This document provides strategic advice for writing a dissertation or thesis. It discusses treating the dissertation like a rite of passage and compares the dissertation process to preparing for and completing a long bicycle race. It offers analogies comparing developing a dissertation proposal to packing for an exotic trip. It provides standard advice like writing the methodology chapter first, using award-winning theses as models, and using multiple mentors. Finally, it discusses keeping focus, not getting distracted, being prepared for setbacks, and asking for help.

1. Defining Your Strategic Approach
To Academic Writing
For Your Dissertation or Thesis
We will start in just a moment
www.doctoralnet.com

2. Have you ever experienced a life changing
event?
Something that shifted your perspective
on or about life forever?
1.
2.
3.
4.
If so, when?
Did you see it coming?
Were you prepared?
In retrospect, would you do anything
differently?

3. Dissertation/Thesis as a Rite of Passage:
Preparing for the Tour de France
1. Starts with high hopes
and lots of planning.
2. Dissertations kick off in a
pack
3. But quickly some are lost
in the bushes
4. Others crash
5. Lots end up going it
alone.
6. Some are stranded
looking for help
7. The lucky ones find an
extra push from a friend
8. Some soar
9. And, with the right kind
of guidance all can end
up on a beach at the end

4. Strategy Set #1:
4 Writing Big Documents
1. Keep your perspective in two places:
1. Where you are going – the golden thread of your ideas
and how they link
2. Internal consistency – finite agreement between
sentences, paragraphs and headings
2. Writing pace helps a lots with this one – faster is better
3. Plan your work, work your plan
4. Outside accountability

5. Strategy Set #2:
The Proposal is like Packing for the Trip:
NOT the Trip Itself
Let’s test the analogy
in chat…
What do you
do to prepare
for an exotic trip
to a
far off land?

6. 1. Learn about the place you are going
2. Talk to others who have been there
3. Pack for the trip
1. Your problem = the focus of your destination
2. Your literature = your clothes
3. Your methodology = your transportation (no one is taking
you there you are on your own to find it)
4. Access to the population = your passport
5. Proposal/prospectus hearing = visa

7. DoctoralNet
Standard Advise…
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Consider writing your
methodology chapter first
Always have 5 or more
model dissertations to work
from
Find award winners to use
as your models
Talk all the time about “how
it is done”
Use many mentors

8. DoctoralNet
Standard Advise…
Specific to Proposals
1.
2.
3.
Headings keep the golden
thread alive – they show the
reader where the
methodology will surface,
where the topic will etc.
If you don’t understand
argument – learn about it
now – know what claims,
evidence, warrants and data
are.
Know your academic writing
basics: one thought to a
paragraph – several
paragraphs that make up a
topic to a heading – several
headings that lead to a
logical component to your
document to a chapter

9. It’s the tough times
THAT MAKE IT A
RITE OF PASSAGE

10. Mental Strategies
for Finishing
•Keep your focus
•Don’t get distracted with
others
•Don’t be afraid to try
•If caught in the bushes (or
chasing a rabbit hole) admit it
quickly and get help to move on
•Be prepared mentally for crash
and burn
•Ask lots of different people for
help – do not think fall prey to
embarrassment

11. Can you relate?
Did any of these happen to you?
What did you learn?

12. Q&A
1.Has it been
helpful?
2.What else do
you still
wonder
about?

13. Upcoming News/Events
1. March 1 Starts 2 months of our focus on academic writing – sign into the site
for free resources + three conferences at end of month on #acwri
2. Taking names of interested parties for possible writing group with
professorial help starting soon– cost $40 month if we get 5 or more signed
up. One of conferences is a trial writing group for those who want to see if it
would be a helpful strategy.
Phase 1: Formulating
the Research
Questions of Your
Study (IC)