No matter how long you think your degree might take to complete, it’s important to follow a time-tested dissertation process. Use the following actionable tips to guide your progress.
It’s common for doctoral candidates to do an exhaustive amount of pre-writing work, such as background reading, a thorough literature review and methodology planning. While you’ll need to conduct some research before starting to write your dissertation, it’s best to begin the writing process before you think you’re ready for it.
If you wait too long to start writing, you may be more likely to have trouble getting started with the writing process. The sheer size and significance of your dissertation can start to weigh on you. You’ll worry about making mistakes, and because of this, you’ll likely find yourself procrastinating on the writing process.
You can proactively avoid this common conundrum by beginning the writing sooner than you think you should. Remind yourself that it’s just a first draft.
When you do begin the writing process, you might assume that you should start with the introduction. However, it’s often best to write the introduction last. This is true not just for dissertations but also for many other types of written works.
If you try to write the introduction first, you’re more likely to find yourself staring at a blank page on your screen. Writing the body of your paper first can help you avoid writer’s block. In addition, after you write the body, you’ll have a firmer idea of what you should write in your introduction.
Another common cause of writer’s block that can derail your progress is the belief that the first draft must be perfect. Remind yourself that the first draft is exactly that — the first draft, not the final copy. When artists create ambitious oil paintings, they start with a simple sketch.
Amazing accomplishments start with humble roots. Do your best to accept and even embrace the fact that everything you write will be revised multiple times.
Although saving the introduction for last can help you get over an initial bout of writer’s block, you might still find yourself staring at a blank screen from time to time. It can be helpful to shake things up. You might be able to fire up your brain cells by switching from a laptop to a pen and paper.
If you’re still having trouble making significant progress, switch from complete sentences to bullet points. Make bullet lists that capture all the important information you need to write about. You can make the bullet lists if you need to get all the info down on the page. Then, convert those bullet lists into sentences and paragraphs.
Even when you’re not working on your dissertation, you’re likely to think about it a lot. Useful ideas can pop into your mind seemingly from out of nowhere. It’s helpful to always carry a small journal or notepad to jot down ideas as they occur to you.
You may even consider keeping a digital note on your smartphone to record ideas. There are various apps and tools to help you document and organize your thoughts.
As a doctoral candidate, you’ll likely find yourself doing more reading than you ever have before. It’s not unusual for doctorate degree learners to read through a few hundred resources, from books to scholarly articles to related dissertations. Fortunately, you do not necessarily have to read every word of each source.
Some reference materials you will want to read closely, and you may also reread them a few times. Other materials can be skimmed, with perhaps a close reading of a few chapters or sections. Identify the parts of the sources that are most pertinent to your topic and focus on those, skimming through the rest for context and background.
As you read or skim, you’ll want to create your own index for each source. This allows you to more quickly find the facts you need to refer to while you’re writing the dissertation.
Every doctoral learner has their own personal obstacles that get in the way of the successful completion of their dissertation. If various issues keep getting in the way of your progress, it’s time to sit down and brainstorm solutions.
First, write down a list of everything that’s preventing you from making significant progress on your dissertation plan. Then, write down every possible solution that comes to mind, no matter how far-fetched some might seem. Try these solutions one by one until you find something that works for you.
Your college and department should offer resources designed to support your success. At Grand Canyon University, the College of Doctoral Studies requires two residency experiences. These allow online learners to connect with faculty and peers in person to discuss their work and develop their research ideas.
GCU offers additional learner resources from the Office of Research and Dissertations, as well as the Doctoral Community (DC) NetworkTM — a virtual, scholarly network that supports collaboration.
