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Ah, the dissertation. That one word that everyone dreads to hear when they begin their final year of university.
But why is it that we view the dissertation as the essay to end all essays? Is it really that much of a burden?
Where do I begin?
And may I say it, what even is a dissertation??
Table of Contents
When I began my final year, it was the elephant in the room. It was compulsory on my course and no one wanted to be the first person to say the word out loud.
Nor did anyone want to put it out there that they actually didn’t really know what a dissertation was (I was one of those people).
We had all somehow made it to final year without ever having written a literature review.
I didn’t know what a literature review was, how to write one or what on earth I was doing, yet we were asked to have one written on our chosen subject in two weeks’ time.
Not going to happen.
How do I decide on my topic? What will my question be? When do I start? Where do I start?
Can someone please tell me what a dissertation is??
These are just a sample of the questions that were running though my mind during the first ten minutes of my first dissertation class this time last year.
Apologies in advance to any lecturers reading this blog post but this will be my understanding of it, in the most simple of terms and do correct me if I have gotten it totally wrong.
You may be already shaking your head at the title of this blog post as it should have taken me more than three weeks to write my dissertation, but that was my timeline and I somehow came out with a first (which is why I feel ok to give some advice on this).
To my knowledge, a dissertation is a large document of research surrounding a question or topic of interest.
A dissertation is you, trying to find out the answer to a question that you have or a theory that you are trying to prove.
I’ve always been interested in women in powerful positions and whether they are married and have children .
Growing up, it always seemed to be that in order to be a successful woman, you had to give up one to have the other.
I’ve always wanted to carry out a study on it but it had nothing to do with public relations so, influencer marketing it was.
Think of something that you don’t know much about, or you want to know more about, or that isn’t written about much or something that really interests and intrigues you.
One thing I really recommend is to make your dissertation something that you are actually intrigued by or interested in because if crisis comms doesn’t incite any feelings for you at all, you won’t want to spend months thinking and writing about it.
Influencer marketing is clearly something that interests me a great deal and in particular, fraud , return on investment and advertising get me hyped up when discussing the matter. Thankfully I was actually really motivated by my dissertation and got a lot of inspiration for blog posts on the way to the finish line.
I wanted to know about fraud in the influencer industry and how it can impact brands and their return on investment.
Return on investment is already quite hard to measure without throwing in influencer fraud, so it was quite tricky to get data but interesting all the same!
The best way to start off is by laying out each section and heading of your entire dissertation.
Start off with your question, your objectives and then my layout went as follows:
I think it’s a lot more simplified when you lay it out in sections and it also allows you to add things in different places as you go along and saves you from getting bored from focusing on the same section for hours on end.
Change it up a little and take an hour doing your literature review, then an hour analysing your data and so on.
There’s a lot of reading to be done, so make sure to factor that into the deadline too!
If you’re aiming to do it within three weeks, obviously.
It’s really not that much. Don’t think of 10,000 words as horrific. It’s doable.
Even make it 500 words a day.
If you start with three weeks to go, you can write 10,000 words in twenty days.
But some days you will write more than others and your word count will be more like 15,000 by deadline day.
My word count came to 17,000 by the end of it and I managed to whittle it down to 11,500 when submitting.
I think it’s better to have more words than less but it’s also hard to delete things after as you think everything is necessary and important.
Quality over quantity, remember. Just sit, take a few hours and make it to 500 words a day.
It shouldn’t take you long and 500 words realistically isn’t that much when it comes to dissertation writing.
When I started my literature review, I didn’t even know where to begin.
We had somehow made it to final year without ever having the need to have completed one before. Our lecturers just assumed that we had all written one so required no guidance.
My summary of it is that you have a topic, and within that topic, a lot of sub-topics and you just find a lot of literature written about those sub-topics and write what people think of those sub-topics.
Aka, ‘this person says this, but this person disagrees and says this, and then this person also agrees with this.’
The main topic of my dissertation was influencer fraud. My literature review was based around influencer marketing and discussed the following terms: influencer marketing, influencer fraud , virtual influencers , return on investment, advertising on social media , the lot.
I would just read a lot of different articles surrounding influencer marketing and then if anything fit into my headings, I would populate my literature review with statements and thoughts that were relevant.
I think it made things a lot easier but I also took time to actually research individual sub-topics to find a lot of articles and journals that spoke about different view points.
It helped that I could keep reading along the way and keep adding to my literature review.
This part helped me a lot with my dissertation.
I’d traveled to London in early March to meet with my placement year team and we had a lengthy chat about influencer marketing and fraud.
I recorded the entire conversation on my laptop and that was my primary research complete.
Then, I made a survey for secondary research and posted this online around two weeks before my deadline. I ended up with 50 responses, so was more than happy with that.
Carry out interviews or sampling as early as you can so that you have that stored away and ready to analyse when you need to.
If it comes to April and you still haven’t carried out any primary research, it could get quite stressful.
I had made a dissertation plan back in the first week of university in October. Telling myself I would be in London either before or just after Christmas to interview my placement team. But of course, that never happened.
Try to do it as early as you can. Send out any email questions that you have as early as you can to give your interviewee time to answer them.
I wasn’t the best at this part. When I did go to my tutor, I didn’t really have that much to show.
But leading up to the last few weeks before deadline day, I was scheduling meetings as often as I could, coming in with 100 questions to ask.
Your dissertation tutor is very likely going to be the person that will be marking your dissertation. Make sure to listen to everything they say. If they suggest to change something, change it.
If they like things a certain way, make sure they are.
They are there to give you advice, answer your questions and steer you in the right direction. Listen to them and make the most of the time that they are willing to give to you.
One thing that helped me most was working in the cafe across the street from my flat.
I would turn up there on my day off, my free mornings or evenings and early on weekends. With only my laptop, charger and notes. And spend a good eight hours from morning to night, typing away.
If I didn’t have my regular working spot at Root Coffee in Liverpool , I probably couldn’t have completed my dissertation in that time.
I didn’t like the library as I find it so intimidating walking through the floors to find a free computer. There aren’t many windows, no one brings coffee to your desk and other students can be very distracting.
I used to love sitting in Root Coffee . Enjoying the best coffee in Liverpool, being able to focus on my dissertation with background noise and some good music. And also being able to order my favourite ‘Norway Meets Sweden’ breakfast which was eggs, avocado toast and smoked salmon.
If you don’t work well in the library, don’t work there, even if you feel you have to.
If you work better in your bedroom, write your dissertation there. Or, if you work best in the middle of the night, just do it then.
Make things easier for yourself, don’t just do what everyone else is doing.
Don’t dread the dissertation, take it in your stride and prepare for it. Take it a day at a time. If I can do it in three weeks, you’ll be fine if you start thinking about it now.
If you have any specific questions regarding the dissertation, email or DM me. I’m happy to help out with any interviews/data if you need primary info.
April 22, 2023 at 12:51 am
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A dissertation is a long-form piece of academic writing based on original research conducted by you. It is usually submitted as the final step in order to finish a PhD program.
Your dissertation is probably the longest piece of writing you’ve ever completed. It requires solid research, writing, and analysis skills, and it can be intimidating to know where to begin.
Your department likely has guidelines related to how your dissertation should be structured. When in doubt, consult with your supervisor.
You can also download our full dissertation template in the format of your choice below. The template includes a ready-made table of contents with notes on what to include in each chapter, easily adaptable to your department’s requirements.
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Dissertation committee and prospectus process, how to write and structure a dissertation, acknowledgements or preface, list of figures and tables, list of abbreviations, introduction, literature review, methodology, reference list, proofreading and editing, defending your dissertation, free checklist and lecture slides.
When you’ve finished your coursework, as well as any comprehensive exams or other requirements, you advance to “ABD” (All But Dissertation) status. This means you’ve completed everything except your dissertation.
Prior to starting to write, you must form your committee and write your prospectus or proposal . Your committee comprises your adviser and a few other faculty members. They can be from your own department, or, if your work is more interdisciplinary, from other departments. Your committee will guide you through the dissertation process, and ultimately decide whether you pass your dissertation defense and receive your PhD.
