Ph.D. thesis writing – tips from my own experience
Dr. Rupinder Kaur
It was a challenging task to perform. After finishing four years of research work in December 2016, I started writing the very first draft of my Ph.D. thesis and aimed to complete it in 3-4 months. Now, if you got the art of procrastination like me, it may take a couple of weeks to gather motivation and pen down the first few words. Trust me, these first words get you going and inspire you to keep writing!
Below are a few ‘how to’ tips for thesis writing that I followed-
Plan the timing in advance
If you’re sure you will complete your Ph.D. in four years, I recommend planning your agenda and starting writing in the 3rd year. If you already have a rough first draft ready during your 3rd year, think of how much easier and faster it will be to finalize your dissertation during your final year!
Also, keep an additional month or two as a buffer for your supervisor to make edits before the final submission. Remember, their schedule is way busier than yours, so respect their time.
Research your topic thoroughly before writing
Your thesis will be your own ‘masterpiece’ with limited input from your supervisor. Therefore, it is “your” job to invest adequate time researching the topic.
Communicate with your supervisor
Once you’ve planned the writing agenda, start communicating your ideas to your advisor. Do not hesitate to tell them your opinion about the thesis’s structure and content. Good communication is vital to a healthy and successful relationship with your mentors. Remember to ask for their feedback. Input from your supervisor will eventually make your thesis look, read, and sound better!
Mark your calendar
Designate time in in your calendar for strictly writing, this will prevent procrastination. Make it a goal to finish at least two pages per day. This way, you will build momentum, and your first thesis draft will be ready in a couple of months.
Keep a continuous flow
When you start writing, keep the flow going and do not pause to reread what you have written. Write whatever comes to your mind about the topic. It does not matter if some things need to be clarified or edited. Once you finish writing the first draft, take a break and start working on it again after a couple of days. You will undoubtedly come back to it with a fresh set of eyes that will allow you to catch mistakes that were previously missed or add novel ideas that you did not think of during the first draft.
Control your social media feed
Social media has been one of the biggest distractors in recent years. You need to have self-control and avoid constantly checking social media. When writing, I suggest turning off the notifications, activating silent mode, and limiting the amount of times you allow yourself to check your phone. This will help you focus and finish writing on time.
Keep your snacks handy
It sounds funny, but I munch on food around every hour. There are a lot of people like me out there. Hence, my best advice would be to keep your snacks handy while writing, so you won’t have to go into the kitchen and be distracted.
Final remarks
At last, I wish you good luck writing! I understand it can be daunting initially, but enjoying the process and not stressing about it will eventually pay off. Remember, a grand celebration is waiting for you when it is over!
Rupinder Kaur, PhD
PSU ID – rjk6018
Dr. Kaur’s Penn State webpage
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