Resources for Writing and Preparing the Applied Dissertation

Style Guide
 
Format Review

CURRENT TURNAROUND TIME
FOR FORMAT REVIEW OF DISSERTATION:

7 BUSINESS DAYS
[for initial submissions and revisions]

 
APA Guidelines
 
Plagiarism
  • “Any occurrence of plagiarism on a practicum or an applied dissertation (concept paper, proposal, final report), as determined by the practicum advisor or applied dissertation committee chair, also results in immediate dismissal from the Abraham S. Fischler School of Education without the possibility of re-enrolling at any time” (p. 229)
    --from the Catalog & Student Handbook 2011-2012 of the Abraham S. Fischler School of Education
  • Plagiarism: A Primer—PowerPoint presentation by Mark A. Seldine, EdD, Director of Student Judicial Affairs, Abraham S. Fischler School of Education
  • How to Recognize Plagiarism, a tutorial from the School of Education at Indiana University, Bloomington
  • Avoiding Plagiarism from the Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
 
Abstract Descriptors
  • Thesaurus of ERIC Descriptors
    NOTE: Do not use descriptors found in the thesaurus that contain a year or years in parentheses. These descriptors are no longer valid; the parenthetical notation in the thesaurus indicates the time period when the descriptor was in use.
 
Writing Resources
 
Word Processing Help
 
Finding an Editor or Typist

Students who contract with an editor or typist must provide that person with the Style Guide for the Applied Dissertation. Editors and typists must communicate with the student, not with university personnel. The university does not assume responsibility for a student's contractual agreement with an editor or typist or for the quality of the editor's or typist's work.

The Fischler School cannot recommend a freelance editor, nor does it employ editors. If you require professional editing, speak first with your dissertation committee chair; ask if he or she is able to put you in touch with a former student who had success with an editor. Contact within your network of Fischler School doctoral students may also yield specific recommendations.

Dissertation editors and typists may be found through a variety of other sources, including the Internet, phone directories, and college and university bulletin boards. Please be aware, however, that the skill levels of editors vary widely. If you do find it necessary to hire a nonreferred editor, ask beforehand if he or she has successfully worked on a Fischler School doctoral dissertation. If the answer is "yes," request at least one reference so you can verify the editor’s qualifications with the Fischler School graduate; if the answer is "no," it would be advisable to continue your search.

Once a decision is made, be sure that all aspects of the contractual agreement are clearly spelled out. For example, your edited manuscript may require substantial content changes during the final-review process. In such a case, your manuscript will need to be re-edited. Establish an understanding with your editor in regard to a procedure—and payment, if necessary—for additional work that may be required after the initial editing.

Editors and typists must not make changes that affect the content of your dissertation, nor should they send the manuscript directly to the Applied Research Center or to your committee chair. You are responsible for ensuring that the applied dissertation is correct prior to its submission to the dissertation committee. Therefore, the manuscript should be edited before the committee recommends it for final approval.