Before the Dissertation

Before the Dissertation PDF Author: Christine Pearson Casanave
Publisher: University of Michigan Press
ISBN: 0472036009
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 177

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Book Description
“This very readable book is what every graduate student needs as they start their program. I wish my own MA and PhD students, during my 40 years of supervising, could have been demystified by having Casanave's 'textual mentor' as a companion." --Merrill Swain, Professor Emerita, OISE, University of Toronto “Before the Dissertation is an insightful, relevant, and accessible resource for doctoral students at any stage. Full of reflections and advice not found in other books, it serves as an indispensable guide for students and their supervisors. And the dispelling of myths is a superb idea!” --Robert Kohls, PhD candidate, University of Toronto Unlike other books on doctoral dissertation writing, Before the Dissertation is designed for students in the social sciences who are still in the early stages of doctoral study or for master's-level students considering entering doctoral programs. It addresses concerns pertinent to both first and second language users of English. It focuses on purposes for doctoral dissertation writing, topic choice and development, choosing and working with advisers, reading and informal writing, and quality-of-life issues. Faculty advisers who wish to reduce student attrition are also urged to read this book and to work with students at early stages of dissertation projects. Each of the nine chapters begins with a common myth about advanced academic work that is then dispelled. The chapters also pose questions that connect issues directly with individual readers so as to help them make sensible decisions about their doctoral work. The book could be used in graduate classes on issues in doctoral study or dissertation planning, and it can be a companion (textual mentor) to individual students who wish to reflect on their decision to pursue doctoral study/doctoral project. This book may also help instructors and advisers understand the kinds of obstacles faced by students that tend to impede or halt progress.

Before the Dissertation

Before the Dissertation PDF Author: Christine Pearson Casanave
Publisher: University of Michigan Press
ISBN: 0472036009
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 177

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Book Description
“This very readable book is what every graduate student needs as they start their program. I wish my own MA and PhD students, during my 40 years of supervising, could have been demystified by having Casanave's 'textual mentor' as a companion." --Merrill Swain, Professor Emerita, OISE, University of Toronto “Before the Dissertation is an insightful, relevant, and accessible resource for doctoral students at any stage. Full of reflections and advice not found in other books, it serves as an indispensable guide for students and their supervisors. And the dispelling of myths is a superb idea!” --Robert Kohls, PhD candidate, University of Toronto Unlike other books on doctoral dissertation writing, Before the Dissertation is designed for students in the social sciences who are still in the early stages of doctoral study or for master's-level students considering entering doctoral programs. It addresses concerns pertinent to both first and second language users of English. It focuses on purposes for doctoral dissertation writing, topic choice and development, choosing and working with advisers, reading and informal writing, and quality-of-life issues. Faculty advisers who wish to reduce student attrition are also urged to read this book and to work with students at early stages of dissertation projects. Each of the nine chapters begins with a common myth about advanced academic work that is then dispelled. The chapters also pose questions that connect issues directly with individual readers so as to help them make sensible decisions about their doctoral work. The book could be used in graduate classes on issues in doctoral study or dissertation planning, and it can be a companion (textual mentor) to individual students who wish to reflect on their decision to pursue doctoral study/doctoral project. This book may also help instructors and advisers understand the kinds of obstacles faced by students that tend to impede or halt progress.

During the Dissertation

During the Dissertation PDF Author: Christine Pearson Casanave
Publisher: University of Michigan Press ELT
ISBN: 0472037900
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 216

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Book Description
“A textual mentor like During the Dissertation can fill a void in writers’ lives at a time of solitude, uncertainty, and anxiety. Keep it under your pillow.” This volume is a sequel to Casanave’s popular Before the Dissertation. Like that volume, this book is designed as a companion for doctoral dissertation writers of qualitative or mixed methods work in fields related to language education. It could also benefit those writing master’s theses and those writing in other social science fields. It is meant to be consulted once the writing has begun—once students have settled on a topic, designed the project, or collected the data—because this is the time when they are analyzing, drafting, revising, polishing, and probably fretting, deleting, reconstructing, and even losing sleep. Also, like its predecessor, it is not designed to teach anyone how to write a dissertation as there are plenty of those available elsewhere. For most doctoral students, writing will happen at different stages of the project. Strategies for timing of these kinds of writing differ across students, and also across supervisors and advisers. If dissertation writers do not know by the time they start writing which strategies and issues pertain to them, this book can help them craft some approaches to suit their own personalities, preferred practices, and individual goals and visions, as well as help them figure out how dissertation writing might fit into the real-life intrusions of work and family. Issues covered in the book are: starting to write, envisioning the project as a whole, relationships with supervisors, perfectionism and other maladies, health, low- and high-IQ days, loneliness and isolation, distractions and interruptions, revising, and knowing when to stop.

