Thank you so much for all your replies. I can't tell you how much happier I feel about it all. I think I am just worrying too much about whether i am up to the task of the job but I guess I will never know until I find out! :)

Thanks

Sarah

Basically I have been offered a RA role with my current supervisor for when I submit my thesis which I know is brilliant but the problem is the research is not really the area I am interested in and I doubt whether I will be able to do the job well. Also I am seriously doubting whether i even want an academic career. All i ever hear is about how little spare time academics have and how tough life is and to be honest I do want to have a family and have a normal life as well as a job. I am so scared about making the wrong decision and letting my supervisor down. I have no idea whether a 12 month RA academic post would be helpful if i then look for jobs outside of academia afterwards or if it will have just been a waste of time.

Any advice? :(

I think you would be entitled to maternity allowance as long as you can prove you worked (either PhD or post-doc) for a proportion of the time before you had the baby? Not 100% sure but i don't think you would receive nothing at all. Maybe have a look on the direct gov website?

I have just found out who my internal examiner is likely to be. I have known him for a while and get on well with him generally but I have no idea what the 'rules' are about talking to your internal about your actual PhD. Will I meet with him before the viva? Is it ok to ask him questions about the viva or is that not allowed?

Any help appreciated :)

Hi all!

Currently trying to write my introduction and really struggling. I am in humanities and i will also have a chapter in my thesis called 'research context' which will include all background info on the topic and stats etc. So i am struggling to know what to put in my intro and what to put in the context chapter. I don't want to repeat myself! So my question is, what subsections have people had in their introduction and how long was the introduction chapter or do you plan for it to be? Mine is currently only 2,000 words and i am lost what else to add...

Any advice very very gratefully received! :)

Sarah

Thank you for the replies. I am starting to worry as my lit review is currently MASSIVE and everyday I seem to find something new that needs adding :(

Splitting it into two chapters may be a good strategy as there just seems to be so much relevant stuff. There is the conceptual framework literature and then the research which has looked at the same topic as me.

Thanks again :)

Hi all!

I am currently rewriting my literature review which has grown out of control over the past couple of years with me adding messy notes now and again. Regretting it now as it pretty much needs to be rewritten and massively reduced down! I am in humanities (human geography) and wondered how long people aim for their lit review to be? The thesis should be around 80,000 words in terms of the department regulations.

Thanks :)

Sarah

I am back on the tomatoes today! Trying to write so aiming for 12 today!

I normally go for 10 but I am a terrible procrastinator and take longer than 5 minutes often! But today I am going to really try not to and to get at least 12 done!

Anyone else tomatoing today? :)

Hi everyone,

My friend who is further ahead in her PhD than me has recently been offered a RA role for just after she completes her PhD (I am clearly very jealous) but she is unsure whether to take it and I wondered if anyone here had any advice? The research is in part linked to her PhD but not as much as she hoped and it is only for 12 months when I think she was hoping for something more long term. She also is very keen to have children and sees this job as preventing that for another few years. What is the normal maternity laws on temporary contracts? I think she is worried she would be letting the project down if she left mid way through.

The position is paid for 12 months but then they are expected to write publications after that 12 months is up. Is that normal? I think she is worried she will be expected to keep working on the project long after her funding runs out!

I can't really help her as I am not even close to thinking about this kind of thing! Anyone have any advice I can pass on?

:)

Got to 13 yesterday in the end so was very pleased with that!

Good luck today everyone! :)

Bit of a slow day for me. Just finished number 10, going to do 2 more then call it a day!

Well done on your 13!:-)

I am also aiming for 12 tomatoes today! Good luck! :)

I managed 11 today. I usually aim for a minimum of 10 when I am using tomatoes but I agree some days it's just not suitable. When I am in the office I hardly ever use it becuase it is impossible to go 25 minutes without a distraction of some kind. I know I should be aiming for 14 or 15 but can't seem to fit them in on a 9-5, I know it is possible but I wander off on something and then loose lots of time. Oh well. I guess 5 hours solid work is pretty good going. I never do that in the office and I'm sure most people don't manage it even if they sit at their desk for 10 hours a day! :)

How's everyone getting on today. I am having a relatively steady day. 5 tomatoes done, off for lunch and a walk then back for hopefully at least 5 more.

Interesting to hear how other people spend their 5 minute breaks. I usually get a drink, have a wander around, fuss the dog or sometimes facebook and check email etc.

Do people generally aim for 10 a day? Is that a reasonable amount do you think?

:)

I have just finished tomato number 12 and have lost all motivation. I think I have a daily tomato limit that I physically can't exceed and I think it might be 12!