Navigating the Dissertation

Navigating the Dissertation Resources

We want to help you start and most importantly, finish, your dissertation!

Penn Resources

Dissertation Preparation, Submission & Binding

Dissertation Preparation

For full details on preparation requirements for depositing the dissertation, please see the Penn Doctoral Dissertation Manual. The Penn Library also provides a list of dissertation preparation guides.

Submitting your Dissertation

All Penn dissertations are submitted to the Penn Library in paper and if you prefer, electronically.

Dr. Binns, Vice Provost for Education, provides more information on electronic submission.

Visit the Penn Library Scholarly Commons Repository to deposit your dissertation electronically.

Dissertation Binding

The Library binds one copy of each dissertation. While the Library requires heavy-duty binding; you will likely not need that for personal copies, so you might also check with local printing services such as Campus Copy or FedEx Kinko's.

Academic Integrity

Penn has an Academic Code of Integrity which covers cheating, plagarism, misrepresentation, fabrication, etc.

If the Code is unclear to you (the student), it is up to you to verify with your instructor.

Related Penn Resources

Career Services: A brief overview of the extensive programs and services offered for doctoral candidates.

CURF: Provides useful lists of fellowships many of which are open to graduate student applicants.

CWiC: Provides courses and workshops for students to improve speaking abilities.

CAPS: Offers career counseling and dissertation support groups.

GAPSA: Apply for travel conference funding and summer interdisciplinary research funding.

International S.O.S.: Before going abroad for academic work, register using the "Personal Locator" in order to be covered during emergencies free of charge.

Office of Graduate Studies: Includes links to many recourses including the doctoral dissertation manual, graduate programs, rules and policies for graduate students, and funding opportunities.

Office of International Programs: Provides services to international students.

Office of Regulatory Affairs: Helps to assure that all research conducted at Penn honors Penn's standards for the treatment of people and animals.

Office of Student Disabilities Services: Provides comprehensive, professional services and programs for students with disabilities.

Office of the Vice Provost for Research: Provides information on funding opportunities and links to graduate student resources.

Penn Electronic Research Administration (PennERA): PennERA is a full life-cycle system for research project development, support, and management.

Penn Library: A quick search demonstrates the numerous workshops for graduate students including workshops in endnote, PowerPoint, census data, literature review, and legal research. Also see Weigle Information Commons "WIC"shops.

Penn Writing Center: Offers writing help to Penn graduate students.

Weingarten Learning Resources Center: Offers instruction in academic reading, writing, and study strategies.

Weigle Information Commons: Provides "Wicshops" and online tutorials on a variety of technologies including excel, powerpoint, video and web site design and creation. Also see Penn Library workshops.

Online Resources

Bibliomania: Provides free online literature with more than 2000 classic texts.

Pinakes: Provides links to major subject gateways.

Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy

PhinisheD: "A discussion and support group for people who cannot seem to finish their dissertations or theses." Provides links to books, data and reference, entertainment, graduate and postgraduate resources, academic resources, organizations and businesses, research and writing guides and student life.

Chronicle of Higher Education: Up to date news on anything related to higher education.

H-Net (Humanities and Social Sciences Online): Provides discussion networks, scholarly reviews, job postings, and information on upcoming academic conferences.

Academic Info: Includes links to subject gateways, search engines, and test prep resources.

Librarian's Index to the Internet: Provides links to LOADS of information including dictionaries, encyclopedias, job listings, computer support pages, etc.

Elements of Style Online book: the classic reference book for all writers.

Library of Congress Online research center: provides free educational materials including access to the Library of Congress archives.

Council of Graduate Schools: Provides information on funding sources, graduate programs, and graduate organizations.

H-Grad: Part of the Humanities OnLine initiative (H-Net) and is designed to provide graduate students with a safe, graduate student only forum for discussing a wide variety of issues related to graduate school in our chosen humanities-based professions.

Dissertation.Com: For those who are interested in publishing their dissertation.

PhDs.org: Science, math, and engineering career resources.

Graduate Resources on the Web: A resource for current and future grad students for people applying to, attending, or finishing graduate school.

Graduate Student Survival Guide: Provides information regarding: getting the most out of the relationship with your research advisor or boss; getting the most out of what you read; making continual progress on your research; finding a thesis topic or formulating a research plan; characteristics to look for in a good advisor, mentor, boss, or committee member; and avoiding the research blues.

Keogh Lab Resources and Advice: Provides advice, guides, and funding information for graduate students. Many of the links above are mentioned.

Dead Thesis Society: The Dead Thesis Society is a support community of graduate students. Here is a place to vent for those who have stalled or feel frustrated with their theses.

Dissertation Doctor: Provides dissertation coaching; helping you set realistic goals while in pursuit of your PhD.

Books and Research Guides

Wayne C. Booth, Joseph M. Williams, Gregory G. Colomb, The Craft of Research, Third Edition (Chicago Guides to Writing, Editing, and Publishing), (Chicago: U of Chicago Press, 2008)

Joan Bolker, Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day: A Guide to Starting, Revising, and Finishing Your Doctoral Thesis (New York: Holt, 1998) - Google Books

Robert L. Peters, Getting What You Came for: The Smart Student's Guide to Earning a Master's or a Ph.D. (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1997)

Emily Toth, Ms Mentor's New and Ever More Impeccable Advice for Women and Men in Academia (Philadelphia, U Penn Press, 2008)

Sonja Foss and William Waters, Destination Dissertation: A Traveler's Guide to a Done Dissertation (Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, 2007) - Google Books

Carol M. Roberts, The Dissertation Journey: A Practical and Comprehensive Guide to Planning, Writing, and Defending Your Dissertation (Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press, 2004) - Google Books

Kiel Erik Rudestam, Rae R. Newton, Surviving Your Dissertation: A Comprehensive Guide to Content and Process (Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2007) - Google Books

Jane Burka with Lenora M. Yuen, Procrastination: Why You Do It, What to Do About It Now (Cambridge, Mass: Da Capo Lifelong Books, 2008)

Useful Software

Bibliographic & Reference Management Software

The gnome recommends Zotero because it is free, integrates directly into your Firefox browser, and is robust. Read this Insider Higher Ed review.

BiblioScape: Free Download

EndNote: Available for a discount at Penn Computer Connection

ProCite: Manage your references from the Internet to your bibliographies

RefWorks: Integrated with the Penn Library

Scholar's Aid: Free Download

Statistics Software Tutorials

SPSS: Tutorial 1, Tutorial 2, Tutorial 3

R: Tutorial 1, Tutorial 2, Tutorial 3

STATA: Tutorial 1, Tutorial 2, Tutorial 3

SAS: Tutorial 1, Tutorial 2, Tutorial 3

MATLAB: Tutorial 1, Tutorial 2, Tutorial 3

MATHEMATICA: Tutorial 1, Tutorial 2

MAPLE: Tutorial 1, Tutorial 2