Nearly at the end of the line

Thesis draft

While distant forests shrieked at me from afar this afternoon, I printed off a copy of the most recent versions of my three substantive chapters and reviewed them in the Wadham Library. As much as I am used to spending ten hours of more watching words glow on an LCD display, editing only seems to reach its full potential when there are things to be crossed out, big arrows to be drawn, and incisive notes to be written with the margins.

Generally, I am quite happy with what is written. Things are not arranged or argued in quite the waythey would be if I started over now, but the major themes that arose from my research are reasonably well articulated. As has been the case for the past week, the biggest task remaining is the relocation of some bits of what has already been written and the filling in of some gaps.

I may even be able to attend the thesis-completion barbecue that some members of my program are holding on Friday evening.

Author: Milan

In the spring of 2005, I graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in International Relations and a general focus in the area of environmental politics. In the fall of 2005, I began reading for an M.Phil in IR at Wadham College, Oxford. Outside school, I am very interested in photography, writing, and the outdoors. I am writing this blog to keep in touch with friends and family around the world, provide a more personal view of graduate student life in Oxford, and pass on some lessons I've learned here.

9 thoughts on “Nearly at the end of the line”

  1. Much better to be at the end of the line than at the end of your rope, isn’t it?

  2. I agree, printing is the best way to do final editing. Though I despair how many trees are going to die in the course of my thesis…

  3. At least the paper was recycled.

    If my financial position were stronger, I would offset the carbon emissions associated with the thesis project and say so somewhere on it.

  4. Things are not arranged or argued in quite the waythey would be if I started over now

    “Just because something doesn’t do what you planned it to do doesn’t mean it’s useless.”
    -Thomas A. Edison

  5. Good to hear. btw re Paris – an update (with amended links) of my problematic comment has been entered on my LJ instead. Draft book response is in progress, but already dauntingly long and disorganised.

  7. I am prepared to offset your carbon emissions related to the thesis as a small gift to you. Please let me know how to go about it.

  8. Mom.

    I know a company that will offset 6 tonnes of CO2 equivalent – which should easily cover the thesis project – for US $72. I sent an email to another such company. Hopefully, I will hear from them soon. They did the carbon offsetting for the Survey on Climate Change printed in the 9 September 2006 issue of The Economist.

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