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Original poster

To think 3 weeks is enough time to write up a dissertation?

108 replies

whambamthankyousir · 04/03/2022 13:31

I've been working on my dissertation since September last year, a huge chunk of it was taken up by having to go through the ethical application process. I got the go ahead in December with that. I then had to gather participants. Interviews commenced and finished in February. I have transcribed them all and analysed and found common themes.

I have a clear chapter structure and outline with how many words is going into each chapter. My literature review is written however, after doing the research I do have to change some of that and refine it but that's 2000 words out of the way with 8000 to go.

I have 3 weeks on Monday to write it to get the draft into my supervisor who said she will turn it around in a week to send back to me with changes to be made. I will have a week to implement these changes and submit officially.

To be honest I'm quite relaxed about it. It's a topic which interests me very much and is very close to my heart. I am a fast writer, once I get in the zone I can work very fast.

My friend on the course has been telling me it's impossible to write up a dissertation in that time and that I better ask for an extension now. The thing is, I don't see how I could have done it any quicker as I needed to wait for my ethics application to be approved before I could do anything.

Can anyone tell me if this sounds doable? I plan to put 5 full days a week writing time into this until it's complete. Is it doable or will I need an extension?

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bridgetreilly · 28/10/2024 13:09

I always wonder why zombie threads appear. @ChristmasFluff how did you come across this one to add your comment?

bridgetreilly · 28/10/2024 13:06

At a pinch, I could do that in 3 days, not 3 weeks. It will be absolutely fine.

Shessweetbutapsycho · 28/10/2024 13:02

Easily- You’ve done the work already really 🤷‍♀️

MasterBeth · 28/10/2024 09:03

Goodadvice1980 · 26/10/2024 17:38

Zombie thread.

Who cares? It's interesting.

MasterBeth · 28/10/2024 09:02

Good grief, it's (roughly) one double-spaced side of A4 in the morning and one in the afternoon!

ClytemnestraWasMisunderstood · 28/10/2024 08:52

whambamthankyousir · 04/03/2022 13:31

I've been working on my dissertation since September last year, a huge chunk of it was taken up by having to go through the ethical application process. I got the go ahead in December with that. I then had to gather participants. Interviews commenced and finished in February. I have transcribed them all and analysed and found common themes.

I have a clear chapter structure and outline with how many words is going into each chapter. My literature review is written however, after doing the research I do have to change some of that and refine it but that's 2000 words out of the way with 8000 to go.

I have 3 weeks on Monday to write it to get the draft into my supervisor who said she will turn it around in a week to send back to me with changes to be made. I will have a week to implement these changes and submit officially.

To be honest I'm quite relaxed about it. It's a topic which interests me very much and is very close to my heart. I am a fast writer, once I get in the zone I can work very fast.

My friend on the course has been telling me it's impossible to write up a dissertation in that time and that I better ask for an extension now. The thing is, I don't see how I could have done it any quicker as I needed to wait for my ethics application to be approved before I could do anything.

Can anyone tell me if this sounds doable? I plan to put 5 full days a week writing time into this until it's complete. Is it doable or will I need an extension?

Not enough time. You will also need someone (not your supervisor) to check for SpaG. Also for repetitions and that the figure quoted in the text relates to the actual figure/table, that all subsections, etc are in sequence....the list is endless
TBH, the checking and double-checking and proof-reading can take a week; I occasionally proof-read and correct PhD dissertations; you'd be surprised at the glaring errors both the writer and the supervisor miss (to the extent of using the wrong word throughout the whole 103 pages in one instance!)

IVFNewbie · 28/10/2024 08:46

Yes, I did mine in 3 days or so- 20,000 words I think it was.

Goodadvice1980 · 26/10/2024 17:38

Zombie thread.

ChristmasFluff · 26/10/2024 17:21

Oh definitely, as you have the groundwork in. My son had done all his research and had copious notes, references, rough drafts etc for his BA (hons) dissertation, but had somehow got his hand-in date wrong. He wrote his dissertation in 24 hours, literally pulling an all-nighter.

Completely unhumble brag on his behalf - he got a 1st. But like you, he had already done all the work really. You will be fine, OP.

madnessitellyou · 05/03/2022 11:34

Definitely doable. With decent research and an idea of what was going into each section I could write 10,000 words over the course of a weekend and spend the next two weeks editing.

Ignore people on your course who think you can't possibly do this. I'm currently doing a postgraduate course as it happens - there have been similar dramatics on my course too.

zingally · 05/03/2022 11:05

It sounds like you've got it well planned out, and the actual research is done (that's what takes the time!)

If it's purely just the writing up of it, you can easily knock it out in 3 weeks.

Ormally · 05/03/2022 10:45

Hey, well done all you squeaky-deadline dissertation writers!

Onward!!

RainbowBridge21 · 05/03/2022 09:51

An undergrad I think 3 weeks is fine. A master's I think depends on the project and individual. A PhD no way in hell is 3 weeks enough!! Grin

InvisibleDragon · 05/03/2022 09:05

Definitely doable if you have a clear plan of what you want to write.

When I'm writing something like this I aim for 600 words a day. That would get it done in 13 working days. You should be fine. It's possible to write way more. Don't stress just cos your friend is stressing.

ThatsNotMyGolem · 05/03/2022 09:00

Doable!

I wrote up a 30,000 word MRes dissertation in three weeks.

whysoserious123 · 05/03/2022 08:51

Yes, get off Mumsnet and get going 😊

TheDaydreamBelievers · 05/03/2022 08:12

Based on the title I thought no, but you've done literally all but the write up so yes. With qual analysis, the words come fast. It'll be fine in 3 weeks, good luck!

KimCheese · 05/03/2022 08:00

And for the love of all that's good and pure, give yourself loads of time to submit if it's an online submission, we're even tougher on lates where people start to attempt their submission 5mins before the deadline.

KimCheese · 05/03/2022 07:57

I'd check though if an extension would be permitted on this basis - I have the lofty position of approving extensions and we take a tough stance on poor time management, especially at postgraduate level.

UseOfWeapons · 05/03/2022 07:29

I’d say it was fine. I was ready to go with mine in draft, and wrote it in less than a week. I usually ignore the the word limit, write what I want to say, write the reference list as I go, and then spend the time pruning it back until it meets the criteria for the word limit, which for my dissertation and research project was +/- 10%.

Take regular breaks, and treat it like a job that has to be done. And good luck!🤞🏻🤞🏻

GenderCriticalTrumpets · 05/03/2022 07:25

Easy. I did mine over about the same period because it was due in after the summer holidays and I only had 2 weeks childcare.

roxisolerenshaw · 05/03/2022 07:21

Yes, It's possible as I did similar with mine. I treated it like a full time job and worked on it all day every day and completed it in 2 weeks. I was very strict with myself and had no distractions. Good luck!

Carbiesdreamhouse · 05/03/2022 07:15

Don't underestimate the time it takes to do references and presentation. And while it shouldn't matter too much, the marker gets an overall feel of how much effort you've put in via presentation and spag so it's worth allocating time to those specifically.

CovidCorvid · 05/03/2022 07:05

Once I have got all my information gathered and I know (roughly) what I want to write I can normally do 2000-3000 words a day. Less if I get a bit of writers block/need to think about things again.
I think it’s doable but no harm in putting an extension request anyway.

Jovanka · 05/03/2022 06:53

I wrote my MA thesis in 2 weeks (15,000 words) from scratch but I was single and could spend the time how I wanted.

I wrote my PhD these (124,000 words) in 3 months also from scratch and worked full-time with 2 young children. I would not recommend this Grin.