Writing Groups

This last blog before the Christmas break was meant to be a second installment of Dissertations/Theses in the news.

However, I find myself in a rather familiar situation -- prioritizing other work over finishing my dissertation.

I have one last chapter to write -- One. Final. Chapter. And then . . . all I have to concern myself with is reviewing the content with my committee, relying on their feedback as I revise the entire thing, and then submitting all important required graduate school paperwork to defend my dissertation and graduate.

Instead, I am using the little free time that I have grading student papers, making up quizzes, grading quizzes, helping my kids with their homework. . . Okay, that last one does not count. But you know what I mean.

The problem is that it is just too easy to rationalize finishing all of this other work before I focus on my own. And that is when I fall into the all too familiar abyss.

Thus, concerned that I will not use any of the Christmas break to make any progress on this final chapter, I wanted to offer some thoughts about writing groups.

A dissertation/thesis writing group is not some formal gathering of graduate students reading and critiquing each other's work. That is the last thing anyone needs. Besides, you will receive all of the feedback that you need from your director and committee members. Do not let the name "writing group" fool you. This is just three or four people at a coffee shop, a bookstore, a diner, a library, or some other designated meeting space where you can write. Nothing more.

A writing group is a kind of support network. The three or four of you make a formal agreement that once a week -- or once every two weeks, or once a month, whatever your schedule permits -- the writing group will meet at a pre-arranged time at a designated place (and the time and place must be agreed to beforehand and will not be changed for any reason). This time has been set aside from your busy schedule specifically for all of you to write your dissertation/thesis. Not research. Not read sources. Not collect data. But write. Anecdotal evidence and research shows that graduate students prioritize every other aspect of their dissertation/thesis EXCEPT THE WRITING!

Therefore, the second part of the writing group's agreement is that no other distractions are permitted. No texting, no going on Facebook, no checking Twitter feeds, etc. Every member of the writing group keeps the other person on task. WRITE! As Richard Castle's screensaver tells us:

Anecdotal evidence does indicate that writing groups help. Further, the evidence suggests that writing groups are even more effective if the other members of your writing group consists of peers from different fields/departments. This protects individuals from unconsciously evaluating the worth of their own topic in their chosen field to someone else's topic who happens to be in the exact same field. This leads to panic and writer's block, and the next thing you know: another year goes by and, once again, no work done on the dissertation.

You have your topic. You have done the primary reading. You have conducted your experiment/observation. You have your research and data. Now it is time to write.

It still may take a great deal of time to write the entirety of your thesis (see previous post on being a non-traditional student for data on average length of time to complete a dissertation/thesis). At least the support of a regular writing group will help keep you on task.

Feel free to comment on this blog about writing groups. Feel free to share your thoughts about writing groups on our Facebook page. If you want to try and set up a writing group and need help doing so, feel free to contact the office.

Oh . . . and on a related note: There has been some debate in our office about scheduling regular writing days -- perhaps, once a month in our office or in one of the classrooms in the library -- for graduate students who want all of the benefits of a writing group, but cannot seem to put one together. Office sponsored writing days would offer the same benefits -- get together in a quiet, safe space, no distractions allowed, and write. The only difference would be, Thesis and Dissertation office staff would be on hand to help if someone has a question about something in their document. Would you want our office to offer writing days? Would writing days help you plan time in your busy schedule to focus exclusively on writing your dissertation/thesis? Let us know in a comment or on Facebook.

7 Myths About Assignment Service Providers Busted

Academic assistance industry has undergone a drastic change in the past few decades. Severalassignment service providers have come into existence. Increasing study pressure is main reason behind this. Thousands of students from various countries avail help from writing help agencies to ease their academic stress. The percentage of UK students is quite high in this respect. This is only one side of the story. Another facet needs to be revealed. There are many myths that restrain some students from availing help from online custom assignment writing services. Those myths are discussed over here. 

