This post is about sharing what i've been reading recently on completing a dissertation... which is slightly different than a thesis in terms that it's for PHD.
In any case writing a research paper involves almost the same challenges... and requires almost the same technical and sometimes psychological treatment for yourself and the paper both!
so this is for me as a reminder of what to put forth and focus on... and for anyone who might benefit.
Those below are tips by an expert's website that I got over at the SCAD writing center, they're sent via e-mail...
Enjoy !
completeyourdissertation.com
E-mails From: phd365@aweber.com
1. Journaling your
way to dissertation success!
I'm here again with another helpful
hint to completing your dissertation.
Today I'd like to talk about
journaling. Keeping a journal, diary, or blog can be a very helpful
aspect of staying motivated during your dissertation process. Though
regular entries, you can trace your productive (and not so productive) days to
discover what elements of your daily life best lend themselves to increased
output.
In your journal, note the conditions
of your progress in order to track trends. For example, if you note that,
on the days that you take the time to organize your working area, you write
more pages, make an effort to clean your space more frequently. If you
notice that, on days that you check your email before writing, you tend to
write fewer pages, limit yourself to 10 minutes of internet time AFTER you have
worked on your dissertation for a pre-specified amount of time.
Making the focus of your journal
successes of even the smallest kind ("I just couldn't focus today, but I
still managed to write 3 pages" or "Today I couldn't seem to write
anything, but I got 15 endnotes in tip top shape!") allows you to see the
dissertation as a multitude and not a magnitude.
2. Measuring your
dissertation progress
Today we have a tip from Tim Martin,
a fellow dissertator.
Tim makes an excellent point!
Progress isn't necessarily measured in pages. Instead, it can be measured
in footnotes completed, new resources discovered, or a few days spent
refreshing your mind and body.
Cheers,
20203 Goshen Road #374
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
3. Self Guided
Dissertation Library
I wanted to take a minute and make
sure you knew about my self guided dissertation library. This is a resource I
started several years ago, and which I update regularly. Basically, it is a
site that contains more than 200 audios, videos, and worksheets covering many
aspects of the dissertation process.
The site is a good option if you are
interested in a self-guided approach to learning more about the process of
doing the dissertation.
Here is what previous members have
said:
Dr. Rachna D. Jain and The Secrets
of Dissertation Success web site was just what I needed to get me focused on
completing my dissertation within one year. After completing my coursework, I
had a very hard time trying to balance family obligations and scheduling time
to write my dissertation. I also had chosen a topic that was too big in scope,
which eventually left me wondering if I even wanted to complete the degree.
After two years of having the dissertation hanging over my head with no real
progress, in January 2007 I joined the Secrets of Dissertation Success web site
and renewed my commitment to complete the dissertation this year. This
experience has made such a difference in not only my outlook but also in actual
written progress. In the past 5 months I have started over with a new topic,
completed and passed my written comprehensive and oral exam, and now have a
completed prospectus. I now will be able to complete the dissertation this
fall. I want to thank Dr. Jain for all of her wonderful advice. She was always
willing to answer my questions, gave great advice, and also was genuinely proud
of my accomplishments. I feel that she has become not only an "extra
advisor" but also a friend. If you are looking for support and help in
completing your dissertation, I highly recommend joining this site.
The site will give you a wide range
of assistance in various areas. Content within the site can help you determine
your topic, set up your research, manage your literature review, overcome
procrastination, write more efficiently, revise more quickly, and prepare for
your defense.
You can learn more by reading the
letter at http://completeyourdissertation.info.
This is a great option if you want
to get my advice and strategies in a focused and directed way, on your own
time.
Hope this helps,
Rachna
4. Addressing and
closing the "critical gap" between you and your dreams
Today I would like to discuss the
"critical gap" between where you are and where you would like to be.
This "gap" is the space between where you are, and where you
dream of being. The gap exists, most often, because there is a strong desire
for something (the completion of your dissertation), combined with a weak
belief that you will actually attain what you desire. So, stated another way,
you really want something that you don't really think you're going to get.
Until next time,
5.
Do your friends and
advisors cultivate your ideas?
Hi,
Lobna- Dr. Jain, again.
Be careful in sharing your
dissertation process or progress with people who probably won't understand,
and, worse, may make you feel badly about your project.
There is value in sharing your work
with individuals that are not part of the same academic discipline or know
little about your specific topic, but it can also expose you to unnecessary
(and possibly unfounded) criticism.
If you need to talk about your
dissertation, be sure you do this in a safe place and with people you trust. If
you forget this, you run the risk of having your ideas trashed and of feeling
badly.
Take your ideas where they will be
welcome and cultivated. This is how they will grow.
--Rachna
Today's tip was taken from my book Get
it Done which can be purchased at http://www.completeyourdissertation.com/go/books
20203 Goshen Road #374
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
6. Accepting criticism and critique graciously
Because
we talked recently about the importance of taking your ideas where they will be
welcomed and cultivated, I figured that today would be a good day to talk about
the importance of criticism and critique... and how to accept it graciously!
7.
