• Divide and Conquer: organize the dissertation in a way appropriate for the topic. Revise the structure of the thesis until it is logically divided into chapters that are independent of each other but unified by one coherent theme.
• Arouse Reader Interest: write a knock-out first sentence. Keep on to intrigue the reader by presenting questions in the first chapter that will be answered in later chapters of the dissertation. Answer the question "Who cares?" by explaining why your research is important and what its place is within your discipline.
• Create a Factual Tone: regardless of topic, emotional writing is not appropriate for a dissertation.
• Make Transitions Smooth: create a continuous line of thought between chapters and between sections within each chapter. You should use words such as "although", "however", and "in contrast" to bridge paragraphs and chapters. Use steady style, tense, and tone throughout the thesis.
• Format and Spell Correctly: format your thesis properly and use the correct spelling of all names in your first draft. Then get down on your hands and knees and thank yourself when your thesis is due. Check if an electronic template of the approved thesis format for your department is available.
• Teach at Your Defense: despite the name, a defense isn't confrontational. Give a lecture in which you may teach people in your field about your research and the conclusions you have reached. The final is oral exam. It’s generally an exchange of ideas between scholars and not an exam at all.
• Practice Your Presentation: give several "mock" defenses to friends or family and solicit questions. If family and friends are unavailable, try giving the defense in an empty seminar room. This rehearsal can make or break a presentation, and there is no substitute for it.
• When It Rains, Work in the Barn: when the trials and tribulations of graduate school get you down, remember that perseverance is probably the most important characteristic of successful students. By keeping moving toward the Doctor of Philosophy degree finish line, you will eventually get there. Read over your 5-year plan and do some part of it that you can get done that day. Search for references, do some calculations, or read a few articles. As grad student advisor put it, "Graduate students are like farmers; they always have work to do.
• Crossing the Finish Line. When you have finished all this, you can write Doctor of Philosophy degree after your name for the rest of your life. You’ll be element of the educational elite, and you can expect your relatives to congratulate you with the phrase, "Now what are you going to do with it?"
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