THE DISSERTATION: Writing, Advisement and Getting Started Directed Research Walker & Collins

Why Do We Have ABD Inertia?  The newness of the experience  The process is an independent one  Transition from a practitioner to a scholar

What are the advantages?  Build writing skills  Develop analytical skills  Develop the ability to synthesize complicated information  Acquire invaluable research skills

What are the advantages?  Produce information that can improve schools  Create a body of work that others can draw on

What are some sources of frustration?  Managing your topic  Your topic is not carved in stone  Using the literature and other dissertations to help shape your dissertation  Keeping your mentor informed

Mentors- Managing Your Mentor and Committee  Assignment of Mentors  Role of the Mentor  Formulating a Dissertation Committee  Working with your Mentor and Committee Members

Things to work on  Time Management (block out at least 30 mins. each day to work on the dissertation )  Choose a scheduling strategy that works for you- example hours or minutes worked, problem solved, pages written etc.  Keep a dissertation planner  Stick to your schedule

Planning to work when, where and how  Work during the times that you are most productive  Work in a space where you can be productive  Figure out how you work best, and try to work that way

Internal Stresses  Competition with other Cohort Members  Procrastination-  Competing demands on your time  Unexpected events

Tips for Writing Consistently  What to do when you don’t feel like writing  Make a list of small things to do for a given section- eg photocopying an article  Work on references  Free write  Work on your acknowledgements

How Do I Encourage Myself?  Be reasonable- don’t expect that your first draft will be the greatest.  Talk to cohort members who are productive- get tips from them  Keep a binder- as you work on your chapters print the pages and put them in a notebook with dividers  Keep the notebook with you

The Process  Getting Started  The Dissertation Proposal  The Dissertation Proposal Defense  The Institutional Review Board and the Pre/IRB Review Process  The Elements of the Dissertation  The Oral Defense