Complete Your Dissertation or Thesis in Two Semesters or Less

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.

It was obvious to me that some people who wrote reviews only read the title and sample pages, or just didn't comprehend the message of the book. The author does NOT say a dissertation is the same as a thesis. What the author DOES say, is that a dissertation or thesis CAN be completed in two semesters of less. The author does NOT say your dissertation should only be 100 pages. What the author DOES say, is that 100 pages is an INITIAL GOAL, and that your thesis or dissertation will probably have more pages than that. Many dissertation guides out there (and I feel like I have read them all) talk about things like topic selection, emotions of being a grad student, statistics, and choosing/working with committee members. This book also touches on all those topics. What this book does better than all the others, is to help you lay out an actual plan to writing the dissertation. (i.e. how long will you need for the lit review, how long will you need for data collection, etc.) The book helps you map it all out whether you are in the sciences, humanities, or somewhere in between. If you are already pretty far along with your dissertation, you probably won't get much from this book. If you are in the first half, or you are coming back to the dissertation after time away from it, this book will help you get into gear. If I had to recommend one dissertation guide, this one would be it.

For anybody approaching a dissertation, I strongly recommend Ogden's Complete Your Dissertation or Thesis in Two Semesters or Less. It will not instruct you on how to write a dissertation, but will place the process in perspective and provides excellent guidance on avoiding pitfalls along the way.

This is one of the most useful references for dissertations that I have reviewed. As a matter of fact, I have passed it on to a couple of other folks in Ph. D. programs for their reading and use. The thoughtful comments are helpful and well stated. Great accompaniment to the dissertation writing process, it is!

This book is the best resource that I have encountered. The author addresses questions from your innermost dark thoughts and fears. This is a Must read and use. I haven't completed my dissertation yet, but Ogden has given me the "umpf" and encouragement to actually put the pen on the paper and WRITE!!!