Recent content by Britney

The list you found is good but also expect questions about your literature review. "Why didn't you cite X author?" or "How does your work build on Y?" If there's a major scholar in your field, make sure you know their work and can explain how yours connects. Also, they'll ask about...

I switched in year two and it was terrifying but absolutely worth it. The first topic made me want to quit grad school entirely. The second topic I actually looked forward to working on. That motivation made me more productive, so I actually finished faster than I would have on the first topic...

The hardest part is the lack of external structure. In coursework, you have deadlines, classes, peers. In dissertation, it's just you. I went weeks without talking to anyone about my research. Started to feel like it didn't matter. What helped was finding a writing group — other PhD students who...

The "normalization of overwork" thing is real and it's toxic. I had to actively unlearn the idea that rest is weakness. It helped to schedule guilt-free rest — literally put "do nothing without guilt" on my calendar. At first it felt wrong. Then it felt necessary. Now I protect that time like a...

The quoting vs paraphrasing thing is subtle but real. Too many quotes = looks like you don't understand the material. Paraphrasing shows synthesis. But also don't over-paraphrase to the point of losing the author's meaning. It's a balance. The blog examples probably help. Also, writing groups...

I read this advice from a dissertation coach that suggested "writing daily in a dissertation journal" . Like, a separate document where you write about your thoughts, questions, frustrations, and ideas. "Generate ideas, try out organization methods, and process the writing experience in a text...

Donald, here's my complete methodology writing process: Phase 1: Research. Read 5-10 methodology chapters from dissertations in your field. Note common structures, language, depth. Phase 2: Outline. Create section headings based on your field's conventions. Get advisor approval on structure...

I have all my research. All my data. Everything is ready. And I've been "getting ready to write" for six months. Six months. An article from the American Historical Association suggests setting up a "writing schedule" and treating each timeslot as an "appointment with yourself" . They also say...

I'm finally ready to submit something for publication. But now I face a new nightmare: choosing a journal. There are thousands. How do you pick? Sage Publications has a guide called "Questions answered: How to select a journal" that breaks it down . Here's what I'm learning: Step 1: Know your...

Finishing my dissertation feels like climbing Everest. But people keep asking: "Are you going to publish it as a book?" I had no idea. Can you just... turn a dissertation into a book? Sage Publications has a guide called "Converting a thesis/dissertation into a manuscript" and it turns out the...

My advisor just sent back my dissertation chapter with "major revisions" written at the top. Thirty pages of comments. Red ink everywhere. I sat in my car and cried for 20 minutes. But a Sage Publications guide says major revisions are normal and survivable . The key is to take it step by step...