Your prospectus is a formal document presented to your committee, usually orally in a defense, outlining your research aims and objectives and showing why your topic is relevant . After passing your prospectus defense, you’re ready to start your research and writing.
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The structure of your dissertation depends on a variety of factors, such as your discipline, topic, and approach. Dissertations in the humanities are often structured more like a long essay , building an overall argument to support a central thesis , with chapters organized around different themes or case studies.
However, hard science and social science dissertations typically include a review of existing works, a methodology section, an analysis of your original research, and a presentation of your results , presented in different chapters.
We’ve compiled a list of dissertation examples to help you get started.
The very first page of your document contains your dissertation title, your name, department, institution, degree program, and submission date. Sometimes it also includes your student number, your supervisor’s name, and the university’s logo.
Read more about title pages
The acknowledgements section is usually optional and gives space for you to thank everyone who helped you in writing your dissertation. This might include your supervisors, participants in your research, and friends or family who supported you. In some cases, your acknowledgements are part of a preface.
Read more about acknowledgements Read more about prefaces
The abstract is a short summary of your dissertation, usually about 150 to 300 words long. Though this may seem very short, it’s one of the most important parts of your dissertation, because it introduces your work to your audience.
Your abstract should:
Read more about abstracts
The table of contents lists all of your chapters, along with corresponding subheadings and page numbers. This gives your reader an overview of your structure and helps them easily navigate your document.
Remember to include all main parts of your dissertation in your table of contents, even the appendices. It’s easy to generate a table automatically in Word if you used heading styles. Generally speaking, you only include level 2 and level 3 headings, not every subheading you included in your finished work.
Read more about tables of contents
While not usually mandatory, it’s nice to include a list of figures and tables to help guide your reader if you have used a lot of these in your dissertation. It’s easy to generate one of these in Word using the Insert Caption feature.
Read more about lists of figures and tables
Similarly, if you have used a lot of abbreviations (especially industry-specific ones) in your dissertation, you can include them in an alphabetized list of abbreviations so that the reader can easily look up their meanings.
Read more about lists of abbreviations
In addition to the list of abbreviations, if you find yourself using a lot of highly specialized terms that you worry will not be familiar to your reader, consider including a glossary. Here, alphabetize the terms and include a brief description or definition.
Read more about glossaries
The introduction serves to set up your dissertation’s topic, purpose, and relevance. It tells the reader what to expect in the rest of your dissertation. The introduction should:
Everything in the introduction should be clear, engaging, and relevant. By the end, the reader should understand the what, why, and how of your research.
Read more about introductions
A formative part of your research is your literature review . This helps you gain a thorough understanding of the academic work that already exists on your topic.
Literature reviews encompass:
A literature review is not merely a summary of existing sources. Your literature review should have a coherent structure and argument that leads to a clear justification for your own research. It may aim to:
Read more about literature reviews
Your literature review can often form the basis for your theoretical framework. Here, you define and analyze the key theories, concepts, and models that frame your research.
Read more about theoretical frameworks
Your methodology chapter describes how you conducted your research, allowing your reader to critically assess its credibility. Your methodology section should accurately report what you did, as well as convince your reader that this was the best way to answer your research question.
A methodology section should generally include:
Read more about methodology sections
Your results section should highlight what your methodology discovered. You can structure this section around sub-questions, hypotheses , or themes, but avoid including any subjective or speculative interpretation here.
Your results section should:
Additional data (including raw numbers, full questionnaires, or interview transcripts) can be included as an appendix. You can include tables and figures, but only if they help the reader better understand your results. Read more about results sections
Your discussion section is your opportunity to explore the meaning and implications of your results in relation to your research question. Here, interpret your results in detail, discussing whether they met your expectations and how well they fit with the framework that you built in earlier chapters. Refer back to relevant source material to show how your results fit within existing research in your field.
Some guiding questions include:
If any of the results were unexpected, offer explanations for why this might be. It’s a good idea to consider alternative interpretations of your data.
Read more about discussion sections
Your dissertation’s conclusion should concisely answer your main research question, leaving your reader with a clear understanding of your central argument and emphasizing what your research has contributed to the field.
In some disciplines, the conclusion is just a short section preceding the discussion section, but in other contexts, it is the final chapter of your work. Here, you wrap up your dissertation with a final reflection on what you found, with recommendations for future research and concluding remarks.
It’s important to leave the reader with a clear impression of why your research matters. What have you added to what was already known? Why is your research necessary for the future of your field?
Read more about conclusions
It is crucial to include a reference list or list of works cited with the full details of all the sources that you used, in order to avoid plagiarism. Be sure to choose one citation style and follow it consistently throughout your dissertation. Each style has strict and specific formatting requirements.
Common styles include MLA , Chicago , and APA , but which style you use is often set by your department or your field.
Create APA citations Create MLA citations
Your dissertation should contain only essential information that directly contributes to answering your research question. Documents such as interview transcripts or survey questions can be added as appendices, rather than adding them to the main body.
Read more about appendices
Making sure that all of your sections are in the right place is only the first step to a well-written dissertation. Don’t forget to leave plenty of time for editing and proofreading, as grammar mistakes and sloppy spelling errors can really negatively impact your work.
Dissertations can take up to five years to write, so you will definitely want to make sure that everything is perfect before submitting. You may want to consider using a professional dissertation editing service , AI proofreader or grammar checker to make sure your final project is perfect prior to submitting.
After your written dissertation is approved, your committee will schedule a defense. Similarly to defending your prospectus, dissertation defenses are oral presentations of your work. You’ll present your dissertation, and your committee will ask you questions. Many departments allow family members, friends, and other people who are interested to join as well.
After your defense, your committee will meet, and then inform you whether you have passed. Keep in mind that defenses are usually just a formality; most committees will have resolved any serious issues with your work with you far prior to your defense, giving you ample time to fix any problems.
As you write your dissertation, you can use this simple checklist to make sure you’ve included all the essentials.
My title page includes all information required by my university.
I have included acknowledgements thanking those who helped me.
My abstract provides a concise summary of the dissertation, giving the reader a clear idea of my key results or arguments.
I have created a table of contents to help the reader navigate my dissertation. It includes all chapter titles, but excludes the title page, acknowledgements, and abstract.
My introduction leads into my topic in an engaging way and shows the relevance of my research.
My introduction clearly defines the focus of my research, stating my research questions and research objectives .
My introduction includes an overview of the dissertation’s structure (reading guide).
I have conducted a literature review in which I (1) critically engage with sources, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of existing research, (2) discuss patterns, themes, and debates in the literature, and (3) address a gap or show how my research contributes to existing research.
I have clearly outlined the theoretical framework of my research, explaining the theories and models that support my approach.
I have thoroughly described my methodology , explaining how I collected data and analyzed data.
I have concisely and objectively reported all relevant results .
I have (1) evaluated and interpreted the meaning of the results and (2) acknowledged any important limitations of the results in my discussion .
I have clearly stated the answer to my main research question in the conclusion .
I have clearly explained the implications of my conclusion, emphasizing what new insight my research has contributed.
I have provided relevant recommendations for further research or practice.
If relevant, I have included appendices with supplemental information.
I have included an in-text citation every time I use words, ideas, or information from a source.
I have listed every source in a reference list at the end of my dissertation.
I have consistently followed the rules of my chosen citation style .
I have followed all formatting guidelines provided by my university.
The end is in sight—your dissertation is nearly ready to submit! Make sure it's perfectly polished with the help of a Scribbr editor.
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The resources in this section are designed to provide guidance for the first steps of the thesis or dissertation writing process. They offer tools to support the planning and managing of your project, including writing out your weekly schedule, outlining your goals, and organzing the various working elements of your project.
Weekly Goals Sheet (a.k.a. Life Map) [Word Doc]
This editable handout provides a place for you to fill in available time blocks on a weekly chart that will help you visualize the amount of time you have available to write. By using this chart, you will be able to work your writing goals into your schedule and put these goals into perspective with your day-to-day plans and responsibilities each week. This handout also contains a formula to help you determine the minimum number of pages you would need to write per day in order to complete your writing on time.
