Hi KB

No, this doesn't sound doable. A 3 year PhD is possible if that's all you're doing, but add in all the extra and well, of course the time is going to blow out. Add on another 6 months I reckon. Most students don't complete on time, do don't worry too much about it. I know it can be disappointing, and it just seems to go on forever, but these are the realitites. Otherwise, commit yourself to only doing the PhD, and publish after. I think your sups are also expecting too much of you, if they think you can do all this in 3 years.

Hi Koturu

A year of writing up isn't a long time and you have no time to waste. I've been writing up solidly for the last 9 months, working at least 12 hours most days, and will still be really, really pushing it to get this thesis done in a year. Don't forget, you might think you only have another 70 000 words to write, but your sup is likely to make you rewrite these, so in actual fact, you could be looking at more like 200 000 words. I will have rewritten everything completely at least twice - so writing 100 000 words three times.

Do a search on the forum on 'procrastination' - there's been lots of threads on this. Have you got a detailed plan for the next year? When each of your chapters will be done by, given back by your sup, when the next version will be done etc? Do a yearly plan, then monthly, then break it down. You'll see time runs out and the fear will make you to get going! Treat your PhD like a job, and put in the hours. Motivate yourself with rewards. Work in small increments, focus, then have a break. I've found the 25 minute timer at http://mytomatoes.com/ to be an essential tool.

Good luck! Keep us posted!

Maybe you need to have a discussion with him about the structure of your work and thesis. It does seem odd that he expects written work each week - my work hasn't progressed like that at all. In the beginning there'd be some weeks where I wouldn't write very much at all, as I was reading or doing field work and then be busy transcribing. And soon you should be writing full chapters, which are definitely not doable in a week. Can you suggest that rather than hand in work each week, you hand in more work each month? Then you could hand in a decent sized chapter of, say, at least 10,000 words, in, every few weeks.

It sounds to me as if he's supervising you a bit too closely - you need a bit more flexibility, with deadlines that are task related rather than being weekly. Maybe you could also suggest less meetings - I meet with my sup monthly, or less.

Hi Sneaks - you're right to be concerned. Not only is changing your results wrong, this also sounds unethical. Changing the quotes from interviews???? Completely unethical!!!!! That's just outrageous!! My sup and I had a big discussion about changing one very important word that one of my participants used, and we did change it in the end, but changing whole quotes?? Not right.

I also have findings that make my participants look bad, and I'm not going to change them. I don't think you should either. Rather than changing your results, maybe you could develop a strategy on how to manage this eg meet with the managers beforehand, warn them about what's coming out, develop some solutions how they could improve etc and give them somethig on this - so you look proactive, not like you're just criticising.

Failing this, could you maybe make the company anonymous? Or even tone down the writing? But don't change the results!!

Hi Walminski

I've done lots of presentations, and do include references just (Author, date), and that's enough. I agree with Bilbo - about 90 secs- 2 minutes a slide, for a 10 minute presentation, I'd wouldn't have any more than 7 slides. You want people to listen to you, not have to keep up with a plethora of slides. Don't forget to not have too much on the slides, just a few key points, don't make them too busy.

Woohoo!!! Well done Poppy!!! (up) Congratulations!! That's fantastic! Nice to know this does all end!! Yes, have some time off and have a lovely break, do all those things you used to love to do before the thesis became your life.

And well done Walminski for having some fun! Very good for the soul.

Hi AL

Well done!!! That's excellent progress!! Your sup better like it!!! Yeh, know what you mean about having nothing else left to give...still, if your sup lifts his game and actually helps you and does make helpful comments, you'll find the energy to redo if necessary and make it even better.

Have been plugging away at my discussion chapter - feel it's all really pedestrian, but need to get the nuts and bolts done before I can inject some smartness into it. My sup has read my 5 case study chapters, and we're going to meet, but so far has only said she has some comments on the analysis and tightening the structure - which doesn't sound too positive...still, she always gives wonderful feedback, so we'll see...I can feel another rewrite coming up!!!

