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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I'm going to get a bad grade based on feedback?

27 replies

fxsdop · 08/04/2022 20:40

I have been working my arse off the past year on my undergraduate dissertation. However, I have found it very, very challenging.

My dissertation supervisor wrote me a reference a month or two ago and stated that I was on track for a 2.1 which I have sat comfortably at for the past 2 years (was sitting at a first in first and second year but that doesn't count towards final grade).

My dissertation is due in a week and I sent my final full draft to my supervisor two weeks ago. Today I got feedback and it was terrible, in one comment she wrote 'eeek'. We had a meeting and she said there is not enough analysis, too descriptive and that my methodology chapter is weak due to a lack of citations. She also said it doesn't highlight my questions adequately. She gave me soooo much feedback of things that I need to change. I'm overwhelmed.

She said that changes like these could bring a students work up from a 2.2 to a 1st, so I am now thinking I am barely sitting at a 2.2. At the end she said, 'these things I'm telling you to change are higher level things and I know you're capable', I replied 'so it's not complete garbage then?' She said, 'it's not garbage at all, I'm not worried you will fail or anything'.

I've had a really good relationship with my supervisor throughout so I trust her feedback but I just have a sick feeling now that I'm going to get a 2.2 or less and it's going to pull my final grade down.

Has anyone else received really poor feedback and then managed to get a good grade? I have just over a week so will obviously be working on it but I'm still worried that even implementing the changes isn't going to pull my grade up much. I feel like I've fucked it.

OP posts:
jimmyhill · 08/04/2022 21:01

You absolutely can turn this around. Follow the feedback: your supervisor will almost certainly be the first marker, she is telling you what you need to do to justify a 2.1 or 1st.

Also, are you sure your second year doesn't count towards your final degree? It would be unusual for it not to count

Original poster
fxsdop · 08/04/2022 21:04

@jimmyhill

You absolutely can turn this around. Follow the feedback: your supervisor will almost certainly be the first marker, she is telling you what you need to do to justify a 2.1 or 1st.

Also, are you sure your second year doesn't count towards your final degree? It would be unusual for it not to count

I'm in Scotland, at my uni only third and fourth year counts towards it usually. Thank you!
OP posts:
RandomNumb3rs · 08/04/2022 21:09

You have been given a gift!

You’ve got a week. Put in a good 60-80 hours and action every single piece of feedback to the very best of your ability. She has given you EVERYTHING you need to get a first, and also said you are capable to do it. And she knows you. And you trust her.

Put in the slog and you will be golden. You’ve got this!

AppleKatie · 08/04/2022 21:13

You have been given a gift!

You’ve got a week. Put in a good 60-80 hours and action every single piece of feedback to the very best of your ability. She has given you EVERYTHING you need to get a first, and also said you are capable to do it. And she knows you. And you trust her.

Put in the slog and you will be golden. You’ve got this!

This! Supervisor has given you the tools you need to succeed. It probably is a 2:2 at the moment- that’s the point of feedback to bring it up. Now you’ve had the feedback go through it diligently, point by point and make it better! You’ve got this.

Deep breaths.

And remember by favourite advice ever- how do you eat an elephant?

…..

One bite at a time.

Aimee1987 · 08/04/2022 21:14

Yeah I have in both my final year project, masters and PhD thesis.
The idea of this type of feedback is to give you the pointers to bring you up.
Try your best to adress them. Break each point down and approach one at a time.
She also said you have the potential for a first. Focus on that. You can do it. Remeber to take a breath

Original poster
fxsdop · 08/04/2022 21:19

Thank you all so much! Already feeling better after reading your comments! Times like these I love mumsnet Smile

OP posts:
Lotsadebate · 08/04/2022 21:20

If it makes you feel any better, at least you have done a draft that can be modified - I have a lot of words to write on mine Grin

Lotsadebate · 08/04/2022 21:21

Good luck anyway! You will be fine :)

Original poster
fxsdop · 08/04/2022 21:22

@Lotsadebate

If it makes you feel any better, at least you have done a draft that can be modified - I have a lot of words to write on mine Grin
Oh really? When is yours due? Good luck to you too!
OP posts:
OKScarpetta · 08/04/2022 21:27

You can definitely do this!

At this point with mine, my laptop got stolen with the back-up cd writing in the cd drive… and I had to write the entire thing again from my first draft with 2 weeks to go (in the computer lab as no computer). I watched the guy climb over the back fence with it and sobbed!

I back everything up in a million places now!

Lotsadebate · 08/04/2022 21:28

Mine is due within the next 5 weeks - I will get it done. I tend to work out what I need to do in my head - write it down on my phone in notes and then I write it. But I also look at very good exemplars on the internet - ones that have won prizes - to see how much detail is required and how many references are needed etc. It is a bit backwards of how to do it and I have no idea how it is going to work out Grin

Lotsadebate · 08/04/2022 21:30

@OKScarpetta

You can definitely do this!

