almost there with a 15,000 word chapter...but soooooooo bored...

L

i know tetris. feelings mutual there buddy!!

why oh why do we do it??

--

just saw the end of gattaca, really inspiring movie, after being told he just doesnt have it genetically to succeed, he does it, he gets to the stars. just goes to show, hard work and determination can overcome natural inadequecies such as not having natural intelligence and intellect....

but that determination sometimes wavers!!

C

I hear you tetrisfiend...have spent the last 2 UK may bank hols home alone And yes, the agrophobia is coming along nicely!

I'm just having a treat of listening to some tunes whilst doing corrections and the inevitable figure-fixing. Then I have to write the extra section I dreamed up last night...

Happy working everyone...

L

aww cakegirl you're being so productive and positive. well done you!

---------
sometimes i feel that life is passing by and i'm stuck on phd planet. and there's no escape! and getting older by the day! and that i'm missing out on life and all the fun..
sorry guys, don't mean to put a downer on things. i don't know what's wrong with me today.

T

I hear you, Lara. Just read over the very last bit to be edited and am jollying myself along with "yes, yes, easily done, c'mon".

L

thanks Tetris. i appreciate you understanding.

wow well done you. you've done well!! good on ya buddy!! proud of you

C

Thanks Lara...6762 words...how long did that editting take? It's nearly midnight! Cup of tea, brain rest on the internet (maybe some tetris ) then back to it.
I think we'd all be a bit strange (stranger?) if we didn't get a bit sick of this experience now and then...therefore...I deduce...it shows we're all normal! What a relief!
Keep plodding on...the light at the end of the tunnel is still there (it's not gone out yet, as a friend kindly pointed out to me a while ago!).

C

Well, I have finished the chapter, a hefty 17,000 words. I think the length dilutes the point, not that I sawy much! Argh!!! Now to proof read. That will take ages!

T

Hey, well done! I'm almost there though the chapter is slightly slimmer than anticipated. I think the word count for the chapter will be closer to 14000 than 15000 but I am happier with the final result and will be glad to send it off to my supervisor come Monday.

L

well done tetris, chris and cakegirl! you have done very well!!!

i took a long break to watch a chick flick. down to you. so back to my results section, just rechecking my data before i email it tommorow morning to my supervisor.

you all did really well meeting your deadlines!

C

Morning all...yuck...I am too old for all-nighters!

Well done Chris and tetrisfiend...all sounding like good progress.
I am still scrabbling away, trying to bring ideas together and write an extra section...blahblahblah. Getting the munchies...maybe it's ice cream time...
There are less dots in my proper writing. I think...

L

wow cakegirl can't believe you're still up writing away. my brain has turned into mush. i'm done for tonight. have done most of my data analysis, fixed some inconsistencies aswell, finished with the tables...

just need to do abit of writing to explain the tables, will do tommorow, when my brain is awake, and then email it away... i should just email it to my supervisor, because i can literally just carry on messing about with tables and results and my own theories, and she just wants to see a rough version.

nite nite all. thanks for keeping me company! see you all tommorow

C

Looking back over the chapter, it really isn't that hot.

M

I'm up to 7k - I'm hoping to report back later tonight with about 9k finished (I should be more motivated, as I'll have around 90k once I finish this!).

Tetris, thanks for your words concerning 'originality'. When I started my PhD my topic was very novel, now there is a huge amount of material on it. As my supervisor is not a directly specialised in my research area, it's very difficult to judge whether I am contributing a sufficient 'unique' contribution to the field.

Everyone else, good luck with your deadlines today.

M

"i too worry about how original and ground breaking my work is. but science it's not really THAT original. usually stems from other peoples ideas. even when you do think of an idea. later on you find someone has already done it, or a similar way, and you're like , damn it!!"

My area is not science, but I think this holds true for most disciplines. Last year, I was moaning to an Australian academic about the fact my PhD was no longer original, and he said it's easier that way...just make sure I take the research to a new level in some way.

I was just reacquainting myself with the UoL regulations, the PhD must:
'form a distinct contribution to the knowledge of the subject'. Originality is defined in two facets:
- discovery of new facts,
and/or
- independent power critical.
I 'think' my thesis fulfills the latter criteria, but does not present many new facts.

L

17,000 is very impressive chris! and i am sure it's not as bad as you think...

i wish i had even one chapter that was that long. at least you got it all down, now you can improve on it. i've heard its much easier to improve on writing than it is to write it from scratch, so you've accomplished alot! good on ya for getting the chapter written!

9535