Dissertation Diary

I am going to try and write the conclusion section. I'll start by reviewing my notes about what should be included. Then I'll write a plan and then I'll start writing.

I also think I need to improve my student development section of the literature review. I might have to do some reading for this. I have some refs at home so I'll have to find them tonight.

I have written most of the methodology section now but I still need to justify why I have changed MacDonald's framework. I think I will do this after I have changed the literature review as I will need info from the lit rev to do that. So next steps are to finish the plan of the whole dissertation as this will allow me to finish each section. not much time left..!

Today I am going to write up the analytical framework and the problem sentences and the extra bits of the framework if I can. If I finish that I will continue with the plan of the whole dissertation that I started the other day.

I have read through the methodology and listed the changes I need to make and reread hewings first article. Now I am going to attempt to create a plan of the whole dissertation and how all the ideas fit together. That will make it easier to revise everything and write the introduction and conclusion. I'll start with a summary of the findings and work backwards!

Just the conclusion left and a lot of revision. Main things that need changing are Literature review - add and take out sections according to the results, Methodology - detail and justify my adaptations to Hewings' framework, Results and Discussion - change order so the two are integrated. The conclusion will include limitations and a summary and some other things probably but I can't remember what right now. I also need to rewrite the introduction and the first chapter saying that the study will be descriptive.

I have made a lot of improvements to my results and discussion sections. I still need to add all the examples and tidy up some sections. I might have to do a little bit more reading as well. I have written more than 10,000 words now. I found that out that it is acceptable if we only write 12,000 words!!!

I have made improvements to the results and discussion sections. I have also found some extra information about evaluation and objectivity in psychology writing. I still need to find information about hedging. I will start with Hyland (2000) for that. I might manage to finish this section tomorrow.

I have done most of my Results and Discussion section. It needs a lot of reorganising and improving now. Tomorrow, I'll start improving it. I will have to:

1. Go through and connect the literature review to the results section.

2. Separate the results and discussion more clearly.

3. Add some bits that I have left out such as the significance of hedging. I will probably have to do some reading before I can do this

I should be able to do a lot of this tomorrow, so I can send it all on Monday. On Saturday, I'll start sorting out the literature review. I'll think about which books I'll need to look at and list what I need to include from the results section and in what order. Next week is going to be busy with other things, so I need to do it now.

I have to complete the bulk of my Results and Discussion today.

Another 1,100 words..... how tedious. At least I am on track.