This plan outlines a 14-week schedule for completing a thesis using a documentary analysis methodology. It assumes the topic and supervision arrangements are already in place. The plan is structured around weekly goals, key objectives, and deliverables.
| Weeks | Objectives | Deliverables |
|---|---|---|
| Weeks 1–2: Orientation and Refinement | Finalize topic and research questions; review literature on documentary analysis; prepare ethics paperwork; develop a working thesis outline. | Approved title and research questions; 1-page chapter outline; annotated bibliography of 10–15 key sources. |
| Weeks 3–4: Literature Review | Conduct systematic literature search; organize references; write conceptual framework and literature review chapter. | Draft literature review; list of documents to analyze; coding/categorization plan. |
| Weeks 5–6: Document Collection | Locate, select, and catalogue documents; record metadata; assess credibility and representativeness; create coding spreadsheet or NVivo file. | Document inventory table; inclusion/exclusion criteria; ethics note. |
| Weeks 7–8: Initial Analysis | Conduct first round of coding; refine analytical categories; write methodology chapter. | Draft methodology chapter; coded dataset; analytical notes. |
| Weeks 9–10: Main Analysis and Writing | Perform in-depth analysis using theoretical lens; identify key themes; begin results/analysis chapter. | Partial or full draft of analysis chapter; visuals or tables summarizing findings. |
| Weeks 11–12: Discussion and Synthesis | Relate findings to existing literature; write discussion; begin introduction and conclusion; integrate supervisor feedback. | Draft discussion chapter; integrated findings table or conceptual map. |
| Week 13: Final Integration | Combine chapters; check references, tables, and figure numbering; add abstract, acknowledgements, title page; proofread for clarity and formatting. | Complete thesis draft submitted to supervisor. |
| Week 14: Final Revision and Submission | Revise per supervisor’s feedback; final formatting and editing; submit final thesis. | Final submitted thesis; backup copy saved. |