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

[whambamthankyousir]

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?

What sort of degree is this for? I presume postgraduate and maybe master’s from the length, but the level of degree will determine how deep your analysis will need to be and thus influence how long you can expect it to take.

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.

Easily

My friend wrote hers up in 2 weeks while on maternity leave with a small baby so it’s doable, I personally wouldn’t get it done in that time. I’m part way through my own and struggling but I’m a faffing procrastinator so that says it all.
You can but try. Get going see how it goes, get an extension if it goes belly up. No one died by not getting a dissertation submitted on time!

Absolutely doable.

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!

Masters yes, PhD probably not unless you are an absolutely focused writing demon. Most of my colleagues spent 6 months part-time/2-3 months full time writing up PhDs.

@moredogsthansense

What sort of degree is this for? I presume postgraduate and maybe master’s from the length, but the level of degree will determine how deep your analysis will need to be and thus influence how long you can expect it to take.

It's an undergraduate honours degree. Sorry should have said

@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.

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

@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.

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.

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

How many words?

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

How many words?

10,000 in total. 2000 words in

@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

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

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!

No problem

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"

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

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.

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.

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!