Vlog 56 How to fail a PhD in 60 seconds

PhDs are as much about impressions as regulations. Tara talks about the key - initial - and quick impressions that impact on an examiner and the results that students will receive.

[@lenag3329]

(1) remember the audience: u are writing for examiners, who examine whether u've reached international benchmarks of scholarship (2) size - large is better (3) references: breadth-depth-actuality (4) textbooks&dictionaries: NO (5) the organisation of the idea (6) poorly written or editor use - 'examination is much about the impressions as it is about regulations' (7) short introduction

[@HongNguyen-my5oq]

I disagree with point number one. It depends on whether it is double side or single side when printing. Also, when the writing is done well it is written concisely and no winding making the thesis seem larger than it is.

[@lamalamalex]

Well, it’s a proxy. It gives a likelihood of something. Not a guarantee. As for print formatting the standard of size would be adjusted to account for that. I don’t think she means physical size.

[@doctorwhyphi]

That is why it is important to stay in touch with your dissertation committee, your chair, your examiners. Inform them about your progress, struggles, concepts, seek their advice. The more communication, the less surprises.

[@juliew8476]

Super, SUPER helpful. It’s amazing to hear what impressions the examiners form based on these elements. I went and changed/added several things based on this video. I’m in your debt!

[@cathyyoung2332]

I just watched this while my daughter is in her PhD Viva in London; about half an hour into it now, another hour or more to go. Meanwhile I am waiting at home with champagne and strawberries in the fridge. I knew this was a real achievement for my daughter, but now I know a little more about just how much of an achievement it is. Thank you, Tara.

[@fuzzluvver69]

I know this was two years ago, but how did your daughter do? I'm interested to know! Also, what was her PhD on?

[@tamisanlatherow3103]

I have concerns about the 2-year comment...if your work is covering something old in a new light or something completely new there may be no articles, or at the least, very little. Most of the articles around my topic fall out of fashion in the 1980s, pop back up in the 2010s and then only one or two in the last year or so. Sometimes I find something tangentially associated, but that's the point, my research is new because no one is talking about it, so by default the articles are scarce. Shouldn't the focus be on the quality of the research, not the date of last publication?

[@innocenttendomugaanire8278]

Woow, the authority u've used in expressing your ideas has just made everything u said sink well in my coconut, great and insightful presentation, thanks alot Tara, starting my PhD this fall,

[@dudleydiva]

You are amazing! Thanks for the advice. Delivered perfectly.

[@Lleruelu]

Such a great piece of advice. Thanks and kind regards from Spain!

[@Chelwho]

Thank you for that great advice, some tips that I had not thought about, and some reassurance for aspects that I had thought about and included. I am in the final throws of submitting for examination and this video provided with guidance to enable me to see from the perspective of the examiners. Very helpful.

[@alisplace2211]

Fantastic vlog. I’m both enlightened and terrified! So informative as always, thank you.

[@michaeltyrrell2498]

Beautifully pulled together thanks Tara; would've loved to see it 12 months ago!

[@officeofgraduateresearchfl9343]

Thanks legendary Mike :) And mate - you never need my help - you are LEGENDARY just as you are :) Everything crossed for your result!!!!! Txxx

[@jean-francoisniglio6798]

Great advice!! I am putting my thesis together so needless to say that I will be making some adjustments! Thank you

[@jenniferread6465]

These are some great suggestions. I am starting an EDd program in less than a year and was concerned about the dissertation. This helps a lot.

[@rachelloneyhowes]

Thank you, Tara! I'm submitting in a month, so this was great timing. The last thing I need to do is really highlight the contribution my thesis is making. Thanks for the great video.

[@officeofgraduateresearchfl9343]

That's so true Rach - think 'meta' at this point. You are a great researcher. It is great research. Convince the examiner why they should care. What is the examiner going to learn? Be overt - you are sorted. Great luck - thinking of you - and let us know how you go!!! Txxx

[@desia.brimou]

Yay! I'm scared of getting a PhD now!

[@younisibrahim4562]

What a confident lady, you can't imagine, if she's your examiner!!!! But thanks for cultivating the fear to be concious.

[@ReeAmor]

This is a great video! Thank you for the great information!!

[@grantbeerling4396]

Honest and frightening.The 2 year rule, getting caught with your pants down, your own words, Microsoft formatting "it is the path to madness" (yep).

