I've just completed a ms which isn't a big deal but it was a pretty draining process writing it. I want to thank a couple of people (inc. supervisor) who persevered with me and helped in its development but i' m drawing a complete blank and i only have til tomorrow. Please can any one offer advice on nice/appropriate/original things to say? I want nothing to gushy (its not my thesis after all), but i don't want it to be too informal. any advice?

Thanks. Is it that pointless a question? Just wondered if any one could say roughly how long it would take them. I have 10 to do and am just trying to gage it. Thanks. x

Can any one advise how long it takes to read (carefully) a 4,000 postgraduate paper, and prepare feedback comments on it? Thanks

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Hi,
I was wondering if anyone could help: does anyone know of a service where you can submit PhD level work to have it read/marked (privately/anonymously). I don't want to meet with a tutor, but I'm a PhD candidate (first year) on the brink of submitting a lot of work and I would really like to get an indication of the quality before I submit internally to my department.
I'm in the humanities, so would obviously need a specialist. Just wondered if anyone had ever used a service like this?

Thanks
xx

I know- it's immense. This is to include all my notes and everything though. The longest I've done before is about 8,500. For this: I'm looking at around 15,000 for the main body. I'm such an idiot, I've known I had this to do but I've just managed to put it off-tricking myself into thinking I could do it in 2 months. Spider diagrams etc are actually a good idea. I'll get stuck in and see where it takes me.I think I'm just in that utterly useless frame of mind when you kind of freeze up in response to an overwhelming situation. Thanks for your help. xx

Guys- I'm not quite sure how I've managed to do this, but I've got an article due in 8 weeks which I have not even scratched the surface of (research/writing-NOTHING). It's 20,000 words. I started trying to plan it today and I just can't do it (lack of research). I have some ideas and things (in terms of content), but nothing for a plan.
I'd love to hear from humanities people who are used to writing under pressure (and doing it well). Do you ever just let the plan unfold as you write? Research/write as you go along?
I have the massive problem of not really knowing where to position myself in terms of argument-I could go either way, but to confidently assert one idea-would be to ignore a wealth of other arguments (that I don't strictly disagree with).
Stream of Consciousness over.
xx

Hi Max,

I imagine from your proposal, it seemed that the focus might have been in the English department, or that you would benefit most from a primary supervisor in that field. If your History supervisor is teaching, and/or published, then I can't imagine they would go around rejecting good students on the grounds that he isn't up to scratch - surely they would get rid of him, or not let him supervise phd?

I know that a lot of politics DO go on though, so sadly I can't be of much help. Good luck.

Thank you for your replies, and you are quite right. I spoke with my supervisor about it afterwards and he underlined some points that indicate (to him) that my commitment has been faltering slightly. Although I don't really think it has, maybe I need to alter my attitude a bit. I think he made some very good points and since the criticism was (in the end) very constructive, I can't really get defensive. Thanks.

I was wondering, are there any other dyslexic PhD students out there, and if so, have you had experienced any problems because of it?

I have real problems with sort term memory and during a conference the other day i realised I hadn't taken anything in (absolutely nothing), I was a bit flustered so left early and emailed my supervisor (who had invited me) to explain. He said he thought it was a 'very poor excuse.' Maybe it was a bit, but i was dreading discussing it with other people at the end, when i clearly didn't have a clue...

Do you think that discrimination exists in academia towards dyslexia, or not really?

Really?! We're probably at the same university...!

Thank you all, I know you are right I was just a bit stressed out by the fact that my supervisor apparently has so little respect for me. I met with him this morning though and had a fairly productive meeting so I am just going to ignore it and get on with it.

My subject is history by the way.x

Dear all,

I just want to start by saying that this message is in no way meant to sound arrogant or vain. But I am so worked up I need to ask your advice/rant.

I am a first year PhD student, and admittedly I'm probably only where I am because during my MA I built up good relationships with staff/supervisors who helped me a lot with my application. Still, I am passionate about my subject and I do try hard.

However, my close friend who works in postgraduate administration in the department overheard my supervisor and another lecturer who gives me a lot of informal support, saying that a. They didn't think I'd make it through the probationary year (a 'miracle' if i did), and b. referring to me as 'eye-candy'. She said they were kind of laughing and being kind of sweet/patronising, saying 'aww'. She said that she didn't quite hear what it was exactly, but a comment was made about my 'designer clothes and handbags'. (Trust me - not even designer, Top shop's finest)

I am absolutely furious, they clearly think i am stupid and shallow and I am not at all! Just because I don't dress down like lots of students doesn't make me any less serious and dedicated. My supervisor, I THOUGHT was very fond of me, he's friendly and supportive and emails a lot and i have a meeting with him tomorrow but i am too embarrassed to go. This has made me so paranoid - like they are all laughing at me and I don't know what to do. My supervisor is a really nice person, and I keep trying to remind myself that I take the piss out of people I care about sometimes and would never intend to hurt them or for them to hear but I don't know if i can get over it.

What would you do/how would you feel? I feel so ridiculed..