1) Availing assignment assistance is a kind of cheating

The most common myth is buy assignments from writing help agencies is a kind of cheating. But availing help from assignment writing services is not unethical. Students can easily hire assignment writers. Experts will provide them tutorial materials. They can refer to those help materials while drafting assignments. Most importantly, they can acquire in-depth subject knowledge by reading those reference materials. 

2) Plagiarized assignment helps materials

Many students think that assignment help services in UK provide plagiarized tutorial materials. This is a myth. Most of the authentic writing help services maintain strict policies against plagiarism. They instruct their writers to produce 100% original content. They use reliable plagiarism detecting tools for checking each help material. 

3) Assignment writing services do not provide revision  

Another myth about assignment writing services is they do not provide revision. Fact is that genuine writing help agencies provide unlimited revision facility. Their writers are always willing to accommodate students’ requirements. 

4) Assignment experts fail to meet stringent deadlines

Many students have the misconception that assignment experts fail to meet short deadlines. But the reality is that genuine writing help services provide reference materials within stringent deadlines. 

5) Universities will not accept the assignment

Many students think that if they refer to the tutorial materials provided by writing help agencies while drafting assignments, their assignments will not be accepted by the universities. This notion is absolutely wrong. Assignment writers strictly follow all the rules and regulations provided by universities while composing the help materials. 

6) Assignment help services do not keep students’ information confidential

Another common myth about writing help companies are they do not keep students’ details confidential. Students who often wonder, “Can experts solve my assignment online” should not think twice before availing help from writing help agencies. Most of the genuine assignment help companies keep students’ personal details confidential. 

7) Students will not learn anything new

Many students think that they cannot learn anything new by availing assignment help from experts. This is a misconception. Fact is that students will get to learn about new things by reading the help materials provided by writing agencies. 

The main aim of authentic assignment writing services is to help students attain academic excellence. These companies provide 24x7 live help. Most importantly, majority of the writing agencies provide help for more than 100 subjects. Therefore, students who require UML assignment help should not be disappointed.

Don’t Know Which Topic To Write On For Your Literature Essay? Take Help Of These Tips

The first step to writing any essay is choosing a topic, and a literature essay is no different. Quite a few times you will be given a ready list by your professor to choose from. However, at other times you may not be so lucky and will have to do the hard work of selecting a topic on your own. If you fall into the latter category, you need to know how to choose a topic before you can pick one. Here are some tips from literature essay help experts that can assist you in selecting a grand topic.

1. Your topic should interest you

English essay writing help experts are of the opinion that if your topic doesn't interest you, it’s not worth writing on. This is because your disinterest in the topic will reflect in you writing, which will make your paper lacklustre. Therefore, for you enthusiasm to reflect in your paper, you must pick a topic that catches your fancy. It will serve as an instant grades booster. A little brainstorming will help you in arriving at a topic you love.

2. It should be in line with your essay type

The more than ten types of essays that are commonly prescribed by professors and each have topics of their own. For example, if you have a compare and contrast essay to do, your topic cannot be the role of the sea in Old Man and the Sea. This topic is more suitable for an exploratory essay. Therefore, before you start searching, you should determine your essay type first.

3. Know where to look for a topic

Most of your time is wasted because you don’t know where to search for a suitable topic for your essay. According to urgent essay help online experts, you can find a topic anywhere as long as you keep your eyes and ears open. Brilliant topics are born out of the notes you jot down or the lectures you listen to. Sometimes you can get an idea for a topic even from the text itself. While reading the text, a certain angle may strike you, which never struck you before and that can be your topic.

4. Narrow your topic to find a specific angle

Say for example you pick this topic- The imageries in Julius Caesar. When you start writing, you will realise that all of the imageries in the play will amount a considerable number of imageries when the word count of your paper is just 500 words. So instead of writing imageries in Julius Caesar, you should narrow down your topic to imageries of nature in Julius Caesar. This will make your topic more manageable and easier to write on.

