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Resources for Writing and Preparing the Applied Dissertation

The NSU librarians are here to assist you! They can show you how to:

  • locate current literature for your literature review
  • find tests and measurements for data collection
  • use citation resources to assist you with learning APA style
  • use Endnote
  • and more... 

Assistance in Spanish is also available.

Meet in-person or online with a librarian: 

Schedule a research appointment

We are excited to announce that appointments are now available at our Writing and Communications Center! You can make an appointment with a professional writing consultant online or in person! Simply visit https://nova.mywconline.com to schedule one of the following available appointments (be sure to select one of the following schedule types):

  • Grad/Professional - Alvin Sherman Library - in person - These 45-minute consultations are offered to graduate/professional students in the Alvin Sherman Library, 4th Floor, Rm. 430. 
  • Martin and Gail Press Health Professions Division Library - in person - These 45-minute consultations are offered to students in room 3148 of the HPD Library.
  • Grad/Professional - online - Graduate/professional students from online or onsite courses may make online appointments. These sessions take place using GotoMeeting. 

Please select one of the professional consultants (Richard, Lori, Gary, Jane, or Jose) when making your appointment; if you are unable to make an appointment, please let me know ASAP! Repeat appointments are encouraged! For additional information about our Writing and Communications Center and what we have to offer please visit our website: http://www.nova.edu/wcc/

Jennifer Reeves, PhD
Director of Dissertation Support Services
Associate Professor
Abraham S. Fischler College of Education
Nova Southeastern University
850-727-8994

jennreev@nova.edu

CURRENT TURNAROUND TIME
FOR FORMAT REVIEW OF DISSERTATION:

15 BUSINESS DAYS
FOLLOWING COMMITTEE APPROVAL
[FOR INITIAL SUBMISSIONS AND REVISIONS]

  • APA Style Web site
  • APA Style Guide to Electronic References — This 2012 guide is a supplement to the sixth edition of the APA manual. It is available, at no cost to NSU students, through the NSU library.
  • APA Style Blog, an ongoing series of contributions from APA editorial staff for clarification of style guidelines.
  • Mastering APA Style: Student's Workbook and Training Guide
  • Guide to APA Style — This guide from NSU's Alvin Sherman Library contains sections on Quick Examples, Formatting, Citing in Text, How Do I Cite . . ., I Can't Find It, and Video Tutorials.
  • CrossRef DOI lookup — APA, in its Publication Manual, requires a digital object identifier (DOI) in reference-list entries for articles that have been assigned a DOI and have been found online. Additionally, APA recommends that DOIs be included in entries for articles found in print form.
  • Creating an APA-Style Table — This video, though imprecise for some details of style (see user comments), provides useful directions for formatting a table in Microsoft Word 2007 according to APA guidelines.
  • Creating an APA-Style Figure — This video offers directions in creating a bar graph in Excel 2007 according to APA guidelines.

Students who contract with an editor or typist must provide that person with the Format 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 College 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 College 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 College doctoral dissertation. If the answer is "yes," request at least one reference so you can verify the editor’s qualifications with the Fischler College 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. 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.

Hiring an editor to prepare your manuscript does not preclude the usefulness of learning as much as possible about APA style and College of Education format requirements. Having a familiarity with style and format guidelines will help you to determine early in the process whether your editor is fulfilling his or her contractual obligations.

A professionally edited dissertation gives you an opportunity to learn proper style by comparing—line by line—your final manuscript to your pre-edited manuscript. The knowledge that you gain from this exercise will be a benefit to you throughout your professional career.

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