Archive for the ‘Dissertation/Thesis Writing Tips’ Category

Posted on November 10th, 2008

Canadian DissertationsCanadian dissertation is an academic paper that should be prepared if you want to get a Doctoral degree in one of the Canadian institutions.
 
If you want to know more about writing Canadian dissertations, read this article up to the end. Information presented here is not hard to understand and presents valuable links. So, you can easily clear up how to present a worthwhile Canadian dissertation and find some online.

  1. Some students strongly believe that a Canadian dissertation should cover such issues as the history of the country, its traditions, people, etc… Well, they are absolutely wrong!
  2. If you write a Canadian dissertation, it means that you are studying in one of the Canadian institutions. So, when you search for reliable information on writing Canadian dissertations, pay attention to the Internet sources with “.ca” domain.

  3. Many students panic when they get an assignment to present a Canadian dissertation. Do not follow their track!
  4. Canadian dissertations do not differ from the dissertations prepared in other countries. The process of writing is the same:

    • You pick out a topic;
    • You choose an advisor who will assist you in the writing process;
    • You get an approval from the dissertation committee;
    • You conduct research;
    • You write a Canadian dissertation;
    • You, finally, defend your Canadian dissertation and get the degree.
  5. Someone might say it is impossible to find valid Canadian dissertations online. Well, then we can say that they are not that good at searching.

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Anthropology DissertationDo you want to become an outstanding anthropologist? Do you want to strike the research community by an absolutely unique project? Then, get ready to start working on your Anthropology dissertation.
 
Below, let us introduce the essentials of Anthropology dissertations. Consider them before you start working on the Anthropology dissertation. They will help you learn how to organize your work better.
 
Anthropology dissertations: Generalities
 
Dissertation papers on Anthropology should present an original scholar contribution to Anthropology area. Anthropology dissertations are based on deep and thorough research in this field.
 
Anthropology dissertations: Proposal
 
The process of preparing your Anthropology dissertation should start with writing and defending a proposal. Usually, a proposal contains:

  • A short description of the purposes you set in your dissertation paper. In this part, include a summary of the issues you are going to investigate;
  • A review of topic related literature and other fields of study relevant to the topic of your Anthropology dissertation;
  • A discussion of the methods you are going to use to conduct research and data analysis.
    The proposal of your Anthropology dissertation should be approved by the committee members. Only after it, you can start writing the Anthropology dissertation paper itself.

Anthropology dissertations: Tips for writing

  1. Be enthusiastic about the forthcoming work;
  2. Get to know the main requirements for dissertations;
  3. Ask those who performed their dissertations successfully to give you useful info about the dissertation committee;
  4. Make use of dissertation templates your university offers;
  5. Make sure you understand the purpose of writing clearly;
  6. Show your interest towards the research area at the defense presentation.

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Posted on November 4th, 2008

Writing a Good DissertationAre you working on a dissertation? Then tips on how to succeed in writing a good dissertation are definitely something that you need. So, you can find them below.

  • Writing a good dissertation: Tip 1. Avoid Passive voice
  • Passive voice makes a paper difficult to read. Instead of “the action was performed” write “(somebody) performed the action”.

  • Writing a good dissertation: Tip 2. Avoid repeating words and phrases.
  • Do not let repetitions stay on your way to the highest grade. Find a dictionary of synonyms and use it throughout your writing process.

  • Writing a good dissertation: Tip 3. Do not use contractions.
  • Writing a good dissertation is impossible without using a formal style. There is no place for contractions in a formal style. So, instead of “didn’t” write “did not”.

  • Writing a good dissertation: Tip 4. Plan each step thoroughly.
  • For instance, before you design a graph to present statistical data, think over the necessary proportion and the ways to explain it.

  • Writing good dissertations: Tip 5. Develop a clear and strong thesis statement
  • Introduce a thesis statement at the end of the first paragraph. It is the starting point of your investigation. It presents what your paper is going to be about.

  • Writing a good dissertation: Tip 6. Avoid Wikipedia
  • Many universities forbid using Wikipedia at all. The fact is that the information presented there is unreliable. So, it is better to avoid using it, especially for such a serious paper as dissertation.

  • Writing a good dissertation: Tip 7. Stay in touch with your supervisor.
  • Do not make a single step unless you consulted the supervisor. It will help you avoid revisions.

  • Writing a good dissertation: Tip 8. Manage your time.
  • Make a schedule and follow it strictly. It will help you stay on track while writing.

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Posted on November 3rd, 2008

Dissertation Writing GuideDissertation writing is a time-consuming and laborious process that requires a lot of time and efforts.
 
Are you working on a dissertation? Do you know how to plan such work properly? Do you know what to start with?
 
Guess it is enough of questions, let us get down to business, and try to help you.
 
