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Mastering Your Thesis: Effective Planning and Overcoming Common Pitfalls

This comprehensive guide by Coral Payne and Olivia Kienzel covers crucial aspects of thesis planning, emphasizing the importance of choosing a relevant topic that aligns with your interests and career goals. It identifies common pitfalls such as perfectionism and procrastination, providing strategies to develop a concise outline, maintain a realistic schedule, and establish effective communication with supervisors. Additionally, the guide offers writing tips, formatting guidance in APA style, and resources for managing references. Avoid setbacks and enhance your thesis journey with practical advice and support.

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Mastering Your Thesis: Effective Planning and Overcoming Common Pitfalls

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  1. Mastering The Thesis Planning, Pitfalls, & Pain Reduction By Coral Payne & Olivia Kienzel

  2. Choosing A Topic - Planning • Choose topic you are passionate about. • Contribute to existing knowledge/future career? • What kind of thesis? • MS, study, literature review, personal process

  3. Choosing A Topic - Pitfalls • Too broad! • Getting off topic and onto tangents • Loosing perspective • Perfectionism • Fear of committing to a topic *Demo of a topic * Exercise

  4. Institutional Review Board (IRB) • Guidelines for Submissions • City U has great tip sheet • Ask for help and plan ahead • Send completed forms – turnaround time for omissions/errors • Research question tight and well worded?

  5. Thesis Outline • The right time – after preliminary research and before writing starts • Be concise and specific (use APA headings) • Should have a logical flow • Easier to write • Easier to read (very important) • Reminder that this is your topic, and your work – you are the boss!

  6. Thesis Outline - Pitfalls • Not sticking to the outline • Invitations to broaden topic (beyond the scope) • Not making the outline detailed enough – not a good enough roadmap

  7. Developing A Schedule • Thesis Group Schedule Template (CityU) • Hard deadlines (choosing topic, IRB,ethics, outline, chapter submissions) • Feedback – be proactive • Keep moving forward • Don’t lose momentum • Leave 2 months at the end for approvals, second readers, and revisions

  8. Schedule - Pitfalls • Be realistic (your life – sacrifices you are willing to make) • Motivation – what works for you? • Procrastination – Waging the war • Falling off the wagon • Motivation list in sight • Plan for missed deadlines • Reach out for help

  9. Schedules - Pitfalls • Don’t beat yourself up! • Learn from setbacks * Exercise – list of supports * Thesis support group

  10. Supervisors • Keep in contact – every two weeks • Let them know when you’ll be sending work • Don’t over contact – this is your work • Know their role and your responsibilities • Send them polished work • Find others to help you/read your work

  11. Supervisors - Pitfalls • Can entice you to stray from your topic • They are not editors! • Busy people: don’t waste their time • Can take too long to send feedback • Don’t be afraid to remind them you’re waiting • Your job to manage your schedule

  12. Writing Tips • Designate a physical workspace • Commit to blocks of time • Create a regular schedule • Communicate to family and friends • Keep in touch with supervisor, fellow students, mentors • Blocks – reach out; don’t suffer alone

  13. APA Style And Formatting • Buy the book! • Formatting • Headings and quotations • Software/Templates • Invest time and $$ to learn • Use for smaller papers in preparation for thesis

  14. APA - Pitfalls • Use APA right from the start – don’t try to retrofit • Tricky to learn, but worth it • Save $$$$$ so you don’t have to pay an editor

  15. References • Avoid plagiarism • Make a master reference list (use software – i.e. Microsoft Word, Qiqqa, and City U library resources) • Copy and paste references to avoid errors • Add each new article to the reference list • Keep articles organized in files by subject category

  16. References • Highlight portions of the article you wish to use (or use software like Qiqqa) – *Demo • Write the topic heading(s) – tags – at the top of the page (or use software like Qiqqa) *Demo

  17. Resource List • Olivia Kienzel 604-700-4521 olivia@compasscounselling.org www.compasscounselling.org • Coral Payne 604-362-5147 coralpayne@shaw.ca www.commercialdrivecounselling.com • Free library software: qiqqa.com • APA paper how-to for Word: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGUfeM91mW8

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