I can't write my Masters dissertation and it's due in 2 weeks, in despair over it

OP, what's your topic? It was a long time ago but I've also done the library MA. Happy to help if I can.

@EarringsandLipstick If it's a library-based dissertation I'm not sure there's any original independent research to do other than synthesising information from different sources? I'm thinking of OP's document as something like a Cochrane systematic review of published studies..?

Jo

I haven't read all the advice but here's mine. It probably won't be considered healthy but hey ho.

Like you I didnt give myself enough time. I knew what I wanted to say but couldn't say it etc.

In a nutshell the only thing helpful to me at the time was writing it semi-pissed
And then brushing it up the following day sober.
Not something I would usually do or advise but it is what helped me.

@StupendouslyStupid I wouldn’t worry about the quality of the research you’ve done. People don’t know what discipline you’re in, but I’m guessing it’s some form of Humanities and you’ve done a lot of appropriate reading of primary texts? That is absolutely fine at Master’s level. You don’t need to find the Dead Sea scrolls.

Sorry @IamtheOA 😊

Sounds like you are on the right path & doing great.

I feel for you! My masters by research thesis is 25,000 words of a library based research project on literature. Obviously doesn’t require any focus groups or interviews just me and my books. I also have health problems with joint pain and brain fog and have been having a flare up.

My deadline is two weeks today and up until this week I only had my intro and literature review done. I’ve written 10,000 words over the last three days by breaking it down section by section. Writing notes in another colour of ‘this topic goes here’ it ‘use Xyz quote and expand on this concept’ and that has really helped!

You can do this, I promise. It’s just a bit by bit job. Not an all in one go thing.

@EarringsandLipstick you're conflating the research element with the getting it down on paper element.

The OP has suggested she has completed the research. She's struggling with the write up and I felt she needed some positive encouragement.

Alternatively OP get drunk. I've never written whilst drunk but I play a mean game of pool - I'm sure it's to do with not giving toss channel that position OP!

( has anyone else got the ' thesis writing service' ad pop up?)

EarringsandLipstick sadly I haven't finished. Just completed my first draft, but about 4000 of those words are fairly polished. Mine is due the end of Sept.
😊

Do it do it
No faffing
No delays
No extensions

Been there sadly and I totally hear you

Get the words down
Take a break
Read over

Change
Add sections
Get family to read over if necessary

Just do it
Will feel amazing to be done

I do not recommend this but I pretty much wrote mine over one weekend

Not a good idea
But it was fine

Ok Pegasus I'm glad for you!

Yeah Pegasus but starting with the focus on writing x amount in y days is no use

Worked well for me with my prof quals and my MBA

It sounds like your prof quals (don't know enough to comment obviously) were more practical / professional focused, and an MBA often is very much so and much less driven by independent research eg qualitative / quantitative methodology

Still it's not the most recommended way to approach a research project but great it worked for you!

Another thing I did was use the highlight feature in word for anything I was stuck on or needed to check my research more in-depth for a particular point.

Your department/school whatever may only be able to offer a week, but why can't you spooky for exercising circumstances? I did, in my master's and so far in my doctorate, annoyingly, for the same reasons as you. GP, as it's an established condition should be able to verify it as a flare, and you can apply online for extenuating circumstances. What's to stop you doing this? (Not a dig, a genuine question). X

Great tips @IamtheOA

Well done on completing your thesis 🤚

( as in, if I can't think of a word, I use " redcabbage" so that I don't lose my flow)

I haven't read the whole thread but...

I'm doing my masters as I speak ( like, just closed my laptop on today's work). Mine is 20,000 words, and holy jesus did it intimidate me. I love research, not keen on writing. I find it torturous.

My top tips:

• break it down into small chunks. You can integrate better later. This has been a lifesaver for me- I think if I hadn't done this, I'd still be looking at a blank screen.

• each day I make a list of what " chunks" I want to write, and cross them off as I go.

• like you, there were some aspects that I didn't know well enough to write. It actually was hugely helpful to just close my laptop, move to another room with a general book/ article on the troublesome area, and just read as if I was doing it for fun. This actually saved me time that I would have spent staring at the screen and being frustrated.

• do you use the Word dictate function? I can't use it to write, but it was very useful for note taking. I wish I would have discovered it earlier!

• can you explain your intervention to someone? Sometimes explaining it organises your thoughts.

