The university of nebraska press does not consider unrevised dissertations. Even the best academic presses have to make moneywhich means your book has to sell. All these skills, which you will learn in transforming your thesis into a book, are essential for a successful academic career and will help you become a better scholar. You, your readers, and the dissertation support group, 8. In a dissertation, the authors authority must be proven. First on my list of books is joan bolkers writing your dissertation in 15 minutes a day. Discussion started by susan kwosek on september 21, 2020. Dissertation audiences are usually fewer than 100 readers books are about 500 or more, in general. Students in any discipline will find beckers advice helpful. But it takes a lot of revising, restructuring, and failing in.
William germano offers clear guidance on how to do this, with advice on such topics as rethinking the table of contents, taming runaway footnotes, shaping chapter length, and confronting the. Turning your dissertation into a book uw graduate school. Be aware that transforming your dissertation into a publishable book is a complex process, which will take time and require some careful planning. But a dissertation is written for a committee and a book for the larger world.
In this chapter i discuss how to revise and trim your notes, bibliographies, tables, and graphs to shape a book that is authoritative but not pedantic. Make style parallel in chapter titles, captions, chapter openings and closings, subheads. Persona and authority, learning to write as a professional, getting it out the door, and. Its not just a bit of a fiddle with the introduction and conclusion and then plonking the rest in, but rather a restructured text written for a different reader and for a different purpose. Are you ready to your dissertation discussions over the internet.
Revising your dissertation, updated edition by beth luey. Sep 23, 20 so its a sensible idea, i reckon, to think about the book of the thesis as a rewriting, not a revision. Feb 26, 2020 a revision, even a deep one, can be finished in less than twelve months. Luey suggests a pragmatic approach to structuring your classes, committee, and. A guide to starting, revising, and finishing your doctoral thesis. Books are written to make an original contribution to scholarship in your discipline. Revising your dissertation for publication georgetown. You want the book to be assigned as a text in undergraduate courses in your field. I was hired for a full time tenure track position before i finished my dissertation, but i had to finish and defend the summer before my position began in august and accomplish a crosscountry move.
This is thereference for revising your dissertation into an academic book. Oct 15, 2007 the aftermath of graduate school can be particularly trying for those under pressure to publish their dissertations. Supplemental materials are not guaranteed with rental or used book purchases. Time will be an issue, especially if you need to juggle the work on the book with fulltime teaching andor other research. Rewriting or revising collegewide writing center suny. It will help prospective authors to master writing and revision. Oct 11, 2004 revising your dissertation, updated edition. Build on your dissertation so you can honestly say that your proposed book has more to it. At the heart of from dissertation to book is the idea that revising the dissertation is fundamentally a process of shifting its focus from the concerns of a narrow audiencea committee or advisorsto those of a broader scholarly audience that wants writing to be both informative and engaging. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read writing your dissertation in fifteen minutes a day. The title itself gives you the real key to writing a great disseration.
A post doc is helpful for this because you can use the research you did in your post doc as part of the manuscript, thereby differentiating it from your dissertation. Writing your dissertation or thesis this expert advice comes from sonja foss and william waters authors of destination dissertation. In other words, a dissertation is where you begin to articulate the ideas and arguments that will eventually transform into your book. Some advice for advisors, some useful books and articles, index.
Rarely is there a book that one can call indispensable. Book editors groan when they see the phrase revised dissertation in a proposal. Revising the dissertation may be going back to square one, stripping the whole project down to its chassis, or it might be something much less drastic. Revising your phd for book publication will necessarily involve some adaptation of the content and style of your dissertation. Advice from leading editors 2rev ed by luey, beth isbn.
The best way to begin is by approaching your dissertation in your imagination, preparing to write in and about this thesis at every stage, and to become the researcher of your own work process. Navigating the publication process wednesday, october 23 3. Hear from a panel of expertsan acquisitions editor, a firsttime author, and an author rights expertabout the process of turning your dissertation into a book. Jumpstarting the revision process for developing your. Revising and drafting your dissertation into a book revising and drafting your dissertation into sections, chapters, and headings, developing ideas you want to cover in your book for your audience, and dreaming constantly about this work prepares you for storytelling. From dissertation to book is the idea that revising the dissertation is a fundamental process of adapting from one genre of writing to another. A travelers guide to a done dissertation here are two key strategies for writing a dissertation effectively. On scholarly writing revising your dissertation into a book. Books and software for dissertation writers the writing. An important reason to keep your revisions within a reasonable time frame is that many earlycareer scholars underestimate the amount of time required for book production. A way to streamline your book revising process and develop an actionable plan to finish writing this book without feeling overwhelmed and anxious. The more your dissertation begins to sound like a book, ones professionalism will be apparent. Pdf a guide to revising the dissertation into a monograph.
While your dissertation is an academic exercise, the book version of your dissertation will be a commercial enterprise. Defending your dissertation phd revising your dissertation. People know us because of our solid reputation, quality writing and buy customer support staff. The best way to begin a dissertation is not by positioning yourself in a library and writing chapter 1 on the top of a blank piece of paper. On scholarly writing revising your dissertation into a. Germano offers clear guidance on how to do just this. People know us because of our solid reputation, quality writing and buy. It is important to remember that the aim and emphasis of your book manuscript should be to make an original contribution to scholarly dialogue rather than proving that you deserve to be awarded a phd.
