Customer Reviews

Enjoy Writing Your Science Thesis or Dissertation!: A Step by Step Guide to Planning and Writing Dissertations and Theses for Undergraduate and Gradua

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book covers all aspects of writing a thesis or dissertation. The author is an experienced scientist and her PhD students are reknowned for their well written work. There are even tips on those lessons at school that you always fell asleep in - grammar! I don't know how I would ever have got through things without this book. An ironic sense of humour makes it all most readable.

A good, quick guide for a general idea of what your thesis or dissertation should look like, although it is a touch dated. The author refers to the computer as a "magic typewriter" and cautions you to back up your work on floppies. However, it will provide you with a good overview of the do's and don'ts of the entire writing process. The comical anecdotes and cartoons may even help you enjoy an otherwise intimidating experience.

At my university (a top DC area school) you are required to write a dissertation for the degree of doctorate. In the published requirements of the graduate school it says to consult, in addition to the university's requirements, a style manual in your discipline. This is the ONLY appropriate style manual I have found for biological scientists, cancer researchers, developmental biologists etc. It has nothing to do with British or not British. It has to do with standards which should be followed for all dissertations. Comments on computers aside, its a very solid and helpful book.

A dissertation is a final hoop to jump through which is supposed to show:

(a) that you understand your field of research very well

(b) that you have a body of work which contributes to your field

(c) that you understand the place of your research and future directions of research in your field.

The book teaches one how to convey the above and that you are not writing as you would for a scientific paper. Dissertations and theses are an academic exercise. I love the book, it has a wonderful sense of humor, and it is a long-over due book which sets some universal standards and principles for good theses and dissertation writing.

I bought this book for an American friend taking her degree via a long-distance masters program (programme) in England. Not having Brits around with whom to confirm finer points of style and usage was a problem; this book was a big help. Easy, fast, uncluttered -- it provided the answers to the little niggling questions that would otherwise have caused some tossing and turning. Great little volume.

This book is a good start if you have no idea how to go about writing a professional paper. If you have written long term papers in the past and have an academic advisor, this book may not be the one for you, but if you are on your own and have no idea what you are supposed to do... why not.