I would say 7, but I've never had to do marking or assessment with my PhD and it doesn't seem fair, cos I'd love to do some marking. Eska, I'll mark them for you until the novelty wears off, if you like?8-)

I've tried Zotero and I hate it. Bear in mind that with many of these add-ons for Firefox, when they update the version of Firefox, the add-ons often don't work for a little while, until the author updates it. On top of this, don't use Zotero along with Endnote, as they don't like each other and mess one another's referencing system up - as I unfortunately found out.

Hi Tillycat, I'm not sure if I (or many of the other posters) can be of help with your query since this is a predominantly populated with PhD students from the UK. Based on my very limited knowledge, it will definitely be worth discussing with your advisor reasons why you perceive that you performance has been impaired. If you have had significant family troubles, you may get some form of dispensation. However, it would not be unreasonable of you advisor to fail to accept this unless the reasons for you case are exceptional.
I know that at my university, they often fail to accept many variants of extenuating circumstances, like a mate who broke his leg and could not attend an exam (I know, ridiculous!) at undergrad level, so I suppose it depends on how well your uni deals with such grievances.

Hmm, I have just the thing for you that should help you get everything together. I've got a very good book (not too long and very practical and well-written), which I'll send you the link to in a private message, so you can just download and read it. Search this forum for the topic of viva questions - there's loads of advice swimming (sorry, Eska was talking about sea horses in one of the other threads!) about. I wouldn't worry too much though, as you're the world-leading expert on your topic. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellagic_acid

Hello, Karl. Thank you for a very interesting post. If you don't mind me asking, how old are you and what was your PhD in? I think that if you look at the vast majority of posts, they all, in one way or another, relate to yours. I am aware of quite a few people that have dropped out of their PhDs and have gone on start new one's or started different careers that they are happy with.
I do think that, based on your description of how your PhD made you feel and the effect it was having on you life, it was a very brave things to drop out. I've lost a lot with doing my PhD, and been really hurt because of it, and I know I'm going to be more aware of this and feel it more than ever this Christmas and New Year - it's really just me and my selfish PhD. It's the loneliness and never ending demand coupled with uncertainty that really grinds with a PhD - I'm sure you'll agree.
I've not been in your exact position, but don't let it dent your confidence - you were good enough to begin and conduct a PhD. You didn't stop it because you weren't capable enough after all. It was life circumstances and, rightfully, what the PhD could do for you that led to you making the decision. I'm going to use a bit of latin (I believe I should since I'm doing a doctor of philosophy): ????? sea?t?? gnothi seauton. Your time doing a PhD has led to you knowing yourself, which makes you stronger than you have ever been. You know what you want, how you thrive, what you need and you have all the qualifications necessary to take your post-graduate career in a different direction. You're also in a stronger position than a lot of other people in that you know what it takes, you can work at a higher level and, most importantly, you also know that what you now propose is necessary to avoid having to do a 'menial' job.
This is perhaps the most generic advice you've ever read, but if you take away one message it should be that your decision to leave your PhD was not based upon hitting your ceiling of capability, it was a rational, well considered strategic manoeuvre to get off a sinking ship. So don't feel inadequate over this because there is absolutely no cause for any self-doubt. You know what you want and you're going to get it.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year :-)

Have you got zero drafts of the other chapters together - or notes for them? Have you got skeletal plans together for your other chapters that you can flesh out. I'm having to write up as I continue to collect data and it's horrible - so I know where you're coming from :-( You've got the data though, and you'll know your research better than anyone -so it's just planning a systematic approach to each and every chapter and what you've got to say in them (which might sound like I'm stating the obvious :$ I'm health and a tiny bit social sciences with my research, so unless your research is something similar, I can't be that much help.
By tomorrow though, I'm certain that there'll be a lot of helpful advice for you though.

I've sent you a private message with a potential valuable book that may be a lot of help. I like it anyway :-)

Hello Claudia. How many chapters do you have written and what do you still need to write? I'm just one year behind you and as of yet, I only have a couple of chapters. :-)

Hello, welcome to postgrad forum and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I've just actually PM'd you as I have something that I think will really help you with your dilemma. Good luck with it.

I know, I'm a poet and I don't even know it. [sigh] - there I go again...(robin)

Don't be slagging off honey,
that's not very funny,
it's been around since the start of civilisation,
and has many an industrial application,
from shining your shoes to cleaning you loo,
honey is loved by more than a peculiar few,
I'm willing to bet my money,
so don't be slagging off honey.

Very, very good for you is peanut butter, but yeah, I hate it too Cobweb. It seems so senseless to slaughter peanuts and then spread their guts on bread. Bovril? The coffee of wannabe cannibals and hillbillies. Bisto? A mark of civilised society and the binding component of a Sunday lunch - Christmas would be ruined without it.