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

[StupendouslyStupid]

It's due in 2 weeks from Monday, I just can't do it.

I feel as though I know what I want to say, but can't get it down on paper. I have awful brain fog and tiredness from juggling a health condition that they know about, but don't think now that a week's extension would make any difference at all. They don't give more than 1 week.

What should I do? I'm confused because I think if I asked to defer, I couldn't just effectively become a part timer and submit next year in September 2020. I think I'd have to formally take the whole year out, then come back?

I don't know though. I'm torn between psyching myself up to push for deferring or just writing something as best I can and hoping it passes.

But don't think it will pass and my whole Masters will be dragged down by a scraped pass even if it did.

I just don't know what to do, I'm so tired and stressed, just want to sleep and feel well.

Sorry defer prob wrong word in this context, head full of A levels students making uni choices. What I mean is if they even let me take a break I think I'd have to take a full year so basically delay everything by 2 years not 1. I don't think I could re join next year.

You poor thing. Maybe don't make a decision on deferring yet. You sound lile you're panicking and looking for a quick fix.

I think you just need to start writing ideas down on a plain piece of paper (set a timer for 3 mins as the pressure might help you focus). Then just start. It's because it's so huge it seems daunting but (and this is my Dad's saying), just take one bite of the elephant... then you've started. Very best of luck.

Have you written anything yet? How many words are we talking?

I’d ask for the extension, you could do it in three weeks. What is the word limit? The best way to tackle a large project like this is to break it in to chunks. Don’t look it as an entire piece until near the end.

1. Plan out sections - then do subsections.
2. Try and write an outline for each section.

3 think about the introduction- do an outline of everything that the who,e piece should cover and should be spelled out in into.

1. When you are really tired fix the layout and do the references, you will be shattered by the end so if you have this finished in advance you will cry tears of joy.

5 set time goals, sit and write for two hours then get up and do something else. Come back later and either write for another 2 hours or edit what you have already.

1. Remember a good thesis is a finished thesis. Do the best you can, take each day as it comes.

Good luck.

Hello OP. I don't know if it helps but when I'm struggling is to write against a timer. For example, in 45 minute sections. I often find thoughts are coming and the flow of writing has started. Before you start, can you section the work and spend an hour making bullet points for each section. It may be worth spending a greater proportion of your time on the sections with greatest weighting. Turn your phone onto flight mode so you are not disturbed. Good Luck!

How many words and what sort of project? Is there anything you can reuse from your proposal, if you did one?
Two weeks is totally doable if you’ve done the actual work and all that’s left is to write it up. My advice is to have a large glass of wine and start typing away at whatever section is the easiest. Editing and refining can come later but I think it’ll get you in a better mindset if you get something down.

University lecturer here – I've supervised a number of students through difficult dissertations. and when I was younger, I also struggled with not being able to complete/submit written assignments. My key advice is: don't try to get it right, just get writing. The point isn't to write something you're proud of, it's to get the words on the page. If after that you have the time and the energy to turn those words into something better, then do so. But first just throw a bunch of words on the page so you have a first draft. Don't think or worry about the quality, just type. The point of the first draft is to get words on a page. Everything follows from that. Good luck!

You can do it in 2 weeks if you have done the actual research?

What type of dissertation is it? Topic?

The hardest part is starting typing. I bet once you start it will all flow.

Go and talk to your university, ask for a defferal, take the pressure off yourself.
Take 48 hours, sleep look after yourself don't think about it.
Structure is everything in a dissertation. Do you have a well defined research question? At the end of the day that is all you are trying to answer. So;
Introduction and literature review, what are you doing, why is this important, what has been done before, what is the gap in the research. How does your dissertation fit into this.
Research, what approach are you taking, why is this appropriate, how can you be sure your results will be valid, triangulation etc, what are the limitations to your approach, what could you do about those, what was outside of your control
Results, what have you found out
Discussion- Answer your research question? How do your findings relate back to the previous research in the literature review, what do you recommend, where should research go next? Maybe you can't answer the question, fine say that. What else would be needed??
Summary and Conclusion

If you have done the research then you will have plenty to say. Just try bullet points to start with, get the structure right then just pad it out. Just be really clear on your research question to start with.

You can do this.

I strongly agree with riotlady's advice to make wine your friend. Whenever I was struggling with my PhD thesis, I poured myself a very large glass of wine, took a huge sip, and just started typing. Work your way through half a bottle of wine, type the entire time, and make a judgement later about the quality. But just get typing (and drinking).

During the PhD years, I tried as much as possible to take advantage of the reduced inhibitions that came from drinking. For example, if I felt a little bit tipsy in the evening I would sneak off to my computer and bash out a few paragraphs, not worrying about the quality but just trying to get words on the page. My motto was: might as well do this when I'm drunk, otherwise I'll have to do it when I'm sober.

Extension is a good idea rather than deferring.

You are probably trying to write a great dissertation (obviously why wouldn’t you!) but this is where you get into the ‘perfection is the enemy of good’ territory.

It is so much easier to edit and rewrite pieces.

So just write a crappy version of your dissertation in the coming week and then have 2 weeks editing and rewriting. Why sort of length are you thinking it will be?

You can absolutely do this.