Taking care of yourself
during your dissertation process
Hope you are making progress.
In this issue of 365PhD, I'd like to take some time to talk - not about your
dissertation - but about YOU. In the whirlwind of research, writing, and
editing (or the whirlwind of avoiding research, writing, and editing), it is
possible to lose touch with the rest of your life.
As you endeavor to complete your
dissertation, take the heart the following tips to balance your life with your
writing:
(1) Respect important events.
This tip comes
from my own experience. During my dissertation year, I was asked
to be a bridesmaid in my friend Mary's wedding. We had met during my Master's programand had stayed in semi-close touch for a few years after.
When I received the invitation,
I felt that I was
too busy and couldn't possibly
take time away
from my dissertation to be a bridesmaid and have some fun. Mary
never spoke to me again. Perhaps there were other reasons, but I suspect that they were relatedto my refusal to make
room in my dissertation processfor her. In a year-longprocess, would taking a weekendoff have been such a big deal?Probably
not. Hindsight is 20/20.
(2) Schedule a
complete "day off" from the dissertation at least twice a month.
Breaks are important to keep your mind refreshed and your energy
high. You should allow yourself at least two days off each month.
Schedule these days off several weeks in advance and protect this time.
It's essential to the dissertation process. As such, you should not feel
guilty or like you are "slacking off." Instead, have fun and
don't even think about your dissertation! Instead of worrying or fretting or pushing yourself, spend this day reconnecting with yourself,nature, or people you care for. You'll
feel an amazing difference.
--Rachna
PS - Don't forget to send me your
tips if you have them!
8. Do you suffer from "Impostor Syndrome"?
It seems that many PhD students
suffer from "Imposter Syndrome". For those of you who don't know,
this term refers to someone who is "playing a role" and therefore
believes that his/her success is due to "tricking" others. People
with "Imposter Syndrome" can live in mortal dread of being
"found out" or "uncovered".
What this most often means, in my
experience, is that there is a BIG HUGE gap between the person's
accomplishments and his/her own self view.
20203 Goshen Road #374
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
9.
Dissertation Coaching
FAQs
Since you've been on my list for
just a few weeks, I wanted to give you a bit of information about dissertation
coaching.
Most people don't know a lot about dissertation coaching, but I want to make
sure you know of this resource in case you ever need it.
A dissertation coach focuses
specifically on helping you set goals to complete the dissertation in a timely
fashion.
A coach doesn't replace your
advisor, or committee, but, instead, functions as a strategist, cheerleader,
and support person to hold you accountable.
Think of dissertation coaching like personal training for your Ph.D.
I've helped more than 400 ABD's
attain their PhD's, most in a year or less.
If you're interested in learning
more about how dissertation coaching can help you, please review this
page:
Feel free to email me with any
questions about what coaching is or how it works.
Working with a skilled dissertation
coach can save you months- if not years- in your dissertation process.
See you next time!
20203 Goshen Road #374
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
10. All our power is in this moment
Today I would like to share a
simple thought with you: all our power is in this moment.
It is from this moment that you
create your future. It is from this point- with your knowledge, strengths,
"not quite right" pieces, relationships, and talents that you send up
wishes, dreams, and hopes for the future.
Info on dissertation group coaching:
http://bit.ly/lATRV5
20203 Goshen Road #374
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
11. Dissertation Coaching FAQs
Since you've been on my list for
just about three months, I wanted to give you a bit of information about
dissertation coaching.
Most people don't know a lot about dissertation coaching, but I want to make
sure you know of this resource in case you ever need it.
A dissertation coach focuses
specifically on helping you set goals to complete the dissertation in a timely
fashion.
A coach doesn't replace your
advisor, or committee, but, instead, functions as a strategist, cheerleader,
and support person to hold you accountable.
Think of dissertation coaching like personal training for your Ph.D.
I've helped more than 400 ABD's
attain their PhD's, most in a year or less.
If you're interested in learning
more about how dissertation coaching can help you, please review this
page:
Feel free to email me with any
questions about what coaching is or how it works.
Working with a skilled dissertation
coach can save you months- if not years- in your dissertation process.
See you next time!
20203 Goshen Road #374
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
12. Eliminate distractions to increase productivity
Doesn't our world just seem full of
distractions, Lobna? Whenever I sit down to attempt to accomplish
something, the phone rings or an email arrives or I realize a show I
"really want to watch" is on. Next think you know- I've spent
two and a half hours watching a movie that I've already seen or I've dedicated
an entire afternoon to surfing the internet for a new pair of shoes that I
don't even need!
Want to finish your dissertation
more quickly? Sign up for The Secrets of Dissertation Success, a self- guided
dissertation coaching membership site.
You can learn more by visiting this
page.
13. Keep It Clean!
Hello, Lobna
As you work on your dissertation, Keep your work environment clean, pleasing,
and free of distractions. It's really helpful to have extra room to work. Make
it a habit to "clear out" your work space on a weekly or monthly
basis- filing away articles or information you aren't actively using, shelving
books, etc. This will keep your
mind clear and focused.
