thanks for that information Lara! i hope that i don't have to use it, but if the worst comes to the worst, i'll sue them all for their incompetence and cruelty!

sorry i forgot to send this earlier. i was too stressed out.

let me know when you've sent it:

[email protected]

thanks a million!

hello,

does anyone know a book on how to write a decent normative framework. shani - i forgot to give you my email for you to forward a document. i will send it shortly.

i received an email from my supervisors yesterday, saying that they would still be willing to supervise my thesis as a PhD if a made a number of amendments to it. Some are great, going to the topic, others are minor, focusing on methodology. I'm in the process of doing this. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, that all goes well. meanwhile i have decided to postpone my trip for a while to deal with this fiasco. am going to be sending them a revised draft in about week's time, proposing what changes i hope to make and how, and am hoping they accept these. am trying to stay positive fingers crossed!

thanks everyone. am working on this. am looking to meet the head of department to discuss the way forward and to see whether it is sensible to continue with these supervisors. am ok, not as devastated as i was, am still working on title change - olivia - i was also in agreement that titles and the point of focus does change - only that in my case it came with a threat. i will raise all the issues you've suggested. keep the suggestions coming.

i am also considering approaching some lecturers to see if they'd be willing to supervise me for the last few years if that will be the case.

is this a wise move or should i just stick with my current supervisors and all their threats?

yap - very devastating, i cried myself to sleep yesterday. but anyway, its not the end of life. today am reading through the book recommended by Olivia and trying to redefine my question. has this ever happened to anyone???

i never thought at any point that my PhD would take me more than four years. These psychos have scrued up my life!!!

thanks everyone for your support during this difficult time.

Olivia - thanks. i've borrowed the book. i hope it clarifies how i can improve my thesis.

Hello everyone,

Can anyone suggest books that I can read on defining a PhD research question?

i went to see my supervisors today and the worst happened. they pushed me towards going for the MPhil saying that my research question was unclear. They said my work was no good and it would take two years to bring it to PhD standard. am just really fed up and i don't know what to do anymore. why did they wait for three years to tell me this? i don't want to quit but on the other, i don't see the point of working with supervisors who don't want to work with me.

go out with friends. always have something lined up during these difficult times. who cares about values... if you are not looking to marry someone. take it easy. if they meet the basics of friendship, that's all that matters. just be careful not to get too involved because not many people out there are supportive or even happy for 'you and your PhD.' best of luck!!! good company may be all you need, not necessarily a relationship.

my advice would be if you start your PhDs single, stay single. I have been in two relationships since i started. both partners were unsupportive and only cared about themselves. they demanded that i make time for them even when that was impossible. am single now, and HAPPY compared to when i was in a relationship. i go on dates... but i just never let anything get serious. i think its best to keep things that way. when am done, am gonna chose who I end up with. so its not the end of the world, it is actually a new beginning. go out there and start dating again. don't sit there alone...

just take a breather and come back to it and do it. that's how i go about negative feedback. don't let it get you down... its easy for one to say that you should negotiate with such a supervisor, but my experience has been to the contrary. arguing will lead you nowhere. just do as you are told to keep the peace. try splitting it into small tasks and touching on each one briefly in your report.

am proud of you Lara!!! don't forget to reward yourself - you've worked so hard and you deserve it.

thanks BilboBaggins. i forgot to say thanks for your reassuarance earlier.