5. Subject your topic to questions to determine its suitability

Whether you write an essay online (on your computer) or offline (on paper), your topic should be an apt one. The one and the only way you can find out whether you have chosen the right topic or not is by subjecting it to certain questions, and these are:

·         Is it in within the guidelines of the assignment?

·        Does it have enough information on it from reliable resources to make a strong point?

·         Is the topic the right size for the essay?

·         Is it an overused topic or a fresh one?

If get positive answers for each of these questions, you have chosen well.

The Right Place to Write?

Mark Twain finishing a chapter?

NIU’s thesis and dissertation writing group, Write Place/Write Time, met yesterday from 6 to 9 p.m. for our first fall meet-up. Four of us convened in our clean, well-lighted place—reserved every second Thursday—next to the Fourth Floor East windows in Founders Memorial Library. After greeting and chatting briefly, we each got down to business: composing in a quiet environment largely removed from everyday distractions. A great experience!

Writing alongside others working on projects similar to your own has many benefits: structure, support, accountability, and a spirit of healthy competition (in the positive sense suggested by the Latin roots of compete: com- ‘together’ + petere ‘to strive’). In previous posts, this blog has featured excellent overviews of Write Place/Write Time and its benefits in the context of one dissertator's routine and schedule (May 20, 2016, and December 4, 2015). Here I’d like to add a bit more on the topic of the places where successful writing happens through sharing of a few pieces of literary trivia.

Other Writers, Other Places

Virginia Woolf once famously said, to be able to write one needs money and a room of one’s own (in reference to women writing fiction in Shakespeare’s day). As any grad student can tell you, she was right about the money part.  But what about that other part? Is a room of one’s own the optimal setting for good writing?

Georges Simenon--
I think he's the guy at the desk.

Settings you can’t call your own may very well feature all manner of unhelpful distractions. Perhaps that’s why Belgian novelist Georges Simenon strongly favored working in a room just for him. Creator of hundreds of detective novels, Simenon was “perhaps the most widely published author of the 20th century,” according to his official website. Simenon would reportedly complete a novel in about eleven days of isolated, non-stop writing. He would take breaks to eat and sleep, but during these writing stints he would speak to no one, take no phone calls, and never leave his room (Salgado 66). No word on whether he ever considered grad school.

Writing in your own space may help foster constructive writing methods. In his later years, as pictured above, Mark Twain apparently preferred to write in his bedroom while still in bed. Twain isn’t the only successful author who developed a fancy for horizontal composing. The approach has been taken up more recently by DeKalb High School graduate, novelist, and Stanford professor Richard Powers.

Richard Powers: Standing up at Stanford.

In a 2003 interview in The Paris Review, Powers related that his dream “has always been to suspend myself in space when I write, and lying horizontal in bed is the closest to doing that.” Perhaps this method is worth exploring. 

Just as memorable and worth considering is Ernest Hemingway’s habit of writing in his bedroom while standing up. A fascinating portrait of Hemingway’s work habits appears in this 1958 interview in The Paris Review.


Summing Up: Write Place/Write Time

Ernest Hemingway thinking on his feet.

Certainly all writers need some sort of combination of place and time in order to get their writing done. May the above anecdotes and reading links refresh some of your ideas about writing, help you rethink places where your best writing happens, and inspire you to get back to it.

And remember: a room of our own is available every second Thursday in the library. We hope to see you there. Until then, happy writing!

                             Work Cited

Salgado, Gamini.  “The Novelist at Work.”  Novels and Novelists: A Guide to the World of Fiction.   Ed. Martin Seymour-Smith.  New York: St. Martin’s, 1980.  Print.

