Writing the Successful Thesis and Dissertation: Entering the Conversation - , Alfredo Mendoza

A complete, step-by-step, practical overview of the process of writing successful theses and dissertations.

Every year thousands of graduate students face the daunting—sometimes terrifying—challenge of writing a thesis or dissertation. This book provides practical guidance and theoretical understanding for completing theses or dissertations with maximum insight and minimum stress. Dr. Irene Clark presents a solid overview of the writing process, drawing on extensive research and experience advising graduate students. The book offers useful strategies for each phase of the process, from choosing advisors and identifying topics through writing, revision, and review. Coverage includes:

• Getting started: overcoming procrastination and writer’s block
• Understanding the genre of the thesis or dissertation
• Speaking the “language of the academy”
• Writing compelling proposals
• Developing and revising drafts
• Constructing effective literature reviews
• Working with tables, graphs, and other visual materials
• Working with advisors and dissertation committees
• Avoiding inadvertent plagiarism

Experience based, theoretically grounded, jargon free, and practical, Writing the Successful Thesis and Dissertation will help you become a more effective writer and a more meaningful contributor to the scholarly conversation.

Preface xi

Introduction: Writing a Thesis or Dissertation: An Overview of the Process xix

• Chapter 1: Getting Started 1
• Chapter 2: So What? Discovering Possibilities 17
• Chapter 3: The Proposal as an Argument: A Genre Approach to the Proposal 33
• Chapter 4: Mapping Texts: The Reading/Writing Connection 63
• Chapter 5: Writing and Revising 83
• Chapter 6: Writing the Literature Review 103
• Chapter 7: Using Visual Materials 125
• Chapter 8: The Advisor and Thesis/Dissertation Committee 139
• Chapter 9: Working with Grammar and Style 155
• Chapter 10: Practical Considerations 175

Index: 193

Author: Clark, Irene L.

Author: Mendoza, Alfredo

Author: Skawratananond, Chakarat

Publisher: Prentice Hall

Illustration: n

Language: ENG

Title: Writing the Successful Thesis and Dissertation: Entering the Conversation

Pages: 00238 (Encrypted) / 00000 (Encrypted)

On Sale: 2006-12-21

SKU-13/ISBN: 9780131735330

Category: Language Arts & Disciplines: Study & Teaching

Category: Reference: General