Rather, revision, again, speaking technically, is reseeing your arguments. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Leveraging phd students to support edd dissertation. The words bring to mind a manuscript heavy with scholarly apparatus. If you are considering submitting your dissertation for publication, we recommend that you contact editors at university presses that publish in your subject area for guidance on revising your work. A brief but informative book guiding the thesis or dissertation writer in how to begin revising that project into a potentially publishable book. Written with good cheer and jammed with information, this lively guide offers hardtofind practical advice on successfully turning a dissertation into a book or journal articles that will appeal to publishers and readers. Rethinking and revising contains five essays that follow a loose chronology of what ones steps might be in considering your dissertation for publication.
Revising the dissertation into a monograph palgrave macmillan will consider submissions containing material that has previously formed part of a phd or other academic thesis including those that have been made publicly available according to the requirements of the institution awarding the qualification. Many editors prefer to be involved in the early stages of this process so they can advise you on how to structure the book and your arguments to. You can have as buy input into your thesis or dissertation as you like. A guide to starting, revising, and finishing your doctoral thesis 1st edition, kindle edition by joan bolker author visit amazons joan bolker page. Resources for dissertators the writing center uwmadison. Aug 06, 2019 if you simply cant bring yourself to take an extended vacation which you should try to do, because, seriously, youve earned it, you might be tempted to just plunge into revising your dissertation and sending out book proposals. How to turn your doctoral dissertation into a book. Revisions stage william germanosfrom dissertation to book ebook. Your primary goal in revising your dissertation should be to. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Turning your dissertation rightside out scott norton 4. The first four chapters help you decide whether you want to use your dissertation as the basis for publishing your first academic book at all. Look at your approach make sure your books title and the table of contents offers a clear and descriptive roadmap to the book. Differences between a dissertation and a book, excerpted.
Think about the narrative flow of the book and make it. Like the other books on revising ones dissertation, lueys text stresses revision and reality. How the computer revolution affects you and your dissertation, appendix ii. There is good practical information, but it is primarily about how to think differently when approaching your work as a book than you have grown accustomed while producing a thesis for the eyes of. How to start and finish your thesis, book, or article. Turning your dissertation into a book ideas on fire. It must be accessible, compelling, and clearly state the aims of the book. Write from day one with a wide market of undergraduates in mind. Writing your dissertation in fifteen minutes a day. Advice from leading editors written with expertise and good cheer, this lively guide offers hardtofind practical advice on successfully turning a dissertation into a book or into journal articles that will appeal to publishers and readers. Until you know what you have, you cant know what remains to be done. Cut the part where you thank your dissertation committee. Turning your dissertation into a book shouldnt be this hard, should it. William germanos from dissertation to book is the essential guide for academic writers who want to revise a doctoral thesis for publication.
Oct 15, 2007 rent or buy revising your dissertation 9780520254015. Turning your dissertation rightside out scott norton, university of california press 4. If you are writing a book proposal straight from your dissertation, youre likely not going to get a book contract. Dissertations contain extensive documentation to prove authority, while books document to. Response to whites shadow scholars and the rise of the dissertation service industry. My top five tips for turning your dissertation into a booka. A guide to starting, revising, and finishing your doctoral thesis joan bolker henry holt and company, aug 15, 1998 study aids 208 pages. The aftermath of graduate school can be particularly trying for those under pressure to publish their dissertations. The aftermath of graduate school can be particularly trying for those under pressure to publish. One of the primary reluctances or challenges that authors have when making this transition is a reluctance to cut material. In terms of a dissertation, this could mean reseeing sections of a chapter or an entire chapter. Revising your dissertation edit911 editing service. Turning your phd into a successful book author services.
May 12, 2018 the first book in a series of volumes i have been interested in reading is joan bolkers writing your dissertation in fifteen minutes a day. Considerable differences exist between a dissertation and a book, and even the best dissertation will need to be revised before being submitted for publication. The uni tutor can become the simplest way your getting an academic product. My top 16 recommended resources for writing your first. Bringing your own voice to the table scott norton 5.
Rethink, decide, make your plans for revision and carry them through. Differences between a dissertation and a book, excerpted from. A guide to starting, revising, and finishing your doctoral thesis 9780805048919 by joan bolker and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Revisions stage william germanosfrom dissertation to bookebook. Having said that, your dissertation should really be a starting point for your manuscript. You can still acknowledge them, but as individual scholars rather than as part of your committee.
So, turning your thesis into a book actually opens up a whole new horizon on how to present your ideas and arguments, and on how to communicate with a wider worldwide audience. My top five tips for turning your dissertation into a book. Selfpaced dissertationtobook boot camp writing your first. Before you even start writing your dissertation, take time to study the market for books that address your dissertation topic. William germano offers clear guidance on how to do this, with advice on such topics as rethinking. Hopefully, if youve thought out your ideas, revision wont mean junking an entire. Feb 26, 2016 so here are the professors top five tips for turning your dissertation into a book. Jan 02, 2018 resources for writing your first academic book.
Revising your dissertation, updated edition advice from leading editors. Advice from leading editors by beth luey 2007, perfect, revised edition at the best online prices at ebay. The author of getting it published, germano draws upon his extensive experience in academic. Reading a first book as an editor, member of a tenure and promotion committee, or as a dean or provost.
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