June 6th, 2010
The process of researching and writing a dissertation is going to be really long and challenging. Hope you know and realize that. However, even such tough situation in your life as researching and writing dissertation can be managed if:
- you know exactly what to do;
- you are very serious about your project;
- you check tips and pieces of advice from time to time.
What we want to offer you are four major parts or “circles” of researching and writing a dissertation you will have to get through.
Researching and writing a dissertation: “circle” 1
This stage can be defined as “thinking it over”, because you will have to think about and analyze various details of the process of researching and writing a dissertation. These details include:
- coming up with and deciding on topic ideas;
- setting up goals;
- setting time frames;
- do some preliminary study or research, etc.
We recommend you study several dissertation samples to get what the project is all about.
Researching and writing a dissertation: “circle” 2
The next important stage is creating a dissertation proposal. You should be extremely careful and attentive with such parts of your proposal as literature review and methodology section.
Researching and writing a dissertation: “circle” 3
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May 28th, 2010
You have signed up for writing a dissertation. What is the very first step you plan to take? Maybe, you have already started choosing a topic or searching for an advisor. While these are quite logical first steps, we suppose you are hurrying a little.
We suggest you start your long dissertation writing journey with reading and analyzing dissertation examples. This is what all novice dissertation writers should do before taking any other steps. Why? Well, perhaps one of the main reasons why dissertation examples are important is that they give you one more chance to check whether you are ready for all hardships associated with dissertation writing.
Let us give you some explanations. We advise you to pass a kind of test. Find a dissertation example in your field of studies, which is devoted to a topic similar to your intended theme. After you find the necessary dissertation example, do not read it straight away, but think how you would complete such project.
Try to think of as many details as you can. How would you organize research? What methods would you use? What specific aspects would you cover? Then, read the dissertation example and check whether you were on the right way.
Well, what are the results of this small test? Do you think you will be the same good researcher as the writer whose dissertation example you are reading? If your answers are positive, then you can investigate dissertation examples for other details. See how dissertation examples are organized, how the topic is researched, what sources are used, etc.
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May 10th, 2010
This article is about one of the possible ways of writing a research paper. When you are writing any academic work, you should pick out the citation style, according to which you will organize your writing process.
For example, your task is to write an APA research paper. So, first find out what the requirements for the APA citation style are. Search in the Internet: there are plenty of resources, go to the libraries. In a nutshell, gather as mush information on your future writing as possible.
APA research papers are written under the rules the American Psychological Association worked out. Since then a little changed and students of colleges and universities have to follow peculiar writing and citing features of the mentioned above citation style.
According to these rules, the text of your APA research paper should be left-justified. Also, make it double-spaced.
In the end of your APA research paper the references are usually placed. As APA citation style has different rules of citing than any other citation style does, you need to know precisely how to cite your references on the last page of your writing. Well, your APA research paper references should be arranged alphabetically. You should use a separate sheet of paper and put a heading: “REFERENCES”.
The alphabetical order is followed according to the last name of the author. Also, you should take into consideration the year of publication (if you use several books of one and the same author).
Do not forget to enumerate the pages of your APA research paper. The count starts with the title page of your APA research paper, use Arabic numerals.
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April 30th, 2010
When it comes to writing research papers, a lot of different factors affect the final grades students get. Do not think that if you have a good topic and you have researched it, a teacher will necessarily give you an A+. Any teacher, besides a great content, looks at the presentation and organization of a research paper.
This is exactly why any student should know everything about the format of research papers, be aware of different research paper formats, know when they are used, and so on.
You have definitely heard about MLA, APA, Turabian, Chicago – all these are various research paper formats that one should use for different disciplines. Each research paper format has a great variety of rules of how a paper should be organized, but the most important, how citations and references should be arranged.
That is why every time you have to prepare a paper, specify which particular research paper format should be used. Then, go to the library or surf the Web to find the most relevant style manual. Such manuals include all the rules and examples, which will help you organize your project according to the required research paper format.
Here are general rules that are used almost in all formats of research papers.
Rule 1
All research paper formats require that you use white, acid-free paper of 8×11 size to type your project.
Rule 2
Another common requirement of various research paper formats says that you should double-space the text of your paper and use standard, easy-to-read fonts.
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April 23rd, 2010
Are you a dissertation writer who have not heard about dissertation coaching? It is really bad, because dissertation coaching is one of the tools that can boost up the effectiveness of writing and research processes, and in general can help you cope with all the pitfalls and challenges of dissertation writing.
Let us explain you what dissertation coaching is and why you should try it.
What is dissertation coaching?
Probably, it is better to explain who a dissertation coach is. In a few words, it is a person who performs many functions that ordinary dissertation advisors do not have.
Sure, a good dissertation advisor guides a student through the dissertation writing process, but a coach can help you with things that do not belong to your advisor’s duties. e.g.:
- a dissertation coach can help you formulate your goals and develop a plan of how to achieve them;
- a dissertation coach can help to split your project into smaller tasks and prioritize them;
- dissertation coaching can even increase your self-confidence, because you will regularly receive feedbacks on the work done.
These are far not all reasons why dissertation coaching can significantly increase your productivity. By the way, the only fact that dissertation coaching is available whenever you need it (and your advisor is a busy person) makes it appealing.
