by Ruth (Student Blogger: History)
Ok, so third year is upon us, well actually, we’re now almost through, and if you, like me, are in your final year, things, at the moment, might be getting a little too… much. Slowly assignments and deadlines have built up and late-night library seshes have become your new best friend. It can be hard to prioritise which piece of work, module or reading to put first, but hopefully this list can help you order some of the stress that seems to only be increasing…
- The dreaded dissertation.
‘Dissertation’ sounds scary. It’s what you uncertainly whispered in first year, convinced in two years you’d be completely capable of tackling that 10,000 words, and then when second year came around, you started panicking as planning became ever more real. The first things first, is don’t panic, sounds simple right? But, in reality, if you split up your dissertation into sections, it becomes more manageable. Traditionally, dissertations, especially for humanities subjects like mine, are split up into three sections. That’s around 2,000-3,000 words for each, essentially three essays after each other, sandwiched between an introduction and conclusion. Breaking up the dissertation and focusing on each chapter separately really helped me to reduce the fear of the 10,000 words. It also enables you to look closely at each section, making sure the arguments you are making work throughout and have a clear structure within. Allow yourself a timescale of 500 words every other day, or 300 words every day, whatever you find comfortable. For time management, I deliberately always set aside 1-2 days a week on the dissertation allowing me a designated time to read through it, so I wasn’t making haphazard changes in whatever spare five minutes I had. But the biggest help was planning and starting early, getting the majority of your research completed in the summer meant I was able to structure further reading on the plan already forming. Giving yourself a clear timescale for the dissertation allows you to section off other times in order to give proper focus to your modules.
- How do I even fit in modules around this??
Not only do you have 10,000 words due in but also about forty other assignments all needing immediate attention. Like the dissertation, the best thing to do is to plan early, if like me you have two essays due in around the same time of your dissertation, allow yourself to start readings early. Make use of your tutors, tell them you’re in your final year, and the other deadlines you have on, see them in their office hours, so you get an idea of what they want from you for your assignments. These expectations will help you structure your work, reducing the editing and proof-reading stage… hopefully!
- What about exams!?
The words exams and revision might make you want to curl up in bed with a pillow thrown over your head to avoid thinking about them, especially when assignments are due in before then. However, keeping them in mind will enable you to start planning revision. If your course is more exam focus, plan how many lectures you need to make notes on and maybe agree to revise half of or one lecture a day. As a result, letting you focus on revising the knowledge in Easter instead of learning the material!
Third year is a tough year, suddenly everything becomes busier, graduation seems too far away but also somehow imminent. The main advice is to mange your time effectively. Cordon off some time to start looking at careers or further study, as well as enjoying your, potentially, last year in Lancaster, giving yourself time to rest and recuperate!