Demystifying the UWC's "Dissertate in Eight" Program

As you know, Project Thesis NIU aims to keep you informed of updated and valuable information relating to all aspects of theses and dissertations. You may also know that we occasionally invite guest bloggers to contribute to Project Thesis on topics relevant to graduate students today. 
Pick a topic, write a proposal, defend the proposal, conduct the research, write up the findings, discuss the findings, defend the dissertation/thesis, format the dissertation/thesis, submit the dissertation/thesis to the Graduate School, and glide/stomp across the stage for hooding. How challenging can that be??????? Well, just as Dorothy and her friends ventured off to the Emerald City with trepidation, “Lions and tigers and bears – Oh My!,” the journey toward completion of a dissertation/thesis can also be fraught with unknowns and, yes, sometimes even a little fear.

Stevenson Towers B is Shown at Left

From 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. each Wednesday afternoon, speakers present some facet of the dissertation/thesis process per the following schedule:

• Navigating the dissertation/thesis journey (6/15)

• Determining what a dissertation/thesis looks like (6/22)

• Understanding conflict resolution/negotiation strategies (6/29)

• Employing graphics in your document (7/06)

• Employing quantitative and/or qualitative methodologies (7/13)

• Incorporating sources and maintaining your voice (7/20)

• Meeting the Graduate School reader (7/27)

• Preparing for the defense (8/3)

So today, we are happy to present you with a guest blog written by Gail Jacky, director of NIU’s University Writing Center. Please read her post below about a great summer opportunity, “Dissertate in Eight,” the UWC’s “Boot Camp” for Thesis and Dissertation Writers.

If you are seeking a way to demystify – okay, some would say “survive” – that process, please join the staff of the University Writing Center (UWC - Stevenson Towers B) for the 7th annual Dissertate in Eight boot camp June 15 to August 3, 2016. 

The discussions are conducted by the UWC staff and/or individuals who have completed their dissertations within the past academic year. The premise being – they made it, so can you!

Participants generally also take advantage of the rest of Wednesday afternoon, and sometimes the mornings as well, by working independently, connecting with the other participants, or scheduling sessions with the UWC writing coaches to discuss their ideas, organization, coding, etc. – you choose the focus, we provide the support.

Participants also often seek feedback on their writing and/or help finding sources. The UWC coaches love working with writers and are great sounding boards and resources. Many of this summer’s coaches are currently writing their own dissertations, so they can definitely support, and probably commiserate with, you.

Registration is required, and because of the size of the room the number of participants is limited to 30. The registration link is found on the UWC website . Applications are due by June 1. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at gjacky@niu.edu or 815-753-6336. I am the person behind the curtain, and I am ready to help you!

If you cannot attend the boot camp, you are always welcome to use the UWC services at other times: summer hours are M-Th, 9 to 4:30.

Tips for Law Essay Writing Services by Experts in UK

The legal profession is more in demand now than ever before. Most students in UK are taking up law as their major. It is not easy to prepare law essays. You need to have sound knowledge of the rules, regulations, cases and legal proceedings. You should be able to use the cases and references at appropriate places. Not all students are capable enough to prepare law essays with perfection. If you are one of them, you can seek help from the law essay writing services to complete your essay in time. The law experts can help you achieve better grades in class.

Top tips by experts of the law essay writing services for first class work:

You can seek law essay help or essay paper help if your deadline is nearing. To make the process of law essay writing easier for you, here are some tips given by experts of the law essay writing services:

• Focus on neat presentation

The presentation of your law essay should be neat and appealing. A neat presentation of your work will leave a good impression on your teacher. Your teacher will already be thinking of the grade he/she should be giving the paper at first glance.

• Make an effective structure

Your essay should be organized under clear headings and subheadings for a coherent structure. It will also help your teacher in following your chain of thought in a logical way. You have to adopt the right structure for the law essay you prepare.

• Clear, accurate writing

You will be rewarded with marks if you maintain clarity of expression in your write-up. Silly mistakes will severely damage your essay’s chances of securing good marks. Grammatical errors and spelling mistakes will indicate your lack of care and attention.

• Flawless editing

Your teacher will check the essay and mark it based on the quality of editing you do. You have to edit your essay after writing it. By going through it you will find numerous ways of making little improvements that will turn your essay flawless.