[@AsmaKhan-ol1vi]

I submitted my thesis last month. Found this video a bit late, a couple of weeks before submission. But it was, without a doubt, invaluable. A must-watch.

[@DrShellyAnnGajadhar]

She is so great! Thank you so much for this very honest, direct and informative video. I have my viva in December and this has really helped!

[@jahipalmer8782]

Thank you so much for this. I'll be starting my dissertation writing soon and this help me greatly to have an idea what I am working towards. Subscribed!

[@2GOODBMSJOBS]

I appreciate the information given in this video, is very inspiring. Thanks for making out time to share your experiences.

[@detailingdiaries6562]

Great video, I'm currently doing my MSc and thinking about doing a PhD. Some great tips, and food for thought

[@Chris-ov9se]

I'm preparing for a PhD interview and your blogs are the business! Thank you for taking the time to talk about all these things.

[@amala1552]

how did it go?

[@Messi-rw9ng]

This is incredbily helpful stuff! I'm still an undergrad but I'm thinking of going into some graduate level research and well, I guess it's good to know what I'll be dealing with prior to making that sort of commitment. Thank you!

[@davebryant5731]

Professor you’re the best and I’m speechless to say how grateful I am to you for accepting to share your thoughts and experience with us students.

[@officeofgraduateresearchfl9343]

Oh Dave - please call me Tara. Always. If I am useful - then I thank you. Keep in touch and let me know how I can help. Txxx

[@davebryant5731]

Office of Graduate Research Flinders University thanks for everything and you have already proven to be immensely helpful. I have already watched 4 of your videos but I need to watch them more than once jus like good reading .

[@dkbrown58]

Fantastic thank you! I start my PhD TODAY and this has given me food for thought and questions for my supervisor. I'm very grateful.

[@officeofgraduateresearchfl9343]

Thank you Maggie - and GREAT LUCK. You will always remember today. And yes - I hope there may be something there to create some conversations with your supervisor. Conversations about examiners and examinations should start at meeting one :). Thinking of you today - have a great one! Txxx

[@user-xn2hf9re8r]

How's it going Maggie?

[@ayyy-kf6sz]

How did it go?

[@pokeinfoman1287]

THANK YOU for this. I cam about to being a MA program with a PhD track, and I am taking notes!

[@EvieBam]

This is an older video but fantastic just like all of yours - i’m obsessed! I’m dyslexic and dyspraxic so have a study skills advisor. She reads my work and makes comments on common errors i make in my writing and helps me to understand why they are mistakes. I then have to put this new information into practice and i edit my work myself based on this information. What i want to know is whether she is in effect acting as an editor? She doesn’t edit my text directly or move things around etc. She adds comments (via word) and we discuss her feedback - it’s not content based feedback as she is not an academic it is writing feedback. Just trying to figure out whether your editor advice applies for me.

[@inregionecaecorum]

I have just looked back, the word "original" does not appear in my Thesis until page 295. I guess that makes it hightly original.

[@phyllismoreau3764]

Very Informative! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@rachelspencer379]

Another fantastic vlog, thanks Tara. This was very useful, practical and helpful. As always, you made me sit up and take note, take stock and take control - and smile! (I'm a Catherine Tate fan too!) Love, light and peace to you Tara. You are always inspiring and I love the way you deliver important messages with the perfect balance of poise and humour.

[@officeofgraduateresearchfl9343]

Oh Rach - thank you. So much. We Catherine Tate people need to stick together ;) Thanks for being you. Your kindness makes a real difference. Txxx

[@josephkkho8563]

Really learned a lot from you. Grateful.

[@theriverkid5775]

Thank you Prof. Tara for your advice. I'm from Malaysia.

[@ahsanqureshi3467]

How to Pass PhD in 60 seconds. It becomes overwhelming for part time students Appreciate the guidance. Thanks Stay blessed 🙌 🙏

[@josephmusara9163]

Amazing insights!!!

Thank you so much.

[@VeganSquid]

What do you do when a supervisor refuses to sign the contribution forms for published papers? The papers were written completely by the student and the department chair and school know the supervisor refuses to sign. The student added all the silent (non contributing) authors the supervisor wanted to all the papers, but still can not please them. Will the examiners not pass an excellent thesis if the paperwork is not signed?

[@mambast8302]

wish i knew this while i was applying for admission, im 3years into it and after hearing this i feel like i havent started to do anything so i might as well let go and go back home.

[@suebeyer8820]

Fantastic advice!

