Dissertation <wobble>

[MissMogwi]

We've just been told we have to submit a preliminary title and plan for our dissertation by the 23rd of March.

Gah, the pressure.
I haven't got any idea what to do it on, how did any of you develop/come with your idea?

Did you just go with a theme or genre you were interested in?

Ooh, I'm thinking about mine too. We haven't been given a date yet though. I am so excited. I have an idea and I have emailed a couple of lecturers who I thought might be interested and I have three who all want to supervise me. I am just researching now to get my proposal together. I was told it should be three chapters with obviously an intro and conclusion. Ours should be approximately 8-10k words. I am doing English Lit, what about you?

Ooh you live near me! What uni are you at? Are you doing English too?

I'm at MMU, what about you?

I'm also doing English, ours has to be 12000 chuffing words. I'm probably going to do something on nineteenth century lit, as I have more of an interest in that. I will take your lead and email some of the lecturers.

Once I develop the idea I'll be ok but it's coming up with the bloody question.
How did this come around so quickly!

I went through all my books, sorted them into some sort of themes and then emailed tutors about them and um

in a mad last minute panic just picked the novels Id read the most, lol

that's my cunning plan actually. I love Austen, the Brontes etc. so I'll be trotting them out no doubt. They have served me well.

mine were so much more lowbrow that that...

I ended up doing postfeminism in gothic romance - so twilight and stuff, lol

Mine is going to be on three contributors to the feminist weekly magazine Time and Tide. Dorothy L Sayers, and two other as yet unchosen ones- one of whom will be writing lesbian fiction. I want to talk about their radicalism and how each one of them was radical in a different way.

I'm at Salford. Have you had Nick tutor you? I can't remember his surname (shaved/balding head, wears a hat).

It's fascinating the different ways unis organise/or not organise this!

We were given a list of topic supervisors and their 'area of interest' - each will supervise up to 10 students from now until the end. Then I had to fill in a form listing my 1st to 6th preferences. I was lucky and got the area/supervisor i wanted and then met him to discuss what my question was to be.

I'm now writing 1500 words expanding the question, supplementary questions, why it's relevant, methodology and a mini lit review. This is due in next week.

I'm doing economics and chose 'Current issues in banking and financial regulation' as the topic area (because I like it and he's a really great lecturer and he's organised - i.e. answers emails quickly!) and my question is related to Credit Ratings Agencies.

Ha! I am about halfway (possibly further) though mine and I only realistically have 4 weeks to finish. I have to allow time to print and bind it. Several copies. Aaaaaaarrrrrrrggggghh!!

My topic has actually changed since I submitted my proposal - I am working on the same study site but had to narrow the scope of my research and time as during the second year I became pregnant. So then took a year out. It's been really hard to focus and sleepless nights with DD don't help BUT I am getting there.

We had the choice to pick from a list of topics OR to pick our own topic subject to approval. I went with the latter as the topics on offer were dull, dull and duller.

I would to the route Joan has suggested in as much as expand on the question, how you intend to address/analyse it, what statistics (if any) you will be using, and what literature there is out there.

Our diss'n is meant to be in the region of 10k words but I think I'm going to be nearer 15 by the time it's all done.

This last week I managed to write about 2000 words but I need to apply myself. Most evenings I have just vegged out in front of the TV. I need to be writing more but am too tired. I have confidence that I'll get it done. At worst it'll be a 2:2 but my grades during the latter half of the second year, and for last semester show I can get 2:1's with a bit of effort, so here's hoping.

Good luck, and keep chipping away!