Can't you order this via an inter-library loan (which would come from the British Library)? They hold everything (... and if it's a journal article, order an electronic copy to be sent to your email - these come through in a couple of days!).

Comments please ...

Swapzz ... Forget the uni's status (as 404 said, that isn't as important when doing your PhD - it's your research that counts and getting the bit of paper at the end of the process!). Hold out and see what other offers come in, and go for who you think is the most supportive supervisor (which is sooo important) and where you think you'd be most happiest living/working.

Matthew ... do you not check www.jobs.ac.uk??? (Bursaries are updated on a daily basis)

Hi Pam,

Everybody has a different relationship with their supervisor, but I do the following which might be of interest to you ...

- My supervisor doesn't take notes at our meetings, but after each meeting I write a few bullet points on what we discussed and send these to them (i.e. on a continuous document, so all our meetings from when I started are logged ... this was my supervisors suggestion).

- My supervisor got me to write my first lit review chapter within the first six months of my PhD (... this was about getting me to 'commit' to the PhD by putting pen to paper, and also an opportunity to look at my writing style/how I structure work).

How about discussing a 'general title' with your supervisor for a first lit review chapter (i.e. a 'key word'), and then trying to write something about this (i.e. 5, 000 words).

I think most people on this site (who are further down the PhD route than you are) would suggest ... start writing as soon as possible!

I completely understand how you are feeling - I'm (hopefully) in my final year to and thinking ... will the writing ever end?, is my work good enough?, is it ever going to come together?, etc, etc, etc ...

I suppose that's why it's so important to have a good supervisor that you trust - because as long as they are happy with what I'm producing, then I'm happy enough to go along with that (i.e. they have more belief in me than I have in myself - which is important me thinks!).

Carmen, look at:

www.jobs.ac.uk (there's a section at the bottom titled 'studentships', and you can then put in your specific criteria)

Hope that helps.

Badhaircut ... can't you get part-time teaching at the uni you did your PhD at (or any other uni)???

Also ... if you approach other uni's there should be some type of temp work they have available.

Blimey, the uni I work at (which isn't where I'm registered for my PhD) chucks so much work at me that I have to say no.

Hi All,

Just a quick query ...

When you first cite an author, do you have to put their first name (or do you just refer to surnames throughout your thesis)?

By the way, I'm a social science PhD student.

Cheers,

Hi All,

I'm supposed to be using Harvard referencing but am starting to get a bit lost with it, can you help with the following? ...

- Are you allowed to use 'ibid'? (my 2nd supervisor told me he isn't sure if you can, but my other supervisor has never raised this an issue)
- Should 'ibid' and 'et al' always be italicised?
- Do you always put a date after the author's name when you first cite them? (e.g. Bloggs (2001) argues that ...)
- Do you do '2001, p. 3' or '2001: 3' (and do you put the date in again even if you've cited this after the author)?
- Is it ok (if you put the date after the author's name), just to do 'p. 3' then 'p. 4'? (if you are saying lots about one book)
- Can anyone recommend a good guide for following (i.e. web link/book)?

I've seen so many different versions, I'm not sure which one to go with.

Cheers!

How long do we predict it will take to hit the 2000th post???

'Bump' ...

This is fascinating learning what everyone is (actually) doing. Come on guys ... more responses please!

Hi All,

I just wondered ... what are you all reseraching (or have researched - for those lucky enough to have completed their PhDs!)???

Hi Jojo,

I'm going to have two chapters that are (approx) 20, 000 words each, but they are my 'analysis' chapters. Each 'lit review' chapter didn't exceed 10, 000 words.

What chapter are you working on (lit review or analysis)? If it's a lit review, and you are only half way through and already hitting 15, 000 words, you might want to consider being more concise. BUT ... keep writing because you can always edit later (and I'm sure you'll be able to use bits elsewhere ... OR ... you could eventually end up splitting the chapter into two.

My advice ... keep writing if you are happy with what you've got. Your supervisor will advice you what they think is best (... they should have a clearer idea than you about how your overall project is going to 'shape up'!).

I hear what you are saying Otto. It's also even weirder when you send an email to someone (maybe at a silly hour/weekend), and a reply is sent straight away. I really do think some academics are permanantly attached to their computers (... very sad indeedy!).

By the way, are you far off finishing writing up/submitting?

GOODS CONTINUED ...

My very young nephew (barely in his teens) also pointed out to me that I (should) have less time go on the PhD than time I've already completed to date, and told me not to focus on negative outcomes but to be positive (he's so sweet, he asked me to simply describe my research, and said, "there you go, you do know what you are doing" ... my heart melts).

So ... I managed to put pen to paper today and, although I didn't produce much ... it is a start I suppose ('small steps, small steps' she chants).

THANK YOU EVERYONE