Mastering these skills spells the difference between "A.B.D." and "Ph.D." -refuting the magnum opus myth -coping with the dissertation as obsession (magnificent or otherwise) -the fine art of selecting a topic -writing the dissertation with publication in mind -when to stand your ground and when to prudently retreat if the committee's conception of your thesis differs substantially from your own -dealing with obstructive committee members, and keeping the fences mended -how to reconsider "negative" findings as useful data -reviewing your progress, and getting out of the "dissertation dumps" -defending your paper successfully-distinguishing between mere formalities and a serious substantive challenge -exploiting the career potential of your dissertation -and much, much more
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Survival!:
I thought it was just me. I had a HORRIBLE experience at the end of my thesis. My defense went perfectly and then a week before graduation a committee member (not my advisor) told me I had to re-write an entire chapter. No matter what I did she was unsatisfied. A friend recommended this book to me when I was near suicide. I thought I was going crazy and didn't know why all these 'blocks' kept occuring. After talking to her and reading this book, I realized it was one woman on a power trip. It easied my mind... more info
Excellent Survival Guide:
This book is written mainly for those in social sciences who've begun work on their dissertations. It's comforting timely overview - while written a while back, still applies. It's practical guidance is both comforting and helpful -and will encourage any doctoral student who has begun the process.
This one's good:
A not-too-lengthy, not-too-convoluted explanation of the dissertation writing process, including what is entailed, what kind of support you can expect (and not), and how to manage your own. What I especially like about this book is that its points seem to sink in later with me (whereas with most books, the points seem to evaporate later). This is well written and of value not only to the dissertation writer but also to all those who have no idea what we're doing (but lots of opinions about our... more info
Worth skimming, but not owning.:
The author wrote this in the 80's when the future of academia was looking a little bleak so I can forgive him some of his pessimism, but the book is rather dreary and has the principal effect of scaring away those considering a doctoral program (which is perhaps a good thing). The book has three critical flaws: it's 100 pages too long, it's dated (especially the material on computers and sexual harassment), and the author has the annoying belief that social science dissertations are the only "full"... more info
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