“I'm Basically Done”: Highlights from Dissertation Season
Helen Nicholls, Comparative Literature MA
It hit home that I needed to get out more, when the library staff began to say, ‘see you tomorrow,’ as I left the library every day during winter break. This was the reality for many of us. Now as the new term gets underway, we are faced with more teaching, exams, assignments, and then finally, dissertation season will be upon us. In this initial period, it is crucial that you start to build strong foundations for your final project.
How, then, can you begin to set the right direction for your dissertation work at this early stage? Find a subject you are passionate about and keep your mind open to the possibilities. Dr Axelby made a great point in saying, ‘see your supervisor as early as possible.’ Don’t feel you have to have your finalised question now, as this can emerge through research. That said, understand the limits of your supervisor’s time. What are their expectations, how many meetings do they allow, and how much support can they provide?
Establish your priorities and manage your time. ‘It is never too early to start,’ says Dr Cervelli. Dr Cervelli recommends prioritising research. One tip is to look at the bibliographies of papers by authors of interest, to broaden your reading. Select subjects will provide dissertations from previous students to better your understanding of the required structure. To stagger your work, give yourself interim deadlines and stick to them!
Dr Hijjas emphasised identifying your primary sources early on, and said, ‘don’t leave all the writing till the end.’ During research, write specific notes to yourself, considering the relevance of the source, along with a reference. This will remind you of your thought process when you sit down to write. One of the best ways to minimise stress is to have a plan and to work within its confines.
How can you manage dissertation stress? Prioritise quality over quantity. Four to six hours of concentrated work is often better than a gruelling twelve-hour shift in the library, of which I am also guilty. Marthe, a postgraduate student, recommended ending the day with a ‘to-do list’. This allows you to compile thoughts, switch off and start the next day productively. Add movement into your day, like walking to the bus stop a bit further away. Find a person, or a group, to study with. Even if you don’t sit together, you can meet up for breaks and check in with each other’s work. Students, like Marthe, attest to an ‘hour by hour’ schedule, whilst others work in day, or even weeklong blocks.
An undergraduate student saw the positive aspect of ‘locked-in’ culture and said that those who were locked-in, for the gym or for work, showed commitment. A postgraduate student felt that locked-in culture often spoke to a ‘neurotypical’ approach to work. Hyper-focused study sessions might not be suitable or attainable, for all students. If your workload becomes overwhelming, consider the Student Mental Health and Wellbeing service at SOAS, or Mind, a mental health charity who provide support, online and in-person.
