Create a dissertation plan: how?

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When creating a plan for your dissertation, first estimate how much time you will need for research, writing, and proofreading. Then add a little extra time for each step to get a safe zone. Also, check the dissertation requirements at your school. You may need to add time to develop a proposal, write an abstract or outline, and may need to apply or give notice to schedule your dissertation presentation. Creating a calendar with each area listed with its opening date can help structure your plan. You may also need to schedule meetings with a dissertation advisor in time. Once you know how much time you need, compare that to the school’s deadlines and count backwards to find the best start date.

In a dissertation plan, you must allow enough time for your research. Consider what kind of information you will need and how long it will take to collect and analyze it. If you need to do field research, find out how long it will take, including travel time. It’s also a good idea to set aside time for additional research in case some sources don’t work or your focus changes; you don’t want to overwhelm your writing pad too much.

Writing the body of the dissertation can be difficult to plan. By this point in your academic career, you should already know what works best for you when it comes to writing. Some people work best on deadlines in meetings with committee members; others prefer to set a goal of a certain number of pages per week. Whichever carrot or stick you use, remember that it will almost always take longer than you think. If you think you can write the dissertation in six months, give yourself seven or eight.

Time for revision is an essential step in a dissertation plan. You will likely have at least three committee members offering suggestions and asking for changes, plus a consultant. If you haven’t planned for this, you may face a frantic scramble before graduation. Try to allow at least a month or two to edit before the deadline for submitting the dissertation. If your committee does not request substantive changes, you can do so sooner. But if time runs out, you’ll likely need to push back your graduation date.

Another point to keep in mind when formulating your dissertation plan is life outside of your project. Very few people can do anything but their dissertation; most are working at the same time. While your degree may be the most important project you have, you will likely have other responsibilities. Be realistic about your commitments as you outline deadlines. Whether it’s paper sorting or your sister’s wedding, other things will come up and your schedule needs to allow for some flexibility.

Once you know how much time you need, compare that to your school’s procedures and deadlines. Check departmental and graduate school guidelines. Find out if you need to submit proposals, abstracts or abstracts and what kind of documentation or approvals are required. For example, you may have to apply for “disserator” status while working on the project, but may need to be registered as a “candidate” for the semester prior to your graduation date. Late forms can derail a good dissertation plan.

Count backwards from the last submission date of dissertations, going through the months you have set aside for each step. This will tell you the best start date for your project. If you’re in the middle of a semester, start at the beginning of that semester. Some people find that the dissertation goes too quickly, but it’s always good to have more time than you need.

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