sent, now I can return to work

[kareina]

I just e-mailed off the current draft of my thesis (40,939 words, including list of figures and references, but with the file locations of the figures deleted) to my advisor, who will be out of town next week, and so hopes to actually have time to look at it. I included colour-coded highlights. Things highlighted in yellow are places where I've got stuff that hasn't yet been typed up, pink is for places where I still need to do things (usually calculations) which I hope will provide results, blue is for notes or questions to my advisor.


My plan from here:

The next week or so (until he gets back to me with comments): do the pink-highlighted calculations and see if I can get more/better results


Once he hands me back comments (or when all the calculations I can do are done, whichever is sooner): go back to writing--fill in everything possible in the way of results and facts

Once the "what I did" section" is actually complete: write the discussion and conclusion section & then give my advisor a new draft to read

While he's reading that draft: go back to the introduction section and fill in the missing bits about "previous work". If he still hasn't gotten back to me when that is done, start work on a paper for publication.

Once he's replied to the draft which includes my conclusions: let the head of school know I'm nearly done, so that he can arrange examiners. Make all the corrections that my advisor thinks I need to make. Pretty-up all of the figures. Create printable tables out of their various spreadsheets. Compile everything, triple check that everything is complete, all figures and tables are referenced, and that they are in the correct order. Print it, bind it, and turn it in.

Wait.

Probably start my travelling on my way to wherever I'll be moving next. (applying for jobs is concurrent with all of the above)

Wait some more.

Get comments back from the examiners. Act upon them.



My deadline to submit the printed thesis to be examined is early December, when my funding runs out.

Sounds easy, doesn't it? ;-)

Comments

[fjorlief.livejournal.com]

I certainly wouldn't say it sounds Easy, but you make it sound Do-able. I have found "listening in" to your process of doing all this quite fascinating.

[kareina.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to hear that it is interesting to someone! I am amazed at how much easier it is to work when I know that if I don't I have to admit the lack here.

[emma7926.livejournal.com]

And that accountability option has been an inspiration to others. It doesn't work for everybody, but for those who are comfortable with it, it's a great suggestion. In addition, it has been enlightening to read your progress.