Here's a new take on the accountability thread - a different and perhaps equally productive way of seeing what we have left to do to complete our theses. Hopefully, by identifying exactly what I have left to do, it'll help spur me forward because I'm having a horrible day and feeling quite sad.

Chapter 1 - Background and introduction = done
Chapter 2 - descriptive meta-ethnographic synthesis = 20 % done
Chapter 3 - Lit review = done
Chapter 4 - Theoretical framework = done
Chapter 5 - Research worldview = done
Chapter 6 - Methodology = 50% done
Chapter 7 -Results part 1 = 20 % done
Chapter 8 - Results part 2 = 0% done
Chapter 9 - Results part 3 = 0 % done
Chapter 10 - Discussion = 0 % done
Chapter 11 - Reflections = 0% done
Chapter 12 - Concusions = 0 % done

1 paper submitted
Lots of data collection left to do

I have until the end of the year to have it all done. I desperately need to find some self-belief and motivation because I really want to throw in the towel at the moment.:-(

Hey Walminski - dont be sad, it looks pretty good to me. Now see all the things I still need to do, until the end of March!
Chapter 1- introduction - 90 % done, final edit required though!
Chapter 2 - paper 1 -done
Chapter 3 - paper 2 -done
Chapter 4 - paper 3 -just waiting for comments from co-authors on draft, then re-write/re-work to get ready for submission (this could be quick job or could be a big job..)
Chapter 5 - just sent off to sups for comments, then re-write/re-write (hopefully not longer than 2 weeks?)
Chapter 6 - paper 4 - draft manuscript needs serious polishing before can submit to journal
Chapter 7 - conclusion- 0% i hope I can russle up a decent conclusions chapter in 3 weeks.
Arghhh - lots to do!! and so many little things, like deciding a bloody title for the thesis!

BUT, key is to just work bit by bit everyday and not focus too much on what's still needs to be done overall, but what you have already done and the next manageable step you can achieve in a day/week/month.. My simplistic simple-mind kind of advice: Make a plan for the month ahead and stick to it..

I know it does not really help, but my sup always said that his PhD only really came all together (inc. getting results) in the final year. There is something in it, I think. Things will fall into place in a weird way. Dont give up, you are half-way there (just count the chapters you already have done!!)(up)
Look, have a (mince)

Hey Wally, do not worry, tbh looking at it I think that's quite feasible, 9 months is still plenty time really...! Like Poppy said lots of it only comes together in last year, mine is lab work based but all my results except for first chapter came together in last 9 months of lab work.  and then apart from bit of intro and materials and methods hadn't written anything! so here's what i've done and still left to do by May/June (would be ace!)

Chapter 1 - Introduction - 2nd draft just sent to sup for final rewrite
Chapter 2 - intro - 90% complete
              M&M - done
                Results - done (but sup may want extra analysis when he see's it - i'm praying not!)
Discussion - just started this week - looking rubbish so far - maybe 5% done!
Chapter 3 - intro - 20% complete
M&M - done
Results - done (but again sup may want extra analysis when he see's it - i'm praying not!)
Discussion - 0%
Chapter 4 - intro - 0%
M&M - 90% done
Results - got half of them, mostly unanalysed and can't get half the data cos machine broken and no money in lab! Discussion - 0%
Chapter 5 - intro - 0%
M&M - 80% done
Results - most of analysis done but all needs putting into document and tidying up, possibly further analysis
Discussion - 0%
Chapter 6 - final discussion - 0%

Ok, seeing it like this is even scarier!!! :(
i'm just waiting to be picked up from work - and i'm going home to work!!!

you'll be fine Wal, just keep plugging away and we'll get there!

Firstly: *HUG*

My thesis has no structure or content as yet so the best I can offer at the time being is

Thesis: 2% done.

No papers, chapters or title yet! I've a few months longer than you, but not that much.

You're doing well just keep doing the tiny tasks and they'll all build up.
Can't wait for your next update where the percentages increase!

looks good to me too, Iam nowhere near that yet, I'm having a horrible time trying to wade through Marx's Capital (but not as someone asked me - which capital is that then, London? :-)) which I find very hard going, but I'm determined to finish it tomorrow so that I can get on with rewriting a chapter. just when you think you have nearly finished it...super suggests a change of emphasis. anyway the only thing I think you need to add is 'check the references', make sure they are all there, and you haven't left some in you have now discarded, when we had someone in to talk to us about vivas, that one thing he said he always did, that and creating grids so he could see how often each one had beenused and where...I think some people have no life!!!

