Categories: phd
Tags: thesis
Date: 22 May 2008 10:37:58
I have my end-of-year review next week, which usually involves filling in forms at the 'tick box yes or no' kind of level. As I am about to go into my writing-up year however (EEEEEEKKKK!!!!!) (that's better) this year I also have to submit a chapter writing plan. And I'm discovering that this isn't as easy as I thought it would be. I know what I want to discuss, but many of my research themes that have emerged from my data are really interlinked so separating them out into chapters isn't as obvious for me as it might be for others. I don't think anyone will really appreciate one giant megachapter with no obvious structure, but I don't want to keep repeating myself throughout, which might happen with linked themes in different chapters - I've only got an 80-100,000 word limit you know!
I'm also finding it really difficult to factor in a timetable, as they want a rough idea of what I plan to write when. I've submitted a linear plan (chapter 1 by Xmonth, chapter 2 by Xmonth, etc) but we all know that plans don't work like that in real life - even very cunning plans. It's all a bit daunting, seeing it on paper even in draft cunning plan form - how on earth am I going to fit it all in? I'm going to have to think as much about what data I don't use as what I do. Remind me why I'm doing this again ...!