Oops,

that should be "hope to submit" :$

Hi 404,

I have nearly finished my thesis and hope to admit over the next several weeks.

I think a crucial issue is interaction with key stakeholders to assure they are happy with it. For example if you intend to submit in a somewhat different format as is usual in the university, assure that the key people ( administration, prof etc.) are happy regarding that. Communicate with them and explain why the format is different and what would be the benefit of that. make sure that all the forms and paperwork are OK.

I think grammar is very important, at least in my case a lot of effort has been put in reading and re-reading to assure that everything is correct. My supervisors / prof have been very strict about grammar, and surprisingly, less focussed on the actual content (however, this could also be because they are happy regarding  the content already).

Fantastic Bilbo, congratulations!!!!:-)8-):-)

Hi Jimkim,

good show! Wish you a pleasant break!

I am reviewing my thesis at the moment, although have to wait for some comments from one of the other supervisors.

I think Rome is a very interesting holiday destination, in fact I am going there myself on Saturday.:-)

Hi Bilbo,

well done! Congratulations!

Do you know that your postings on this forum have been very inspiring and as such you have been (and are) a big help for the other posters?

Enjoy your achievement!:-)

Hi Keep-calm, other fellow posters,

Keep-calm; sometimes it may be better to stay away from work and to try and do something completely different, for example visit the zoo, go for a swim, a walk in the hills etc. Last night I was drawing a picture, and before I knew it was 3.30 am. I had forgotten how I enjoy doing creative things like that, as during the writing of the thesis I always think that should be my first priority. Currently I am waiting for (another) response of my supervisors on it, yet due to Easter I do not expect that to arrive quickly and as such I have more time to do other things. Recognise what you seem to indicate as a "guilty" feeling.

By the way, Keenbean, would you be happy to tell a bit more about the sports adventure In France? I may be interested in doing something like that.:-)

Hi Sneaks,

personally I like to finish the whole paper before submitting to any journal, yet I know it is common practice to send an abstract to a conference although not everything is ready yet.

If you like to present at the conference and the journal is OK, it would just send it and then finalise after the conference.

If you feel strongly you do not want it in their paper, I would also not send it to the conference, to avoid all kind of conflicts of interest.

:-)

By the way, just thought that the issue of like / familiarity often comes up in marketing / branding.

It seems that most people buy things they know and then stick to it forever. Is there not something like brand loyality, based on that you know the product and you have paid a lot of money, and therefore you have no choice but to like it (as the feeling of having made a mistake is psychologically not acceptable for ourselves)?

I think that may be one of the reasons why companies put a lot of effort in after sales, making sure that the customer remains happy with their purchase.

Hi Satchi,

I am not in psychology / sociology either. Once participated in a workshop where a sociology student explained of the reasons why partners like each other. She explained that there is a tendency for human beings to aim for the best (the pretty, witty, clever girl etc.). However, most of us realise that were are not perfect ourselves, and as such we are afraid of a partner who is better than us, and therefore we accept ("like") someone who is equal / similar as we are. It is probably not a coincidence that many partners come from the same area, have a similar background etc. Obviously this is a gross generalisation and I do not remember the exact details.

Also in communication courses often the phenomen of mirroring is explained: if we show similar body language, we seem to "like" each other better.

Perhaps terms like positive association  / mirroring may be helful?.:-)

Hi Sneaks,

I think the idea of a quote is to illustrate a point, to bring forward an issue that is interesting and hard to grasp with just academic writing.

Frequently quotes have been slightly adapted, for example leaving out short bits which are not relevant, not understandable etc. However, I think that the idea is to keep things as close as possible to what originally has been said. Also, if you would leave out bits, I think it is important that your co-authors agree with what you are doing.
:-)

Hi Keenbean, others,

seems a bit over the top, doesn't it? I mean you have published already a few papers and must do another 4? I do not think there are many PhDers would manage that, I wouldn't.

Like Bilbo is indicating probably the key skill is to say: No! Personally I find that very difficult too, as it seems that many supervisors find it hard to deal with people who say "no". Also as we are in a very vulnerable position.

Do you think you can set specific goals and negotiate about these?

Hi Walminski,

I have presented mainly at courses and have been to several conferences. My experience is that many presenters do not put references on the slides, however others do (like Sue indicates), usually only showing author and date.

I think the function of a slide it to bring forward a few key issues only. Therefore too much information is distracting and as such extensive referencing would be over the top. Therefore I would keep the slides simple and would stick to about three bullit points, and if important or controversial to add the author(s) and date.

I agree with Bilbo and Sue to stick to a few slides, for ten minutes I think five would be more than enough. Keeping it down to a few also helps you to focus on the essentials.

Good luck
:-):-)

Oops,

that should be "unnecessarily complicated"
;-)

Good points Wal,

I would agree with you. It seems that many concepts and theories are necessarily complicated, perhaps as a result of using very difficult words and long sentences.

The more I have been confronted with academic writing, the more I appreciate the authors who write in a simple way but manage to get the point across.

As such I try to write in a similar way.8-)

Hi Lostinoz, Sue,

I've had a few papers published. My experience is that it is a very good sign that you have gone through peer review and it has not been rejected. I think that is most likely that is will be published, if you manage to convince the editor and the reviewers that your paper is of an appropriate standard and relevant to the readers. Obviously the key point is how to do that.

I have been confronted with reviewers on one paper where one reviewer wanted minor changes only and another wanted major rewrites. I studied what remarks I thought were reasonable and then e-mailed the editor explaining the contradicting views and what changes I thought were reasonable to make. The editor then indicated that it was fine to do it that way.

So before making major adaptations it may be useful to know for yourself what changes you are prepared to make and to get the editors' opinion regarding that.
:-)