Writing and Research Tips
RUST VS. YOU NEED A SYSTEM.
Organizing all the information that makes up a thesis can be daunting. Having a system to keep track of resources, citations, 2 AM shower thoughts and how much time you have to work on everything a day is a must. Here are some tools and resources that can help:
CITATION MANAGERS
Writing down author names, quotes, and links to articles on post-its may seem like a good idea at the time...but when it comes to compiling all of that into a readable thesis at the end of your journey, you will regret your life choices. Some of the most popular ones include Mendeley, EndNote, and Zotero. Use a citation manager for a short while (as in a couple of days at most), and see if you like it. If it doesn't fit your groove, choose another. If none of them do, pick the least objectionable.
The University of Lethbridge Library offers EndNote to students for free
TIME MANAGEMENT
Hacking the Thesis has some really good ideas on where to start with time management, such as using a calendar and the GTD method by David Allen. The biggest takeaway point is to find a method that works for you and to stick with it. If you need more ideas on how get disciplined, check out the /r/getdisciplined subreddit.
Tools for Time Management
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Bullet Journal, for pen-and-paper enthusiasts
HACKING THE THESIS
Gabe Tippery was once a first year grad student. He put together a very thorough blog post on how to navigate writing a thesis. His method may not work for you, all of his tools may not work for you. The point of his documentation is not to adopt it exactly, but more to take what you need and leave the rest. If you're unsure where to start, this is a good place to poke around in.
WRITING FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
Has it been a while since you took Writing 1000? Need a refresher on academic writing? This book is an easy read, and doesn't bore with endless pages of grammar. This is not a citation reference. The Purdue Online Writing Lab is one of the best resources around for citation how-to's, along with our own ULeth Library.
NEED AN EDITOR OR A PROOF-READER FOR YOUR THESIS? WANT TO LEARN SPSS? NEED ASSISTANCE WITH JOB APPLICATIONS?, THE GSA HAS GOT YOUR BACK!
If you need any of the following services, please contact the service provider directly.
*GSA has not vetted these third-party services, assumes no liability for any issues arising from the transaction and does not profit from these services. We're just here to help bring people together.
Jill Payant
Services offered: Transcription of audio files
Email: jill.payant@uleth.ca
Fee to be negotiated with the service provider
Kim Siever
Services Offered: Editing (including theses and dissertations)
Email: info@hotpepper.ca
Fee to be negotiated with the service provider
Erin Chase
Services Offered: Resume, Cover Letter, and Other Job Application Documents - Developing and Editing; Creative Writing Editing
Email: erin.b.thompson@gmail.com
Fee to be negotiated with the service provider
Auburn Phillips
Services Offered: Editorial Services, Formatting Services, Editing Tutoring
Email: Auburn.phillips@gmail.com
Fee to be negotiated with the service provider