Setting a Production Schedule (Word Doc)
This editable handout can help you make sense of the various steps involved in the production of your thesis or dissertation and determine how long each step might take. A large part of this process involves (1) seeking out the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding specific document formatting requirements, (2) understanding research protocol limitations, (3) making note of deadlines, and (4) understanding your personal writing habits.
Creating a Roadmap (PDF)
Part of organizing your writing involves having a clear sense of how the different working parts relate to one another. Creating a roadmap for your dissertation early on can help you determine what the final document will include and how all the pieces are connected. This resource offers guidance on several approaches to creating a roadmap, including creating lists, maps, nut-shells, visuals, and different methods for outlining. It is important to remember that you can create more than one roadmap (or more than one type of roadmap) depending on how the different approaches discussed here meet your needs.
What this handout is about.
This handout suggests strategies for developing healthy writing habits during your dissertation journey. These habits can help you maintain your writing momentum, overcome anxiety and procrastination, and foster wellbeing during one of the most challenging times in graduate school.
Because dissertations are, of course, big projects, it’s no surprise that planning, writing, and revising one can pose some challenges! It can help to think of your dissertation as an expanded version of a long essay: at the end of the day, it is simply another piece of writing. You’ve written your way this far into your degree, so you’ve got the skills! You’ll develop a great deal of expertise on your topic, but you may still be a novice with this genre and writing at this length. Remember to give yourself some grace throughout the project. As you begin, it’s helpful to consider two overarching strategies throughout the process.
First, take stock of how you learn and your own writing processes. What strategies have worked and have not worked for you? Why? What kind of learner and writer are you? Capitalize on what’s working and experiment with new strategies when something’s not working. Keep in mind that trying out new strategies can take some trial-and-error, and it’s okay if a new strategy that you try doesn’t work for you. Consider why it may not have been the best for you, and use that reflection to consider other strategies that might be helpful to you.
Second, break the project into manageable chunks. At every stage of the process, try to identify specific tasks, set small, feasible goals, and have clear, concrete strategies for achieving each goal. Small victories can help you establish and maintain the momentum you need to keep yourself going.
Below, we discuss some possible strategies to keep you moving forward in the dissertation process.
Get familiar with the Graduate School’s Thesis and Dissertation Resources .
Create a template that’s properly formatted. The Grad School offers workshops on formatting in Word for PC and formatting in Word for Mac . There are online templates for LaTeX users, but if you use a template, save your work where you can recover it if the template has corrruption issues.
Learn how to use a citation-manager and a synthesis matrix to keep track of all of your source information.
Skim other dissertations from your department, program, and advisor. Enlist the help of a librarian or ask your advisor for a list of recent graduates whose work you can look up. Seeing what other people have done to earn their PhD can make the project much less abstract and daunting. A concrete sense of expectations will help you envision and plan. When you know what you’ll be doing, try to find a dissertation from your department that is similar enough that you can use it as a reference model when you run into concerns about formatting, structure, level of detail, etc.
Think carefully about your committee . Ideally, you’ll be able to select a group of people who work well with you and with each other. Consult with your advisor about who might be good collaborators for your project and who might not be the best fit. Consider what classes you’ve taken and how you “vibe” with those professors or those you’ve met outside of class. Try to learn what you can about how they’ve worked with other students. Ask about feedback style, turnaround time, level of involvement, etc., and imagine how that would work for you.
Sketch out a sensible drafting order for your project. Be open to writing chapters in “the wrong order” if it makes sense to start somewhere other than the beginning. You could begin with the section that seems easiest for you to write to gain momentum.
Design a productivity alliance with your advisor . Talk with them about potential projects and a reasonable timeline. Discuss how you’ll work together to keep your work moving forward. You might discuss having a standing meeting to discuss ideas or drafts or issues (bi-weekly? monthly?), your advisor’s preferences for drafts (rough? polished?), your preferences for what you’d like feedback on (early or late drafts?), reasonable turnaround time for feedback (a week? two?), and anything else you can think of to enter the collaboration mindfully.
Design a productivity alliance with your colleagues . Dissertation writing can be lonely, but writing with friends, meeting for updates over your beverage of choice, and scheduling non-working social times can help you maintain healthy energy. See our tips on accountability strategies for ideas to support each other.
Write when you’re most productive. When do you have the most energy? Focus? Creativity? When are you most able to concentrate, either because of your body rhythms or because there are fewer demands on your time? Once you determine the hours that are most productive for you (you may need to experiment at first), try to schedule those hours for dissertation work. See the collection of time management tools and planning calendars on the Learning Center’s Tips & Tools page to help you think through the possibilities. If at all possible, plan your work schedule, errands and chores so that you reserve your productive hours for the dissertation.
Put your writing time firmly on your calendar . Guard your writing time diligently. You’ll probably be invited to do other things during your productive writing times, but do your absolute best to say no and to offer alternatives. No one would hold it against you if you said no because you’re teaching a class at that time—and you wouldn’t feel guilty about saying no. Cultivating the same hard, guilt-free boundaries around your writing time will allow you preserve the time you need to get this thing done!
Develop habits that foster balance . You’ll have to work very hard to get this dissertation finished, but you can do that without sacrificing your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Think about how you can structure your work hours most efficiently so that you have time for a healthy non-work life. It can be something as small as limiting the time you spend chatting with fellow students to a few minutes instead of treating the office or lab as a space for extensive socializing. Also see above for protecting your time.
Write in spaces where you can be productive. Figure out where you work well and plan to be there during your dissertation work hours. Do you get more done on campus or at home? Do you prefer quiet and solitude, like in a library carrel? Do you prefer the buzz of background noise, like in a coffee shop? Are you aware of the UNC Libraries’ list of places to study ? If you get “stuck,” don’t be afraid to try a change of scenery. The variety may be just enough to get your brain going again.
Work where you feel comfortable . Wherever you work, make sure you have whatever lighting, furniture, and accessories you need to keep your posture and health in good order. The University Health and Safety office offers guidelines for healthy computer work . You’re more likely to spend time working in a space that doesn’t physically hurt you. Also consider how you could make your work space as inviting as possible. Some people find that it helps to have pictures of family and friends on their desk—sort of a silent “cheering section.” Some people work well with neutral colors around them, and others prefer bright colors that perk up the space. Some people like to put inspirational quotations in their workspace or encouraging notes from friends and family. You might try reconfiguring your work space to find a décor that helps you be productive.
Elicit helpful feedback from various people at various stages . You might be tempted to keep your writing to yourself until you think it’s brilliant, but you can lower the stakes tremendously if you make eliciting feedback a regular part of your writing process. Your friends can feel like a safer audience for ideas or drafts in their early stages. Someone outside your department may provide interesting perspectives from their discipline that spark your own thinking. See this handout on getting feedback for productive moments for feedback, the value of different kinds of feedback providers, and strategies for eliciting what’s most helpful to you. Make this a recurring part of your writing process. Schedule it to help you hit deadlines.
Change the writing task . When you don’t feel like writing, you can do something different or you can do something differently. Make a list of all the little things you need to do for a given section of the dissertation, no matter how small. Choose a task based on your energy level. Work on Grad School requirements: reformat margins, work on bibliography, and all that. Work on your acknowledgements. Remember all the people who have helped you and the great ideas they’ve helped you develop. You may feel more like working afterward. Write a part of your dissertation as a letter or email to a good friend who would care. Sometimes setting aside the academic prose and just writing it to a buddy can be liberating and help you get the ideas out there. You can make it sound smart later. Free-write about why you’re stuck, and perhaps even about how sick and tired you are of your dissertation/advisor/committee/etc. Venting can sometimes get you past the emotions of writer’s block and move you toward creative solutions. Open a separate document and write your thoughts on various things you’ve read. These may or may note be coherent, connected ideas, and they may or may not make it into your dissertation. They’re just notes that allow you to think things through and/or note what you want to revisit later, so it’s perfectly fine to have mistakes, weird organization, etc. Just let your mind wander on paper.
