HOW TO BE A GOOD GRADUATE STUDENT(3)

17分而治之方法同样适用于写作和研究。许多研究生面临的一个问题是，他们唯一的目标似乎是“完成论文”。在研究和撰写论文时，你必须把这一点分解成可管理的阶段。你可以在一周、一天甚至半小时内完成的任务是更现实的目标。试着提出一系列的任务，包括时间和难度。这样，当你的日子充满活力和热情，你可以把你的牙齿变成固体的问题，但在天当你跑下来，无心，你至少可以完成一些小任务把它们从你的队列中取出来。

18．It also helps to start writing at a coarse granularity and successively refine your thesis.Don't sit down and try to start writing the entire thesis from beginning to end.First jot down notes on what you want to cover;then organize these into an outline(which will probably change as you progress in your research and writing).Start drafting sections,beginning with those you're most confident about.Don't feel obligated to write it perfectly the first time:if you can't get a paragraph or phrase right,just write SOMETHING (a rough cut,a note to yourself,a list of bulleted points)and move on.You can always come back to the hard parts later;the important thing is to make steady progress.

研究生英文(第二版)曾建彬主编,复旦大学出版社,Unit Two Education Text How To Be A Good Graduate Student

18也可以以一种粗糙的方式开始写作，之后提炼出论文的主题。不要一坐下就试图把论文从开头写到结尾。首先，记下你准备涵盖的内容的要点，然后将它们梳理成为大纲（或许会随着研究和写作的进程而有所改变）。首先将你最有把握的部分写成草稿，不要感觉有义务一开始就写出完美的作品：如果你想不出满意的段落或者短语，只要写一些（粗略摘抄、给自己的一个提示或者罗列要点的清单），然后继续向前推进。你以后总有机会回过头处理有难度的部分，重要的是保持稳步推进。

19．When writing a thesis,or any technical paper,realize that your audience is almost guaranteed to be less familiar with your subject than you are.Explain your motivations,goals,and methodology clearly.Be repetitive without being boring,by presenting your ideas at several levels of abstraction,and by using examples to convey the ideas in a different way.

19当你撰写学位论文或者专业类论文的时候，要意识到你的听众几乎确定无疑不如你熟悉研究的专题。清楚的解释你的动机、目标和方法。反复表述你的思想，而不是啰嗦得让人厌烦。在不同的抽象层面上，或者运用例子以不同的方式来表述你的想法。

20．Having a"writing buddy"is a good idea.If they're working on their thesis at the same time,so much the better!but the most important thing is that they be willing to give you feedback on rough drafts,meet regularly to chart your progress and give you psychological support,and preferably that they be familiar enough with your field to understand and review your writing.

20有一个“写作伙伴”是个好主意。如果他们同时在写论文，那就更好了！但最重要的是，他们愿意给你的草稿的反馈，定期记录你的进步，给你精神上的支持，最好是他们熟悉你的领域，理解和回顾你的写作。

21．In the final push to finish your thesis,though,you will almost certainly have less time for social activities than you used to.Your friends may start to make you feel guilty,whether they intend to or not.Warn them in advance that you expect to turn down lots of invitations,and it's nothing personal--but you need to focus on your thesis for a while.Then you'll be all done and free as a bird!(Until the next phase of your life starts...)

21当然，学位论文进入最后冲刺阶段时，你一般不太可能还和以前一样正常进行社交和家庭活动。朋友和家人会有意无意地让你负有歉疚感。要事先提醒大家：这段时间你必须专注于论文写作。接下来你就会大功告成，欢呼雀跃！（直到开始生命的下一阶段）