Claudia, how is your thesis?

Oh I can sympathize with the horrible feeling of trying to get the writing off the ground! Tom and I were BOTH trying to write our dissertations at the same time (ie, the same span of 4-6 months LOL) and we each had periods of going completely insane. Of course it was much easier pre-kids because we could just get fed up and go out rollerblading or for a bike ride or something! (*sigh*) The wind-up really is worse than the actual writing... one piece of advice - don't feel like you have to generate the lit review from scratch. After all, you have to stand on the shoulders of your esteemed predecessors! Get some good reviews of your topic and keep them nearby as you write, so if you forget who made some particular finding you can refer to it.I felt so dumb for not being able to recall the names of authors and dates (as in, 'whether or not x is influenced by x is uncertain. Smith et al found x in 1994, but these results were not replicated by Jones in 1997...). But the important thing is the finding not who did it when. And if others have written good reviews let those reviews help you along - of course don't plagiarize but refer to their information and reference list. Anyway, good luck! Can't say it was a fond memory for me but the feeling of accomplishment at the end is absolutely worth it!

Kaaren

Oh I can sympathize with the horrible feeling of trying to get the writing off the ground! Tom and I were BOTH trying to write our dissertations at the same time (ie, the same span of 4-6 months LOL) and we each had periods of going completely insane. Of course it was much easier pre-kids because we could just get fed up and go out rollerblading or for a bike ride or something! (*sigh*) The wind-up really is worse than the actual writing... one piece of advice - don't feel like you have to generate the lit review from scratch. After all, you have to stand on the shoulders of your esteemed predecessors! Get some good reviews of your topic and keep them nearby as you write, so if you forget who made some particular finding you can refer to it.I felt so dumb for not being able to recall the names of authors and dates (as in, 'whether or not x is influenced by x is uncertain. Smith et al found x in 1994, but these results were not replicated by Jones in 1997...). But the important thing is the finding not who did it when. And if others have written good reviews let those reviews help you along - of course don't plagiarize but refer to their information and reference list. Anyway, good luck! Can't say it was a fond memory for me but the feeling of accomplishment at the end is absolutely worth it!

Kaaren

Oh I can sympathize with the horrible feeling of trying to get the writing off the ground! Tom and I were BOTH trying to write our dissertations at the same time (ie, the same span of 4-6 months LOL) and we each had periods of going completely insane. Of course it was much easier pre-kids because we could just get fed up and go out rollerblading or for a bike ride or something! (*sigh*) The wind-up really is worse than the actual writing... one piece of advice - don't feel like you have to generate the lit review from scratch. After all, you have to stand on the shoulders of your esteemed predecessors! Get some good reviews of your topic and keep them nearby as you write, so if you forget who made some particular finding you can refer to it.I felt so dumb for not being able to recall the names of authors and dates (as in, 'whether or not x is influenced by x is uncertain. Smith et al found x in 1994, but these results were not replicated by Jones in 1997...). But the important thing is the finding not who did it when. And if others have written good reviews let those reviews help you along - of course don't plagiarize but refer to their information and reference list. Anyway, good luck! Can't say it was a fond memory for me but the feeling of accomplishment at the end is absolutely worth it!

Kaaren

Good suggestions....I actually got two really good books on my topic and several good papers....and have made it a point to sit down with it once every couple of days. I have 5 pages of review written and 5 pages of materials and methods so far....I have to write a 15 page paper in neurochem right now too on the regulation of serotonin and related receptors by steroid hormones......and of course now that everything is picking up class-wise my research is starting to come together and I need the lab time.......HELP!!

Good suggestions....I actually got two really good books on my topic and several good papers....and have made it a point to sit down with it once every couple of days. I have 5 pages of review written and 5 pages of materials and methods so far....I have to write a 15 page paper in neurochem right now too on the regulation of serotonin and related receptors by steroid hormones......and of course now that everything is picking up class-wise my research is starting to come together and I need the lab time.......HELP!!

Good suggestions....I actually got two really good books on my topic and several good papers....and have made it a point to sit down with it once every couple of days. I have 5 pages of review written and 5 pages of materials and methods so far....I have to write a 15 page paper in neurochem right now too on the regulation of serotonin and related receptors by steroid hormones......and of course now that everything is picking up class-wise my research is starting to come together and I need the lab time.......HELP!!