Develop habits that foster productivity and may help you develop a productive writing model for post-dissertation writing . Since dissertations are very long projects, cultivating habits that will help support your work is important. You might check out Helen Sword’s work on behavioral, artisanal, social, and emotional habits to help you get a sense of where you are in your current habits. You might try developing “rituals” of work that could help you get more done. Lighting incense, brewing a pot of a particular kind of tea, pulling out a favorite pen, and other ritualistic behaviors can signal your brain that “it is time to get down to business.” You can critically think about your work methods—not only about what you like to do, but also what actually helps you be productive. You may LOVE to listen to your favorite band while you write, for example, but if you wind up playing air guitar half the time instead of writing, it isn’t a habit worth keeping.
The point is, figure out what works for you and try to do it consistently. Your productive habits will reinforce themselves over time. If you find yourself in a situation, however, that doesn’t match your preferences, don’t let it stop you from working on your dissertation. Try to be flexible and open to experimenting. You might find some new favorites!
Schedule a regular activity with other people that involves your dissertation. Set up a coworking date with your accountability buddies so you can sit and write together. Organize a chapter swap. Make regular appointments with your advisor. Whatever you do, make sure it’s something that you’ll feel good about showing up for–and will make you feel good about showing up for others.
Try writing in sprints . Many writers have discovered that the “Pomodoro technique” (writing for 25 minutes and taking a 5 minute break) boosts their productivity by helping them set small writing goals, focus intently for short periods, and give their brains frequent rests. See how one dissertation writer describes it in this blog post on the Pomodoro technique .
Quit while you’re ahead . Sometimes it helps to stop for the day when you’re on a roll. If you’ve got a great idea that you’re developing and you know where you want to go next, write “Next, I want to introduce x, y, and z and explain how they’re related—they all have the same characteristics of 1 and 2, and that clinches my theory of Q.” Then save the file and turn off the computer, or put down the notepad. When you come back tomorrow, you will already know what to say next–and all that will be left is to say it. Hopefully, the momentum will carry you forward.
Write your dissertation in single-space . When you need a boost, double space it and be impressed with how many pages you’ve written.
Set feasible goals–and celebrate the achievements! Setting and achieving smaller, more reasonable goals ( SMART goals ) gives you success, and that success can motivate you to focus on the next small step…and the next one.
Give yourself rewards along the way . When you meet a writing goal, reward yourself with something you normally wouldn’t have or do–this can be anything that will make you feel good about your accomplishment.
Make the act of writing be its own reward . For example, if you love a particular coffee drink from your favorite shop, save it as a special drink to enjoy during your writing time.
Try giving yourself “pre-wards” —positive experiences that help you feel refreshed and recharged for the next time you write. You don’t have to “earn” these with prior work, but you do have to commit to doing the work afterward.
Commit to doing something you don’t want to do if you don’t achieve your goal. Some people find themselves motivated to work harder when there’s a negative incentive. What would you most like to avoid? Watching a movie you hate? Donating to a cause you don’t support? Whatever it is, how can you ensure enforcement? Who can help you stay accountable?
Build your confidence . It is not uncommon to feel “imposter phenomenon” during the course of writing your dissertation. If you start to feel this way, it can help to take a few minutes to remember every success you’ve had along the way. You’ve earned your place, and people have confidence in you for good reasons. It’s also helpful to remember that every one of the brilliant people around you is experiencing the same lack of confidence because you’re all in a new context with new tasks and new expectations. You’re not supposed to have it all figured out. You’re supposed to have uncertainties and questions and things to learn. Remember that they wouldn’t have accepted you to the program if they weren’t confident that you’d succeed. See our self-scripting handout for strategies to turn these affirmations into a self-script that you repeat whenever you’re experiencing doubts or other negative thoughts. You can do it!
Appreciate your successes . Not meeting a goal isn’t a failure–and it certainly doesn’t make you a failure. It’s an opportunity to figure out why you didn’t meet the goal. It might simply be that the goal wasn’t achievable in the first place. See the SMART goal handout and think through what you can adjust. Even if you meant to write 1500 words, focus on the success of writing 250 or 500 words that you didn’t have before.
Remember your “why.” There are a whole host of reasons why someone might decide to pursue a PhD, both personally and professionally. Reflecting on what is motivating to you can rekindle your sense of purpose and direction.
Get outside support . Sometimes it can be really helpful to get an outside perspective on your work and anxieties as a way of grounding yourself. Participating in groups like the Dissertation Support group through CAPS and the Dissertation Boot Camp can help you see that you’re not alone in the challenges. You might also choose to form your own writing support group with colleagues inside or outside your department.
Understand and manage your procrastination . When you’re writing a long dissertation, it can be easy to procrastinate! For instance, you might put off writing because the house “isn’t clean enough” or because you’re not in the right “space” (mentally or physically) to write, so you put off writing until the house is cleaned and everything is in its right place. You may have other ways of procrastinating. It can be helpful to be self-aware of when you’re procrastinating and to consider why you are procrastinating. It may be that you’re anxious about writing the perfect draft, for example, in which case you might consider: how can I focus on writing something that just makes progress as opposed to being “perfect”? There are lots of different ways of managing procrastination; one way is to make a schedule of all the things you already have to do (when you absolutely can’t write) to help you visualize those chunks of time when you can. See this handout on procrastination for more strategies and tools for managing procrastination.
By the time you’ve reached this stage, you have probably already defended a dissertation proposal, chosen an advisor, and begun working with a committee. Sometimes, however, those three elements can prove to be major external sources of frustration. So how can you manage them to help yourself be as productive as possible?
Remember that your topic is not carved in stone . The research and writing plan suggested in your dissertation proposal was your best vision of the project at that time, but topics evolve as the research and writing progress. You might need to tweak your research question a bit to reduce or adjust the scope, you might pare down certain parts of the project or add others. You can discuss your thoughts on these adjustments with your advisor at your check ins.
Think about variables that could be cut down and how changes would affect the length, depth, breadth, and scholarly value of your study. Could you cut one or two experiments, case studies, regions, years, theorists, or chapters and still make a valuable contribution or, even more simply, just finish?
Talk to your advisor about any changes you might make . They may be quite sympathetic to your desire to shorten an unwieldy project and may offer suggestions.
Look at other dissertations from your department to get a sense of what the chapters should look like. Reverse-outline a few chapters so you can see if there’s a pattern of typical components and how information is sequenced. These can serve as models for your own dissertation. See this video on reverse outlining to see the technique.
Embrace your evolving status . At this stage in your graduate career, you should expect to assume some independence. By the time you finish your project, you will know more about your subject than your committee does. The student/teacher relationship you have with your advisor will necessarily change as you take this big step toward becoming their colleague.
Revisit the alliance . If the interaction with your advisor isn’t matching the original agreement or the original plan isn’t working as well as it could, schedule a conversation to revisit and redesign your working relationship in a way that could work for both of you.
Be specific in your feedback requests . Tell your advisor what kind of feedback would be most helpful to you. Sometimes an advisor can be giving unhelpful or discouraging feedback without realizing it. They might make extensive sentence-level edits when you really need conceptual feedback, or vice-versa, if you only ask generally for feedback. Letting your advisor know, very specifically, what kinds of responses will be helpful to you at different stages of the writing process can help your advisor know how to help you.
Don’t hide . Advisors can be most helpful if they know what you are working on, what problems you are experiencing, and what progress you have made. If you haven’t made the progress you were hoping for, it only makes it worse if you avoid talking to them. You rob yourself of their expertise and support, and you might start a spiral of guilt, shame, and avoidance. Even if it’s difficult, it may be better to be candid about your struggles.
Talk to other students who have the same advisor . You may find that they have developed strategies for working with your advisor that could help you communicate more effectively with them.
If you have recurring problems communicating with your advisor , you can make a change. You could change advisors completely, but a less dramatic option might be to find another committee member who might be willing to serve as a “secondary advisor” and give you the kinds of feedback and support that you may need.
Design the alliance . Talk with your committee members about how much they’d like to be involved in your writing process, whether they’d like to see chapter drafts or the complete draft, how frequently they’d like to meet (or not), etc. Your advisor can guide you on how committees usually work, but think carefully about how you’d like the relationship to function too.
