Authoring a PhD: How to Plan, Draft, Write and Finish a Doctoral Thesis or Dissertation(Bloomsbury Study Skills)

This engaging and highly regarded book takes readers through the key stages of their PhD research journey, from the initial ideas through to successful completion and publication. It gives helpful guidance on forming research questions, organising ideas, pulling together a final draft, handling the viva and getting published. Each chapter contains a wealth of practical suggestions and tips for readers to try out and adapt to their own research needs and disciplinary style. This text will be essential reading for PhD students and their supervisors in humanities, arts, social sciences, business, law, health and related disciplines.

Table of Contents:
Preface Becoming an Author Envisioning the Thesis as a Whole Planning an Integrated Thesis: The Macro-Structure Organizing a Chapter or Paper: The Micro-Structure Writing Clearly: Style and Referencing Issues Developing your Text and Managing the Writing Process Handling Attention Points: Data, Charts and Graphics The End-Game: Finishing Your Doctorate Publishing Your Research Afterword Glossary Further Reading References Index.

About the Author :
PATRICK DUNLEAVY is Professor of Political Science and Public Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a member of the Academy of the Social Sciences, London. He has authored numerous books and academic articles in political science and is currently general editor of the journal Political Studies. This book draws on his experience in supervising more than 30 doctoral students over two decades, and in teaching a large inter-disciplinary course on 'Drafting and Writing a PhD' at the LSE over twelve years. In the field of study skills Patrick Dunleavy has also published Studying for A Degree (Macmillan, 1986). He was awarded the Political Science 'Making a Difference' Award by the Political Studies Association in 2003. PATRICK DUNLEAVY is Professor of Political Science and Public Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a member of the Academy of the Social Sciences, London. He has authored numerous books and academic articles in political science and is currently general editor of the journal Political Studies. This book draws on his experience in supervising more than 30 doctoral students over two decades, and in teaching a large inter-disciplinary course on 'Drafting and Writing a PhD' at the LSE over twelve years. In the field of study skills Patrick Dunleavy has also published Studying for A Degree (Macmillan, 1986). He was awarded the Political Science 'Making a Difference' Award by the Political Studies Association in 2003.

Review :
'This wise, deeply considered and admirably pragmatic volume will be invaluable to graduate students and their supervisors in many disciplines.' - Professor Stanley Wells, Emeritus Professor, University of Birmingham 'Patrick Dunleavy has written a worthy successor to Sternberg's How to Complete and Survive a Dissertation. Sternberg illuminated the emotional management of the process; Dunleavy illuminates the management of text. Following his recommended disciplines, he has produced an elegant, witty and spare guide for the perplexed student.' - Herman Schwartz, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, Politics Department, University of Virginia 'Authoring a PhD is superb. It is so in three ways: tone; nature of the advice offered; the fact that the book itself is an exemplary illustration of the principles it recommends. After reading it, it is hard to see how many PhD students ever managed to write an acceptable thesis without reading it. I know of no other work offering advice of such substance.' - John Peck, Cardiff University 'Pleasantly written, containing a lot of helpful suggestions, sound advice, and illuminating insights into the process of writing a thesis. I like the fact that the book has one clear, and original focus: it looks at the writing of a PhD as a process of authoring. This makes it useful not only for PhD students but also for more advanced scholars who are writing a book.' - Giseline Kuipers, University of Amsterdam, Netherlands 'Elegantly written and contains crisp and incisive insights. I will recommend this book widely to students because it will help them significantly with the successful completion of their PhD thesis...I have gained some good ideas from reading the text.' - Wyn Grant, University of Warwick