• Appropriate citation

Your referencing should be page-specific so that readers can be directed to the specific part of the external source. Referencing is not merely to indicate that you have the ability to read around a subject. In law essay, every point you make should be backed up by relevant authority.

• Strong grasp on subject

The law essay should be able to demonstrate your strong hold on the subject. It should be able to illustrate your appreciation of issues and context that are current and detailed. Your essay should have a contemporary flavor.

• Cogent application

Mere knowledge of the subject is not enough. You need to demonstrate the ability to apply that knowledge correctly to solve a problem and address a particular issue. Your essay should be able to apply the law in an effective manner to derive legal answers.

• Logical flow of argument

You should formulate your argument in a logical and systematic manner through detailed analysis. You should stick to a method of organization either chronologically or in order of perceived importance.

• Maintain relevance

While writing your law essay, you should keep in mind the prompt and stick to it to maintain relevance. Your answer must be adapted to the question in terms of style and content. Your essay should have no space for irrelevant comment.
If you are in a rush, you can avail essay paper help from law experts anytime.

Your college application essay is a vital aspect of the admission process. It is the make-or-break factor for your admission in a top college. You can seek help from admission essay writing services to draft an impeccable application essay. 

Buy Assignments Help Materials Online To Overcome All Academic Writing Issues

Assignment writing is totally different from composing an email or writing a letter. In fact, it is considered to be the most difficult one. If you struggle with expressing your ideas and face other issues while writing an assignment, then you can take help from experts. Yes, many writing help companies have emerged to help students compose an excellent academic paper. You can buy assignments help materials online from them.

•          Difficulty in writing a proper title

•          Difficulty in composing the thesis statement

•          Difficulty in choosing correct diction or vocabulary

•      Difficulty in comprehending complex topics

•          Difficulty in choosing a proper assignment topic

•        Difficulty in collecting data

•          Difficulty in structuring the assignment

• If you are asked to write an academic paper on a complicated topic, then you should take help from experts. They will help you comprehend all the complex topics. They will also draft study materials for you. You will understand arduous assignment topics thoroughly after reading those help materials.

• If you get confused when it comes to selecting an appropriate assignment topic, then you can consult experts. They will provide guidelines for choosing a relevant topic. Some of them will also provide you lists of some probable topics If you are looking forUML assignment help, you do not have to worry. You will get assistance for topic selection from experts.

• If you do not know how to collect authentic data, then you can buy assignment help materials from writing services. You will get all the required data from those help tutorial materials.

• If you do not have adequate knowledge about the basic format or structure of an assignment, then you can consult experts. They will provide you sample assignments. You will have an idea about the basic structure of an academic paper from those samples.

• If you are one of those students who do not find proper words while writing an assignment title, then you should avail help from experts. Professionals will provide you list of probable assignment titles. They will also provide you helpful tips.

• If writing a thesis statement nightmare for you, then you should take help from assignment writers. They will teach you how to compose an informative and precise thesis statement. They will also provide you samples.

• If you want to increase your vocabulary, then you have to read assignment help materials provided by experts. 

You can easily overcome all the assignment writing related issues by reading those tutorial materials. If you buy tutorial materials from custom assignment writers, they will assist you in each step of assignment writing. How experts provide assignment help will be discussed in this blog. But before that, let’s look at the most common assignment writing related issues.

Assignment writing related issues

But before going into the main discussion, you need to be well-acquainted with all types of assignment writing issues. Academic writing problems can be categorized into two groups- linguistic problems and non-linguistic problems.

Linguistic problems

Students generally encounter the below-mentioned linguistic academic writing problems.

Non-linguistic problems

Students come across the following non-linguistic academic writing issues.

How assignment experts help

If you often wonder, “Can someone solve my assignment”, then you will find this section helpful. This section focuses on how experts solve all the above mentioned academic writing problems. 

If you are studying in an Australian university, then you need not to worry. There are manyassignment providers in Australia. Many assignment help services are there in UK as well.