Phd Tips: An Overview of the Dissertation Process – Part 2

Introduction

As I mentioned in my last post, An Overview of the Dissertation Process – Part 1, I recently ran across a preliminary road map for writing theological research in Lucretia Yaghjian’s book, Writing Theology Well: A Rhetoric for Theological and Biblical Writers. (See pp. 86-110).

I found her comments on the subject very enlightening and, for the purposes of this post, she seemed to provide an excellent high level overview of the entire dissertation writing project, though she calls it “theological research.”

My last post dealt with steps 1 – 5, this one will cover steps 6-10.  I will use her nomenclature below.

A High Level Overview of the Dissertation Process

6. Writing theological research proceeds by hypothesis, assertion and argument

A doctoral dissertation is the systematic and tightly argued answer to a hypothesis or assertion you are making. (Indeed, whether you make the Phd grade may depend heavily on the strength of your argument.)

For example: The farewell speech in the New Testament indicates 1) the passing away of the apostles, 2) the introduction of heresy into the church and 3) the necessity of introducing ordained ministers to protect apostolic doctrine (so says Munck).  

This assertion (though not a real doctoral dissertation topic) would nevertheless examine all NT farewell speeches (which would involve defining a farewell speech and looking at OT antecedents) and then draw out the above conclusions in conversation with other scholars who have covered this or similar topics.

7. Writing theological research requires reading and reviewing the literature

This is the nuts and bolts of the theoretical statement we made in step 3 in my first post about the need to dialogue with past and present scholars in your dissertation.

This is not the time or place to discuss a literature review (you can check the PhD Resources for a few books that cover that topic.)  However, within your dissertation, you must be able to demonstrate that you have a firm grasp of your discipline or area of research (including any important ancillary topics).

This implies that you are fully aware of the scholars who have made the most significant contributions in your research area.  In addition, it implies that as a result of your doctoral project you are now becoming an ongoing participant in the conversation with a contribution to make within the niche.

Only a comprehensive literature review will reveal this for you and your unique positioning within that research niche will demonstrate your ability to review and assimilate others’ ideas and contend with countering / similar arguments to your own.

8. Writing theological research requires writing, rewriting and revision

This is perhaps one of the most important concepts I learned early on in my dissertation project.

You simply must be patient with yourself in the craft of writing a doctoral thesis.  The best writing is rewriting, which is sometimes why some sloppy writing is better than waiting around for that perfect word or inspiration.

As researchers, we waste so much time on the periphery of writing (tracking down obscure sources, words, fonts) or get easily distracted (with e-mails, surfing the net, or crafting the perfect footnote) that we never get down to simply writing out one idea after another for later review.  (See my post How to Focus When You Write for help with these symptoms)

Writing involves thinking, reflection, synthesis, analysis, argumentation all the necessary skills that must be developed in order to hit PhD gold, but all requiring several iterations to get just right.  So just write!  and then revise your writing.

9. Writing theological research demands documentation

Space does not permit me to discuss note taking software, the best approaches to taking or organizing your notes, etc.  (You can check out some of my other posts Note Taking Software for Writing a PhD and Be Consistent When You Write which cover part of this material).

For now, it is imperative that you think about how you will structure your notes so that you 1) summarize others’ opinions in a way that fairly represents their views and 2) provides you with the foundation for your footnote structure.

Plagiarism is a major problem in academics today (and as much as I hate to say it, it is an even bigger issue in the majority world where I teach.  Many university students are not even aware of what constitutes plagiarism.)

In any case, proper documentation of your sources (and not just being able to put together a footnote, we’re talking giving proper credit) is a must for any good research.

10. Writing theological research presumes some kind of publication

Yaghjian does not elaborate much on this subject.

What I can tell you is that the publishing of your dissertation or the subsequent splitting off of dissertation chapters into articles suggests that you are now joining the academic discussion in a more substantive way.

Publishing requires a review of your work and perhaps an upgrade in some aspects to bring it up to publishing standards.  This is a good thing and will serve you in the long run as you develop your own voice and expertise.

Perhaps one day, another doctoral student will include you in their footnotes or bibliography or consider you a major scholar in their field of inquiry.

Happy investigating!

P.S. Check out a complete review of Yaghjian‘s Writing Theology Well: A Rhetoric for Theological and Biblical Writers.

 

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