Write a PhD thesis in record time and keep your sanity while you do it (Part 1/3)

James Hayton | http://www.3monththesis.com

How to write a thesis in record time and keep your sanity while you do it...

Most people find thesis writing a nightmare, but it doesn't need to be that way. In this talk given at the University of Nottingham, author of "The Three Month Thesis", James Hayton, introduces some of the basic concepts and techniques needed to get a PhD thesis written quickly, while minimising the stress involved, taking techniques of professional writers, sports coaches, marketing and time management gurus. Part 2 coming soon!

Visit www.threemonththesis.com for more details.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• lecture
• PhD
• how to write a thesis
• writing
• education
• research
• time management
• doctorate
• university of Nottingham
• James Hayton
• Three Month Thesis
• students
• grad student
• procrastination

[threemonththesis]

some people agree, some disagree... you don't have to aim for EXACTLY two weeks, the point is to know what you are aiming for. It's pretty simple really. If you set no target, then you end up wasting a huge amount of time. Some of the points you raise I've addressed elsewhere, but of course, in a short talk, there's a limit to what I can cover.

[brahud]

Wow.....he just used a "trick" to get them to "buy in" and talked about "professional writer tricks"...... hipocracy.....you are tricking them by making them focus on the "trickery" of others.... Oh, well ......appears to work!

[threemonththesis]

@brahud how is it hypocrisy?

If by "trick" you mean I thought about the structure of my talk, well yes... obviously

[fiorsolas87]

"like" if you watched this video while procrastinating on your thesis :)

[neverfearchrisishere]

@thetruehacker1111 No it isn't a book of facts taken from other sources.. That is precisely what a thesis isn't - it must include genuinely new work & discoveries.. Also the writing must be done with absolute pinpoint precision... Few people have ever written a short SA that is of sufficient quality to form a part of a thesis.

Also it isn't your professor who passes you - you defend your thesis before top experts on your chosen topic flown in to examine you.

[DaveydeGrenoble]

He broke his ankle rollerblading.

[cheezNbeanz]

This is brilliant. Great everyday tips.. It makes sense, I like the non punishing aspect. I live on stress and the fact that it doesn't have to be painful is brilliant. Thank you for your lessons.

[thetruehacker1111]

@threemonththesis I don't actually understand, what makes a PHD Thesis so difficult to write? Is it the same as writing a book full of explanations and proofs? Meaning that you can take facts from another sources or books, and then put them in your thesis, right? So, what's the big thing? Is it the way you have to arrange all the topics.. or is it just that your professor does not easily get satisfied by what you've written?

[sk8hack]

Was that Professor Phil Moriarty in the public?

[manuvaujour]

I don't agree at all with the short deadline business : you can't perform that regularly over a 3 month period. You have good and bad days / weeks. You have a personal life that can unpredictably get in the way. Well, you should... So regular deadlines are impossible. Some chapters will take longer that others to write. Some you will only check-read once, others tens of times. These are more to be taken as desperate measures if you don't manage to discipline yourself, I think...

[manuvaujour]

Hi James,

I just watched all 3 videos and I realise how much thought you've given to the subject, which I think is great. However, I'm not convinced by the way you present things in this talk : it's all pretty depressing, really. I remember going through all the difficulties you talk about, but I also have clear memories of taking pleasure writing up. It is unfortunate that no notion of pleasure whatsoever appears along your talk... mere "self-satisfaction" evoked here and there... not fair ?