Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day

Piled higher and deeper is way cool. I'm going to start reading it. Thanks for sharing.

 

Yeah I have that book and it is a hoot!!!

 

I always thought that PhD stood for Phenomenally Dumb.

 

Holy cow! The dissertation writer's retreat is $2300 for five days! That's $460 a day. Sounds like a great thing, but a little too pricey for me.

 

I think it is cheaper to just get a cheap hotel room, lock the door, and unplug the phone! Here is my though - with all of these "how to" books on writing a dissertation you are wasting your time reading when you should be writing

 

You know, you have a point there. Pretty easy to get caught up in the "how to" books and neglect actually writing.

 

Let me guess... You're going to have to pay more tuition to protect the accreditation of the school. Hehehe.

 

Motivation

I would agree. You likely have the skills already. Just begin and make a commitment to write every day and the reading done should be connected to the subject area or methodology to add to that part of the dissertation.

Get someone to read through what you are writing a chapter at a time so that the thesis advisor doesn't get too fed up with the mistakes. Have another read through the whole things when its complete before submitting to the advisor for his-her final go through.

It is good to look at the total length the dissertation should be for your university and or faculty and divide up the work in chapters that are manageable. If some research is already complete then get move on to a chapter not completed, but if you get bogged down in a chapter, perhaps move on to another one and come back to the one that is more trouble. But don't waste time. And keep motivated. Link up with others reading or writing in the same area. Its harder when in DL but there are people on line with the university perhaps.

I think a lot of people have a great fear of the writing. Reading is more enjoyable for many. But when the thoughts come and there is amble material to back up the reseach ideas then it falls into place. Objectives should be reasonable as well. If one thought of starting the degree (say a PhD) and thought it would take 2 years, that's unrealistic. Use the first year to read as much as possible and put down ideas and basic structure. A time line with chapters for it works as well. I write a project proposal that could be turned into the first chapter with some additions, and a bibliography that forms the core of the dissertation bibliography. It saves time and when submitted with the proposal shows you know the subject area and have been reading already. And give the committee a proposed reasonable time line so that they can see you have a realistic goal as well.

Anyway, those are some of the ideas I go with.

My thesis at Vrystaat-Free State for the PhD Theology was accepted. I have my oral defence on 14 Sept 2010 in Bloemfontein, RSA. Already looking at the next project. Working on a project paper to submit, but looking for universities that will let me work through DL in bioethics.

Brad

 

It's possible. If that looks likely, I'm going to try to take a leave of absence for a couple of quarters to work on my dis. I'm pretty sure that's allowed. I can't see the point in paying tuition when I'm just working on research and writing.

I know you are teasing, but you are actually correct, I think. I know your less than favorable views on profit schools and you make a good point.

 

Thanks so much for this. It's very helpful. My best wishes to you on you upcoming defense. My buddy did his a couple of years ago and found he knew so much more about his subject than those who were questioning him that he was not put on the spot at all. He said that his defense turned out to be more of a friendly conversation about his work. He is a pretty solid dude though, a PhD, ESL specialist in Latin instruction. Lived in Costa Rica for a year doing field research.

 

I don't think he has a less then favorable views of for-profit do you Dave? Is TUI for-profit?

 

True, but you also have research librarians, statisticians, and advisers at your call for those 5 days. If the end result is a completed dissertation, I say it is a bargain.

 

If it was really complete, it would be worth it. If is a complete draft to be approved by chair and committee I do not think it is worth it.

 

I suppose it might be, especially if you are stuck. I haven't done the dis yet so I have no right to judge it.

 

Just ordered it from Amazon. It was not cheap! I bought a used paperback for $35 New hardcover was around $100.

 

Really? I saw this used on Amazon for $0.74

Amazon.com: Surviving Your Dissertation: A Comprehensive Guide to Content and Process…

 

I already read that on our school library. And I enjoyed reading that book about dissertation. It says there that dissertation writers need strong, practical advice, as well as someone to assure them that their struggles aren't unique.