I've got this above my desk.

'The PhD is never finished, it is simply abandoned at its least damaging point.'

Keep going everyone. I've had a productive few days and written 3,000 words as part of my methodology and analysis chapter. I was getting really bogged down with terminology yesterday but kept at it until I had finished the section. I'm feeling positive at the moment, but still have a lot to do. I was getting exhausted but have family visiting this weekend. They were on holiday nearby so made sense for them to visit on the way back. I think some time off will do me good - shame about the horrible weather here though.
Back to work tomorrow (after watching the Wimbledon final though).

Ha, ha. I've just been looking through stuff that I did when I started (last century it feels like) and I've just read my first literature review. It's cr*p! Oh well, at least I can see that what I am writing now might actually be quite good.

Well done!

Sorry, I can't reassure you but I was going to post the same question about thesis length - and i am submitting in about three weeks too.
Mine's in humanities and a quick word count is putting it at about 60,000. However, I do have a lot of stuff in spreadsheets which is difficult to count.

Thanks Dr Corinne, that's really helpful. I have 420 examples but each has more then one image to go with it so I may just put one image for each in an appendix, then put the whole 3,000 on a disk to show all the evidence I have been working with.
I am doing what you say re the chapters and images so if I have to change numbers it won't affect the whole thesis! The same with charts and tables that I also have.

For my research I have over 3,000 images, the majority my own photos but others downloads, scans etc. For my hard copy thesis I will be attaching a disk of these. Some of the images are reproduced in the main body of the thesis and I am debating now whether to include each one on the page I am talking about it (a nightmare for formatting) or to have a page(s) of images at the end of each chapter so they can be referred to. So that's my first query - which do you think would be better.

The second query is if I refer to images which I don't actually reproduce there and then, for example, 'jewellery can also be seen on monuments a,b,c etc, how should I reference them. Each image has a unique reference number and any downloads also have their URL. The information is all in a spreadsheet as well. Should I put a footnote saying see Appendix 1,(ie the disk) images 1-4, www.images.co.uk.

Anyone who has worked with images and has any suggestions, I would be grateful
And yes I have left this all to the last minute but the plan was always to insert images at the end so as not to mess uo formatting as I played around with text.

Hi Chrisrolinski, you haven't been on here for a while. How are things with you?

I've spent four days working at two other jobs, then yesterday finishing marking essays, and from 8am today on some other work. NOW I am going to concentrate on the thesis for the rest of the week and then take stock at the weekend with just three weeks to go from then. I am trying the classical music idea to see if that will keep me motivated and intelligent!

Welcome Ribenagirl. When do you submit? It's so hard when you still have to do 'proper' work. I get annoyed when I am sitting around during quiet periods at work when I know I could be doing something more productive.
After a full day today and tomorrow, I pretty much have a clear run till submission so will make the most of it.

Anyone else feel like they're turning into a blob sitting for so long?? I certainly do....


Ha, ha. Yes totally. If I don't have to go out anywhere I'll not wash my hair and just wear the same clothes. I'm eating crap and drinking constant tea and coffee.
I had a really productive day yesterday and was very excited about some research which seems to contradict what experts have previously said.
However today I have to mark essays and do a job application. I am then working for the next four days on my paid work and am annoyed that I can't carry on with my thesis. I'll try to do easy bits during my lunch breaks and in the evening of I'm not too tired.

Welcome aboard Snelison. I'm glad it's not only me! But if we all work hard and keep positive and support each other we will get there in the end. I always thought most people had a completed and edited thesis about two months before submission and then just spent that time proofing etc, but as with everything I do, it's a mad panic at the last minute. I keep thinking why didn't I do more work over the past few years when I was just lounging around watching telly and eating cakes for long stretches at a time.(joke!) i just feel like I have been lazy over the past five years but then if I had I would not be here today with a nearly completed thesis.
Today I am motoring ahead with my last chapter now, even though I had a late start due to being so tired I didn't wake up till nearly lunchtime. I work better late into the evenings though so I will be putting a full days work in - just not 9-5.

I've done some work on my chapter today but I feel overwhelmed with the amount of work I have to do in the next month or so. I've not even got a complete draft yet. I've found it so hard to work with all the other things going on in my life and I am now panicking seriously. I've got 5 weeks to go. Can I do it? If I get the thesis finished to some extent I don't mind getting major corrections as at least I'll know where I stand.