Get the weeks extension.

Then plan, plan, plan.

What is your argument? What’s the best structure? Map that all out before you start.

Them set yourself a word limit/sections to be covered everyday and stick to that rigidly.

I agree with a PP, don’t aim for perfection. That will paralyse you. Words on a page, polish later (build in that time). Aim for 100% done at 60/70% of the quality you’d like. This is much better than the other way around.

You can do it! As PPs have said if you know what you want to say and you've done the research the actual writing up is very very possible in the amount of time you have. I wrote the last third of mine on the day it was due in and got a distinction for it, and if I can do it so can you.

The key is to stop worrying about structure and footnotes and just get something down on paper. What do you think? Why do you think it? What other ideas did you consider and reject? Don't worry about tidying it up for now, just get it written down straight from what's in your head, no notes.

Need to read posts properly but see a few people have asked how many words, it's 10 thousand words.

Confidence is shot as I did the sitting down and banging out a chapter before and my supervisor made it clear it didn't cut the mustard so I think part of it is I just feel embarrassed by my own ideas and opinions which is really unhelpful.

Supervisor is a kind person and we get on quite well so wasn't trying to be spiteful either.

My PhD supervisor swore by writing with bottle of whiskey to hand. It wouldn’t have worked for me (I would have just fallen asleep) but I can see why it’s helpful for some.

Firstly - deep breath, it's gonna be OK.

A dissertation is a massive undertaking and anyone that has written one, would have had the same moments of absolute terror and panic.

Good news, you have over two weeks!

The way it was suggested to me - I'm guessing you already have a topic? I'm also going to assume that you've done most of the reading/literature reviews (what others had said)? In that case, congratulations, you have already done more than you probably expected.

In a 8000 word dissertation, around 1000 will be your intro, 3000 your literature review, then you findings/the main bit 3000 and finally a 1000 conclusion.

Write your conclusion first - what have you concluded as a result of doing the research?

Now write the introduction, what are you going to try and prove? As you have already written the conclusion, you should find that your intro tailors itself back to your conclusion automatically.

Now the literature review - what have others said about your hypothesis?

So all you now have to do is the middle 3000 bit, which is the research you would have done towards the hypothesis.

You can probably do this in just over a week. That gives you a couple of days to then put it away completely. Then it's time to review and edit. Contrary to belief, a Masters doesn't have to be full of long words. As long as it reads well, makes sense and answers your question.

And remember - absolute worse, If you have already completed 120 Masters credits (which again I am assuming as you are at the dissertation stage) - it means you could, even now, exit with a Post Graduate Diploma.

You are gonna be OK.

Have I done the research?

Honestly, I don't even know. I've read so much stuff. Sometimes I think I've understood and have those moments of YES! That really helps me argue my point!

Then sadly a lot of the time I read stuff, have to read several times because my brain is so slow and still feel I haven't grasped what the writer is on about.

I just feel so thick.

OP have you done the research?

If it's just the writing up (and I know, it's not 'just') and you could get an extension, it's doable.

Other posters have given good advice.

I'm a bit surprised tho - what have you been working on with your supervisor? You mention writing one draft chapter? Is that all the supervisor has seen?

Anyway .. I assume you have a lit review done from earlier in the year? So that's one part of the process done.

I would then decide on a structure for each section / chapter.

What I'd then focus on is the research element. Did you interview people? Do surveys? Focus groups? Primary research?

Whatever original research you did, write it up now. Like a pp said, don't worry about style / being perfect, get it on paper

Make an appointment ASAP with your supervisor and be really honest about where you are at. Get their advice.

Also consult your university's library web site and check what guides they have on researching & writing, ditto university's Writing Centre. This is my area of work and most of these guides are very practical and will give you direct steps to take.

If you haven't done original research and in-depth reading - re-consider submitting your thesis and consider taking a Grad Dip / PG Dip Instead. There's no point in submitting rubbish for the sake of it.

Good luck 💐

Placemarking because I need to finish mine in the next academic year and I’ve had similar struggles with my essays so far ... good luck!

Sorry cross post!

When I asked about research though, I mean original research, not reading.

For example, interviews / surveys / gathering data / consulting primary sources.

This is distinguishes a thesis from a long essay.

Can you pay someone to do it?

Assuming you are taking the piss @lucylouis 🙄🙄

You can do it!! I feel the same, am on 11000 of 15000 and am struggling. But set little writing goals and rewards for doing 200 words (cup of tea , 5 minute wander around). Keep to what you want to say and just get it down. They can’t mark nothing but will give credit for what is there. If they accepted you onto a masters course then you have the ability. Just go for it!

If you like we can spur each other on? I'm also writing mine atm and am way behind where I should be due to hyperemisis.

My approach when I have writers block like this is to put each idea on a notecard. The smaller the ideas the better, but they don’t all have to be the same.

You might have things like
Law passed 1973 is relevant
Talk about the social implications of x and maybe link it to y
Make sure to mention that J is important

Then once you have all those pieces floating around in your head written down, you can start shuffling cards until you can start to see an outline

If you have done your prep, you can finish this in two weeks and especially three.

You just have to find some way to start. I like my notecards, other people like to just type freeform, wine can help (but only for the first draft).