Hi Corinne,

I went through this about a month ago, so I might be of help (at least, if you're working in Word).

-Have you checked Office online help? Very helpful for most of your questions.
-Footnotes to start from 1 at each chapter: put each chapter in a different SECTION (see following bit on section breaks). On the References tab, click Footnotes&Endnotes dialogue box. In the Start at box, click 1. In the numbering box, click restart each section. Click apply.
-Using section breaks (splits the document up in various sections): Inserting the section break for each chapter: Place the cursor in a blank line before you want your chapter to start (i.e. after the table of contents). From the Page Layout tab, Page Steup group, click on Next Page (the new chapter will begin on the next page).
You also need these section breaks if you want to change between numerals. You'll then need to "break" the link between the header/footer that will contain the Roman numeral and the Arabic numerals: Make sure you've got the curser placed in the footer/header from where you want to change numerals. Check that the header/footer does njot say "same as previous" on the right of the footer area. Click on the Pager number button, and choose Format Page numbers. Change numerals. If necessary change the page numbering to start at 1.
-If you're working in Word and are putting all different chapters/files in one big file, you can then save the whole "final" file as a PDF by going to Save as, and select PDF.

Does that help?
Livvie

And I can get the 2006 article. If you want to pm me your details, I can send it to you.

Livvie

I've got the first 2 articles Jepsonclough!

PM me your details and I'll email them.

Livvie

Don't worry FM, that happens to all of us! I'm now in the re-writing stage and things that I've written 2 years ago seem ok, whereas stuff I wrote yesterday can seem terrible today. As my sup says: that's the process of learning how to write. (yes, I've thought about killing him every time he says that). I'm in humanities and I have a seperate introduction/thesis outline (about 8,000w) and lit review (10,000w). As one chapter it would have been waaaaaayyyy too long. Just make sure that in your intro, you say that you'll be discussing literature/how you work fits in the field/methodology/whatever will be discussed in the next chapter.

To put in my 2 cents: My sup said not to start with writing the proper intro if you haven't written the whole thesis yet. If you write it at the end, you'll know much better what you need to include and how to include it so it won't be too disjointed (he was actually right on that account, particularly with my topic). After I finished a draft of all my chapters, I wrote a detailed chapter outline and answered the important questions: what am I doing, why am I doing this, how am I doing this, just so that I have that as a reminder while I'm re-writing. But I haven't got a proper intro yet (and I'm just going into my 4th year). So don't worry too much. Unless your sup wants you to write the intro first, then completely ignore what I've just said!!!

Maybe others have more experience writing the introduction?

It's difficult to say when to stop. When you've included all the important stuff, I'd say. For example, the previous draft of the chapter I'm rewriting now was 18,000 words. I've now rewritten and chopped it to a little bit over 13,000 (I'm very proud of that). Again, that is just because I've become a better writer over the years (erm, I hope. I think. Not sure if sup agrees) and know what to include and exclude because I've got all the chapters so I know where I'm going and what of my previous writings thus can be discarded.

I'd say, just pour it all out and then start cutting later on. That's worked for me, others might ahve different opinions.
Hope that helps

Livvie

Check the rules under the "fair use" regulations in the copyright laws for your country and the nature of the images (figures, tables, photos, etc.). Generally, if you limit your use of the images and if the work is for educational purposes and will remain unpublished, copyright law counts it as "fair use". Do check your own uni's handbook, they might have particular rules. Also, your uni's library website should have information about copyright law.

Hope that helps a bit.
Livvie

I also agree with the other posts. Asking them questions at the Q&A is a really good one!

Don't ask them directly, especailly if you haven't talked with you sup, there might be particular rules about examiners at your uni that might exclude this particular academic (i.e. not enough experience examining, etc.).
Do make contact with them and introduce yourself and your subject. I gave a paper at a conference once and afterwards an academic came up to me and offered to be my external. And generally when I mention my topic, other film historians show there interest, but (according to my sup and uni) they are not all "qualified" to be "suitable" examiners.

And there's also the "supervisor and his mates" politics: sometimes supervisors suggest their academic mates (if they research in your field, of course) to be you external if they owe each other favours (although this isn't supposed to happen officially, I think, it happens a lot. But it could work in your favour if the external is really good in their field).

Hi Paige,

As a self-funded student it is very difficult to get funding for conferences. Usually conferences give out a few travel bursaries for student, does yours? Or maybe a fee-waiver?

