Unless your sup lives in cloud cuckoo land he/she probably "just" meant get expanding on your outline .. showing where you're going to go.

I'd do a nice mind map and say this is where its going etc. Shows progress, looks organised and yet is quick to put together.

However, if your sup does live in cloud cuckoo land and is serious... you have my sympathy.

Either say no ..but if it were me I would probably meet them half way.. and have half a week off.

Well done on getting the chapter in.

Best. Chuff

======= Date Modified 12 Nov 2010 13:43:28 =======
Ok a few pieces of practical advice from me. 

1. highlighter pen, get one,  read a few papers and highlight the interesting bits. Then

2. say you've read three papers.. draw three big circles on a sheet of paper ... and write the highlighted bits in each, just words or phrases. Then

3.  make the connection between the circles, what does one say that the other doesn't.. where do they agree ...are there connections between them .. does this process lead you off to another paper..   if so.. go with it. Add more papers, highlights, more circles until...  you have a story in your head.. a few thoughts..  anything.. then write that down.

and so it goes on .. but please you are not alone in this,  really you're not. As my sup says " its all part of the journey" ;-)

Others will come up with different ways, have a go and see what works for you.

Let us know how you get on.  Regards, Chuff

I know what i plan to buy ... may seem very odd but I love paperweights, Caithness in particular ( is advertising ok on here ?).

They're useful, plus tasteful and, i don't know why, but for me has connotations of intelligence. have i lost the plot ? :p I suspect so.

Chuff

Dr Montezuma.

Would you do us the honour of imparting a few questions and answers please ;-)

Its my quest to ask everyone this from now until....

Many congratulations, I suspect it will sink in when you realise that you've stopped thinking about your thesis.

Regards, Chuff

I can only reiterate this. Most i have read have been awe inspiring.

Hi Sneaks,

Personally, no I wouldn't. This is based on one experience i had where i wasn't shortlisted for a post because i had said i was studying for Doctorate; apparently they felt this "other" interest would impact on my commitment to the job. To be fair, they were doubtless right ;-) as I can hardly think of anything else but I wouldn't do it again.

Others may have had different experience where its seen more positively.

Best of luck with the job, (actually best of luck with filling in the application, they're a nighmare aren't they)

Chuff

Hi Ev,

i wonder whether its because us humanities lot are so sociable and helpful ;-)

Anyone want to do a thesis on that? - forum support / phd subject :p

Agree though this forum is great. have a good day. Chuff

I'm feeling positively conventional, i'd just "automatically" used Arial. (sprout)

thanks for getting me thinking Fm. must read guidelines, despite said conventionalism i hardly ever read rules ;-)

and yes you must be getting close. (up)

How wonderful, and thanks for sharing - gives us all a boost.

all the best, Chuff

Hi W.

I'm going to be characteristically, and irritatingly, positive in the face of PhD trials .. its the only way i get through ;-)

Money issues aside... i think reconstructing your discussion for a paper is the best thing you can do.  I've done it and what was interesting and helpful was what i left out, what did i say to myself, oh no i can't put that in there,  that doesn't read very well etc. You are critiquing your own work in a really brutal way.. its awful but i certainly went back to my thesis and looked at it differently. 

in fact that's what I've been doing today, if its not "good enough" to put in a paper.. why not. change it, cut it .. etc. 

This only applies of course if your sup is not a complete git who's just trying to wind you up !   mine's fab so it was all good.

as for being a wimp ... tell me i don't know what i'm talking about.. might make you feel better.    :-)

Regards, Chuff

I'd recommend Hart's book too .. but before that i'd reconsider your mind set on this.. if you've 'read about 300 academic articles'  you are doing the literature review.

I'd start by summarising those you find interesting, then seeing if they link together. 

I visualised my literature review with a series of venn diagrams... i had an ever decreasing number of circles, once i got to three i could then "see" the overlaps.   I ended up with two and my interest is in the overlap between these two areas.

I think you are spot on mind mapping etc, you are going through a PhD.. this is what its like.. confusing as hell ...  embrace it ;-)

you've found this forum which will help too.   take care, Chuff

said with sarcasm - do you not have another 7 fingers and 2 thumbs with which to type ;-) i've heard people will do anything to get out of PhD-ing ..

said without sarcasm, and if it were me, reading and thinking is always an option, as it milking it for all its worth with anyone who is around. (up)

hope it gets better soon, sounds nasty .. 8 steristrips is quite a lot .. have a small gift (gift)

take care. Chuff

Hi.

I did about half the number of interviews that you are planning.. so keep that in mind when i say that, for me,  i would have to do them myself. I did and God I suffered, yes 8-10 hours each was about right.

I found it "helped" me to think about what was said in a far more intense way.

I didn't use GT but its my limited understanding of that method that being immersed in the data is key.

My view, for my number of interviews, is its the difference between reading a paper, and reading a paper with a highlighter pen - being active during the process makes it more real. 

That said, maybe i just want you to suffer too. ;-)

What else could you spend the 1500 quid on ?  Barbados ?   8-)

Best, Chuff

Yes i did but not from my subject area - much for the reason you suggest.

I went to the British Library thesis website -> http://ethos.bl.uk/Home.do

I've "read" about 10 just to see the structure, how people put them together etc.

Mine is nothing like any of them because its mine :-) ... but i did find it very reassuring to look at the flow.

Regards, Chuff

Just being nosey Sneaks, when are you hoping to submit?

I'm hoping for before Christmas, this Christmas (tree)