sorry, no luck here...

No one else using this thread no more?:-(

I'm trying to get some articles submitted for publication whilst I'm waiting for a date and I'm not getting very far :-( so I'm back for a little longer (and hopefully someone will join me?)

I've been working on this particular article and I'm really struggling to shrinking it so my first goal is to cut the first chunk from 1200 to 800 words. I'm hoping I'll get able to get this done before lunch.

I'm sorry you're feeling this way. It sounds like you're a bit lost and you might need to try a few things to see what works best for you regarding timeline as we all work in different ways. It may be best to start with looking at the sections you need, then do a bullet point plan of what to include into each section, then draft it, etc.

Like I said, some people find it easier to work on one section at a time, others do several so you'll need to see what's best for you.

A few of us around here use/have used this http://mytomatoes.com/ and found helpful.

I'm not sure there's a recipe of 'how to get an A' either... sorry!

Good luck and if there's anything else we can help you with, just give us a shout.

emailed you:-)

Thank you Dunni73! It's just the viva now. It feels scarier than the thesis at the mo :-(

Anyone got any dates? Only if you want to share of course! I'm still waiting.

Sorry, no luck here...

Well done Ady!! You been shoe shopping yet;-)

Thank you for the support Delta!

I was being told from day 1 that it's unreasonable to expect research to go 'according to plan' so I just see setbacks as part of the process. There are things that we can't change but we can learn from them. Personally, I focused on the finishing line and how I can reach it so, for me, it was just a case of 'ok, this isn't working, so what do I need to do to reach point B?'

I don't know your area of work but I believe that we learn all the time and you've learned that the models/tools you've been using don't work. Admittedly, it'd have been much easier if they did, but this is still part of the research process. We're not just trying to find out what works, we need to know what doesn't work as well.

I appreciate that time is ticking so there's a bit of rush but sometimes we just have to work with what we have. Sorry if this is not what you wanted to hear... it may not feel like this right now, but things will work out and you will manage! You've come this far and you're almost there!

Thanks! (er, I got really sick of it last week and, in a moment of madness, I submitted it! Not sure it was the right time but it's done now)

Congrats!! Very well done(up)

======= Date Modified 26 Oct 2011 10:19:03 =======
Thanks Sneaks!

A few more to add (word of warning: I got these from google some time ago)

· How did you come to research this topic in this manner?
· What are the main achievements of your research?
· What has your thesis has contributed to our knowledge in this field?
· What are the major theoretical strands in this area: what are the crucial ideas, and who are the main contributors?
· What are the main issues (matters of debate or dispute) in this area?
· Where is your thesis 'placed' in terms of the existing theory and debate? How would the major researchers react to your ideas?
· Whom do you think will be most interested in this work?
· Why did you choose the particular research methodology that you used?
· What were the crucial research decisions that you made?
· If you were doing this research again, would you consider using any other research methodology?
· What do you see as the next steps in this research?
· What was the most interesting finding in your results?
· Isn't this all obvious?
· Were you surprised by any of your results (if so: why, and what was surprising)?
· What haven't I asked you that I should have, and what would your answer have been?

edit to remove a couple that were already on Sneaks' post

I agree with others, sounds like a great opportunity! I'm just left wondering why you're unsure. Anything we can help you with?8-)

I agree with you that we all make mistakes and I believe that this is part of the learning process. It sounds like you're a bit lost and I wonder if you'd feel differently if you got some support from your sup. As tea4wo mentioned, would it be worth talking to your sup about this? They may not have any ideas of what's going on and may be able to help you with your difficulties.

By the way, I didn't have a masters either and I struggled at times but I was able to learn whatever was required to finish my phd so, in my opinion, a masters helps but it isn't always 100% necessary (although it might be in some fields!). It's worth baring in mind that if your uni didn't feel you were able to complete your phd, they wouldn't have taken you on ;-)

Hi Bilbo,

I've only found this forum towards the end of my journey but I've found your posts really helpful so thank you!

All the best for the future!

Skig