Tackling Your References

How many references do you have in your bibliography?

Hundreds?

You don’t need to remember them all word-for-word to be ready for your viva. It will help if you’ve taken some steps to make exploring your references part of your prep.

• You could make a list of the top ten or top twenty works referenced in your thesis.
• You could summarise why these top references make a difference to your work.
• You could highlight key references on the pages of your thesis.
• You could have a chat about your bibliography with your supervisors.
• You could give a short seminar about where your work comes from to your friends and colleagues.

You don’t need to remember all of the details of hundreds of papers to be ready for your examiners. You do need to have a sense that you know your stuff.

What will you do to be ready for your viva?

PS: if you are looking for more viva help then check out Viva Survivors Select 13, The Personal Issue. Your bibliography and research background are just one of the ways in which your viva is a unique and personal experience. Take a look at the issue to find out more 🙂