How do I structure my dissertation? The video says I can learn exactly what to include. 🎓

[Shawn]

The Tuskegee library guide includes a video on "The Structure of a Dissertation" that promises to teach "exactly what you should include and where to include it" . It acknowledges that "it can be intimidating to know where to start your dissertation, which is probably the longest piece of writing you've ever written" .

I need this so badly. I've been staring at a blank document for weeks.

The guide also offers several books available at the library:

• "Doing Dissertations in Politics" by David M. Silbergh offers advice on "all aspects of undergraduate research, from choosing a dissertation subject through to presenting the finished article" .
• "Guide to the Successful Thesis and Dissertation" by Mauch and Birch is "updated to reflect recent trends in thesis/dissertation preparation and research" and examines "confidentiality and privacy in Internet communications" as well as the "accuracy and reliability of Internet-reported research" .

The guide also covers "Active Vs. Passive Voice" with an illustration and links to Purdue OWL for more resources .

For other PhD students: did you use any books or resources that actually helped? I'm drowning in options and don't know where to start.

 

[Alicia]

The Mauch and Birch book is updated to 1998 which is... not recent lol. But the stuff about confidentiality and internet research ethics is still relevant. For current trends, you might need more recent sources. The Tuskegee guide is good but check your own library for newer editions or similar books. Also the Purdue OWL they link is updated constantly — best free resource for citation and voice questions. For structure though, that video is exactly what you need. Write the chapter titles down and start filling.