The Faculty Mentor's Wisdom: Conceptualizing, Writing, and Defending the Dissertation

This book focuses on using faculty mentoring to empower doctoral students to successfully complete their doctoral studies. The book is a collection of mentoring chapters showcasing professors and dissertation advisors from the most prestigious universities in the United States. They provide an extraordinary range of mentoring advice that speaks directly to the doctoral student. Each chapter addresses a professional or personal component of the doctoral process that represents how these exceptional faculty best mentor their doctoral students. Faculty contributions exemplify diverse perspectives of mentoring: (a) Some faculty are direct and forthright, pointing the mentee toward his/her destination; (b) some faculty share personal experiences-offering mentoring advice from the perspective of someone who traveled a similar path; and (c) some faculty structure a dialogue between the faculty as mentor and you as the doctoral student. In all cases, they open possibilities for achieving success in doctoral studies. Students discover clues to follow during their doctoral journey. Whether the student is just beginning to think about entering a doctoral program, presently taking course studies, under stress, and doesn't know what the future offers, this is an ideal book because it maps the entire doctoral process.

Table of Contents:
Part 1 Introduction Part 2 Dissertation - Understanding the Process Chapter 3 Doctoral Students and the Dissertation Process Chapter 4 The Dissertation Process Chapter 5 Challenges, Professorial Advice, and Doctoral Student Dilemmas Chapter 6 Moving from Concept to Completion Chapter 7 Strategies for Dissertation Writing Success Part 8 The Dissertation Topic Chapter 9 It's Your Dissertation - It's Your Topic Chapter 10 Identifying and Focusing a Dissertation Topic: Baseball as a Cognitive Heuristic Chapter 11 The Dissertation Journey: Strategizing for Success Chapter 12 Paying Forward: Returning Kindness and Passing on Advice Chapter 13 Know Your Passion: Selecting a Dissertation Topic Chapter 14 The Wrong Shoes or the Wrong Feet? Being Changed by the Research Process Chapter 15 Identifying a Dissertation Research Topic Chapter 16 Connecting the Dots: Choosing a Dissertation Topic Part 17 Selecting a Chair and Committee Chapter 18 Selecting a Dissertation Chair Chapter 19 Choosing a Dissertation Supervisory Committee and Dissertation Topic Chapter 20 Seeking an Advisor as a Mentor Chapter 21 When Choosing a Major Professor, Go Slow to Go Fast Chapter 22 Choosing a Major Professor Chapter 23 Dancing With Elephants: Forming Your Dissertation Committee Part 24 Preparing the Dissertation Proposal Chapter 25 Preparing a Dissertation Proposal: So, Now You're Ready to Write! Chapter 26 Preparing a Dissertation Proposal Chapter 27 Writing Your Dissertation Proposal: It's Easier Than You Think Chapter 28 Preparing Your Dissertation Proposal Part 29 Writing the Dissertation Chapter 30 How to Write Your Dissertation: A Top Ten List! Chapter 31 Writing the Dissertation: Begin with the End in Mind Chapter 32 Writing Your Dissertation Chapter 33 One Sentence, One Paragraph, and One Page at a Time Part 34 Defending the Dissertation Chapter 35 What the Graduate Student Handbook Doesn't Tell You about Defending Your Dissertation Chapter 36 Defending Your Dissertation Part 37 It's Up to You

About the Author :
Raymond L. Calabrese is a professor of educational administration in the School of Educational Policy and Leadership at the Ohio State University. Calabrese is the author of five books and coauthor of four books. His recent stand alone books include The Dissertation Desk Reference; The Elements of an Effective Dissertation and Thesis; and The Leadership Assignment. Page A. Smith is a professor of educational leadership and policy studies and associate dean for graduate studies in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA).

Review :
The successful defense of a doctoral dissertation ranks as one of the milestone experiences in a professional lifetime. A large part of it being a successful milestone is determined by how prepared and supported the researcher is during the process. The Faculty Mentor's Wisdom: Conceptualizing, Writing, and Defending the Dissertation is a step-by-step guide of the information needed for a successful dissertation outcome. Rich and meaningful advice and guidance from over 30 professors makes this book a "must have" companion for both the student and new dissertation advisor. Writing the dissertation is a bit like test-taking, it requires not only mastery of content but skills and "smarts" to negotiate the process. For doctoral candidates and mentor faculty seeking insights/advice on negotiating this culminating doctoral study requirement, the authors have put together an inspiring resource. Both should find information and reassurance on successfully writing or assisting candidates on how to complete this mark of doctoral distinction. This book captures the wisdom and advice of well-known professors who have guided countless numbers of students through their dissertation studies. Throughout the book, common themes and practical suggestions emerge. Students who heed the advice provided will be well served and will find that the road to completing their dissertation research is not as treacherous as they once thought.