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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?

OP posts:
Erinyes · 04/03/2022 13:56

Sure, it’s doable, but what kind of grade are you aiming for? Have you been in frequent contact with your supervisor and has he or she seen a detailed plan? It’s just that if your supervisor flags up significant problems, you have very little time to do major rewriting.

thelittlestrhino · 04/03/2022 13:54

As long as you're familiar and competent with the style of writing required, yes this should be possible. I can't actually remember how long my undergrad dissertation took, but my MSc thesis took about 4 or 5 days. Was accepted with zero alterations required too!

GracieLouFreebushh · 04/03/2022 13:54

Definitely I did mine in two weeks but majority of first draft in couple of days with lots of coffee and pro plus.

AchillesHeelys · 04/03/2022 13:52

I think it’s doable yes. I think the research and planning is the hardest part, actually writing it can be done relatively quickly if you have a good idea of structure and what it is you want to write.

For my masters dissertation, my supervisor was happy to review and feed back a section at a time and then do one final review of the whole thing. This really helped me to work through it quickly as I could be working on the next section while she was reviewing the last one. I ended up getting a mark of 79.
I think she was going above and beyond here so your supervisor might not want to do it that way, but no harm in asking I suppose.

Dinoteeth · 04/03/2022 13:51

Absolutely - I did mine in about 3 weeks, and was working too. I might have burned the midnight oil, typed until 5am couple hours sleep and up for work at 7. I still managed a pass. Crazy but I made it.

Technosaurus · 04/03/2022 13:51

You've done far more prep than I did. And I wrote my dissertation from scratch in 10 days.

For undergraduate I'd agree with your relaxed approach. Is it still 10-12000 words maximum? For a half decent typist that's not even a day's work. It's often just a case of sitting down and writing it... Allow yourself some extra time to sleep on it and review etc rather than running it totally to the wire.

MaChienEstUnDick · 04/03/2022 13:50

@Rosesareyellow

I guess it’s doable but I think the reason many people feel they need more time is that it provides time to revisit, make changes redraft and rethink some things. I think that is part of the process too. That and the proof reading, doing the references etc can take more time than anticipated. If you have no choice then that’s how it’s got or be - but I wouldn’t go into it with a ‘relaxed’ attitude. It’s going to be an exhausting and possibly stressful pain in the arse to do and it’s better to be mentally prepared for that.
What is it about references? I'm sure some people fly through them but they always take me ages.
Really18 · 04/03/2022 13:49

It's achievable. Don't procrastinate. Make a start and it will come together quickly.

MrsDeadpool · 04/03/2022 13:48

Easily. I did my undergrad dissertation in two days, although I knew by then exactly what I wanted to write; it was just a question of getting the words down. If you can work for long stretches without having work or family interrupting, three weeks seems like more than long enough. Admittedly, mine was over 30 years ago, though I can’t believe standards have changed much since then. I typed it on an Amstrad word processor. Which was quite advanced - my first year essays were still handwritten. Imagine the horror!

Choppingonions · 04/03/2022 13:48

No I don't think you'll need an extension if your research is in order and you're a fast writer. Make sure you leave time fit second/third reads.

Rosesareyellow · 04/03/2022 13:47

I guess it’s doable but I think the reason many people feel they need more time is that it provides time to revisit, make changes redraft and rethink some things. I think that is part of the process too. That and the proof reading, doing the references etc can take more time than anticipated.
If you have no choice then that’s how it’s got or be - but I wouldn’t go into it with a ‘relaxed’ attitude. It’s going to be an exhausting and possibly stressful pain in the arse to do and it’s better to be mentally prepared for that.

NoSquirrels · 04/03/2022 13:46

It’s about 500 words a day, 5 days a week.
Of course you can do it if you’re disciplined. Just be consistent.

Ofcourseinamechangedforthisyou · 04/03/2022 13:45

Totally doable. Crack through it in ten days, leave it for three, then you've got just over a week to go through, reflect and revise.

There are undergrad courses where you have to write 2 x2k essays a week, with all the reading that entails. You have plenty of time (especially because you've done your lit review).

One tip, if you're a procrastinator, is don't start at the start - start in the middle: drafting out your key findings. That way you don't get bogged down in "how will I start this"

Newrumpus · 04/03/2022 13:45

No problem

JemimaTiggywinkle · 04/03/2022 13:44

Yes no problem. Just do your references as you go along, don’t leave them till the end, they always take longer than you think!

Ursusmajor · 04/03/2022 13:43

Yes, this is possible for undergrad level 10,000 words and 3 weeks full time Mon-Fri.

Original poster
whambamthankyousir · 04/03/2022 13:42

@Annasgirl

I did this, in less time, with a part time job and 3 DC. I also did another Masters Dissertation, while working full time, in under 3 weeks. I got a first in each one. Of course it’s possible. I always think people who say dissertations take years love to have an excuse to do very little while ‘studying’.
Great, I have a daughter and work part time also but I do feel like I still have plenty of spare time
OP posts:
Original poster
whambamthankyousir · 04/03/2022 13:42

@Loopytiles

How many words?
10,000 in total. 2000 words in
OP posts:
Annasgirl · 04/03/2022 13:41

I did this, in less time, with a part time job and 3 DC. I also did another Masters Dissertation, while working full time, in under 3 weeks. I got a first in each one. Of course it’s possible. I always think people who say dissertations take years love to have an excuse to do very little while ‘studying’.

Loopytiles · 04/03/2022 13:41

How many words?

Whatsthestoryboringglory · 04/03/2022 13:40

Ah yes for undergraduate that’s absolutely manageable. I think I wrote mine in a week. Stay focused and you’ll be fine.

Suzi888 · 04/03/2022 13:39

You can, if you’ve done all the prep and depending what the subject is. Would be quite tough going though I’d have thought.

Original poster
whambamthankyousir · 04/03/2022 13:39

@Rotherweird

Yes, it's doable (I supervise dissertations).

Don't forget though that with a piece of writing like this, it's the revision that really makes it. The longer a piece is, the more revision it needs. So while the draft is with your supervisor, start revising and polishing. The more you do this, the better it will be.

Good luck!

Greta idea! Will do this, thank you.
OP posts:
Whatsthestoryboringglory · 04/03/2022 13:39

Also I’m currently doing a part time PhD and the idea of writing the whole thing in 3 weeks sounds impossible to me.

MaChienEstUnDick · 04/03/2022 13:38

@Maflingo

If you are a single, with no other demands on your time (job, kids, etc), then yes you could probably get it done, although you won’t have much time to leave it to go “cold” and review it thoroughly.
This is a vital part of the process with any important piece of writing. Working on it consistently is great but you need a bit of time away from it to see gaps/faults/even review SPAG.
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