Last week I attended my second Eagle Dissertation Boot Camp. This was a three-day #ShutUpAndWrite session created for UNT graduate students to help us focus our time on our thesis/dissertation projects. My first Eagle Boot Camp was successful as I crafted a great chunk of my dissertation proposal and successfully defended said document in February.
My data analysis is complete, so my primary objective for this boot camp was to write up and explain the findings (Chapter 4). So, I am happy to report this chapter is almost complete with 28 new pages (which includes some large data graphs). I also spent the time reviewing edits and updates made to Chapter 1, 2 & 3 (my proposal). As many of my doctoral researching friends know — it’s not the page number — you write until you’re finished explaining your research.
I signed up for another boot camp because I enjoy the dedicated space, time, and peer support of these writing groups. Although my morning writing in solitary has been going well, I did appreciate a solid three days of concentration on my dissertation without disruption (texts, emails, etc). During the boot camp I also scheduled a few meetings with my major professor (Dr. Allen) and had a productive meeting with my new my co-chair (Dr. Evangelopoulos) and Dr. A. to review the scope of what I am reporting on for my dissertation. We had a great talk day #1 to review my data analysis, timeline for writing, and inclusions for my dissertation. I am thankful for the time and feedback each advisor has given me over the past few months.
Just like training for a marathon, it is critical to map out a realistic and effective training schedule. In this case, my training = writing, reviewing, and editing. In planning for August graduation, I have to hit a few upcoming dates set by our graduate school, so my final dissertation defense date is on the near horizon.
Photo c/o @PhDComics “Defending My Thesis“
Dissertation Timeline
| Date | Task |
| Toulouse Graduate School Dissertation Boot camp:
Chapter 4: Data analysis review; Drafting updated analysis and findings from data productions |
|
| 4/20/14-4/28/14 | Chapter 5: Drafting concluding chapter discussions, social media guidelines & policy development, further research, etc. |
| 4/28/14-5/5/14 | Consult with Faculty advisors and dissertation committee to get feedback on first draft (as needed)
|
| 5/6/14 | Final dissertation paper and PowerPoint ready – Mock defense with Dr. A & Dr. E |
| 5/6/14-5/12/14 | Review comments & feedback from Co-Major Professors; make edits or additions based on feedback
Consult with dissertation committee members as needed |
| 5/12/14-5/20/14 | Send to external editor: final edit and polish |
| 5/20/14-5/27/14 | Review edits and comments from editor on dissertation paper; adjust as needed |
| Clean up and prep final defense PPT | |
| 5/28/14 | Send FINAL DISSERTATION to committee; officially schedule defense date for June 12, 2014 |
| 5/28/14-6/11/14 | Edit presentation slide deck, meet with faculty advisors; meet with committee members to review/allow for questions |
| 6/12/14 | Dissertation Defense |
| 6/27/14 | All paperwork due to Toulouse Graduate School & FINAL COPY of dissertation sent to the Grad School Reader |
It’s go time. Back to my “training” — write on, my PhD friends. Write on!
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