Keep in regular contact with your committee , even if they don’t want to see your work until it has been approved by your advisor. Let them know about fellowships you receive, fruitful research excursions, the directions your thinking is taking, and the plans you have for completion. In short, keep them aware that you are working hard and making progress. Also, look for other ways to get facetime with your committee even if it’s not a one-on-one meeting. Things like speaking with them at department events, going to colloquiums or other events they organize and/or attend regularly can help you develop a relationship that could lead to other introductions and collaborations as your career progresses.
Share your struggles . Too often, we only talk to our professors when we’re making progress and hide from them the rest of the time. If you share your frustrations or setbacks with a knowledgeable committee member, they might offer some very helpful suggestions for overcoming the obstacles you face—after all, your committee members have all written major research projects before, and they have probably solved similar problems in their own work.
Stay true to yourself . Sometimes, you just don’t entirely gel with your committee, but that’s okay. It’s important not to get too hung up on how your committee does (or doesn’t) relate to you. Keep your eye on the finish line and keep moving forward.
Graduate School Diversity Initiatives : Groups and events to support the success of students identifying with an affinity group.
Graduate School Career Well : Extensive professional development resources related to writing, research, networking, job search, etc.
CAPS Therapy Groups : CAPS offers a variety of support groups, including a dissertation support group.
Advice on Research and Writing : Lots of links on writing, public speaking, dissertation management, burnout, and more.
How to be a Good Graduate Student: Marie DesJardins’ essay talks about several phases of the graduate experience, including the dissertation. She discusses some helpful hints for staying motivated and doing consistent work.
Preparing Future Faculty : This page, a joint project of the American Association of Colleges and Universities, the Council of Graduate Schools, and the Pew Charitable Trusts, explains the Preparing Future Faculty Programs and includes links and suggestions that may help graduate students and their advisors think constructively about the process of graduate education as a step toward faculty responsibilities.
Dissertation Tips : Kjell Erik Rudestam, Ph.D. and Rae Newton, Ph.D., authors of Surviving Your Dissertation: A Comprehensive Guide to Content and Process.
The ABD Survival Guide Newsletter : Information about the ABD Survival Guide newsletter (which is free) and other services from E-Coach (many of which are not free).
You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Crafting a dissertation in a mere 72 hours is a challenge that demands strategic planning, efficient use of resources, and effective writing techniques. The 72-Hour Thesis guide is designed to help students navigate this intensive process with practical steps and expert advice. Whether it's overcoming writer's block, managing stress, or ensuring proper citation, this guide aims to equip students with the tools to produce a quality dissertation in an accelerated timeframe.
Developing a comprehensive timeline.
Embarking on a 72-hour thesis journey requires meticulous strategic planning to ensure every minute counts. Begin by setting realistic goals for each day, breaking down your thesis into manageable tasks. Allocate specific time slots for each section, and consider time-blocking techniques to maintain a productive rhythm.
Utilize tools and resources that streamline the writing process, such as academic planning worksheets or a thesis dialogue blueprint . These can help you organize your thoughts and structure your work efficiently. Remember, the key to a successful 72-hour thesis is not just speed, but a balanced approach that includes time for rest and reflection.
In the constrained timeframe of a 72-hour thesis, it is crucial to identify the sections that will form the backbone of your dissertation. Start by outlining the chapters that are essential to your argument, ensuring that each one directly contributes to addressing your research question. Focus your article by avoiding tangents and maintaining a clear trajectory towards your conclusion.
Consider the weight of each section in relation to your overall thesis. Some chapters, like your literature review or methodology, may require more in-depth analysis and thus, more time. Use a bulleted list to rank sections by importance and allocate time accordingly:
By prioritizing effectively, you ensure that the most critical aspects of your work receive the attention they deserve. This strategic approach allows for a more coherent and impactful thesis, even within a limited timeframe.
In the whirlwind of drafting your dissertation within 72 hours, it's crucial to allocate substantial time for revision and feedback. Revision is not merely a last-minute polish , but a significant phase where you refine your arguments, clarify your points, and ensure coherence throughout your work. Dedicate a block of time post-writing to revisit each section with a critical eye, and allow for adjustments based on feedback.
Feedback is an invaluable component of the revision process. Reach out to peers, mentors, or a thesis consultant to review your work. Their insights can highlight areas for improvement that you might have overlooked. Here's a suggested breakdown of your time allocation:
Remember, the goal is to emerge with a dissertation that is not only completed but also well-crafted and scholarly.
Selecting the right software and applications.
In the quest to complete your dissertation within 72 hours, selecting the right software and applications is pivotal. Utilizing technology and software tools enhances thesis writing efficiency by organizing research, improving collaboration, automating formatting, and tracking progress and deadlines for a successful outcome. Begin by identifying software that caters to your specific needs—be it for data analysis, reference management, or document creation.
Consider the following list of criteria when choosing your tools:
Moreover, explore academic support platforms that offer resources and time management tips, which are essential for the successful completion of your thesis. The right set of tools can streamline your workflow, allowing you to focus on the content rather than the process of writing.
In the condensed timeframe of a 72-hour thesis, leveraging academic databases and libraries is crucial. These repositories offer a wealth of scholarly articles, books, and resources that are indispensable for your research. Selecting the right database can make a significant difference in the quality and relevance of the information you gather. For instance, APA PsycNet provides over 5.4 million entries, including journal articles and books, tailored for psychology research.
To maximize efficiency, familiarize yourself with advanced search techniques . Guides such as 'Choosing and Using Library Databases' from UCLA can help you refine your searches, ensuring you retrieve the most pertinent results swiftly. Additionally, many universities offer remote access to their resources through a Virtual Private Network (VPN), allowing you to conduct research from any location at any time.
Here are some steps to effectively utilize these resources:
Remember, the goal is to gather high-quality information quickly, so take advantage of the tools and services provided by academic databases and libraries to streamline your research process.
In the whirlwind of a 72-hour thesis, employing productivity techniques can be the linchpin to your success. Effective thesis writing involves prioritizing tasks, allocating dedicated time, taking breaks, and utilizing productivity techniques and technology tools for organization and productivity . To streamline your efforts, consider adopting a holistic approach that includes time management skills and tools that cater specifically to the needs of graduate students.
For instance, the Graduate Student Dissertation & Thesis Camp offers a suite of resources designed to enhance focus and efficiency. This includes tools for research and writing, as well as strategies for managing performance anxiety and boosting confidence. A structured week-by-week plan can guide you through the nuances of your thesis journey, from goal setting in the initial stages to maintaining well-being and performance as you approach the finish line.
Below is a sample weekly plan to help you incorporate productivity techniques into your thesis crafting process:
By following a structured plan and utilizing the right tools, you can navigate your accelerated thesis crafting with precision and ease, ultimately joining the ranks of students who have successfully overcome thesis anxiety.
Mastering speed writing without sacrificing quality.
In the whirlwind of a 72-hour thesis, speed writing becomes a critical skill. However, it's vital to maintain the integrity of your academic work. To achieve this balance, you must embrace efficiency without compromising on the thoroughness of your research and the clarity of your arguments.
Begin by setting clear, achievable goals for each writing session. Utilize tools like the 'Pomodoro Technique' to keep your writing sessions focused and frequent breaks to maintain mental sharpness. Remember, consistent effort , as highlighted by the snippet, leads to success.
When writing, adhere to academic style guidelines to ensure formality and clarity. Avoid colloquialisms and strive for precision in your language. The snippet from the University of Reading's LibGuides suggests avoiding casual words and cliches, which can detract from the scholarly tone of your dissertation.
Lastly, keep your writing tools sharpened. Whether it's a preferred word processor or reference management software, having these at the ready can streamline the writing process, allowing you to focus on the content rather than the mechanics of writing.
To craft your dissertation within a 72-hour window, coherent structuring of arguments and chapters is paramount. Begin by outlining each chapter as a standalone essay, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Ensure that the conclusion of each chapter seamlessly connects to the overarching thesis , providing a continuous narrative throughout your work.