Actually, your work will be much easier if you follow a dissertation writing guide.
 
In this article, you will find such a dissertation writing guide with hints on how to write a dissertation.
 
Dissertation writing guide: hint 1
 
Define the purposes of your work. You need to understand what is expected from you.
 
Dissertation writing guide: hint 2
 
Choose a supervisor and discuss with him/her possible topics for your research. Evaluate your background knowledge and abilities.
 
Dissertations writing guide: hint 3
 
Write down all points and issues you are not sure about and discuss them with your supervisor.
 
Dissertations writing guide: hint 4
 
Make a plan, create a timetable of your work (detailed schedule for completing each stage of the writing process is much appreciated), and get an approval from your supervisor.
 
Dissertations writing guide: hint 5
 
Present a dissertation proposal to get an approval from the committee.
 
Dissertation writing guide: hint 6 (more…)

Dissertation DatabaseMaking a dissertation without a good dissertation sample is nearly impossible. You have to see how a dissertation should be structured, formatted and what writing techniques should be used. That is why a dissertation database with vivid examples and dissertation templates is necessary. So, let us talk about a dissertation database right now.
 
Where can you find a dissertation database?
 
There are two possible ways to find a dissertation database: either to check in your university library or search online.
 
If you prefer staying at home and using the Internet to find a dissertation database, here is a piece of advice for you: use the websites with .edu domain only. Only academic institutions can register on this domain, so, you are sure to get recommendations from a professional academic staff.
 
What dissertations can you find on the sites with .edu domain?
 
A diversity of dissertations is stored in such dissertation databases. They cover all possible topics, research fields, etc. You can find papers that were submitted in either your native country or outside.
How to use a dissertation database
 
Some dissertation databases are available for everyone. Consider the following tips when accessing a certain dissertation database:

  1. Main access process – you will have to fill in the blanks with the author’s name, name of an institution granting a degree, and dissertation title;
  2. Keywords – you can also find a dissertation in a dissertation database by entering the topical keyword that you expect to find in a title. If you want to find a dissertation written in a language other than English, enter a corresponding keyword.

Here are the links for you to enter some dissertation databases:

  • http://www. s4ie. org //thesis/dissert3.htm
  • http://www. crl. edu /content.asp?l1=5&l2=23&l3=44&l4=25
  • http://www .unco. edu/cebs/edtech/about/database.asp

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Posted on October 23rd, 2008

Masters DissertationAre you dreaming of the Masters degree? Are you dreaming of respect and glory? You know, dreams always come true if you do the darndest to realize them. You just have to make a plan of actions and follow it.
 
So, the first point of your plan is to write a Masters dissertation. Use the information given below to learn more about Masters dissertation writing.
 
What is a Masters Dissertation?
 
A Masters dissertation is a project that aims to investigate a certain issue within a certain study area. A Masters dissertation is based on the analysis of works by different researchers. You need to make some findings based on the information gathered.
Some Basic Points of a Masters Dissertation

  1. Deadline – usually, a Postgraduate Office fixes the date of submission. They will also give you an ‘Examinations Handbook’ presenting info on the details of the submission procedure;
  2. Length – the length of a Masters dissertation may vary from 15, 000 to 20, 000 words;
  3. Assessing – your Masters dissertation will be evaluated by two examiners. Each of them will suggest a grade independently. Later on, they will have to agree on a certain grade.

Choosing a Topic for a Masters Dissertation
 
Here are some tips for you to follow when choosing a topic:

  • Choose the topic you like;
  • Mind research community needs;
  • Mind the availability of sources;
  • Avoid duplications.

Researching Your Masters Dissertations
 
Once you decide on a topic for your Masters dissertation, you have to research it thoroughly. Researching may include:

  • Primary data collection;
  • Exploration of the sources available online or in archives;
  • Searching for unpublished files and/or reports, etc.

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Posted on October 17th, 2008

Proposal for a DissertationA dissertation proposal is a paper where students present a detailed discussion of the theme they are going to research. Usually, a proposal for a dissertation should be completed within the first two weeks of a semester.
 
First, let us disclose the essence of writing a proposal for a dissertation.
 
The main purpose of a proposal for a dissertation is to ensure the committee and your supervisor that you have an interesting theme for consideration and it is worth being researched.
 
Some people, who have already defended their dissertations, say that writing a dissertation proposal is one the hardest parts of the whole working process.
 
However, once a proposal for a dissertation is completed, half of the work is done!
 
Second, let us help you prepare a good proposal for a dissertation.
 
The thing is that you need to create something out of nothing! That is why you need to have a plan in front of your eyes.
 
Sticking to it in the process of preparing a proposal for a dissertation will surely help you stay on the right track. You can use dissertation proposal examples to learn how to write it properly.

