 1800 words, lit review 5000 words etc).

Then literally just brainstorm what you want to put in each section, or your essay plan in the lit review. i normally do this in red so that it stands out more.

Once you've done this then you'll find that you can add any quotes you like into the relevant sections, then go back & put the main body in last.

I find this really helps me stay on track &, because I know how many words I'm doing in each bit, I can really see progress as I'm working through!

Hope that helps

Edit: I wouldn't worry too much about the argument at this stage. if you're really struggling then it's something you can talk to your tutor about. If all else fails, I find a glass of wine usually helps lol!

MadeInTheDark

Hi everyone!

It is that time of year again when stress levels go through the roof I see!
I did my undergrad dissertation in 2007 and have a masters dissertation looming its not due until August and I haven't even started on it cos I have 3 other assignments to do first! But when its done it'll be 18,000-20,000 words and just the thought of that is terrifying me at the moment :eek:

When I did my undergrad diss I found the best way to work was little and often, I am quite obsessed with being organised though hehe, I can't stand leaving things too late. I think the best way is to do at least a little bit each day, and I kept a notebook with me cos my brain has the habit of giving me good ideas/arguments at random times. I found scrawled notes written on the train actually helped quite a lot in the end!

It's easier said than done, but try not to stress out too much about it, stressing makes it ten times worse I find, although some people seem to relish in working in this way! not for me! I started mine early and gave myself time, managed to stay reasonably cool about it and I got a first in the end :rolleyes:

Make sure you give yourself breaks, it is more constructive to do some meaningful work for a few hours then go for a beer with some friends, or even just a cup of tea and a bit of rubbish telly! than to spend entire nights staring blankly at a computer screen, beginning to twitch and go insane.

Hassle your supervisor as well, make sure you make the most of them in regular meetings and email any questions you have. That is what they are there for. I felt like I endlessly harassed my supervisor but I wanted to get my money's worth out of him! It depends on the uni/department/supervisor but many will read drafts and discuss them with you. This is INVALUABLE if you can get it. My uni didn't offer it, although my supervisor suggested that if I were to bring print outs of some chapters to a meeting and it were to 'accidentally' fall on his desk and he were to 'accidentally' read it then there wouldn't be much he could do about that! Really make the most of your supervisor.

The three most vital things when it comes to your diss is backup, backup and backup. Email it to yourself, your friends/family, back it up on a CD, a usb stick and anywhere else you can! I may be a little paranoid but you can never be too careful! And when it comes to hand in day don't think everything will go smoothly, technical/printing problems usually crop up at this time, sods law I think they call it! and there will likely be hundreds of other students you have to fight to get to a computer/printer/binder so leave a margin for error.

The moment you hand in that wad of paper that has ruled your life for so long and drained your soul you will feel euphoric!

Good luck to everyone!!!:j

polgara

Argh...just trying to finish my conclusions....everything else is written up...will just be a case of double-checking all my references are there.

Got to hand it in on Tuesday....so will be binding it on Monday night ...lol!

Never, ever, ever again - have decided against a Phd

[Deleted User]

only on my intro, it has to be handed in 22nd April, I am so stressed and depressed about it I don't know if I even want a degree any more! I have resit on at least 1 essay so I don't know if I will even get to go to the graduation ceremony, so unhappy right now!

top_drawer_2

drinkupretty wrote: »

only on my intro, it has to be handed in 22nd April, I am so stressed and depressed about it I don't know if I even want a degree any more! I have resit on at least 1 essay so I don't know if I will even get to go to the graduation ceremony, so unhappy right now!

awww of course you will .... I have 2 deferrals in August and as a result cant go to the Leeds Festival as they will both be in that week...

Just try to cope with one thing at a time - try making a list of all the things you have to do and breakdown them down into tasks so that you can tick them off as you go.

We should start up a Facebook Support Group to cope with all what we have and swap ideas on how to cope. I've been told that my advice is pretty good, its a pity it never seems to be applicable to me.

Jen

Miss_Liquorice

Hello everyone,

Just popping in to say the dissertation is complete! =D On time and handed in. If I can do it, anyone can! (and, trust me, that moment it's handed over is worth all the agonising hours spent on it!)

Good luck all x

Krfc07

Just seen this section and wish i had sooner.

My dissertation is due to be handed in 2 weeks and im so stressing!!

Hope everyone is getting on well with their own