I am glad we spent sometime last week thinking about what you might all need moving forward for this semester of thesis class. I also think building in some in-class writing time, along with feedback mechanisms (whether by peer support groups or short conferencing opportunities) will support building the right habits. Discussion or tips for how to deal with time management challenges (and motivation challenges) will be ongoing. And I will keep this in mind in thinking about how to design our time together each week.
It is so important to be mindful along the way regarding your own process, and notice when you are practicing avoidance (procrastination). Procrastination is often misunderstood. Said simply, procrastination is an anxiety response, so it important to take notice of this, and try to employ strategies to take small achievable steps in lieu of thinking about the weight of the big picture. Procrastination is a problematic “anxiety-management habit” rather than a time-management problem. When a task feels uncertain, overwhelming, or connected to fear of failure, avoiding it gives one a momentary sense of relief. But unfortunately, that relief reinforces the avoidance. So, make the tasks smaller. Start before you feel ready. Lower the stakes. And just keep going. Slow and steady wins the race.
Our slides
Weekly Habits for MA Thesis Writers
A thesis is built through small, consistent acts of reading, writing, thinking, and revising. You don’t have to make major progress every week, but you do need to try to keep your project moving.
WRITE
Write something every week. You never know where the writing you do ends up in terms of the final submission, but believe me, it matter to keep writing. **A paragraph, a page, notes, a messy draft, a question – anything that moves your thinking forward.
READ
Read with your thesis in mind. Take notes.
Don’t just collect sources. Ask: What does this help me see, question, or argue?
THINK
Give yourself time to think.
Keep a thesis notebook or documents file for questions, connections, discoveries, quotations, and ideas that aren’t ready to become “academic writing” yet.
TALK
Talk about your project.
Explain your ideas to a classmate, writing group, or advisor. Thesis class is designed for exactly this kind of work. Talking often helps you discover what you actually think.
CONNECT
This is what thesis class is for!
Share brief updates, questions, or emerging ideas. Your blogs are “your calling card” for further connection regarding your process. Don’t wait to ask for help.
SMALL STEPS
Choose small, concrete goals each week. Maybe just one small goal. One is better than none.
REFLECT
End the week by looking back. Write your blog. Ask yourself:
- What did I accomplish?
- What did I learn?
- What am I still figuring out?
- What is my next step?
A Sustainable Weekly Commitment
As a general guideline, please aim for 5-6 hours of focused thesis work each week. This might mean a few 2-hour sessions, several shorter writing blocks, or whatever rhythm works for you.
Some weeks will be more productive than others. The goal is not to clock a certain number of hours or produce a certain number of pages. The goal is to develop a sustainable practice that keeps your thinking and writing moving forward.
Keep going guys. You just need to keep moving it forward.
As a reminder, in preparing for your future MA thesis showcase for the class, here are the Thesis Presentation Guidelines.