At this point with mine, my laptop got stolen with the back-up cd writing in the cd drive… and I had to write the entire thing again from my first draft with 2 weeks to go (in the computer lab as no computer). I watched the guy climb over the back fence with it and sobbed!

I back everything up in a million places now!

Oh no! There are some evil fuckers out there - excuse my language - you can do it! I will send positive thoughts and fingers crossed for you
Original poster
fxsdop · 08/04/2022 21:31

@OKScarpetta

You can definitely do this!

At this point with mine, my laptop got stolen with the back-up cd writing in the cd drive… and I had to write the entire thing again from my first draft with 2 weeks to go (in the computer lab as no computer). I watched the guy climb over the back fence with it and sobbed!

I back everything up in a million places now!

Oh no! That is literally soul destroying! Sad
OP posts:
Original poster
fxsdop · 08/04/2022 21:43

@OKScarpetta

You can definitely do this!

At this point with mine, my laptop got stolen with the back-up cd writing in the cd drive… and I had to write the entire thing again from my first draft with 2 weeks to go (in the computer lab as no computer). I watched the guy climb over the back fence with it and sobbed!

I back everything up in a million places now!

Oh no! That is literally soul destroying! Luckily mines is backed up all over the joint but oh god, I feel for you, must have been awful.
OP posts:
Original poster
fxsdop · 09/04/2022 07:59

Oop sorry didn't realise I'd posted twice

OP posts:
Diverseopinions · 09/04/2022 08:50

I think the point about highlighting the questions adequately is the important thing. Maybe think through your title and what you are trying to show, what is the issue or problem you are writing about, because if there dissonance there and wooliness about your premise, then the analysis won't do what you want it to. That sort of thing would really lead to the negative vibe you are getting from your tutor, and you know your tutor well, so, presumably, you are able to subjectively judge whether you're getting a more luke warm reaction than you're used to. Check that there is a clarity about what you are trying to show.

Diverseopinions · 09/04/2022 08:51

Changing a word in the title might help to give precision and clarity.

MyBookShelf · 09/04/2022 09:55

Many years ago I turned a dissertation around from a 2:2/3 to a first in just a few weeks, so it can be done.
I followed every scrap of advice from my tutor, pulled the sections apart, reordered some of the sections with just a sentence or two to improve cohesion and analysis, then concentrated on rewriting the key parts my tutor had identified.
I, and some of the other tutors, didn't think I was first material, so I was so proud with the results. It sounds like your tutor has faith in your abilities and wants the very best from you. Good luck.

Original poster
fxsdop · 09/04/2022 11:34

I don't have weeks though. I am working today, Sunday, Monday. I have Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday completely free. Is that doable?

OP posts:
flashpaper · 09/04/2022 11:47

It's definitely doable, that's loads of time!
She isn't worried about you failing so that's a good start. Anything you do to it now can only improve it really. Just work through the feedback she's given, bit by bit.
I got feedback on a draft piece that I did for my degree. The lecturer pretty much said what yours has said, too descriptive, not enough citations, so I went through and pretty much referenced almost every sentence. I thought I was taking the mick but when I got back he loved it.

Betsy200 · 09/04/2022 11:51

I had similar feedback on my dissertation and managed to improve it in a week. You definitely have enough time to make a lot of improvements. Good luck.

Original poster
fxsdop · 09/04/2022 11:53

Thank you so much! You have given me hope! I plan to be working on it all those days I mentioned from morning to night pretty solidly! Fingers crossed it all works out!

OP posts:
Original poster
fxsdop · 09/04/2022 11:55

@flashpaper

It's definitely doable, that's loads of time! She isn't worried about you failing so that's a good start. Anything you do to it now can only improve it really. Just work through the feedback she's given, bit by bit. I got feedback on a draft piece that I did for my degree. The lecturer pretty much said what yours has said, too descriptive, not enough citations, so I went through and pretty much referenced almost every sentence. I thought I was taking the mick but when I got back he loved it.
That's basically what I plan on doing, she said 'usually Google isn't your friend but in this instance, Google is your friend. Get as many citations as you can find'.
OP posts:
flashpaper · 10/04/2022 06:37

That's exactly it. He said to me that every factual statement you make needs evidence. Doing that particular piece really helped me out for the rest of my course because it gave good feedback that I applied to the rest of my coursework. This could be the same for you.

To provide really strong evidence, you can find more than one reference if you know a lot of people have found the same thing.

In terms of analysis, try writing an opposing sentence to show that you've looked at both sides, but if there's stronger evidence one way or another then that's the path you go down.

earlydoors42 · 10/04/2022 07:31

Yes, get on Google Scholar, and your university library search, and try Z Library article search. Cram in those references and put them in the reference section as you use them so you aren't left trying to find and correctly write loads of references at the end. Good luck, you can definitely do it!

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