A problem and a possible solution
There are 3 comments on this post.So closing in on my third year, and in theory I should finish my dissertation by next summer. This means that I should probably start the writing process around April (I'm a fast writer, what with having a quality keyboard and knowing LaTeX quite well).
But if I want to be sure that I can finish next year, I should probably omit one of the problems I originally wanted to solve; and keep that for later, unless it turns out to be particularly simple when I finish the rest.
What do you think? Is it a good solution?
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There are 3 comments on this post.
(May 08 2015, 23:38)
If you have enough, then write the damn thing and be done with it.
(May 08 2015, 23:41 In reply to Peter Krautzberger)
There's still much more to do. So much more. But there's also some good progress recently.
(May 09 2015, 01:22)
Personally, and with a big dose of hindsight, I would advise someone in your position to leave out the topic that you hoped to work on and which you are still interested in. Writing up is always time-consuming and it is best not to have "some interesting loose ends" that will distract you when you should be writing up the things that are already complete.
One can always save such topics for the post-PhD years; even if one never gets time to write up the details, I think the marginal benefit to your thesis is not worth the extra effort and possible disruption.
However, people's expectations from a PhD can vary a lot from person to person, and from institution to institution. So anything I suggest has to be taken with a big pinch of salt :)