We have a new guide that offers practical information and strategies for those completing their doctoral dissertations and considering how best to share their scholarly work--as journal articles or a book, in print and digital form. Topics include understanding your rights as an author, how to think strategically about your publishing choices, what you need to know about copyright, and more. Click here for the complete guide!
Know the key databases and journals in your field. To get help identifying these, contact your subject librarian.
See the Spaces section of this guide for information about the various kinds of spaces available in Bobst, including carrels, grad-student-only areas, and group rooms.
Choose a tool such as RefWorks, EndNote, or Zotero to manage and organize your citations.
Find projects on topics close to your own by using Dissertation Abstracts and Doctoral Dissertations in Progress.
Consider joining a writing group or finding a writing buddy. See the box to the left for more information on this.
Be aware of the resources beyond NYU Libraries that are available to you.
When you've written a chapter or more, look for a venue where you can present it and get feedback. Regional affiliates of national scholarly organizations (such as the Modern Language Association) and graduate student conferences can be good places to start.
Don't forget to use your school's submission checklist before submitting your dissertation or thesis!
Biggam, John. Succeeding with Your Masters Dissertation: A Practical Step-by-Step Handbook (2011) E-book: click on title to read now
Bolker, Joan. Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day (1998).
Brause, Rita S. Writing Your Doctoral Dissertation: Invisible Rules for Success (2000). E-book: click on title to read now
Clark, Irene L., Writing the Successful Thesis and Dissertation: Entering the Conversation (2007). E-book: click on title to read now
Foss, Sonja K. Destination Dissertation: A Traveler's Guide to a Done Dissertation (2007)
Herr, Kathryn. The Action Research Dissertation: A Guide for Students and Faculty (2005).
Miller, Allison B. Finish Your Dissertation Once and For All: How to Overcome Psychological Barriers, Get Results, and Move on with Your Life (2009). (On order.)
Ogden, Evelyn. Complete Your Dissertation or Thesis in Two Semesters or Less (2008).
Single, Peg Boyle. Demystifying Dissertation Writing: A Streamlined Process from Choice of Topic to Final Text (2009).
Zerubavel, Eviatar. The Clockwork Muse: A Practical Guide to Writing Theses, Dissertations, and Books (1999).
Krathwohl, David R. How to Prepare a Dissertation Proposal: Suggestions for Students in Education and the Social and Behavioral Sciences (2005).
Lunenburg, Frederick C. and Beverly J. Irby, Writing a Successful Thesis or Dissertation: Tips and Strategies for Students in the Social and Behavioral Sciences (2008).
Riley, Michael. Researching and Writing Dissertations in Business and Management. (2000)
Silbergh, David M. Doing Dissertations in Politics: A Student Guide (2001).
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