[@drleannemcrae]

As you can see, I've never had a problem with size. Still having trouble paring back my writing. While it is important for the PhD, I always worry when writing chapters and journal articles that I just write too 'large'. But the PhD served as a training ground for how an argument works together. The chapters must link and convey a coherent argument. It is a skill that serves me when writing today - understanding how detailed and complex ideas can be. This is a strength, not a deficit. Always better to have too much than not enough. My motto for life. I think Big Kev would agree. Though ... it is always a source of disappointment that I never made it to two volumes. :(

[@officeofgraduateresearchfl9343]

Leanne - it was a truly great thesis. And the point of a PhD is to stretch - make the arguments - don't assume the arguments. You are learning how to do a large, sustained piece of work where all the parts clusters. It is tough to do - tough to manage a sustained argument over 100,000 words. But you are a great writer - you get great words on a page. You built on the foundation of the doctorate. You write long. You edit well. And you have produced so many amazing publications because of that :) Wouldn't trade ya for quids :) Txxx

[@ISyrianaI]

thank you !

[@ljc.93]

'If you read nonsense, you will write nonsense.'

[@schoolingdiana9086]

I’ve seen some recent courses that resemble that remark a little too thoroughly, too. It’s not just how you write, but how you design your content and modules, that are affected.

[@sam-oo3gq]

Thank you!

[@Speak4Yourself2]

Thanks a lot!

[@DrLisaDeG]

submitting this week. i think this made me feel better... mostly

[@officeofgraduateresearchfl9343]

You'll be BRILLIANT :) Txxx

[@kegs666]

Do examiners even read the acknowledgements...

[@jamesang7861]

Your finger snapping woke me up and made me readjust my sitting position..

[@jeanniedevereaux5857]

Wonderful

[@n_vibgyor]

I am a Ph.D. drop out! long back. I am scared that i could not contribute my original and at that time i entered IT for work so more paycheck...bad decision! Madam! you have the passion (for lack of even stronger word)...great motivator for 'wishers' but not for me at this age..! But i subscribed and will follow your vblogs..

[@mroosie7488]

Interesting and informative

[@szmsalrashadani803]

can anyone summarize all the points here?

[@cslaton921]

How long should the thesis be?

[@ashishyadav88]

First of all, I would like to Thank you very very much for your efforts and valuable guidance. My question is You mentioned that you read 10 scholarly monographs in a week. Kindly make a dedicated video on what is a monograph and to write it. Thanks & Regards, Ashish

[@roubenkhosrovian]

now im scared of getting phd

[@wonkydonkey8349]

ok you have terrified me and I am not even doing a phd

[@catherinejones5438]

Thanks again diamond lady. Cathy Jpnes

[@officeofgraduateresearchfl9343]

Thanks superstar :) txxx

[@rehanakhan9639]

I had to stop the vlog to research who Catherine Tate was! Good points raised, Tara... I am still at the masters level but inspire to PhD one day. Love the hair piece btw, looking gorgeous :)

[@officeofgraduateresearchfl9343]

I'm a rather big fan of Catherine Tate :) And you are lovely about the flowers. I used to wear a lot more flowers in my hair. But I try to look a bit like a dean, Rehana. I fail - often :) txxx

[@janekokoszko7525]

Rehana Khan Before you start your PhD, Rehana, may I suggest you check the meaning of inspire/aspire. I hope you do move onto a PhD in the future. Good luck!!

[@samadefendiyev9920]

Respect! Check this out! I is with non other than my main man Tara! Keep it real! Bigup yourself! West Side!....

[@lyndlendique5968]

I'm here purely for her accent...

[@alecto7926]

I know what you mean. She sounds like she should telling your fortune.

[@304ssg]

University of Hogwarts ⚡️✨

[@bryanferguson4927]

Absolutely beautiful. Magnetic, charismatic personality.

[@ellengb1gb358]

You read 10 scholarly monographs a week? Wow, that's erm, impressive. Did you mean a year?

[@spinebuster9490]

Week

[@ABSG7]

She’s brilliant

[@sirpsionics]

People cite dictionaries? Seriously??

[@schoolingdiana9086]

I have before, in articles and other peer-reviewed publications. A key piece of what I was pointing out depended on correcting vocabulary misuse and misunderstandings. You’d be surprised how many of my current instructors have a PhD and don’t know what basic words mean. And I’m at one of the highest rated public universities in the US.