  1. Create an introduction – attract readers’ attention;
  2. State the main problem – define the main issue for consideration;
  3. Underline the purpose of study – delimit areas of research;
  4. Make a literature review – provide background for research;
  5. Decide on the methods and procedures – think of the ways to disclose the topic;
  6. Identify limitations of your study;
  7. Emphasize the significance of your study;
  8. Provide references.

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Dissertation in MLA StyleIf you are writing a dissertation in English or Humanities, the guidelines on MLA style dissertation writing will certainly be right in time for you. So, welcome to our guide to writing a dissertation in MLA style!
 
First, let us introduce MLA style dissertation writing and citing style in brief. MLA stands for the Modern Language Association that established the standards for preparing different kinds of academic papers including research papers, theses, and dissertations in MLA style.
 
Below, you can see the guidelines on citing sources in MLA style dissertation:

  1. Organize authors’ names in the following order:
    Author’s last name, first name, and middle initial. For example, you quote John Logan Oldfield, then the citation in your MLA style dissertation should start out: Oldfield, John L.
  2. Use italics for the title of a book
    What is more, when giving the title of a book, you should add a period, the word ‘Diss’, and one more period. For instance, if the title is ‘Conceptual blockbusting: A guide to better ideas’, then the citation in your MLA style dissertation should look like this: Oldfield John L. _Conceptual Blockbusting: A Guide to Better Ideas_. Diss.
  3. Write down the name of the school where an author got his/her degree and the year that the degree was granted
    Besides, you should separate them by a comma and set a period after the comma. For instance, if Oldfield was granted his degree in the Oxford University in 2006, citation in your MLA style dissertation should look like this: Oldfield John L. _Conceptual Blockbusting: A Guide to Better Ideas_. Diss. Oxford University, 2006.
  4. Finish your citation with the name of the publisher and the year of publishing
    A comma should follow the publisher’s name. Then set a period and the year of publishing. Thus, the citation in your MLA style dissertation will look like Oldfield John L. _Conceptual Blockbusting: A Guide to Better Ideas_. Diss. Oxford University, Oxford: Berq Publishers, 2006.

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guide to writing a dissertationSome of you have just made one of the most important decisions in your life – to write a dissertation. It means you do not have a clear picture of how to write a dissertation. Some of you are already working on such projects, but a lot of problems come up along the way. Although you have a dissertation advisor, additional assistance is still necessary.
 
This is when an idea about guides to writing a dissertation comes up to your mind. In this article, we would like to discuss several issues concerning guides to writing a dissertation.
 
What particular guides to writing a dissertation may you need?
 
Since a dissertation work is versatile and complicated, you may need help at any stage of the process. You just have to define the actual problem you face and find an appropriate guide to writing a dissertation.
 
For instance, you have doubts about the format and style of writing. Then, you have to find Chicago, MLA or APA Manuals.
 
What additional guides to writing a dissertation can be helpful?
 
Definitely, you will face not only technical problems when completing your work. Sorry to disappoint you, but many other difficulties are waiting for you. You can face the so-called writer’s block, lose your motivation, or suffer from a perfectionism syndrome. There are a lot of guides to writing a dissertation that will help you manage these problems.
 
Where can you find a necessary guide to writing a dissertation?
 
You know, all guides to writing a dissertation mentioned above can be easily found online. Many academic institutions create so-called online writing centers that provide students with writing help. (more…)

Posted on October 13th, 2008

UMI DissertationsEugene Power founded University Microfilms International (also known as UMI) in 1930s. Power started gathering, indexing, filming, and republishing doctoral dissertations in a microform. Today, there are more than million UMI dissertations gathered in the ProQuest database.
 
If you are assigned to prepare a UMI dissertation, it means that your university (or the university library) has access to UMI dissertations.
 
In order to succeed in completing a UMI dissertation, you should follow all necessary instructions and requirements.
 
Well, you are lucky, as you do not have to spend much time looking for the necessary guidelines. They are here, waiting for you!
 
First, you need to submit your UMI dissertation. To do it you should:

  1. Read the UMI Publishing Agreement;
  2. Choose one publishing option (Open Access or Traditional);
  3. Select the necessary embargo;
  4. Sign the Agreement;
  5. Complete the submission form.

Second, you had better think about the title of your UMI dissertation beforehand. You have to understand that your title is the first sentence that appears in databases. You need to create a strong and catchy title for your UMI dissertation. Pay attention to the following information:

  • Do not make the title of your UMI dissertation too short or too long. This one sentence should be simple but informative;
  • Use full proper names (if your paper is devoted to a concrete person, organism, plant, animal, etc, make sure there are no full stops in the middle of your title);
  • Avoid the use of formulas and abbreviations.

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