• I did my bibliography as I researched. I f'ing hate doing bibliographies, so I'm stupidly pleased at doing something that actually makes obvious sense. I blame it on the fact that when I was first a student, I was handwriting everything!

• I made daily targets- big numbers on A4- hole punched it, and hung them up. Every time I reach a target I can rip off a sheet. Very satisfying.

• for me, I am a visual person, so making charts, timelines etc was very helpful, and meant I always have a visual aid.

• when I find a word I want to use, or a phrase, i put it on a post it and stick them around my workstation.

• ( this isn't my idea- I stole it from another site) if I am stuck on a word, I put one nonsense word in its place, so I don't lose the flow. I use redcabbage .... then I can do a search for that word, and use a better one. I have the ability to stare into space for a very long time, so this did help!

• finally.... if I am moving on to a different topic, i tidy my workstation. It just feels like its clearing the decks so I can start fresh.

You can do it!

PS- do you like your topic?

I am panicking a bit about mine too so you aren't alone. Our submission date is September the 16th.

I've done the research and started writing, but have come to the conclusion that analysing qualitative data is harder than quantitative. Coming up with the themes is a disaster!

You can do it OP. There are a few of us here trying to do the same, we can all spur each other on.

I got myself into very similar situation. I’d researched and done my practical element (sort of) but getting it down on paper... it’s hard. I agree with the others just start writing. So write what you have in your head. It doesn’t need to flow at the moment. As you start writing you’ll be able to logically create sections and put the relevant research in the relevant section. Just try getting everything down. It’ll get easier as you start writing and you’ll find yourself naturally filtering stuff out and refining as you go. However, it’s a process. You’re also too close to this, so you’re always going to feel hyper-critical of it, it’ll be better than you realise.

You’re at the end of your masters - you’re not meant to feel confident. It’s natural to feel scared and stressed. You e invested a lot of time and money in this so it’s natural that it all comes to a head but you wouldn’t have made it this far if you didn’t know your stuff. The last month of finishing my masters was the worst I’ve ever felt. I was so paralysed with the prospect of writing. I would cry most evenings and not be able to write anything, which just cut into my writing time and made me even more stressed. My husband (boyfriend at the time) would force me to bed because I was so tired and I hated him a little bit for making me go when I needed to write it. In bed, I’d then have a panic attack and then pass out from exhaustion. He was right though to stop me writing and make me go to bed. So make sure you take a break and sleep every night. You’ll feel you don’t have the time but you’ll be so much more productive if you sleep, stretch, go for a walk and take time to eat properly.

You’re so very nearly done. Don’t give in now. Everyone wants to cave at the final hurdle but you can do it. Just a little bit more and before you know it you’ll be at your graduation and as you get your degree you’ll know how hard you’ve worked for this. You’ve got this.

I would definitely ask for an extension. When I started writing mine I fired up word and wrote key sentences in bold for everything I wanted to include and then went through them (not particularly in order) and gradually expanded on them until I had my first draft.

I actually had the opposite problem in that I had written mine before the deadline but kept chopping and changing and fannying about with it to the point I was convinced it was utter crap, fretting that it was badly written and got in a right a state over it. Once I got it back bound from the printers I had to will myself not to look at it.

Good luck, you can do it OP!

Yeah Pegasus but starting with the focus on writing x amount in y days is no use

Worked well for me with my prof quals and my MBA 🤷‍♀️

Fair play @kateyjane

That must have been incredibly tough; really glad it all worked out eventually.

Yeah Pegasus but starting with the focus on writing x amount in y days is no use.

You need a clear plan, and a structure around grounded research.

She could spend 2 weeks writing 10,000 words and it might be in no state for submission.

You are right, she needs to write - but not in that way. A focused treatment of one core argument for example would be more productive.

I agree with ronde, just get writing, anything everything all the words in your head. Then cut/paste/add/chop. This is what I did with the help of some vino just as riot suggested. It helped me de-stress and got my creative juices flowing! 🍀

I completely feel your pain. I was trying to write my dissertation with a 2 week old (& 3 other children) Then had a family bereavement and couldn’t complete it. Due to funding (leaving job) I couldn’t delay it further.

Initially, I was sad, but quality of life was more important. I did gain a Post Graduate Diploma for the work I’d completed and was happy with this.

I’ve since gone on to complete a masters and was able to transfer some credits towards it. Life has a funny way of working itself out. Strangely, my PGDip has been more useful to me in my career.

Good luck, trust your intuition.