Friday, May 21, 2010

How to Write a Dissertation Proposal - Key Steps to Success

In any PhD program, once you've completed your academic requirements, it's time to write your dissertation. As with all academic writing, much of your success is based on your approach and methodology. So, from the dissertation proposal stage, it is important to get organized and prepared for the steps ahead. The following steps will put you on the road towards success when writing your dissertation proposal:

Create a road map for your research. The proposal stage of your dissertation is the perfect time to create a plan for your research and writing. The dissertation proposal starts with the narrowing of the research focus. Narrowing the scope of your research will help you set a clear agenda and outline for your dissertation.

Choose a dissertation committee. Once you've done your research on the topic of your dissertation, you're ready to pick a committee. This group often consists of professors in your chosen field of study who will serve as guides to you throughout the writing process, so it is critical that you choose wisely. Make sure your committee chair, specifically, is knowledgeable about your topic at hand and is also capable of communicating his or her ideas clearly, as the chairperson's comments can be invaluable in the dissertation writing process.

Follow the appropriate style. The dissertation proposal must be treated like a scholarly document and therefore needs to be written in a style (APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.) that is appropriate for your chosen field of study.

Organize your proposal. The dissertation proposal should consist of four elements: the title, problem statement or research question, literature review of the published studies you researched and well-communicated plan, which you plan to execute during the writing phase of your dissertation.

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