Employ a logical flow between chapters by using transitional phrases and summarizing key points at the end of each section. This will guide the reader through your argumentation and maintain engagement. Consider the following list to structure your chapters effectively:
Remember to allocate time for revision , as suggested in the snippet, "Guide for polishing your final thesis draft: proofread, revise for clarity, format correctly, check citations, seek feedback. Showcase your hard work. Elevate academic journey with tips and support." This will ensure that your dissertation not only reads coherently but also adheres to the highest academic standards.
In the whirlwind of writing your dissertation in 72 hours, maintaining academic integrity through proper citation and referencing is crucial. Employing effective citation and referencing methods ensures that your work is credible and respects intellectual property. Utilize bibliography and citation tools like Zotero to streamline the process. These tools not only save time but also help in organizing your references, which is essential for maintaining the scholarly value of your thesis.
When citing sources, consistency is key. Choose a citation style that is appropriate for your discipline—APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.—and stick to it throughout your document. Here's a simple list to keep your citations in check:
Remember, a well-cited dissertation not only upholds academic integrity but also demonstrates your attention to detail and dedication to scholarly rigor. As you approach the final hours of your thesis crafting, allocate time for a thorough review of all citations to avoid any oversights.
Addressing writer's block and procrastination.
Writer's block and procrastination can be formidable adversaries in your quest to complete your thesis within 72 hours. To combat these challenges, it's essential to understand their origins and implement strategies that can help you regain momentum. Identify the root cause of your writer's block; it could stem from fear of failure, perfectionism, or a lack of clarity about your thesis direction.
Once you've pinpointed the issue, address it head-on. Celebrate small achievements to maintain motivation, and establish a consistent writing routine. Set realistic goals for each writing session, and don't hesitate to use freewriting techniques to get your ideas flowing. If you find yourself stuck, consider joining a writing group or seeking the support of a writing coach. These steps can help you maintain focus and productivity:
Remember, the key to overcoming these obstacles is to keep moving forward, even if it's just one sentence at a time.
In the whirlwind of drafting your dissertation in 72 hours, it's crucial to stay grounded in the academic guidelines and requirements of your institution. Begin by thoroughly reviewing the specific criteria for your dissertation, including formatting standards, chapter expectations, and submission guidelines . This ensures that your work aligns with the academic rigor demanded by your program.
Next, consider the structure of your dissertation. As highlighted by the Education Research Tutorial, the thesis statement should be specific and typically appears at the end of the first or second paragraph. This sets the stage for a coherent argument throughout your paper. Additionally, it's imperative to understand the broader objectives and philosophies of your department, which can influence the expectations for your research.
Lastly, don't overlook the importance of connecting with academic advisors. They are invaluable resources who can provide mentorship and guidance on your dissertation journey. Reach out to potential advisors to discuss your research and ensure your work complements their expertise and the department's trajectory.
In the whirlwind of crafting your dissertation in 72 hours, it's crucial to safeguard your well-being . Maintaining a balance between social life and academic success in thesis writing requires setting boundaries, practicing self-discipline, time management, and self-care activities for overall well-being. These elements are not just supplementary; they are foundational to sustaining the intense focus needed for your thesis.
When setting deadlines , consider breaking tasks into manageable chunks and allow for flexibility to adjust for setbacks. It's essential to balance thesis work with other commitments, ensuring that you don't neglect other areas of your life. Flexibility is key in this high-pressure situation, as rigid schedules can lead to unnecessary stress.
Here are some practical steps to manage stress during your thesis marathon:
Remember, your health is paramount. By taking care of yourself, you enhance your capacity to produce quality work within the tight timeframe.
Conducting thorough proofreading and editing.
Once you have completed the writing phase of your dissertation, it's crucial to engage in thorough proofreading and editing. This process is not merely about correcting typos and grammar mistakes; it's an opportunity to refine your arguments, ensure clarity, and enhance the overall readability of your work. Editing is an art that requires a critical eye and attention to detail. Start by reviewing your dissertation section by section, checking for coherence and logical flow.
During this phase, consider the feedback from your peers and advisors. Their insights can be invaluable in identifying areas that need improvement. Utilize tools and resources that can aid in this process, such as grammar checkers and style guides. However, remember that software cannot fully grasp the nuances of your research, so a manual review is indispensable.
To systematically approach the editing process, you can use the following checklist:
By dedicating the necessary time to proofreading and editing, you can significantly improve the quality of your dissertation, making it a polished and professional piece of academic work.
As you approach the final stretch of your 72-hour thesis marathon, it's crucial to be well-versed in the submission procedures and deadlines. Ensure your dissertation meets all the required formatting and submission standards by consulting the official guidelines provided by your institution. Typically, formal submissions must be completed by a specific time on the deadline date. For example, some universities require submission by 5:00 p.m. on the due date.
To avoid any last-minute hiccups, familiarize yourself with the submission portal and any necessary digital forms or certifications. Here's a quick checklist to guide you through the process:
After your thesis presentation, take a moment to reflect on your achievement and celebrate your progress. Consider the feedback received, refine your thesis if needed, and explore publishing opportunities for further professional development.
Once your dissertation has been submitted, you might wonder if there's anything more required of you. It's essential to stay informed about any additional steps or documentation that your university may need post-submission. Keep an eye on your email and university portals for updates or requests for further information.
After the monumental effort of completing your thesis, it's time to shift focus to what comes next. You may need to prepare for a defense or presentation, depending on your program's requirements. Additionally, consider the potential for publication and how you might adapt your work for a broader audience. Utilize the feedback you've received to enhance your dissertation for future academic or professional opportunities.
Lastly, don't overlook the administrative aspects. Confirm that you've met all the graduation requirements and are aware of the deadlines for any final paperwork. Here's a quick checklist to guide you through the post-submission phase:
Embarking on the final stages of your academic journey can be daunting, but with Research Rebels , you can navigate the complexities of dissertation writing with confidence. Our step-by-step Thesis Action Plan is designed to alleviate your anxiety and provide clarity on every step of the process. Don't let sleepless nights and overwhelming stress hinder your progress. Visit our website now to claim your special offer and take the first step towards a successful dissertation submission. Your peace of mind is just a click away!
In the pursuit of academic excellence, the daunting task of thesis writing can often seem insurmountable, especially within the confines of a 72-hour deadline. However, with a meticulously structured approach, an understanding of the essential components of a dissertation, and the utilization of strategic time management, it is possible to craft a comprehensive thesis in just three days. This article has provided a roadmap for such an ambitious endeavor, outlining critical steps and offering practical advice to navigate the complexities of thesis creation. It is imperative to remember that while the 72-hour thesis may be an extreme undertaking, it underscores the importance of clarity, focus, and determination in academic writing. By embracing these principles, students can transcend traditional barriers and achieve remarkable scholarly feats.
Is it really possible to write a quality dissertation in just 72 hours.
While it is a significant challenge, with meticulous planning, dedication, and the use of the right resources and techniques, it is possible to craft a substantial dissertation in 72 hours. However, this approach should be reserved for exceptional circumstances.
Strategic planning involves developing a comprehensive timeline, prioritizing key sections of your dissertation, and allocating time for revision and feedback to ensure a cohesive and well-structured document.
Yes, utilizing software like word processors with citation management plugins, distraction-free writing applications, and time management tools can greatly enhance your writing efficiency.
To maintain quality, focus on clear and concise writing, stay organized with an outline, and keep your arguments evidence-based. Regular short breaks can also help maintain a high quality of writing.
If you face writer's block, take a brief break, engage in a different activity, or discuss your ideas with a peer or mentor. Sometimes a change in activity or perspective can help overcome the block.
Before submission, conduct thorough proofreading and editing, ensure all citations are correct, familiarize yourself with the submission procedures and deadlines, and prepare for any post-submission considerations such as defense preparations.
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Yes I am an idiot. I have three days to finish my 10000 word dissertation and I'm not even half way through the first chapter.
The reason I am in this situation is because of anxiety making it difficult for me to concentrate (Sometimes I have to read things over and over for it to go in) and depression killing my motivation. I've been using Modafinil, which has helped a bit with concentration but clearly not enough. I've already had an extension as my dad was diagnosed with cancer and that has affected me pretty badly, but I'm still probably not going to finish it. I can't really push the deadline back any further as I have another essay to do, then exams right after that (also they may not even allow another extension). My mark average is about 66 so it would be a shame if all that hard work went to waste because of the diss (which doesn't even have to be that good to get a 2:1 overall as it's worth %20).
