Suggestions
- Narrow down your topic area ~Some programs include this as part of the process to earn a degree. If so, you may have done this already at the topic proposal stage. However, if not, it is a helpful step. Zero in on a subcategory of your field, a particular zone of study, or a driving concern for your work. Make it narrow enough that you can limit your research, well known enough that it is significant to the field and worthy of work. In the humanities, it is often wise to choose one particular figure. For example, linguistics is too broad. Paul Ricoeur's depth semantics is better.
- Press yourself for conceptual clarity on your thesis ~
The most difficult part of writing a dissertation proposal is clarity in the thesis presented. If you are not yet able to communicate what you want to write about to people who are not in your field without getting glazed eyes, it still needs work. Have conversations with your advisor, fellow PhD candidates, and friends about it. Try writing out ten different versions of a thesis sentence. Only when this is clear will the rest come together. - Find your program's dissertation proposal guidelines ~
Most schools have a structured set of guidelines they want you to follow. Often this will structure your proposal for you once you have your thesis clearly stated. If not, schedule time with your advisor to sketch an outline of what should be included in a proposal to make it pass. Just like any time you have tried to earn a degree, the people with the power determine the form of the assignment. - Put words on a page as soon as possible ~
Do not delay starting your dissertation proposal. Nothing could be deadlier for creativity. There is an amazing magic that occurs when a sentence or two, no matter how wooden, are strung together on a page. They start to have a life of their own, calling out another question that needs answered, leading to another footnote and a parenthetical remark. Just start writing. You can edit, delete, and refine later.Focus, focus, focus your thought - The constant temptation will be to make the dissertation too sweeping, too large, too all-encompassing, so that it feels 'complete.' Consider your dissertation the start of a life long project. It is the first step in an entire body of possible work. So, instead, focus your proposal with the greatest discipline on one feature of your key idea so that it will be manageable. Your goal is to earn a degree and get a job, not re-write your field. Save that for book two.
Tips
- Often in dissertation proposals the idea can be presented clearly and in a focused way in the running text. You can highlight the more subtle points and show your full grasp of the material and issues in the footnotes.
- The key to avoiding proposal procrastination is to write something every day.
- Start your dissertation research while you are waiting for response for your advisor. What you research may give you exactly what you need to fix any concerns.
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