awwww thanks miss spacey that's so nice of you to say. thank you i really appreciate that. that does make me feel better

you're right about not swapping chapters. that is very true, it will certainly make me go loopy. okay good idea. i will complete one chapter and then move onto the next. i will just have to do a very basic draft. and leave most sections as "pending"

the qmul graduate tutor set the deadline. i had told him about a month ago, that i myself was planning on having first draft completed by 7th of july (little did i know how long it was actually going to take!) so he then said, okay well i expect my students to give me a solid draft, and then i decide to sign the entry forms. so i am going to email your sup and tell him you will have a first draft completed by early july. and i was like, oh ok!

so my sup is expecting a first draft, and then based on that -he will agree to sign the entry forms.

it was like a challenge to see if i could do it. but now thinking about it, it was unrealistic lol. i told my qmul graduate tutor, i had rough drafts, but boy did i not realise how long it was going to take to transfer the rough drafts to final polished versions. and some chapters i had no rough drafts and had to write from scratch.

lesson from Joan Bolker, set very generous deadlines for yourself in the beginning!!

Hey Lara... sound like you are on a roll . Wishing you the very best, now that you have an external deadline set (by supervisor), I am sure you will meet it. Since its a first draft, I am sure they will sign your forms with the full chapters you have done and then something brief written for the rest, even if very rough... so 4 more days to go... You can do it....

Hi Lara

Hope you are ok. Try not to get too stressed as you have 2 solid chapters done and you will get there with the others. Even if you have only a written plan for the rest it is still something to hand in and go over with your supervisor. You won't be the only one who hasn't met your deadline i promise!! I have done very little this week so far!!!! I need to get another chapter written by Monday but have done virtually nothing!!! And i am out Saturday as my boyfriend has arranged a day out because we have been together 5 years on Sat. I don't want to let him down so only have today, Friday and Sunday!!!

So don't worry, you are not alone!!!!!! Honestly try not to get too stressed and do what you can. Remember you have done so well to get this far and you will be able to submit in September even if you don't managed a whole first draft for Monday, you still have plenty of time.
lol x

PS I reckon you should have your break Friday night as you will really enjoy it.

Hi Lara

You've made good progress these last few weeks and worked hard. It's natural to feel stressed as the deadline looms. A suggestion. Focus on finishing chapter 5 since it seems that's nearly there. Then try to work on at least an outline for Chapters 1 and 2 (they're pretty formally structured anyway so shouldn't be too mammoth a task and doing that will allow you a kick start for later). Don't worry about chapter 6 too much - try to get to it if you can, even if it's rought draft but don't stress too much on it. That way, you'll have three completed chapters, 2 outlines and a possibility. I know you need to hand in a finished draft but you can do what you can do... You have, what, 3 days? Day 1 - finish chapter 5, day 2 - outline and fill for chapter 1, day 3 - outline and fill for chapter 2. Any time over... chapter 6. And try only to think of the things you've scheduled for that day, putting the others aside. And take a break during the day. Good luck. You can do this.

And once you submit, don't stop... keep going and work on the bits that are missing. You're sup is going to take a couple of days to get round to reading through what you've submitted... that's a few extra days for you to keep working on anything not finished. After all, you do have until Sept. However, what you do submit must make some kind of sense to your sup and, unfortunately, chapters 1 and 2 are what frame the rest of the thesis... 1 says what you're going to talk about and 2 explains how you worked the thesis... so whatever follows (data analysis, etc) all hinges on those first chapters. So, take a deep breath, a drink of water, and keep at it... we're all rallying for you.

Oh yeah, and in between all that manic mayhem... recommend that you do take tomorrow night off... it'll help you recharge you're batteries and a few hours of rest will do you good. Honest!

hey you guys! thanks for the advice and support!! yep will do just that.

and once i submit. i am planning on taking a couple of days off. then i will get back to it. i know you said not to stop after i submit. but i would like to take 2 days off to rest and like JB says, you should "reward" yourself. and then start again next weds. plus going to a concert next tuesday. so i am working full time until monday, email the sup on monday morning. and then take monday and tuesday off. and then start work again on my thesis on weds.

Hi
That is a great idea, hope you have a lovely few days break, you work so hard and really deserve it. Have a great time and enjoy the concert!!!

thanks tractorgirl!!!

LadyD Bakuvia and Tractorgirl, thanks so much for your supportive and encouraging messages! and for the advice.

i will respond in detail later but wanted to say a big thank you to each one of you!

okay so update, regarding my first draft *monday deadline* that is looming around the corner.

i have 2 chapters left to write:
chapter 7 : discussion (planning on just writing a first draft, nothing profound mind you)

chapter 6: which is a difficult chapter, i will try to do as much as i can of that chapter today.

and then tommorow, will do final proof read and check.

came across this good website for helpful hints on writing a dissertation: some good points!

http://www.cs.purdue.edu/homes/dec/essay.dissertation.html

good website about questions to answer in the discussion chapter.

http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/~martins/sen_sem/thesis_org.html