Dr. Lyn's Advice for Doctoral Newbies:
(Please know, you are not expected to know everything.)
Remember,
There is no greater fool than a genius out of her field.
and
Stay in your lane!
(Dr. Lyn Walden)
Please understand, a PhD dissertation is the top, the ultimate, the pièce de résistance of academic papers. Every submission (even your first one) must be your best work, or your chair will get frustrated with you and think you are not serious. You must take the APA manual and your dissertation manual, checklist, and any other pamphlet the university has to offer and read each one over and over. (I suggest you try to memorize the checklist and the major points of the APA manual.) You must check each section and each possible APA issue before each submission.
Every submission of a dissertation, proposal, or thesis must be as close to perfection as is humanly possible. Never, ever, ever turn in a rushed or poorly written paper. This will show you are not a professional, and you disrespect your chair or committee member.
The dissertation is certainly not like any other research assignment you have ever written. Think of it this way--the dissertation is a journey; a research assignment is a sprint. Numerous rejections are simply part of the process. Expect numerous submissions, or frustration could get the better of you. However, make certain you are not rejected for foolish grammatical or APA errors. When you are rejected, make certain you are getting some feedback from your chair/committee member to soften the blow.
Please understand, the dissertation is undeniably the most exhausting and frustrating paper any person ever writes in their life. It must be perfect to pass all the different reviewers, committee members, professors, and the dean. There is absolutely no wiggle room; it must be done exactly as they say, or it will be rejected. It is not so much a test of intelligence (you have shown that part to get as far as you have), it is a test of compliance, patience, diligence, and meticulous attention to detail. It cannot be hurried or rushed.
Every single section must be done with exactitude, with every single point checked off on the rubric or checklist, and every comment by a chair or committee member addressed. Just one incorrectly done or rushed section or ignored comment can cause the entire dissertation to be rejected or harsher treatment will be handed down in the next review.
Grammar and punctuation must be as close to perfect as is humanly possible. Never submit a draft without running your paper through Prowriting.com or something comparable, even if you hire an editor. The benefits will be two-fold: It will show you problems in your writing to help you become a better writer, and it will force you to spend more time thinking about the wording of your paper. Another reason to do this is I assume you want to be a professor, journal author, and/or chair/mentor yourself one day. How can you attain this goal if you do not understand the mechanics of APA and writing? Finally, get a trusted colleague or friend to read each submission to make certain your paper makes sense and flows.
Do not “wrap your tongue around a telephone pole” in your dissertation. For goodness' sake, make the thing readable. Purchase a subscription to WordRake to help you remove unnecessary, superfluous words until this comes naturally to you: http://www.wordrake.com/.
Take every course offered by your university that will help you understand the statistics you will be using in your study. (Remember, you must defend your study—twice!) If no courses are offered, watch as many YouTube videos as possible regarding your methodology and design. (You can get YouTube on your TV through Amazon Prime.) YouTube is also an incredible source for almost any section of your dissertation.
Keep track of your references. You must account for each one you use in your paper. In more than 40 years as an editor, I have only had two clients who had all their references: both men and both accountants. Almost all my editing clients tell me they think their references are in good shape—yeah….
Most are missing about one-third to one-half or more of their references. (Speaking of references, remember, every statement of fact in your dissertation must be supported by a current, which means published within 5 years of the date you graduate, peer-reviewed journal study.
Be humble. You will be as much of a PhD with a 100-page finished dissertation as you will be with a 300-page dissertation. This is not the time to cure cancer. Just get it done. If your chair does not like your cherished study idea, change it. (I had to change my study three times in my last PhD journey.) In addition, do not try to write a study that is personal to you. Just get it done. Save the personal study after you have the degree. Just get the thing done!
Remember, plagiarism is defined as three words in a row that you “borrowed” from any source, even your previous work. If caught, you are out—do not pass Go, do not collect $200. Watch tables, charts, and graphs as well. All universities take this seriously. When in doubt, cut and paste the phrase in Google and check.
Mention your PhD journey to friends, family, co-workers and bosses (especially), and significant others as little as possible. One, mentioning it will make you look like a braggart. Two, after a while, you will look like a bore. Three, God forbid, if you dropout (check the rates; this could happen), you will look like an idiot. Talk to fellow PhD candidates, they know the misery. They understand; no one else could ever understand why anyone would actually pay big money for this torture.
A study by The Council of Graduate Schools gave PhD completion and attrition percentages. In all, 49,000 PhD learners and candidates were sampled from 30 institutions consisting of 54 disciplines and 330 programs. After 10 years, the completion rate was a little over half (56.6%). Think about that. About half of your peers at residency will not finish.
(2010). Ph.D. Completion and Attrition. (p. Guides and Reports). The Council of Graduate Schools. https://cgsnet.org/project/ph-d-completion-project
Do not feel sorry for yourself. Yes, your chair/committee member/coach/URR member/etc. will rip your beloved paper to shreds on a constant basis. Just consider the PhD journey a fraternity, and every fraternity has hazing. Be certain to thank whoever tore your paper to shreds for the “beating” (the hazing) and assure him or her that you will be back again tomorrow for your daily beating. This ripping to shreds is just part of the process. I have been royally beat up too many times to count.
Yes, I actually cried in the busy hallway of a huge university many years ago over the difference between a MANOVA and an ANOVA. I am certain all my colleagues have been royally hazed as well. All my best friends have been hazed. Put on your big girl panties and enjoy the journey, hazings and all. The rewards are well worth all the frustration and plain old torture.
