Achieve Your Doctoral Degree in Two Semesters or Less: A Step-by-Step Guide to Finishing Your Dissertation or Thesis

Amazon Customer: I'm a self-help books enthusiast. I'd buy books about how to help yourself breathe correctly, no problem. I bought this one along with a much longer book by another author about how to write your proposal. The latter is sitting on the shelf waiting to be given away. This book, however, helped me write my proposal. The BEST thing I like about this book is that it tells you the two types of dissertations out there (or so they say). My chair has been trying to explain to me, since forever, that I need to write only one type of dissertation, "this is not a 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner" she said. I can see now what she meant! You can either write about relationships, or differences, between A and B or C etc. This is, unfortunately, sometimes forced on you. Really?!! Well, I honestly don't care, at this point I just want my diploma! I'm still working on my dissertation and will update my review as soon as I'm done to give you my advice (from a recent graduate!) A PhD survivor once told me, "a good dissertation is a done dissertation."

For now, pull my finger...

United States on Jul 26, 2019

Ryan: No nonsense book!!! Truly, if you set aside 6 months to a year before reading this book to laser-focus your top 3-5 topic ideas, this is an amazing reader for whipping your grind into shape, so that once your topic is chosen, and your study design method and data type established (primary/secondary), you truly can get to work and achieve your deadlines at an accelerated but attainable rate...& find yourself at a successful defense!! Definitely a gem for the dissertation journey’s treasure chest. This book probably has more guidance-power for secondary data disertations however, unless you’re able to perform primary data collection within the book’s advised timeline.

United States on Aug 25, 2018

Hubby: Guides you to get it done efficiently., with check lists to keep you on track and what to watch out for that will bog you down...

Canada on Mar 24, 2014

D. Meyer: This book is the most practical of any book I have read on the dissertation process. No "feelery" let's-all-hold-hands-and-talk-about-the-psychology-of-writing blah-blah like you'd find in Joan Bolker's book. No long analyses of what it's like to write text every day like you'd find in Peg Single's book. This is a no-nonsense, keep-it-in-perspective guide. Ogden refuses to allow the reader (graduate student) to wallow in the suffering martyr mindset. "Here is the assignment, break it down like this, and do it." She reminds students that the dissertation project is not their life - but rather, it is a finite, limited assignment which can and should be completed in a straight-forward, mature, fuss-free way. I am following her plan and am nine months away from graduation with a PhD in science. I feel stress-free.

If you're looking for a book that commiserates with you on the difficulty of acting like a graduate student, look elsewhere.

I think Peg Single's book still has value because of the useful way it covers the literature survey process and fleshes out your outline until it is a dissertation. But Ogden's is the book that will keep you moving toward graduation.

United States on Feb 27, 2014

Stephen Pellerine: It is not rocket science here, but it is well informed logical advice that could indeed lead to Rocket Science. I just got the book a couple of days ago and have fond it to be quite good at providing advice. I have complete a couple of Graduate Study projects and genreally do things on time - and have learned with each new experience. The second MA was 1000 times more enjoyable that the first - and the ideas are what I "kind of did" to make this transition. Also, as I venture on to new levels in academics I "hope" the next stage is as enjoyable, and the tips here (and strategies) simply make sense.

I am in the Foundations of an EdD and enjoy the read as they are timely - and the book simply outlines what I know I need to do, and it is nice to make these points conscious to myself. Easy read. Important read for grad students seeking such litarature: how to make a dissertation easier.

United States on Apr 27, 2011

Joao Miguel Oliveira: I don't know what I would have done without this book. I would probably select the wrong advisor and topic and it would take forever to finnish my thesis, if I ever did.

In my opinion, this book is great help for anyone who is about to start or has already started writing their thesis. It covers every step of the process and offers a fresh perspective I would have never thought (here's a clue: it's not about having an interesting topic, what you want to do is finish the thesis). It will save you a lot of trouble and I'm almost positive anyone can finish their thesis in less than two semesters if they follow every tip in this guide.

So, if you want that "Dr." title (or just need it), this is a book you can't do without.

United States on Mar 10, 2010