Cheers both,

I really had no idea how long to aim for, so thanks for the advice. My sup will be seeing drafts as I go along, but I was just thinking on the basis of the 2 that I've done that a lot of correcting and re-writing will need to be done. I think I might aim at 3 months; if I can do it, then great, if I don't I'll still have a good amount of time left.

The one everybody says: ask lots of questions. Brush your teeth beforehand. Smile (up)

1. FINISH Fulgens and Lucrece. DONE
2. Map out mini lit review for MPP DONE
3. Mark last 2 essays NOT DONE
4.Write up abstracts for previous two chapters. DONE
5. Finish all parts of chapter outlines grid I can do. DONE
6. Start on timeline (for next year and a half, eek!)DONE

A good day overall :-) Tomorrow:

1. Mark last 2 essays
2. Read 'Knight of the Burning Pestle'
3. Continue filling in grid.
3. Depending how long (3) takes read 'A Woman Killed with Kindness'

Hi all,

Possibly another 'how long is a piece of string' question. I've got my mid-point review at the end of next month and am trying to draw up a rough time line for my next year and a half. At what point do you think those in authority would expect me to have a complete draft version of my thesis - as in how long before final submission? Is 4 months about right or is this unrealistic/ not enough time?

Ta.

Hello EmaDaCuz.

Hmmm, I have left the second play I was going to read at home and can't find a decent one here, so instead will:

1.Write up abstracts for previous two chapters.
2. Finish all parts of chapter outlines grid I can do.
3. Start on timeline (for next year and a half, eek!)

Hello Fig,

Welcome to the thread, I hope it helps. It makes me laugh that people might think I'm doing loads of work, it doesn't seem that way to me at all! The beauty of this thread is that writing it down all the little things makes it look like a lot more, which helps to motivate :-)

Still not finished the bloody play and 2 more have cropped up! This is getting ridiculous. Ok:
1. FINISH Fulgens and Lucrece.
2. Map out mini lit review for MPP
3. Mark last 2 essays
4. Start re-reading 'Knight of the Burning Pestle'

Snog marry avoid :$ Beat that!

Ah I see, Emmanki. In that case I wasn't much help but thought I'd try as I know how vague these things can be. Best of luck.

Thanks MK. I'm still struggling through source material as every time I read one thing it brings up another possibility. Good to have lots of options I suppose but equally none of them are *quite* what I want, which is why I can't seem to narrow them down. It's not that difficult really just a bit hard to distinguish one fairly interesting text from another, very similiar, fairly interesting text!

Today:
1. Finish reading 'Fulgrens and Lucrece' (another one which has crept out of the woodwork).
2. Continue filling in grid.
3. Send various admin e-mails.
4. Mark 3 essays.

Hope everyone's doing well.

Hi,

I've never heard of an online PhD so am probably totally unqualified to answer this question but the idea of it is certainly ringing alarm bells for me. Doing a PhD is such an isolating process as it is, having zero face to face contact with supervisors and others in your field seems like a very bad idea... I hope somebody comes along who can give you more advice but I had to give you my two pence worth.

Hey Emmanki. I have my year and a half reposrt soon, which sounds similiar. The guidelines for our were also very hazy but for the 5,000 words I was advised to spend about 1,500 discussing 'the current state of knowledge' of your chosen subject (so a mini lit review I guess), then about 500 on your objectivies, 1,000 on the work you've done so far, 1,500 on what you intend to do next and your anticiapted original contribution to knowledge and then around 500 on a timeline. For the work I've done so far and what I'm going to do I'm intending to submit chapter abstracts. Hope this helps a bit!

Bug, you've had such a hard time recently...Give yourself a break, you work mega hard anyway.

Hello all,

Hope you're both having a good day. Hopefully this week I can bypass my usual day where I get nothing done! I had a good weekend and am feeling fairly chipper today so fingers crossed. And Strictly was great :-)

Last week:
1. Finish reading source X DONE (I think...I'm losing track of what these sources are now as more and more keep coming out of the woodwork!)
2. Re-read 2 plays, make notes. DONE
3. Finish reading text, research and teach. DONE
4. Have marked rest of essays (3 per day). not done.
5. Brainstorm ideas for expanding journal paper DONE (sort of)
6. Briefly research ideas for next 3 chapters. Not done.

By the end of this week I wanted to have brief abstracts done for my next 3 chapters so I can include them in my Mid Point Progression documents which have to be submitted at the end of next month. It's been harder than I thought, however, to try and narrow down which texts I want to use, but hopefully I can get it done by the end of the week. So:

1. Finish marking essays, add final comments and have moderation meeting (if it's meant to be this week- need to check)
2. Finish reading text, research and teach.
3. Have worked out which sources I'm going to use for next 3 chapters and vague idea of what I'm going to do with them.
4. Continue gathering ideas for journal article.
5. Work out how to claim expenses for conference trip.

Today:
1. Draw up grid of chapter ideas/texts
2. Finish reading text and plan lesson
3. Mark 3 essays.

I've done nothing today. Probably one hour in total. Every week I seem to have one day where I just grind to a halt :-(

Hello, hope you're feeling better today MK. I agree with Eska, you should try and rest if you're il, you don't want it dragging on. It's frustrating though, I took 2 days off last week and felt so discombobulated when I came back.
Struggling again today so lets see if I can get my motivation up. Yesterday:

1. Read play no.2 DONE
2. Sort out registers
3. Mark 3 essays
4. Brainstorm ideas for expanding article DONE

Hmmm, not brilliant. I'm not sure I have EVER completed all my aims, come to think of it! Anywho:

1. Read play no.3 (trying to work out outlines for future chapters, hence all the frantic fiction reading at the moment)
2. Mark 3 essays
3. Continue brainstorming ideas

Will set a minimum target of 10 tomatoes. I'm off to see Strictly Come Dancing tonight with my sister :$:$ So that's something to look forward to!

Hi,

I got a PhD studentship with a first class honours degree, no masters and no publications. My problem was the same as yours: I simply couldn't afford to do a Master's and was actually advised that I would find it easier to get funding for a PhD than a Master's. In an ideal world I would have done a Master's first; it's another feather to your cap and gives you a) the time to attend conferences etc. for cv enhancement and b) the chance to increase your general knowledge of your subject before your plunge into the depths of your chosen speciality in the PhD. In terms of motivation and research capabilities, however, I don't it's made much difference at all as a PhD is so different to any kind of taught course. As to whether you might get accepted without a master's, it depends on so many variables that it's impossible for us to say. Personality and enthusiam count for much more than some people realise, for a start. But it's certainly possible. Good luck.

Best of luck Dr Moomin