I just had a three bean wrap, 3 chocolate cookies and some wine gums...feel pretty yuck now! Seafood Linguine for dinner - yum.

Hi EE, Once you have found out the situation at the other uni, I would, as DanB suggests, write a letter of complaint. From what you have told us over the last couple of weeks, they sound very unprofessional. Once you have left for good send the letter to the top, not to the department where one of their friends can ignore it! Are you in your first year? If so take this year as a practice run. Think positively about it. Try not to dwell on the negatives - namely people who are out of your control. Good luck EE!

Hi Jojo, Not sure I know myself what needs to be in these various sections. But chapterwise I suppose you need to set-up the chapter in the intro, give your key arguments in the body and sum up with a conclusion or closing paragraph. I find the structuring really tough. But I suppose if you map out the chapter in the chapter's intro it will make more sense for the reader. You mentioned you and your supervisor don;t agree - can you give specifics? I am interested in using prologues, vignettes etc. Anybody else?

well done writingup! thanks for the advice. Yes, setting mini-task deadlines is key. Today I want to get the intro sorted with references back to my lit review and the key arguments and aims for the chapter. This chapter has been hard work because I am writing about my data in a way that when I collected it I hadn't intended to - if that makes sense! Coffee, hay fever tablets and chocolate digestives for me!

Thanks Mia. I don't think I need an extension - seem to have loads written just need to pull it together. I suppose what I am really interested in is how people pull their work together to from a draft document. Do you write everything in one doc and then edit from there? Have several documents going on key themes and then pull them together? I am interested in people's writing practices. Could do with some good tips!

I started my current chapter back in February...but what with international conferences, organsing a UK-based conference and generally procrastinating...I now have a week until this chapter is due in. The DEADLINE is fixed. Ouch. I have a number of different documents with bits in and still a bit of reading to do. How would you guys pull this together?

As I am writing up, I am returning to the music I listened during periods of my life that I found most productive. Namely final year undergrad - so all albums I bought then! David Gray, Shakira, Country Greatest Hits, Texas, Simon & Garfunkel, Billy Joel, Madness, Smash Hits 2002 and NOW compilations from 2002. Oh and good old Radio 2 - Steve Wright - gotta be the best!?!

my boyfriend says it stands for "PissheadDiploma" - nice!

Hi Verdy, I think on the point about having decided not to do a PhD is quite typical. Funding for research is such a nightmare that I think we all convince ourselves of all sorts. But in the end you took it because maybe you do really want to do a PhD. I know I have just fallen into my MA and PhD...it has never been a burning desire. But I think for all the lows, I have had some highs - the biggest being when I finally hand the thing in and demand all friends and family call me DR! Ha Ha. If you have put in more (time and energy) than will be required to finish I would continue. Would a break be an idea? Sorry for waffling. Good luck. You know what the right decision is!

The site above would feature webcams focusing on those two lonely souls who are actually getting some work done!

www.findaphdstudentthatisactuallydoingsomework.com

bananas and bacon...interesting! As for the post about finding it hard to work, tell me about it! I also suffer from hay fever so need to keep windows shut. When I tell people I love winter, they are like you are mad, but when you trapped in the house with work, hay fever and more work...Winter is fabulous! Further distractions when World Cup starts and Wimbledon too...

What do you like to cook on the bbq? I am a fan of the burger, but also bananas with chocolate inside...yum!

I was asked what my theoretical and conceptual framework was by a fellow PhD student and I couldn't help thinking "idiot" (think harsher word than this). It is such a pompous way of talking. Certain departments seem to encourage this sort of jargon - particularly those renowned for theory based PhDs. But in the real world, people ask, "what is your methodology? what literatures are you drawing on?" None of this theory and concept that okay is important but makes you sound like you have spent too long in the library

Hi all,
Have just been redaing one of those PhD self-help books in an attempt to get re-motivated. Do any of you have a favourite book like this that you return to for inspiration? Ha Ha.
Hilary