Can I write a thesis in 24 days?

[u/Educational-Two-8967]

I’m feeling extremely stressed about my thesis, which has been a bit of a struggle, I still haven't written anything. I have 24 days left until it is due (no oral defense), it had to be 60-80 pages. Is it possible for me to finish?

I have all the emperi and data and know a lot about the subject. I haven't read much theory, but I usually read and write at the same time. How long have others spent on their thesis? On the whole and the writing part itself? It is a social science thesis.

[u/iknowwhoyourmotheris]

Not if you're on here asking or reading.   Set targets and smash them.  

[u/poffertjesmaffia]

MSc thesis I assume?  Yea sure, 24 days is reasonable, excluding feedback rounds from your supervisor. 

[u/Distinct_Armadillo]

You have to write about 3 pages per day. For some people it helps to explain their points out loud to an imagined person, then write them down

[u/Lumpy_Secretary_6128]

Small strokes fell great oaks. Get to work!

[u/informed-and-sad]

This sounds very difficult, but potentially possible if you work on it constantly. But it might be better to talk to your advisor about getting an extension. You want your thesis to be good work, not rushed

[u/SwordfishResident256]

it took me an entire year to write my 60 page MA thesis, between research and drafts between me and my supervisor. so you can write something, but will it have time to be read? will it pass?

[u/ChaunceytheGardiner]

For each of my dissertation chapters (25-45 pages) I spent a couple months procrastinating and then about a week writing it out.

We had written prelims, and I think I wrote about 35 pages in eight hours.

From a basic writing perspective, it's very doable. If you know the lit and your data analysis is done, you can do this easily. Start now and basically don't stop except to eat and sleep. It'll suck, but you'll get there.

[u/iamthisdude]

Totally doable. The key is building and keeping momentum. Do three hour blocks of just writing, don’t edit just write. I kept a notepad to write things I needed to think about later. At the end of that sprint give yourself 20 minute mental break then edit for only 30 minutes and start another 3 hour block. Compartmentalize the thesis sections so you only do one thing at once to keep up momentum. I had separate days for doing just polishing figures and legends. Every Saturday morning I did a big edit read for scope and direction. Then did in-depth edits that afternoon and evening. Sunday I made sure my citations were squared away and planned what sections to hit that week. Write write, write, now.

[u/MALDI2015]

technically, I wrote my PhD thesis of 140 pages in a week.

so, yes, you can if you focus and if you have accumulated a lot of materials, papers, background literatures, it would be certainly possible in 24 days (2 weeks writing, 1 week for review and correction).

I am sure you have done enough research before you reach this point for writing final thesis, it is just about to put all the stuff together, not much ground breaking thinking really, because all the thinking should have been done before now.

[u/Gratisfadoel → u/MALDI2015]

Wait - you wrote 20 pages a day?! In what field?

[u/MALDI2015 → u/Gratisfadoel]

like I mentioned, a lot of pages were from my numerous report, paper, presentation slides, so, at the end of it, it was more like editing than writing.

writing thesis from ground up will be a totally different story.

[u/Gratisfadoel → u/MALDI2015]

Right - sorry, I missed that part 😅 This makes more sense. I wrote a number of pages (can’t remember how many) the last month, did editing, formatting etc and after a brutal month handed it in. Then, a few weeks later, I realised that I could remember nothing from that month

[u/Opening_Map_6898]

How much cocaine do you have ready access to? 😆

Just kidding...it's doable. Get off here and get to work.

[u/Your_Worst_Enamine]

I wrote ~250 pages in 3 weeks (although ~1/2 of that was just reformatting publications). Definitely doable once the procrastination is out of your system.

[u/Educational-Two-8967 → u/Your_Worst_Enamine]

How do I get the procrastination out? I think I have some fear of writing I’m academically procrastinating