From Dissertation to Book

From Dissertation to Book PDF Author: William Germano
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
ISBN: 022606218X
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 178

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Book Description
How to transform a thesis into a publishable work that can engage audiences beyond the academic committee. When a dissertation crosses my desk, I usually want to grab it by its metaphorical lapels and give it a good shake. “You know something!” I would say if it could hear me. “Now tell it to us in language we can understand!” Since its publication in 2005, From Dissertation to Book has helped thousands of young academic authors get their books beyond the thesis committee and into the hands of interested publishers and general readers. Now revised and updated to reflect the evolution of scholarly publishing, this edition includes a new chapter arguing that the future of academic writing is in the hands of young scholars who must create work that meets the broader expectations of readers rather than the narrow requirements of academic committees. At the heart of From Dissertation to Book is the idea that revising the dissertation is fundamentally a process of shifting its focus from the concerns of a narrow audience—a committee or advisors—to those of a broader scholarly audience that wants writing to be both informative and engaging. William Germano offers clear guidance on how to do this, with advice on such topics as rethinking the table of contents, taming runaway footnotes, shaping chapter length, and confronting the limitations of jargon, alongside helpful timetables for light or heavy revision. Germano draws on his years of experience in both academia and publishing to show writers how to turn a dissertation into a book that an audience will actually enjoy, whether reading on a page or a screen. He also acknowledges that not all dissertations can or even should become books and explores other, often overlooked, options, such as turning them into journal articles or chapters in an edited work. With clear directions, engaging examples, and an eye for the idiosyncrasies of academic writing, he reveals to recent PhDs the secrets of careful and thoughtful revision—a skill that will be truly invaluable as they add “author” to their curriculum vitae.

Finish Your Dissertation, Don't Let It Finish You!

Finish Your Dissertation, Don't Let It Finish You! PDF Author: Joanne Broder Sumerson
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 111813303X
Category : Psychology
Languages : en
Pages : 208

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Book Description
An all-inclusive, practical guide to help you design, conduct, and finish your academic dissertation—with minimal drama Sharing the secrets for successfully navigating through the dissertation and thesis process while maintaining your sanity, Finish Your Dissertation, Don't Let It Finish You! presents comprehensive coverage of the entire dissertation process, from selecting a committee and choosing a research topic to conducting the research and writing and defending your dissertation. Joanne Broder Sumerson follows the sequential flow of a dissertation, to help you move through the process in a logical, step-by-step manner, with an abundance of practical examples and useful tips on: Proper dissertation etiquette—smarts and strategies for managing the committee Breaking ground on your study The anatomy of the five chapters of your dissertation Making a compelling argument for why your study should be done Creating an exemplary literature review The best practices in research design Getting official approval from the Institutional Review Board Organizing your freshly collected data Concluding your dissertation Presenting a smooth oral defense

Authoring a PhD

Authoring a PhD PDF Author: Patrick Dunleavy
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 0230802087
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 311

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Book Description
This engaging and highly regarded book takes readers through the key stages of their PhD research journey, from the initial ideas through to successful completion and publication. It gives helpful guidance on forming research questions, organising ideas, pulling together a final draft, handling the viva and getting published. Each chapter contains a wealth of practical suggestions and tips for readers to try out and adapt to their own research needs and disciplinary style. This text will be essential reading for PhD students and their supervisors in humanities, arts, social sciences, business, law, health and related disciplines.

Demystifying Dissertation Writing

Demystifying Dissertation Writing PDF Author: Peg Boyle Single
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1000979873
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 193

