Researching and writing your thesis both requires and represents a significant investment of energy, money and time. The approval process itself can be complex and can stretch over several semesters.

You may find it helpful to keep a journal and a file of contacts during this time. This journal and file could include such items as:

• Dates of conversations and meetings with your thesis supervisor and committee members and decisions made at those meetings
• Information received from university offices that you have consulted and dates you received this information
• Instructions and guidelines and the name of the person consulted and the date he or she was consulted
• Dates when thesis chapters were submitted to committee members and dates they were returned
• Copies of review comments and instructions by thesis supervisor and thesis committee members.

People important to the successful completion of your thesis may become ill, retire or leave the university. In these cases, written notes will be invaluable resources to others taking on the responsibility of overseeing your thesis.

Also, to insure against loss, routinely make copies of essential materials. Handwritten notes and drafts should be photocopied and you should keep several electronic versions of current drafts.