Writing the Winning Thesis Or Dissertation: A Step-by-Step GuideHere′s an experience-based, step-by-step, practical guide to take you through planning, writing, and presenting your dissertation or thesis. Find out how to write an objective, documented, and detailed report of your research, one that reflects well on you as a researcher and can help advance your career. Glatthorn divides the book into five sections, with each section focusing on a specific part of the process. This Second Edition includes two completely new chapters - one on using the technology in doing the research and writing the dissertation and one on using peer collaboration. It also provides specific models and examples for each chapter of the dissertation. He shows you exactly how to: - Find a research topic and lay the proper groundwork - Develop a high-quality proposal and defend it successfully - Do your research, collect your ideas, and write your paper - Defend and (if appropriate) publish your work - Solve work- or committee-related problems that may come up along the way You′ll gain a wealth of knowledge from Glatthorn′s experience chairing nearly 100 dissertation committees. He shows you how the correct academic style adds credibility to your work. His insights can save you hours of valuable time and help you streamline the preparation of your paper. If you have a thesis or dissertation to write, and you are having a hard time getting started or have questions about the process, this is the book you need. It answers your questions and gives you the information to need to get started and keep going. It can make the difference success and failure for your dissertation between. |
Contents
Laying the Groundwork for the Thesis and Dissertation | 3 |
Understanding the Special Nature of the Dissertation | 4 |
Making Ethical Choices With Respect to the Dissertation | 8 |
Securing the Needed Resources | 13 |
Understanding the Key Differences Between the Thesis and the Dissertation | 15 |
A Look Ahead | 16 |
Finding a Research Problem | 17 |
Make a Personal Assessment of Topics | 18 |
Organizing the Dissertation | 155 |
What Principles Govern the Organization of Individual Chapters? | 157 |
How Is the Dissertation Finally Packaged? | 161 |
Writing the Introductory Chapter | 163 |
Introduction to the Chapter | 164 |
The Background of the Study | 165 |
The Problem Statement | 166 |
The Professional Significance of the Study | 167 |
Conduct a Broad Scan of the Literature | 23 |
Reflect and Discuss | 29 |
Conducting a Focused Review of the Literature | 31 |
Retrieve All Related Abstracts | 32 |
Evaluate the Results | 33 |
Retrieve the Full Texts of the Most Useful Sources | 35 |
Use Primary Sources | 36 |
Develop an Annotated Bibliography | 37 |
A Concluding Note | 38 |
Making a Preliminary Choice of Methodology | 39 |
Research Types | 41 |
Research Methods | 44 |
Make Preliminary Choices | 45 |
Organizing and Scheduling Your Work | 47 |
Develop a Planning Chart | 48 |
Make the Tentative Entries | 50 |
Developing the Prospectus and Organizing the Committee | 53 |
Developing the Prospectus | 54 |
Choosing and Organizing the Committee | 57 |
Using Peer Collaboration | 63 |
Structuring the Collaborative | 64 |
Formalize the Structure and Request Adviser Approval | 66 |
Using Technology | 69 |
Prepare Yourself | 71 |
Spreadsheets | 72 |
Reference Formatting | 73 |
Caution in Using the Technology | 74 |
Learning From the PreProposal Conference | 77 |
Examine the Research Problem | 78 |
Review Your Schedule | 79 |
Follow Up on the Conference | 81 |
Developing and Defending the Proposal | 83 |
Conducting a Comprehensive Critique of the Literature | 85 |
Maintain Good Research Practices Throughout the Search | 86 |
Establish Parameters for the Search | 89 |
Conduct a Comprehensive Search | 90 |
Critique All Sources Retrieved | 92 |
A Concluding Note | 95 |
Detailing the Methodology | 97 |
TypeSpecific Issues | 98 |
Develop Your Research Design | 105 |
Developing and Defending the Proposal | 107 |
The Big Picture | 108 |
Writing Chapter 1 | 109 |
Writing Chapter 2 | 115 |
Writing Chapter 3 | 121 |
The Appendix Section | 122 |
Researching and Writing the Thesis or Dissertation | 127 |
Carrying Out the Research Design | 129 |
PROBLEMS AFTER THE DEFENSEEnsure Access to the Research Site | 130 |
Avoid Premature Data Collection | 131 |
Prevent Problems With the InPROBLEMS AFTER THE DEFENSEtervention | 132 |
Use Computers Mindfully | 133 |
Maintain Careful and Duplicate Records | 134 |
Mastering the Academic Style | 135 |
Use the Writing Process | 136 |
Mastering the Academic Style | 142 |
Overview of Methodology | 168 |
Writing the Review of the Literature | 171 |
Update the Comprehensive Critique of the Literature | 172 |
Develop the Final Outline | 173 |
Use Levels of Headings That Reflect the Outline | 175 |
Write the Introductory Paragraph | 177 |
Write the First Section of the Review | 178 |
Write the Remaining Sections Including a Summary | 182 |
Some Specific Reminders | 183 |
Explaining the Methodology | 185 |
Determine the Content of the Chapter | 186 |
Outline the Chapter and Use Headings Appropriately | 187 |
Describe the Context for the Study | 190 |
Identify the Subjects or Participants | 192 |
Identify the Instruments Used to Collect Data | 193 |
Explain the Procedures Used in Carrying Out the Design | 194 |
Explain How the Data Were Analyzed | 195 |
Write a Summary | 196 |
Presenting the Results | 197 |
Determine the Organization of the Chapter | 198 |
Develop the Tables and Figures | 199 |
Write the Introductory Paragraph | 200 |
Write the First Section | 201 |
Write the Remaining Sections Using Appropriate Headings | 202 |
Summarizing and Discussing the Results | 203 |
Develop an Outline of the Final Chapter | 204 |
Restate the Problem and Review the Methodology | 205 |
Discuss the Meaning of the Study | 207 |
Preparing the Dissertation for Defense | 211 |
Edit the Dissertation | 212 |
Check on Content and Order | 213 |
Write the Abstract | 214 |
Write the Acknowledgments Page | 215 |
List of References | 216 |
Submit the DissertationPROBLEMS AFTER THE DEFENSE | 217 |
Defending and Profiting From the Dissertation | 219 |
Holding a Successful Defense | 221 |
Hold the Defense | 222 |
After Your Presentation | 226 |
Publishing From the Thesis or Dissertation | 227 |
Present a Scholarly Paper | 228 |
Publish a Journal Article | 229 |
Develop a Plan to Publish a Book | 234 |
Solving Problems Throughout the Dissertation | 237 |
Solving Problems With the Committee | 239 |
The Dynamic of the Committee | 240 |
Preventing Problems With the Committee | 241 |
Dealing With Committee Problems | 244 |
Solving Personal Problems With the Dissertation | 249 |
Problems Near the End of the Course Work | 250 |
Problems at the End of the Course Work | 253 |
Problems After the Proposal | 255 |
Problems After the Defense | 257 |
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action research African American American Psycho American Psychological Association assessment block schedule broad scan career chapter charter school committee members comprehensive critique copies curriculum data analysis data collection database detailed discussion dissertation chair document East Carolina University educational ERIC evaluation example experimental explained factors faculty final focused review graduate identify important Internal validity issue journal keep in mind literature review major methodology methods microcomputer organization outline paragraph pattern perspective pre-proposal conference present problem statement procedures professional significance professor Professor X proposal defense prospectus PsycLIT published qualitative quantitative Quasi-Experimental Research questions reader reference relationships require research design research problem research topic research type retrieve revise schedule scholarly sertation shown in Exhibit sources specific stage style guide submit suggestions summary sure teachers theory tion word processing writing