Don't work too hard, try and have some fun too. I've been going out a bit lately, which has put me behind, but after the next week-end away (for my partner's birthday), am really going to go back into hermit mode and try and finish this thing.

Productive vibes to everyone - hope work and mental health are both OK.

Hi Squiggles

I also have just a few months to go, and finding these last few months the most difficult and the most emotional, even with a good supervisor. It is really hard, and you sound like you're doing really well, despite a lack of support and feedback!!

If I was you, I would do a detailed time line and plan and discuss it with your sup and get her to commit to reading your work and giving you feedback. I would structure it so that for example, in a months time, you give her all your data chapters and then give her a month to give you feedback. Then in 3 months time, build in that you're going to give her the complete draft and expect comments back in a mth etc etc Sit down and talk to her, ask if she can give you feedback on that work in that timeframe, ask what else she's got on. Do that for the whole thesis over the next 6 mths. Also do this for your second sup, if you want their comments too - in fact, if they could comment as well, it might show her up a bit. If she has a plan and knows that you're expecting work back, this may prompt her. Build in as well things she has to do eg doing whatever admins necessary. Be practical, and meet with both of them.

Don't cry!! This will pass, she just needs a push. You're doing really well, keep going. It will be over soon. Make sure you take breaks too, catch up with friends, and have time off - it's really important so we don't burn out.

- salads, and throw in some tinned tuna
- home made soups - I cook a big lot, divide into person-sized portions and freeze
- stir fries - throw bunch of vegetables into a wok, add some Asian sauces, eat with either 2 minute noodles or some packet crispy noodles
- when I go to the shops I'll buy some cooked chicken, a tub of tabouli, an avocado and eat this in pita bread/wraps or on big crackers for a couple of days.

Papers can go back and forth and you could still be asked to do more revisions even after this lot. I've had to make major revisions even after I had done everything the reviewers asked for. And as you say, it could still get rejected. Still, in my limited experience, if they've asked you for revisions, that's a very good sign - they wouldn't bother if they didn't think your paper was suitable. So, press on, get them done, and expect to see your name in print!

Oh - and get yourself a copy of Joan Bolker's 'How to Write Your Dissertation in 15 Minutes a Day' - has been invaluable to lots of people here, me included.

I would absolutely not cross a picket line - these are your colleagues striking, and although I don't know the reasons for the strike, workers do not go on strike unless matters are very, very serious. This is action of the last resort. These workers are probably on strike for better pay and conditions, and you, as a future academic, will benefit from this. If you're a union member, your union would be able to tell you whether you could legally join the picket or not. I also would not get into work early to avoid the picket - I would either work from home or face those on strike and cross the picket line - which as I've mentioned, I just couldn't do.

Welcome! Yeh, check out the tips thread - I think it was started by PhDBug. It has all sorts of useful info. Tip from me - be carefeul with additional activities you take on eg writing articles, giving conference papers, tutoring. I lost 4 months writing time due to teaching commitments, and I don't want to be a lecturer and knew this. So, prioritise.

Hi Lobster

I'm also doing my dicsussion chapter - and it's hard! But you probably know that. Yes, do a rough plan, break it down, then just start writing. If you've gotten this far you obviously do know how to write, so just start. It will take a while, so just write anything and keep going. You can do this!! It's going to be a hard couple of weeks, but get into it!! I'm planning on having this chapter finished by the end of the month too, so at least you'll know you're not writing this part alone. Good luck!

Hello

There's been a few threads like this - do a search on 'holidays' and you should bring up some results. Yes, course work depends on the discipline you're in - in mine, students are required to do a couple of courses in their first year, and still be expected to finish in 3 years. We're also given four weeks leave, but I've never taken more than a week or so off, a couple of times a year if I'm lucky, during my PhD. You're also expected to put at least the same amount of hours as a full-time job, if you're a full-time student, although I also tend to do much more than this. Other people do less then me though - it also depends on how many conference papers, journal articles etc you want to write.