Finally, ask for help when necessary. I am here for you. Just ask!! Good luck and
Happy writing.
Dr. Lyn at [email protected]
Please understand, a PhD dissertation is the top, the ultimate, the pièce de résistance of academic papers. Every submission (even your first one) must be your best work, or your chair will get frustrated with you and think you are not serious. You must take the APA manual and your dissertation manual, checklist, and any other pamphlet the university has to offer and read each one over and over. (I suggest you try to memorize the checklist and the major points of the APA manual.) You must check each section and each possible APA issue before each submission.
Every submission of a dissertation, proposal, or thesis must be as close to perfection as is humanly possible. Never, ever, ever turn in a rushed or poorly written paper. This will show you are not a professional, and you disrespect your chair or committee member.
The dissertation is certainly not like any other research assignment you have ever written. Think of it this way--the dissertation is a journey; a research assignment is a sprint. Numerous rejections are simply part of the process. Expect numerous submissions, or frustration could get the better of you. However, make certain you are not rejected for foolish grammatical or APA errors. When you are rejected, make certain you are getting some feedback from your chair/committee member to soften the blow.
Please understand, the dissertation is undeniably the most exhausting and frustrating paper any person ever writes in their life. It must be perfect to pass all the different reviewers, committee members, professors, and the dean. There is absolutely no wiggle room; it must be done exactly as they say, or it will be rejected. It is not so much a test of intelligence (you have shown that part to get as far as you have), it is a test of compliance, patience, diligence, and meticulous attention to detail. It cannot be hurried or rushed.
Every single section must be done with exactitude, with every single point checked off on the rubric or checklist, and every comment by a chair or committee member addressed. Just one incorrectly done or rushed section or ignored comment can cause the entire dissertation to be rejected or harsher treatment will be handed down in the next review.
Grammar and punctuation must be as close to perfect as is humanly possible. Never submit a draft without running your paper through Prowriting.com or something comparable, even if you hire an editor. The benefits will be two-fold: It will show you problems in your writing to help you become a better writer, and it will force you to spend more time thinking about the wording of your paper. Another reason to do this is I assume you want to be a professor, journal author, and/or chair/mentor yourself one day. How can you attain this goal if you do not understand the mechanics of APA and writing? Finally, get a trusted colleague or friend to read each submission to make certain your paper makes sense and flows.
Do not “wrap your tongue around a telephone pole” in your dissertation. For goodness' sake, make the thing readable. Purchase a subscription to WordRake to help you remove unnecessary, superfluous words until this comes naturally to you: http://www.wordrake.com/.
Take every course offered by your university that will help you understand the statistics you will be using in your study. (Remember, you must defend your study—twice!) If no courses are offered, watch as many YouTube videos as possible regarding your methodology and design. (You can get YouTube on your TV through Amazon Prime.) YouTube is also an incredible source for almost any section of your dissertation.
Keep track of your references. You must account for each one you use in your paper. In more than 40 years as an editor, I have only had two clients who had all their references: both men and both accountants. Almost all my editing clients tell me they think their references are in good shape—yeah….
Most are missing about one-third to one-half or more of their references. (Speaking of references, remember, every statement of fact in your dissertation must be supported by a current, which means published within 5 years of the date you graduate, peer-reviewed journal study.
Be humble. You will be as much of a PhD with a 100-page finished dissertation as you will be with a 300-page dissertation. This is not the time to cure cancer. Just get it done. If your chair does not like your cherished study idea, change it. (I had to change my study three times in my last PhD journey.) In addition, do not try to write a study that is personal to you. Just get it done. Save the personal study after you have the degree. Just get the thing done!
Remember, plagiarism is defined as three words in a row that you “borrowed” from any source, even your previous work. If caught, you are out—do not pass Go, do not collect $200. Watch tables, charts, and graphs as well. All universities take this seriously. When in doubt, cut and paste the phrase in Google and check.
Mention your PhD journey to friends, family, co-workers and bosses (especially), and significant others as little as possible. One, mentioning it will make you look like a braggart. Two, after a while, you will look like a bore. Three, God forbid, if you dropout (check the rates; this could happen), you will look like an idiot. Talk to fellow PhD candidates, they know the misery. They understand; no one else could ever understand why anyone would actually pay big money for this torture.
A study by The Council of Graduate Schools gave PhD completion and attrition percentages. In all, 49,000 PhD learners and candidates were sampled from 30 institutions consisting of 54 disciplines and 330 programs. After 10 years, the completion rate was a little over half (56.6%). Think about that. About half of your peers at residency will not finish.
(2010). Ph.D. Completion and Attrition. (p. Guides and Reports). The Council of Graduate Schools. https://cgsnet.org/project/ph-d-completion-project
Do not feel sorry for yourself. Yes, your chair/committee member/coach/URR member/etc. will rip your beloved paper to shreds on a constant basis. Just consider the PhD journey a fraternity, and every fraternity has hazing. Be certain to thank whoever tore your paper to shreds for the “beating” (the hazing) and assure him or her that you will be back again tomorrow for your daily beating. This ripping to shreds is just part of the process. I have been royally beat up too many times to count.
Yes, I actually cried in the busy hallway of a huge university many years ago over the difference between a MANOVA and an ANOVA. I am certain all my colleagues have been royally hazed as well. All my best friends have been hazed. Put on your big girl panties and enjoy the journey, hazings and all. The rewards are well worth all the frustration and plain old torture.
Finally, ask for help when necessary. I am here for you. Just ask!! Good luck and
Happy writing.
Dr. Lyn at [email protected]
