Academic writing can be tough - and the standard for PhD or other types of doctoral theses is even more rigorous. This presentation looks into what the student might consider during each phase of the process: while designing, writing the proposal or prospectus, or finishing.

1. We will start in just a moment
Slides for today on:
http://www.slideshare.net/DoctoralNet
Academic Writing:
Dos and Don’ts for each phase of
the dissertation or thesis process
www.doctoralnet.com

2. Agenda:
1. General Do’s and Don’ts – always best to keep in mind.
2. What can set you up for success as you design.
3. What will keep it flowing as you write your proposal or
prospectus.
4. What will give you the edge for success as you finish.

3. General Do’s and Don’ts –
always best to keep in mind
Don’ts
1. Get into the habit
of quoting others –
watch as you read
how citations are
used.
2. Justify your ideas,
write like “a
student.”
3. Think that any
writing in any
stage is “it” or
done – everything
changes all the
time through to
final publication.
Do’s
1. Keep an eye on
organization – headings,
use of models, know what
is needed as you begin to
write
2. Read dissertations and
thesis – get the language
“in your head”
3. Write in a group whenever
possible – even if done
asynchronously group
input moves things along
faster.

4. Phase 1: What can set you
up for success as you design
Don’ts
1. Start to write too soon –
get your lit behind you
first.
2. Forget that a design is
created by interlocking
parts - each has to be
set up with consistency
to the rest
3. Forget to analyze if your
topic is an idea or a
problem – is it tangible?
Can its effect be
measured? Is it
theoretical? How is it
discussed?
Do’s
1. Read/Read and more
reading – all authors
read a lot.
2. If academic writing is
new to you read it out
loud to yourself = sets
your ears up to hear the
use of language.
3. Appraise what you read
– does it put you to
sleep? Does it create
interest? Snip and keep
a file of the good stuff.

5. Writing Habits that Support You:
1. Prepare for publication – know your end game – know the style – write to
that style from the beginning… see also bibliographic software, etc.
2. Set up your docs in Word with Headings/Sub headings and create a
Document Map or Navigation Pane right from the beginning. (pg 99)
3. Write, read it out loud, revise, set it aside, read and revise again.
4. Write the next parts – then go through the steps for the whole – you cannot
revise too much.
5. Follow your headings – watch out always for redundancy.
6. Are you rambling? If you don’t know how to say what you want make those
sections in a different color – then go find examples of who said something
similar and mimic how it was done.
7. Also watch for consistency – even small changes in purpose, design,
methodology, etc will cause trouble.

6. Phase 2: What will keep it
flowing as you write your
proposal or prospectus
Don’ts
1. Procrastinate on the hard
parts – that is why we
recommend writing
methodology first.
2. Just cut and paste source
material – sets you up for
plagiarism issues later.
3. Fall into negative self talk
– Don’t tell yourself: this
is hard, I am not sure of
this, etc.
Do’s
1. Rely only on peer reviewed
sources for your writing.
2. Share your work with peers
and groups before turning it
in to your supervisor.
3. Attribute every strong
statement to the outside
source which you used as you
developed the idea.
4. Set up color codes for
yourself and your editors.

7. Writing Your Review of Literature
1. Set it up with a 1:1 topical correspondence with methodology
2. Read other dissertations and establish a logic – for instance: history of topic
leads to research in the pertinent areas, leads to methodological literature,
etc.
3. Understand whether/when you are writing:
1. An analysis, where you differentiate ideas one by one
2. A synthesis, where you cluster ideas to bring out the main salient
points
3. An interpretation, where you are distinguishing between types of data,
research, etc.
4. Critical analysis where you discuss the pros and cons of what has gone
before – this could lead to your section on gaps (which could be filled by
your work).

8. Writing Your Introductory Chapter
1. Because this is an overview many students find it most helpful to write it last
– it reduces redundancy and allows you to summarize.
2. Capture notes for the various headings as you write – helps you make sure
you have all the parts you need.
3. Read and have models for this chapter from other dissertations or thesis
which you found engaging, even if not your topic or methodology.
4. Remember this is the chapter that establishes the golden thread of internal
consistency – what is important to your study (theoretically, topically and
methodologically) must be introduced here.

9. Phase 3: What will give you the
edge for success as you finish a
qualitative study
Don’ts
1. Do a “data dump”
where you just
string out everything
everyone said.
2. Focus too much on
the people, unless it
is required by your
methodology or
unless a role seems
to determine a
position.
Do’s
1. Be clear on what is a result and
what is a finding and which are
personal to the speaker and which
are general to the topic.
2. Draw clear pictures of how you
discovered your themes.
3. Superimpose a routine on how you
write each them. Set up a rhythm
with your writing.
4. Use graphic organizers.
5. Report data that varies or
disagrees with the obvious
conclusions.

10. Phase 3: What will give you the
edge for success as you finish
and quantitative study
Don’ts
1. Spend a lot of
writing on written
descriptions – use
charts/tables and
then summarize.
2. Forget to consider
the internal
consistency of your
findings.
Do’s
1. Use charts whenever possible
to clarify your findings.
2. Tell your reader how the results
and findings will be presented.
3. Superimpose a routine on each
section to increase the flow of
the logic for your reader.
4. Discuss your statistics in terms
that are easy for readers to
follow.
5. Conclude with a summary
through which your reader can
follow the course of your logic.

11. Phase 3: What will give you the
edge for success going into final
defense or Viva
Don’ts
1. Go in without
preparation to discuss
your ideas – find a
mock defense and
practice. Remember
you have it written –
now you need verbal
skills to back it up.
2. Give into negative self
talk – in your head be
strong and confident.
Do’s
1. Have your document edited.
2. Double and triple check that your
literature is up to date and that your study
follows the prescribed guidelines.
3. Finish writing it all, then send it to the
editor and let it sit – when it comes back
review it again with an eye to “golden
threads” – do you tie all the parts together
throughout? Can you track all the ideas
throughout ? Do they build a solid
argument?
4. Be 100% authentic.

12. Q and A
1. What is on your mind
– about writing or
any topic of shared
interest?

13. Upcoming
News/Events
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4. Taking names of interested parties for possible writing group with
professorial help starting soon– cost $40 month if we get 5 or more signed
up. One of conferences is a trial writing group for those who want to see if it
would be a helpful strategy. Email alana@doctoralnet.com