Mine is the best!

Chapter 1: Introduction 0% completed
Chapter 2: Technique overview 0% completed
Chapter 3: Arsonoliposome preparation and characterization --- Experimental: 95% done Written 0%
Chapter 4: Effect of arsonoliposomes on medulloblastomas --- Experimental:90% done Written 0%
Chapter 5: Effect of arsonoliposomes on brain endothelial cells --- Experimental:100% done Written 0%
Chapter 6: Development of an in vitro blood brain barrier model --- Experimental: 100% done Written 0%
Chapter 7: BBB permeability to Tf-R arsonoliposomes --- Experimental:85% done Written 0%
Chapter 8: Discussion 0% completed

As you can see, I haven't started writing. But most of the work has been already published or is on press/acceptance. So I just need to rearrange/rephrase the papers into a more-thesis-like structure.

Ok, here's my list for the re-submission:

Ch1 - Redraft
Ch2 - awaiting feedback but should be fine
Ch3 - finish two sections and give up trying to get it down to 15k
New chapter - write it
Ch4 - insert new conceptual model, discuss and rewrite the conclusion
Ch5 - update last few datasets, discuss and redraft conclusion
Ch6 - enlarge upon the positionality discussion
Ch7 - Conclusion - rewrite.
Refs - Insert all new refs.

All to be done by the end of March :-0

======= Date Modified 25 Feb 2010 13:35:33 =======
Ooooh... I like this thread... here's mine...

Title page = done
Acknowledgements = done
Abstract = 50% done
Contents page = 80% done
Silly quote from poem = done
Preface = 70% done
Ch 1: Context/ Introduction = done
Ch 2: Lit review 1 = done
Ch 3: Lit review 2 = done
Ch 4: Methodology = done
Ch 5: Findings and discussion 1 = done
Ch 6: Findings and discussion 2 = done
Ch 7: Findings and discussion 3 = done
Ch 8: Findings and discussion 4 = 40% done
Ch 9: Conclusion = 0% done
References = done
Appendices = done

all data collection done and analysed.

2 papers published, 1 paper accepted and in press, 1 paper being submitted shortly.


Whooooop... I have very little to finish off. I like that! Although I've only given myself 3 weeks max to get it finished! Back to work!

Data collection: Done
1 paper submitted and accepted.

Title Page: 0% done
Contents/Figure lists: Not done
Acknowledgements: 50% done
Introduction: 20% done
Methods: 90% done
Results Chapter 1: 99% done
Results Chapter 2: 60% done
Conclusion: 0% done

Time taken: 3 years and 5 months so far
Level of skint-ness: High. :-s

Title- done.
everything else is a work in progress...
:(

Hi there Wally

I just saw your thread now, mind if I join in?! Like yourself I have until the end of the year...well, ideally submit in September when my funding finishes but we'll see! and as for what I have left to do....good god....

chap 1: meant to be done by Sat/Monday...starting it today...
chap 2: kinda have the bones, need to fill it out and remember what I actually did...
chap 3: paper accepted, so just filling it out a bit with extra data, not too bad
chap 4: still have to finish the results analysis, write paper/chapter
chap 5: still have to start experiments...
chap 6: still have to start experiments...
chap 7: have data, need to wade through it all and see what it means....
chap 8: discussion/conclusions....not a hope in hell of starting that anytime soon....

I love science PhDs!!

(up)

Update...

Title page and Contents,Abbreviations... 90% done. (Because I need to put all the page numbers in...)

hi wally I hope you're feeling better!
this weekend I also have to work on another paper...
:-) satchi

12 days have passed since I posted this thread, and what have I achieved since then.

Conducted a very important focus group that lasted 2 hours.

Analysed A LOT of data for the results section.

I have developed the first draft of my patient reported outcome measure.

Written my expert review protocol.

Written my cognitive interview protocol.

Got my rejected paper ready for resubmission at any point to a new journal.

So it doesn't really feel like I have been writing my chapters, but this is all the stuff external to my chapters that I have to get done in order to write them.

Got my rejected paper ready for resubmission at any point to a new journal.

:-(

Now, from Monday, I can actually worry about getting some writing done. I know what I need to write - it's just how to structure it...

great thread.... (up)

sorry to hear about the paper rejection Walminskipeas, but I'm sure it'll get published somewhere if you don't give up and just continue submitting.