What would you do in my situation? Am I totally fucked? What are my options?
Edit: Couldn’t do it. I applied for an extension so if I don’t get that I am fucked. If it wasn’t for family, at this point I’d probably just shoot myself
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One of the biggest challenges during the academic life of a student is to write a dissertation. Usually, a dissertation is written during the last academic year of the degree. Most of the students think that writing a dissertation is just like writing an essay. As a result, they don’t pay enough attention to the dissertation writing task and they waste their precious time. When they commence the dissertation writing task, they feel that it is very difficult for them to create a monument of a dissertation in this short period of time. That’s why most of the students place an order of their dissertation to the dissertation writing services .
A complete guide to writing a dissertation just within three weeks is given below;
The first week of your dissertation writing task is a very crucial time. Here, we will prepare weekly as well as daily plans for the dissertation writing task. Its reason is that after preparing weekly and daily plans, you will get a roadmap to writing a dissertation. Moreover, after completing the dissertation writing task on a daily basis, you will get the satisfaction that you are on the track and you can easily create a monument of your dissertation before the deadline.
On the first day of the dissertation writing task, you should try to select an interesting and intriguing topic idea. You should select at least three topic ideas that are interesting to you and try to get the views of your advisor on these topics. Some essential components of a dissertation proposal are given below;
Firstly creating a mind-blowing dissertation proposal, it is also necessary for you to approve it from your advisor. If your advisor will approve the dissertation proposal, you will be able to further exceed the dissertation writing task. After that, there remain two days in the first week of the dissertation writing task.
Secondly, After approving the dissertation proposal from your supervisor and writing the preliminary pages of your dissertation, the next step is to gather enough information for the dissertation writing task. Some essential tips for the first week of the dissertation writing task are given below;
In order to create an outline for the dissertation writing task, you will have to clearly understand the topic of your dissertation. After clearly understanding the topic of your dissertation, you should make a list of the sub-questions that are necessary to answer in your dissertation. A dissertation outline will act as a roadmap while conducting effective research as well as while creating a monument of your dissertation. This outline should be created on the first day of the second week.
Now, there comes the most essential step of the dissertation writing task. The students should be very careful while conducting effective research for their dissertation because the reliability and authenticity of a dissertation depend upon the authenticity of the content. Therefore, on the second day of the first week, the students should try to prepare a list of authentic and academic resources to gather the data for their dissertation. Some authentic and academic resources to gather the data for your dissertation are library books, academic catalogues, online journals, and authentic websites, etc. On the third and fourth days of the second week, the students should try to gather data from these resources.
While gathering data from these academic and authentic resources, there is a possibility that you will gather such data which is not relevant to the topic of your dissertation. Therefore, on the fifth day of the week, you should try to analyze the gathered data and try to keep only that data that is relevant to the topic of your dissertation.
Now, there comes the actual dissertation writing process. On the last two days of the second week, the students should try to write the introductory chapter of their dissertation with the help of unique and original content. In the introductory chapter of their dissertation, the students should try to establish their research question, they should narrow down the focus of their topic, they should define the focus of their research, they should clearly state the objectives of their dissertation and they should also provide a clear overview of the structure of their dissertation.
During the second week of the dissertation writing task, you should be more energetic than the previous week. In the second week of the dissertation writing task, you should follow these essential tips;
No doubt, a literature review or theoretical framework is the most essential chapter of your dissertation. Its reason is that the literature review provides a thorough understanding of the existing knowledge relevant to the topic idea to the students. The students should try to write it on the first day of the third week.
In this essential chapter of the dissertation, the students should try to address the gap in the existing literature, they should adopt a new theoretical approach for a topic, they should propose the possible answers to the unsolved questions and they should try to strengthen the existing knowledge with the help of new data.
On the second day, the students should try to write the research methodology and results in sections of the dissertation. In the research methodology, the students have to provide an overview of the type and approach of the research. On the other hand, in the results section of a dissertation, the students should try to explain the main findings and results of the dissertation.
On the third day, you should write the discussion and concluding sections of your dissertation. In the discussion section, the students should try to explore the meanings and implications of the results of a dissertation by relating them with their research questions. In the concluding chapter of the dissertation, it is necessary for the students to summarize the main points of their dissertation.
On the fourth day, you should try to prepare the references list and appendices for your dissertation. In the references list, you will have to provide a list of all the resources from where you have gathered the data for your dissertation. While conducting the data, you have to use interview transcripts and some survey questions. It is necessary for you to provide a list of these interview transcripts and survey questions in the appendices section of your dissertation.
In the last week, the students should try to write the preliminary pages of the dissertation. The preliminary pages of a dissertation may vary according to the desires and requirements of the advisor. Anyhow, some essential preliminary pages which are necessary to include in the dissertation writing task are given below;
It is the very first page of your dissertation and it should contain the title of the dissertation, your name, your supervisor name, university name, and date of submission.
It is a fact that while creating a monument of your dissertation; you will have to get help from your friends and faculty members. A dissertation provides a chance for the students to thank everyone who has helped them in the dissertation writing task.
An abstract is known as a short summary of your dissertation. This should be written at the end of the dissertation writing the task and it should include a statement of your topic, aims of your dissertation, the main results of your dissertation and research methodology.
This essential preliminary page of your dissertation should include all the information about the headings and subheadings of your dissertation along with page numbers.
To write a dissertation, we have to include some figures and tables. This preliminary page of the dissertation provides a complete detail about the list of figures along with their page numbers.
If you have used some abbreviations in your dissertation, you should include complete detail of these abbreviations in this section along with their meanings.
While writing a dissertation, there is a possibility that you will have to include some highly specialized terms relevant to your subject. These highly specialized terms are not understandable for all the audience members. Therefore, it is also a good idea to provide an alphabetical list of these terms along with their meanings.
After creating a monument of your dissertation, it is also an unavoidable thing for you to proofread and edit it in order to remove all the mistakes from your dissertation. You should complete the proofreading and editing process in the next two days. On the last day of the week, you should send this dissertation to the expert writers of the dissertation writing services and get their views about the quality of your dissertation. By following these simple tips, you can easily create a monument of your dissertation just within three weeks.
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I want to go to uni but I don't know what to study
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Purpose of the Internship
The purpose of the internship is to provide the fledgling emergency manager with the opportunity to gain first-hand experience related to all four phases of Emergency Management. The internship is a key component of the Emergency Administration and Planning program and provides pre-career students an opportunity to apply classroom knowledge and develop professional skills that will lead to a successful career. Moreover, the internship experience frequently provides the student with an entry into a permanent position.
Emergency Administration and Planning students must complete an internship of at least 240 hours of employment. Students must register for EADP 4800, EADP Internship Preparation, and complete the course before beginning an internship appointment. This three hour course meets four times during the semester and prepares students for an internship. Career testing, resume and interview preparation, and discussions of professional and ethical conduct are covered. When the student is ready to begin an internship, the internship coordinator will assist in identifying internships, but the student is ultimately responsible for securing an appointment.
Internships may be completed during the summer months, on a part-time basis during the academic year, or once all course work has been completed.
Internship Guidelines
Career Center Internship Information
Current EADP Internship Placements
Internship Practicum Testimonials
Internship Waiver Request - Please include your current resume with this form.
For more information, please contact the EADP Internship Coordinator, Dr. Ron Timmons .
There are three categories for internships in the EADP program:
Required: Internship Preparation (EADP 4800)
Required: Internship Practicum (EADP 4810) and a 240 hour internship.
Not required: Internship Preparation (EADP 4800)
This change must be approved. Please contact Dr. Ron Timmons , the EADP Internship Coordinator (Chilton 204J), to request a waiver for EADP 4800.
Not required: Internship Practicum (EADP 4810) and a 240 hour internship.
This change must be approved. Please see Dr. Ron Timmons , EADP Internship Coordinator (Chilton Hall 204J) to request a waiver for EADP 4800/4810.