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April 16th, 2010
Sure, it is impossible to explain how to do a dissertation in one 300-word article. Yet, if you are just starting your work on the project, any kind of help and dissertation tips on how to do a dissertation will be useful.
This is what you will find here –recommendations and prompts on how to do a dissertation.
How to do a dissertation: planning vs. perseverance
Ideally, your project should be planned ahead. You should have a clear understanding of every step to be taken. However, a few students actually plan everything in details.
Thus, only your perseverance, clear vision of the final goals will help you finish this project successfully.
How to do a dissertation: know the gist
From the very first days, you have to understand what such project as a dissertation is all about and what others expect from you. Keep in mind one simple rule about dissertations – people write them to make and present discoveries. And this is what others will be waiting from you.
How to do a dissertation: keep everything balanced
What we are talking about is a balance between good writing and your ideas (content of your project). You will not succeed if you have great ideas, which are poorly presented. At the same time, perfect writing and organization of your work will not help to hide the lack of new ideas and knowledge.
How to do a dissertation: results vs. circumstances
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April 9th, 2010
So, your proposal for a dissertation is finished, and it is high time to start preparing for your dissertation proposal defense. Do not hurry to rejoice if your proposal is successful, because if you fail during the defense, you will have to make further improvements.
In this article, we want to explain what you should expect from the dissertation proposal defense and how to prepare for it.
What a dissertation proposal defense is about
In a few words, it is an oral presentation of your proposal. Yet, you should not take it as an ordinary public performance, because your dissertation proposal defense should actually be strong evidence for you and for the committee that you are ready to finish your dissertation project.
During the dissertation proposal defense, you will have to demonstrate a deep understanding of your dissertation topic, prove its significance, and show your awareness of related works in the field.
How a dissertation proposal defense is usually held
As a rule, a dissertation proposal defense takes from 50 minutes to 2 hours. This time includes your oral presentation, questions period, and a period when the committee makes the final decision.
Some specific rules to keep in mind about a dissertation proposal defense
- First, you need to pick your dissertation proposal defense committee and get it approved.
- Two weeks before the dissertation proposal defense, you have to submit your proposal to the committee and make sure that all members have your proposal.
- Decide on the time and date of your dissertation proposal defense and approve it with the committee.
Quick tips for a successful dissertation proposal defense
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April 2nd, 2010
You do not know much about religion and, actually, do not like those religious topics. Yet, your RE coursework should be finished, because your teacher is not interested in how religious or how knowledgeable you are about this field.
Well, do not worry and get rid of negative thoughts that you will fail your RE coursework. Believe us, you have a chance to create an amazing paper using some upcoming religious events as the main idea of your RE coursework.
You definitely know that in a week the Christian world will celebrate one of the most important holidays – Easter. Even atheists know about this holiday and know something about its history.
If you investigate this topic deeper, you can prepare a really captivating RE coursework. Here are several writing hints for you.
Hint 1
Start your RE coursework with general information about Easter. Tell where it is celebrated. Explain why the date of the holiday changes every year.
Hint 2
One of the chapters in your RE coursework can be devoted to the history of Easter. Basically, you have to tell the story of Jesus Christ, his arrest, sufferings, crucifixion, and resurrection. You can also add more details about Christ’s apostles, his mother Mary, and Mary Magdalene. To make your RE coursework sound and well supported, use Old and New Testaments to find evidences.
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March 28th, 2010
So, you are working on your research proposal and you have reached its methodology section. What do you know about it? You know that:
- it is considered to be one of the most important sections of a proposal;
- research proposal methodology sections should explain how you are going to tackle the main problem of the project.
Well, not bad! Basically, you have a general idea of what a research proposal methodology section is all about. The only problem is that you are not sure how exactly this section should be written.
Then, let us help you and thus explain what information research proposal methodology usually includes. Before that, we have to remind you about one important thing.
The way your research proposal methodology should be organized depends greatly on the type of research you use. You definitely know that methods of qualitative and quantitative research are different. In your research proposal methodology section, you will have to explain the choice of a particular type of research and methods.
What else should be presented in research proposal methodology?
Basic definitions, research paradigms, etc.
Your research proposal methodology section should start with this background information. You can restate once again your research question and the main purpose of your work.
Instruments
Your research proposal methodology section has to include details about specific instruments used to conduct research. Do not forget to explain why you have chosen these specific instruments, whether they are valid and reliable enough.
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March 19th, 2010
What is the average thesis or dissertation length? This is one of the main questions that bother all thesis and dissertation writers. And, actually, it is a question that has no precise answer.
Saying that the average thesis/dissertation length is approximately 200 pages would be too easy and incorrect, because there are many factors that affect the size of such projects. Anyway, you want to know the answer, and we will try to explain what the average thesis or dissertation length is.
No universal standards
There is no standard thesis or dissertation length – this is the main rule you should keep in mind. All institutions have their own requirements. What is more, in the same institution requirements for thesis or dissertation length may vary depending on schools and departments.
Other standards as guidelines for you
Despite the fact that there is no standard thesis or dissertation length, you can be guided by other standards that usually do not change. What we mean is the content of thesis and dissertation projects. Your thesis or dissertation length should include all necessary chapters.
The main factor affecting the average thesis or dissertation length
Do you know what common answer almost all professors have about the average thesis and dissertation length? They say that a thesis or dissertation should be as long as it is necessary.
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