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- | <html> | + | ===== Writing Your Doctoral Thesis ===== |
- | <p><h1>Writing Your Doctoral Thesis</h1> | + | |
Note: What appears below, with permission, is a slightly edited version of unofficial advice from MGSA, | Note: What appears below, with permission, is a slightly edited version of unofficial advice from MGSA, | ||
the UC Berkeley Mathematics Graduate Student Associate, with Berkeley specific | the UC Berkeley Mathematics Graduate Student Associate, with Berkeley specific | ||
information removed. Information specific to filing a doctoral thesis at UC Davis can | information removed. Information specific to filing a doctoral thesis at UC Davis can | ||
- | be found via the <a href="http://gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/students/filing.html">Office | + | be found via the [[https://grad.ucdavis.edu/resources/graduate-student-resources/academic-information-and-services/filing-thesis-or-dissertation|Grad Studies website]]. |
- | of Graduate Studies Website</a>.</p> | + | |
- | <p><h1>LaTeX Dissertation Template</h1> | + | ==== LaTeX Dissertation Template ==== |
- | There are several websites dedicated to <a href="http://theoval.cmp.uea.ac.uk/~nlct/latex/thesis/">Using LaTeX to Write a PhD Thesis</a>. But since you're in the UC Davis math department, your best bet is to use a template that was specifically created for UC Davis math students. Here is a very nice template created by Tyrell McAllister (with minor changes in order to conform to the format that the Office of Graduate Studies requires):</p> | + | |
- | <p><table cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 border=1> | + | There are several websites dedicated to [[http://theoval.cmp.uea.ac.uk/~nlct/latex/thesis/|Using LaTeX to Write a PhD Thesis]]. But since you're in the UC Davis math department, your best bet is to use a template that was specifically created for UC Davis math students. Here is a {{ :dissertation_template_2019.zip |very nice template}} created by Tyrell McAllister, updated in 2015 by Jeff Irion with minor changes in order to conform to the format that the Office of Graduate Studies requires, and again in 2019 by John Challenor to remove the headers and the previous degree line from the title page. |
- | <tr> | + | |
- | <td><a href="http://galois.math.ucdavis.edu/lib/exe/fetch.php?media=dissertation_template_2015.zip">dissertation_template_2015.zip</a></td> | + | Once you pass your Qual, download the dissertation template! