This is it. I am finally done with my coursework. Now begins the second phase of my PhD studies, the prelim paper writing. And I am having SO much trouble putting my thoughts down. If only my thesis had to do with blog writing. Ha ha ha ha. Anyway, I have so much to read and so many things going through my head that I get overwhelmed. I have a meeting due with my SV soon (actually to discuss a research project she wants me to help her in) but I think I will squeeze in some room to ask her a few questions. But here are things that she told me before, that I need to follow strictly, but have yet to:
- Make sure I read from really good, reputable journals; in Comm some of it would be the Journal of Comm, Human Comm Res, Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, Journal of CMC, Comm Reports etc
- Read a few articles very closely to find common threads and contradictory findings. And pick the ones that most closely resembles your topic of interest
- Keep a file to jot down important ideas that suddenly strikes you. Who knows when it might come and how much it would help.
- This I am adding myself... try to discuss your topic with colleagues or friends in the same discipline. I think it would help, at least to make sure your ideas sounds rationale and testable.
I know the prelim is slightly different than the prospectus defense, but its horribly difficult too. I am struggling because I am still not clear what I want to do. At the moment, I am just trawling through the literature that I have, summarizing them and trying to build the model in my head.
It's also very, very hard to keep motivated. I have to discipline myself and it's tough! That means no TV, no casual browsing, no Twitter and no music for at least a couple of hours. And if I can read a few articles per day, and get at least one page down everyday, there's no reason I can't complete it in two months. Right? Sigh.
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