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NOW!
Your time starts…
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1. Mark the goalposts
Focus on your goal(s)
Why do you want your PhD?
Why is it important to you?
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1. Mark the goalposts
When do you aim to complete?
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1. Mark the goalposts
When do you aim to complete?
In three years?
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1. Mark the goalposts
When do you aim to complete?
In three years?
Five years?
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1. Mark the goalposts
Create a timeline for the duration
Set a completion date (e.g. 10 Nov 2018)
Mark it at the end of the timeline
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2015 2018 Today
2015 2016 2017 2018
Achieve PhD - Celebrate!
10 Nov, 2018
3 Nov, 2015 Start Today
As in this example…
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2. Make a plan
To achieve your PhD goal(s)
Write down what you need to do
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For example
Review literature
Develop research question
Attend conferences
Collect data
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It doesn’t have to be
perfect.
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But it should include the main activities
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In a logical order
With how long each will take
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3. Start writing now
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Really
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Students who complete their thesis/dissertation on time…
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Write chapters
as they go.
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Throughout
the study.
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Never leave it all
to the end.
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Here’s why
Writing upwards of 40,000 words
Is no small feat
By anyone’s standards
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Here’s why
Writing upwards of 40,000 words
Is no small feat
By anyone’s standards
Even for professional writers
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Writing up
as you go has great
advantages
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It breaks a HUGE (even daunting) task
A
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It breaks a HUGE task into a
series of
A
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It breaks a HUGE task into a
series of smaller,
A
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It breaks a HUGE task into a
series of smaller, more manageable ones
A
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B
It’s easier to write
while the details
are fresh in the mind.
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Why waste time later? Trying to recall facts you had close to hand.
Or why you chose to do things a certain way?
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B
C
Writing as you go creates a
buffer zone, protecting
you against problems/delays.
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C
Three years, five years.
Who knows what may happen in
that time?
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C
The more chapters you add to the buffer zone, the stronger it gets.
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D
One more thing. Academic writing is a highly specialized skill.
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D
The earlier you start building your argument, the better.
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D Found a new article?
• Make notes • Summarize
What does it mean for your research?
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Add each chapter to your plan.
Don’t wait for your supervisor to suggest it.
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4. Set ground rules
Want feedback on your writing?
• Give your supervisor time to read it
Negotiate an acceptable turnaround
• Build it into your plan
But, don’t chase until the time’s up
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5. Set milestones
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Remember
your
goalposts?
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Setting milestones
breaks up
the journey
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Marking important/
meaningful
progress
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Like your first presentation
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And finishing key
research stages
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And finishing key
research stages
Keeping you on
target
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Reached a milestone?
Great!
What went well?
What might you have done differently/better?
Set your sights on your next milestone.
And go for it!
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Here’s to your success!
Get a free copy of our
7 Step Research Process here:
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