If you choose the 42 hour degree plan, you may not complete an internship for credit.
EADP 4810 (Internship Practicum) is a restricted enrollment course and requires a permission code for registration. You MUST contact the Internship Coordinator prior to your registration date. It is best to acquire your code at least two weeks prior to your registration date. DO NOT wait until the day you are scheduled to register to try to obtain your registration code.
During Internship Preparation, students will meet with the internship coordinator to begin arranging their internship. The internship coordinator will assist the student in securing a practicum, but the final responsibility for finding an internship rests with the student.
Enroll in Internship Preparation at least one semester before beginning an internship.
Prerequisites: Enrollment is restricted to EADP majors who have completed EADP 3010, 3035, and 3045, and consent of the Internship Coordinator.
Topics covered in this course include: career counseling, resume development, professionalism and interviewing skills.
Students will meet during scheduled classes to monitor progress, discuss experiences, turn in documentation and resolve concerns. The dates, locations and time for the class will be announced at the beginning of each semester via student email.
Internship Coordinator must approve internship prior to beginning internship. If it is not approved, it will not count.
Pre-requisites: Enrollment is restricted to EADP majors who have completed EADP 4800, 3010, 3035, 3045, plus 3 additional hours of EADP coursework. After a student has arranged for an internship, they must register for Internship Practicum (EADP 4810).
EADP 4810 is a restricted enrollment course and requires a restriction code for registration. You MUST contact the Internship Coordinator prior to registration in order to enroll in this course. It is best to acquire your code at least two weeks prior to your registration date. Do NOT wait until the day you are scheduled to register to try to obtain your registration code.
Internship opportunities are available with a variety of public agencies and departments, as well as at various levels of government. Students may also serve as interns in the private and nonprofit sectors. Internships complement coursework in the major field with practical, hands on knowledge. Students gain a better understanding of emergency management principles while also obtaining experience, credentials, and identity in the field. EADP internships, therefore, serve a very important step in the student's career preparation and development.
When anticipating an internship, you should begin by thinking about the type of work experience you would like to complete. For example, consider whether you hope to work in the public, private or nonprofit sector. Then, narrow the choice further by specific organization (e.g. municipal, state or federal government) and functional area (e.g. planning or response). The internship preparation course will also help to identify student's strengths and areas of professional interest. All students enrolled in EADP 4810 must register with Eagle Careers through the UNT Career Center. Students may find an internship searching opportunities posted on Eagle Careers, through networking, and reading professional newsletters. To qualify for course credit, the internship must be approved by the Internship Coordinator prior to beginning the internship, be related to Emergency Administration and Planning, and supervised by a professional in the field.
If you have any questions about internship requirements or procedures, please contact the Internship Coordinator, Dr. Ron Timmons.
Occasionally, students will enter the Emergency Administration and Planning program with professional experience in the field. Students who feel they have a great deal of experience directly related to emergency management can appeal for an internship waiver. Students will need to be able to articulate in a scholarly manner how their full-time professional experiences directly relate to all four phases of emergency management. A faculty committee will carefully review the request. If a student is waived from the internship requirement, their degree plan will be altered.
Additionally, a few students will have sufficient experience in a professional setting although not necessarily related to emergency management. In this situation, students may appeal to be waived from the Internship Preparation class, but still expect to do an internship. In order to be waived from the Internship Preparation Course, students will fill out the Internship Waiver Request. If the student is granted a waiver from EADP 4800, then the student will need to meet with the Internship Coordinator BEFORE accepting an internship for academic credit.
COMMENTS
How To Write A Dissertation Or Thesis (+ Examples)
How I Wrote My Masters' Thesis in One Week | by S Pats
The Complete Guide to Writing a Dissertation
Instead of inserting "work on thesis" into your calendar, insert measurable goals like "finish Figure 1" or "write two pages of Chapter 2.". 7. Write In Very Short Bursts. Writing in several short bursts is more efficient than writing in a few, long extended periods of time. If you ever tried to write for several hours in a row, you ...
If you have to produce 10,000 words in ten days, you have to average 1,000 a day. If you have two days, then 5,000 per day and if you work on it for 12 hours each of those days, you need to turn out 417 words per hour. A tall order, but it can be done.
This includes formulating an idea, doing the research, and writing up. A PhD thesis takes a longer time, as the thesis is the main focus of the degree. A PhD thesis might be being formulated and worked on for the whole four years of the degree program. The writing process alone can take around 18 months.
Picking the topic of your dissertation. Take it section by section. Aim for 700 words a day. Make your literature review an ongoing process. Do your dissertation research early on. Meet with your dissertation tutor on the regular. Find where you work best.
What Is a Dissertation? | Guide, Examples, & Template
Thesis and Dissertation: Getting Started. The resources in this section are designed to provide guidance for the first steps of the thesis or dissertation writing process. They offer tools to support the planning and managing of your project, including writing out your weekly schedule, outlining your goals, and organzing the various working ...
Design a productivity alliance with your colleagues. Dissertation writing can be lonely, but writing with friends, meeting for updates over your beverage of choice, and scheduling non-working social times can help you maintain healthy energy. See our tips on accountability strategies for ideas to support each other.
How to Write a Dissertation: Step-by-Step Guide
Master your dissertation in 3 days with strategic planning, efficient tools, and effective writing techniques. ... Week 3: Motivation; Week 4: Procrastination Tools; Week 5: Managing Performance/Test Anxiety; Week 6: Confidence Boost ... Maintaining a balance between social life and academic success in thesis writing requires setting boundaries ...
canttouchthisJC. •. You can probably do two revisions in one week but any masters advisor would have wanted a copy of your thesis a while back. I had 19 revisions of my thesis and it took me two and a half months from my initial revision till what was actually written, submitted, and published.
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My thesis is due in 3 weeks, I've been "working" on it for over a year and since I have absolutely no will for writing long ass texts, not much got done in all this time and I'm in a situation where I only have written my thesis' plan and noted some content here and there. I still entertain the belief I can do it while not knowing where to ...
Dissertation Template (Word Document) & eBook Download ~ https://thepagedoctor.gumroad.com/l/dissertationtemplate RESEARCH WRITING + TIME MANAGEMENT COURSE J...
Update: "I have three weeks to write my thesis". Congrats! How much did you have to do in 3 weeks? I have a bit over 4 weeks left and I'm panicking. Congrats, Doctor. while it is less formal than the alternative, I do think that Dr. Dishsoap has a better ring to it than Dr. OnASponge. Congratulations, Doctor.
Basically I've wrote 1.5k words and have like another 1k words that's like a plan for the rest of it. That's why the title says 2k words. 4 months ago. cheadle. 17. You will struggle tbh but you should be able to draft something that broadly looks like a dissertation. I would also advise lowering your expectation on grade - just focus on ...
Just remember that the bibliography expires after so long so make sure you save it into your dissertation every day. Get other people to read over sections for you - better if it's someone who doesn't know the topic - to check for spelling/grammar/etc. Just plug away at it every day and you'll be fine - 3 weeks is a long time.
Dissertation due in 3 days and only on 10% word count. Yes I am an idiot. I have three days to finish my 10000 word dissertation and I'm not even half way through the first chapter. The reason I am in this situation is because of anxiety making it difficult for me to concentrate (Sometimes I have to read things over and over for it to go in ...
Week 3. In the last week, the students should try to write the preliminary pages of the dissertation. The preliminary pages of a dissertation may vary according to the desires and requirements of the advisor. Anyhow, some essential preliminary pages which are necessary to include in the dissertation writing task are given below;
If you still need to read, my advice would be to spend morning and afternoon reading, and writing in the evening. I know a dissertation is different but for an essay I aim for 500 words an hour working at a relaxed pace. You CAN do this, and my advice to you would be to write off totally the next 2 weeks-bar meals and sleep, don't do anything else.
Pre-requisites: Enrollment is restricted to EADP majors who have completed EADP 4800, 3010, 3035, 3045, plus 3 additional hours of EADP coursework. After a student has arranged for an internship, they must register for Internship Practicum (EADP 4810).