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Book Description
Research shows that five strategies correlate with the successful completion of a dissertation:·Establishing a consistent writing routine·Working with a support group·Consulting your advisor·Understanding your committee’s expectations·Setting a realistic and timely scheduleBuilding on these insights, this book is for anyone who needs help in preparing for, organizing, planning, scheduling, and writing the longest sustained writing project they have encountered, particularly if he or she is not receiving sufficient guidance about the process, but also for anyone looking to boost his or her writing productivity.The author uncovers much tacit knowledge, provides advice on working with dissertation advisors and committee members, presents proven techniques for the prewriting and writing stages of the dissertation, sets out a system for keeping on schedule, and advocates enlisting peer support. As Peg Boyle Single states, “my goal is quite simple and straightforward: for you to experience greater efficiency and enjoyment while writing. If you experience anxiety, blocking, impatience, perfectionism or procrastination when you write, then this system is for you. I want you to be able to complete your writing so that you can move on with the rest of your life.” Few scholars, let alone graduate students, have been taught habits of writing fluency and productivity. The writing skills imparted by this book will not only help the reader through the dissertation writing process, but will serve her or him in whatever career she or he embarks on, given the paramount importance of written communication, especially in the academy. This book presents a system of straightforward and proven techniques that are used by productive writers, and applies them to the dissertation process. In particular, it promotes the concept of writing networks – whether writing partners or groups – to ensure that writing does not become an isolated and tortured process, while not hiding the need for persistence and sustained effort.This book is intended for graduate students and their advisers in the social sciences, the humanities, and professional fields. It can further serve as a textbook for either informal writing groups led by students or for formal writing seminars offered by departments or graduate colleges. The techniques described will help new faculty advice their students more effectively and even achieve greater fluency in their own writing.

Completing Your Doctoral Dissertation/Master's Thesis in Two Semesters or Less

Completing Your Doctoral Dissertation/Master's Thesis in Two Semesters or Less PDF Author: Evelyn Hunt Ogden
Publisher: R&L Education
ISBN: 1461648440
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 161

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Book Description
A long-term bestseller, this book is a pragmatic step-by-step guide to completing you dissertation or thesis during two semesters, in fifty workdays or less. It covers advisor and topic selection, proposal development, data collection and organization, available assistance, writing, and defense. The author demystifies the process and provides you with essential guidance through the rites of passage that are an integral part of completing your degree.

The Dissertation Journey

The Dissertation Journey PDF Author: Carol M. Roberts
Publisher: Corwin Press
ISBN: 1412977983
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 249

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Book Description
This essential guidebook takes readers step-by-step through the dissertation process, with checklists, illustrations, sample forms, and updated coverage of ethics, technology, and the literature review.

The Professor Is In

The Professor Is In PDF Author: Karen Kelsky
Publisher: Crown
ISBN: 0553419420
Category : Education
Languages : en
Pages : 450

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Book Description
The definitive career guide for grad students, adjuncts, post-docs and anyone else eager to get tenure or turn their Ph.D. into their ideal job Each year tens of thousands of students will, after years of hard work and enormous amounts of money, earn their Ph.D. And each year only a small percentage of them will land a job that justifies and rewards their investment. For every comfortably tenured professor or well-paid former academic, there are countless underpaid and overworked adjuncts, and many more who simply give up in frustration. Those who do make it share an important asset that separates them from the pack: they have a plan. They understand exactly what they need to do to set themselves up for success. They know what really moves the needle in academic job searches, how to avoid the all-too-common mistakes that sink so many of their peers, and how to decide when to point their Ph.D. toward other, non-academic options. Karen Kelsky has made it her mission to help readers join the select few who get the most out of their Ph.D. As a former tenured professor and department head who oversaw numerous academic job searches, she knows from experience exactly what gets an academic applicant a job. And as the creator of the popular and widely respected advice site The Professor is In, she has helped countless Ph.D.’s turn themselves into stronger applicants and land their dream careers. Now, for the first time ever, Karen has poured all her best advice into a single handy guide that addresses the most important issues facing any Ph.D., including: -When, where, and what to publish -Writing a foolproof grant application -Cultivating references and crafting the perfect CV -Acing the job talk and campus interview -Avoiding the adjunct trap -Making the leap to nonacademic work, when the time is right The Professor Is In addresses all of these issues, and many more.

A Practical Guide to Dissertation and Thesis Writing

A Practical Guide to Dissertation and Thesis Writing PDF Author: Ian Smith
Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing
ISBN: 1527538761
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 213

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Book Description
This book provides a step-by-step guide to writing the different chapters of a PhD dissertation, which will benefit aspiring, beginner and mid-track PhD students and candidates in the Social Sciences. Based on the authors’ combined experience of working with both Masters and PhD students through the dissertation writing process, it offers helpful writing guidelines, from the conceptualization and problematization of the dissertation through to the literature review, methodological issues, writing up results and, finally, to the discussion, conclusions and abstract writing process. With chapters dedicated to offering guidelines, suggestions and pitfalls to watch out for, this book will assist PhD students and candidates in the fields of the various Social Sciences with exercises and pointers on successfully navigating the writing of a PhD dissertation. It takes the PhD student in the Social Sciences through the maze of writing a dissertation, and provides a step-by-step train of thought throughout the entire writing process.