Well, that went fast. I was derailed in the fall, and I'm not entirely sure I won't be so again. My supervisor has been patient and supportive; "slowly but surely," she says. I submitted another chapter last week (it already seems years ago) and decided to go back to the first chapter I had written and tackle the revisions.
Advice: Do revisions as soon as you get them! It is incredibly difficult to go back.
You see, the meticulous notes I made during my meeting with my supervisor were coherent thoughts and, perhaps, nuggets of brilliance... well, now they are scribbles. I did manage to find my notes that had fallen to the back of my filing cabinet and behind a lower drawer. That was a relief. So, I spent last week working on revisions between prepping for class.
What was been interesting, is that the third chapter I submitted was my Literature Review. I thought it would be good to go back to my thesis and look at it again after having written a draft of a case study, and see what has happened in research over the last 18 months. Well, a lot had happened. So, when I returned to the case study, I've had to re-think much of it!!!
Ignore -> Advice: Do revisions as soon as you get them! It is incredibly difficult to go back.
Advice: Only do revisions once you have read new research to keep current and rethink data.
This could go on forever, I think. Perhaps the trick is to really strap oneself down and write as efficiently as possible so no new research can emerge while waiting for more revisions? Thoughts? Bueller?
Ignore -> Advice: Do revisions as soon as you get them! It is incredibly difficult to go back.
Ignore -> Advice: Only do revisions once you have read new research to keep current and rethink data.
Advice: Figure out how to write as efficiently as possible and do that.
Advice: Do revisions as soon as you get them! It is incredibly difficult to go back.
You see, the meticulous notes I made during my meeting with my supervisor were coherent thoughts and, perhaps, nuggets of brilliance... well, now they are scribbles. I did manage to find my notes that had fallen to the back of my filing cabinet and behind a lower drawer. That was a relief. So, I spent last week working on revisions between prepping for class.
What was been interesting, is that the third chapter I submitted was my Literature Review. I thought it would be good to go back to my thesis and look at it again after having written a draft of a case study, and see what has happened in research over the last 18 months. Well, a lot had happened. So, when I returned to the case study, I've had to re-think much of it!!!
Ignore -> Advice: Do revisions as soon as you get them! It is incredibly difficult to go back.
Advice: Only do revisions once you have read new research to keep current and rethink data.
This could go on forever, I think. Perhaps the trick is to really strap oneself down and write as efficiently as possible so no new research can emerge while waiting for more revisions? Thoughts? Bueller?
Ignore -> Advice: Do revisions as soon as you get them! It is incredibly difficult to go back.
Ignore -> Advice: Only do revisions once you have read new research to keep current and rethink data.
Advice: Figure out how to write as efficiently as possible and do that.
If you are looking for advice on completing one's dissertation, there are better sources out there. Kerry Ann Rockquemore or The University of Nebraska-Lincoln have strategies to help one complete their dissertation. And, many universities have student centres or host write-ins, to help one along the way. I have noticed that a recurring theme is to just sit down and actually do some writing. No kidding! This makes sense. As frustrating as it can become, there is beautiful moment of clarity after fighting with one's writing. Honestly, I find that just sitting and beginning to write, without worrying how it will read, is the best way to get something on the computer that I can step back and ask, "what is the essence of what I am trying to say?" All jokes aside, having my Lit Rev fresh in my mind, really helps. Happy writing. I'm eight weeks behind... But, I am moving forward. To date: Chapter 2 - Literature Review; Chapter 3 - Methodology; Chapter 5 - Case Study 2 |