Sometimes, just cleaning out your space is enough to get you started working
when you're stuck.
Several studies have pointed out that too much visual clutter (like that which
comes from piles of papers, books, and other information) can actually increase
your stress level. Being surrounded with too much 'stuff' can leave you feeling
unfocused and confused about what to do next.
A good habit to cultivate is to regularly clean up your work area of any
materials you aren't actively using. Try to adopt an organized approach from
the beginning- it's much, much easier than trying to change part of the way
through. If you've already started, then do what you can to be clutter-free
from here.
Don't forget to share your best tip with us! I'll publish as many as
possible! Thanks, and have a great day!
--Rachna
20203 Goshen Road #374
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
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14. Don't Delay All Your Gratification
Planning to do the dissertation can
sometimes be more fun than actually sitting down to work on it. When you feel
this way, it's easy to procrastinate and avoid what you should be doing.
One of the main reasons people avoid
anything is because the perceived rewards of completing the task are not greater
than the perceived effort it would take to complete the task. Stated more
simply: procrastination arises when you don't feel your effort will give you
adequate rewards.
I just returned from a psychology
continuing education program and in that program, the instructor talked about
the idea that people who were able to delay gratification were shown to be more
successful in life over time. The research was completed on children, but the
results probably apply to adults, too.
After all, you've delayed gratification
multiple times to get to this point, haven't you? And you've probably been
reasonably successful until now. Something about the dissertation is different,
though. It can be difficult to delay gratification one more time.
My solution? Don't delay ALL your
gratification. It sounds simple, but it works. Build in rewards for your
dissertation progress, and tie these, directly, to your goal achievements
within the project. You finished writing a section? Go out to lunch with a
friend. You finished writing a chapter? Take the weekend off. You broke through
a difficult transition and found an elegant solution to the problem? Call a
friend and get some praise.
We are social animals, and one of
the most important keys to our happiness is our relationships. Use your
relationships/relationship activities as ways to reward your dissertation
progress. You'll have more fun, and will finish faster, too.
Best,
--Rachna
20203 Goshen Road #374
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
15. Select a Manageable Topic
Your dissertation is an incredible endeavor and so you must make sure your
topic is manageable.
It's common, initially, for graduate students to select complex designs,
intensive research requirements, and all encompassing topics for study.
If you want to finish quickly, though, you need to pick a topic which you can
complete quickly. Design a study which will allow you to collect data quickly,
or a topic in which something has been written that you can build on.
These are small adjustments which can, literally, take months or years off your
dissertation process.
If you are working on pulling together a topic, be sure to pick a manageable
one.
See you next time,
--Rachna
20203 Goshen Road #374
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
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16. Top 10 Lies Told By Graduate Students
Well, we're back again with another PhD365 tip! Hope you're feeling great
and having a terrific week!
Well, before I share today's tip, I have to tell you this joke I heard. You
might have heard it before, but I hadn't- and I think it's pretty funny. Some
words have been disguised to avoid triggering spam filters.
The Top Ten Lies Told by Graduate Students
-- taken from the Harvard Crimson
10. It doesn't bother me at all that my college roommate is making $80,000 a
year on Wall Street.
9. I'd be delighted to proofread your book/ chapter/article.
8. My work has a lot of practical importance.
7. I would never date an undergraduate.
6. Your latest article was so inspiring.
5. I turned down a lot of great job offers to come here.
4. I just have one more book to read and then I'll start writing.
3. The department is giving me so much support.
2. My job prospects look really good.
1. No really, I'll be out of here in only two more years.
Excerpted from:
Okay, now onto the real meat of this message!
Don't be afraid to ask for help.
Many of my clients feel that they MUST do everything related to their
dissertation without help. Even if they hate it. Or maybe ESPECIALLY if they
hate it. I'm suggesting that there is a better way. Get help for all the
tasks you don't like or aren't
particularly good at. There are many resources for you to select from- coaches
to help you set goals or make progress, editors to review your writing,
statisticians to
help you with the calculations, office assistants you can hire to help with
data entry.
The main point is to keep moving forward, by whatever means needed. There
are no extra points for doing all the work by yourself if you don't want to.
If you let go of having to do everything yourself, what would you most want to
get help with?
Now, seek out that help- today.
Talk to you again soon!
--Rachna
20203 Goshen Road #374
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
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17. Get it Written Then Get it Right
The actual "writing of the
dissertation" is rarely as fun as the "planning to
write" phase of the dissertation.
One way to make the dissertation
writing easier is to focus, first, on getting it written- and then, later,
focus on getting it right. This doesn't mean you write anything you know to be
incorrect (obviously) but it does mean that you worry about things like proper
grammar, punctuation, and of course, correct APA style (the mere mention
of which gives me the creeps!) after you've written about your main themes and
supporting information.
If you can get your ideas out in
reasonable coherence, there will be time for refining later. You've probably
heard me say this before, but the best dissertation is a written dissertation.
Get it right after it's written;
until it's written it will never be right.
See you again soon!
--Rachna
20203 Goshen Road #374
Gaithersburg, MD 20879
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