| You have finally come almost full circle. You are | | | | grammar in a dissertation. Your paper must also |
| now going to be writing your PhD dissertation. | | | | satisfy the rules of formal grammar. Therefore, |
| This is none other than a formal, lengthy | | | | you should use no contractions, no slurs, no |
| document that you will be arguing in the defense | | | | hidden jokes, no colloquialisms, no technical jargon |
| of a specific thesis. A thesis is defined as a | | | | that cannot be defined and no slang. You must be |
| hypothesis or conjecture. | | | | explicitly clear as you write your dissertation. The |
| First of all, you are going to have to do research | | | | words that you use in your dissertation must |
| that will support your particular thesis. The | | | | convey exactly the meaning that is intended. Each |
| research must be original and substantial, and your | | | | statement must also be correct and defensible in |
| dissertation must prove that it is so. To put it | | | | a scientific and logical sense. The discussions in |
| another way, a dissertation will highlight all original | | | | your paper must be able to satisfy stringent rules |
| contributions. | | | | of logic that are applied to science and |
| You will usually begin with the scientific method | | | | mathematics. |
| before actually writing your dissertation. This | | | | What One Should Learn From Writing a |
| means that you will begin with a hypothesis and | | | | Dissertation: There is a need for scientists to |
| then collect data to either support of deny its | | | | communicate discoveries. When you write a PhD |
| claim. This is the hardest part of writing your | | | | dissertation, this provides training so that you are |
| paper that of organizing the evidence and all of | | | | able to communicate with other scientists. This |
| the associated discussions into a logical form. | | | | process also requires you to organize technical |
| The main substance of a dissertation does not lie | | | | discussion, being able to think deeply, to follow |
| in the experimental data but in critical thinking. The | | | | rules for the formal presentation of arguments as |
| main things that are at the heart of a dissertation | | | | well as discussions and to try to come up with |
| are analysis and concepts. When you write a | | | | arguments that will convince others of the |
| dissertation you are concentrating on principles. | | | | relevancy of your thesis. |
| You are stating the lessons that are learned from | | | | The committee that will look at your dissertation |
| the principles and not just the facts behind them. | | | | will consist of approximately four to nine |
| Generally speaking, each statement in a | | | | researchers both in and outside of your |
| dissertation should be supported by either an | | | | designated field. Each committee member has a |
| original work or by a reference to scientific | | | | certain duty to fulfill. |
| literature that has been published. Moreover, you | | | | Make sure that you take the constructive |
| should just not be content with repeating the | | | | criticism of your thesis adviser to heart. He or she |
| details of analysis and critical thinking found in | | | | has a very important job. It is to give you |
| published sources. You must use the results as | | | | assurance that you will do just fine. If you make |
| fact and then refer your readers to the source in | | | | sure to follow the helpful suggestions outlined |
| order for them to gain further knowledge. | | | | above, you will be successful at delivering your |
| You must always be sure to use correct | | | | dissertation. |