Otherwise, your own uni is generally the only option. I'm self-funded (but I'm in humanities) and have been looking for conference funding over the past 3 years now. No luck (yet). I've been funded by my department in the past, but they can generally only contribute a little bit (but every little helps, right?). Best source of funding has been extra temp jobs/additional marking/freelance assignments.

I've tried several institutions (in the UK mainly), but very few support postgrads's conference trips. Maybe you could try big funding bodies in your research field?

So, sorry, not much help here....

Livvie

Oh yes, the monetary challenge. I'm running out as well, which is why I'm moving back in with my parents next month, to finish writing up. I'm hoping that moving back will also push me to get this thing done asap.

Well done, Wally, two great chapters at once! It must be a thing going around, my sup has been nice to me and my work as well over the past few weeks (and he's never nice about my work). Let's hope it will keep up.

On my side, things have been going ok. I'm almost done restructuring the mess aka chapter 1. Hope to finish that tonight so that I can print it tomorrow and start revisions from a hard copy. Slowely but surely I'll get there. *It's almost Xmas and I'll be done, it's almost Xmas and I'll be done*

Good luck with Word! Why can't you do your work in Latex (sorry, I'm technologically-challenged).

Wow Wally, you're a machine. If you're done, feel free to do some work on my thesis ;-)

I'm progressing slowely. I think I have a finished version of my lit review done (my sup migh not necessarily agree with me) and am now restructuring my first chapter. Which I hadn't looked at for about 2 years. Let's just say it needs some work...... I've cut half of the essay I put in that chapter (essay took me lots of effort to write) because it doesn't really fit anymore.... So for tomorrow more restructuring and more rewriting, although the rewriting isn't that much or that difficult.

Well, let's just say, it's nearly (???) Christmas and then the worst will be over......

That's a tricky situation.

But..... as far as I know, in most Uk institutions however, you do not need your sup's approval to submit. You need to check this with your graduate school/department though!!!!! Often you need to get your sup's signature when you notify that you're gonna submit, but they do not need to approve.

That said, I do agree with Queerface that you
1) make sure that your other sups think your work is ready for submission
2) find out the rules about what to in this situation and make sure that "official" people know what your problem is (so that you have "witnesses")
3) check whether you do need your sub to approve that you're submitting.

Hope that helps.

Goal 1 - done

Next I get to phaff around and have an early lunch. Then:

Goal 2: (re)write the general bit for chapter 1

Morning All,

I've made it to uni today (I normally work from home) and will be here until 6pm. So I should get stuff done, right?

Goal 1: read through lit review (again) and especially look for transitions between paragraphs.

Good luck everybody!

Break a leg at the interview Sneaks! I'm sure you'll be just fine.

I've done some work on chapter one. I've re-written the introduction page completely and have started to restructure the chapter. Good enough for now, methinks. I might have another go at it tonight. If not, same goal for tomorrow: restructure, cut, and rewrite. Sigh...

Hi All,

Sorry to hear about your dog Sue. How's she (and you!) doing?

Awww, Algeaqueen, that's not a very helpful situation to be in. I'll be going to other way in month (moving back in with my parents to write up, in another country, but leaving my friends behind here), but I understand how you're feeling as I had the same thing when I moved here to start my PhD. Can you try to turn the tables to your benefit? I.e. you don't have any friends to ask whether you want to go out, so you can concentrate on your work the whole time. It's normal and just fine to feel homesick for a while. Make sure to keep in touch with friends/family on facebook and all, but also be firm and get yourself to do something that takes your mind off what/who you're missing. Whether that is writing up, or going for a walk in the new neighbourhood, or to the shops, or the cinema, keeping busy is always the best advice. And think: this will end. In 9 weeks it will all be done! You have worked so hard to get this far, you can finish it. Even if that means working through building works outside and noisy neighbours. Can you put headphones on and listen to music to distract you from the building noises?

Can you not email your sups and say: "Right, you're both saying different things, you're completely confusing me, and I have to submit in 9 weeks. HELP" If they keep saying opposite things, just go with what you think is the best way forward, or with what is common in your field.

Just keep on going. You're very close, you can finish this and in 9 weeks you'll be free!

Right, I'm back. I had my mom over for a very long weekend so wasn't allowed anywhere near my writing.
Goal 1: read and revise lit review - done. I think it needs to go to a proofreader now, I'm a wee bit sick of it and can't judge it properly.
Goal 2: start revising chapter 1. Haven't looked at this for about erm, 2 years. Should be a bit of a challenge, to say the least.

Good luck today all!