One of the first things to do is to pose your queries with a senior faculty
member with whom you are acquainted. Perhaps, you might even boldly bounce
a few subject/topic areas for your thesis with him/her. Some professors have
favorite dissertations "on the shelf" portraying what has been acceptable in
the past. Take a look at those to get a general idea. Usually, university
graduate libraries will have dissertations and/or abstracts for visual review
as well. Many graduate schools have a step by step manual or handbook on the
various procedures for the progression toward the doctorate starting with
obtaining a committee chair, writing an acceptable proposal and ending with a
successful defense of the thesis. Doing independent research is a lonely task
and you must be prepared for a struggle right from the start. There are lots
of hurdles and roadblocks, but with patience and diligence plus a modicum of
talent you'll make it. Don't get discouraged. By the time you are finished,
you'll know more about that dissertation than anyone else if all goes
correctly. You probably have wondered how some of us (faculty) ever made it
through the system. In my case, the same way you will...bumbling and
stumbling. Good Luck.
j. williams
In article <838sqb$26ho$[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "J.L."
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
>Hello all --
>
>I am a PhD student in biostats. who will be starting the dissertation
>process in about a year and a half. Could anyone direct me to some
>useful books/web sites/other references on beginning, researching,
>writing the dissertation? Most of the books I have found so far seem
>to be written more for students in non-science related fields.
>
>TIA,
