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DEMYSTIFYING THE
DISSERTATION PROCESSSURVIVAL SKILLS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
Dr. Deborah Lee
Mississippi State University Libraries
@deb07
SURVIVAL SKILLS FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
WORKSHOPS
MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
HTTP://GUIDES.LIBRARY.MSSTATE.EDU/SSFGS
DR. DEBORAH LEE
PROFESSOR AND COORDINATOR, GRADUATE STUDENT SERVICES
SESSION OVERVIEW
What this session will NOT cover!
Managing the Dissertation Process
Strategies for Completion
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THE BEST DISSERTATION…
…..is a Finished Dissertation!
LIBRARY SERVICES
Research Services (2nd Floor)
Research Consultations
Specialized Research/Reference Resources
Ready Reference/Research Assistance
Ask-a-Librarian: http:://lib.msstate.edu/help
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LIBRARY SERVICES
Digital Media Center (2nd Floor)
Free Workshops
Multimedia Workstations and Instructional Material
Equipment Checkout, Makerspace
Videos, CDs, DVDs
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LIBRARY SERVICES
Access Services (2nd Floor)
InterLibrary Loan (Illiad)
Circulation
Office of Thesis and Dissertation Format Review (1st Floor)
Dissertation and Theses Submission Workshops
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OTHER RESOURCES
Writing Center
http://www.writingcenter.msstate.edu
Available at multiple locations (including the library!)
Appointments also available online.
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WHY ARE YOU WRITING A DISSERTATION?
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CHALLENGES OF THE DISSERTATION PROCESS
Why do a dissertation?
Marks the transition from student to scholar.
Challenges
New Experience
Very Large Project
Substantively Different in Scope from Previous Work
(Dissertation)MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
MANAGING THE DISSERTATION PROCESS
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Topic
CommitteeAdvisor
MANAGING YOUR TOPIC
Which comes first? (Topic or Advisor?)
Broad enough to be relevant; narrow enough to be manageable
What is your hypothesis and/or thesis statement?
This WILL change as you work through your project!
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MANAGING YOUR ADVISOR/CHAIR
(OR AT LEAST YOUR RELATIONSHIP!)
Selecting an Advisor
Establish Expectations
Working with Your Chair
Revisions
Picking a Committee
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MANAGING YOUR COMMITTEE
Selecting Your Committee
Establishing Expectations
Again: this is about relationships!
Communicate, communicate, communicate
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DEVELOP A TIMELINE FOR YOUR PROJECT
Constraints
Necessary approvals: people,
animals, chemicals
External data/access
The expected “unexpected”
delays!
Considerations
Advisor/committee members
availability
Other time commitments
Completion date
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PROPOSALS/PROSPECTUS
Varies tremendously, even in the same department
Work with your advisor and committee on expectations
May require an oral defense
Includes:
Statement of your research question
Literature review
Research plan: methods, data collectionMISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS
Work when and where you are most productive.
Make writing your dissertation a commitment on par with other
commitments (working, teaching).
Consider developing some system of accountability: writing group,
advisor, etc….
Keep your advisor and committee informed of your progress. Consult
them WHEN (not if) you have problems.
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Research + Writing = Dissertation
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“MASTERING THE ACADEMIC STYLE”
From: Writing the Winning Dissertation, by Allan Glatthorn (1st
edition)
Too Confident: The study proves that schools are loosely
coupled systems.
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TOO TENTATIVE (EMPHASIS ADDED):
One conclusion that might be drawn from this study is that this
particular school, on the basis of this investigation, seemed to
have elements of organizational structure that might enable it to
be characterized in general as a “loosely-coupled system,”
although there were clearly aspects of tight coupling manifest in
certain parts of the system.
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BETTER…
The findings suggest that most of the organizational elements of
this school were only loosely linked, so that it might be generally
characterized as “loosely coupled.”
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STAGES IN THE WRITING PROCESS
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Pre-Writing
WritingRevision
Editing
WHAT DOES A COMPLETED DISSERTATION
LOOK LIKE?
This varies by field and committee; do not assume—ask your
advisor and committee members!
All completed theses and dissertations must conform to the
university’s formatting guidelines.
Traditional structure versus alternative structures.
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TRADITIONAL STRUCTURE
Chapter One: Research Question and Introduction
Chapter Two: Literature Review
Chapter Three: Methodology
Chapter Four: Data Analysis and Results
Chapter Five: Limitations and Conclusions
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FORMAT: AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH
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PREPARE FOR YOUR DEFENSE!
Attend other defenses, if possible.
Discuss the organization with your chair and committee.
Understand the conventions of your department: do they expect handouts? PowerPoint slides? Food?
Practice your presentation.
Promptly make any necessary revisions.
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COMPLETE AND CELEBRATE!
Remember: you will still need to format your thesis or
dissertation according to university guidelines after your
defense.
Publish your results!
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QUESTIONS?
Dr. Deborah Lee
Your feedback on this session is greatly
appreciated!
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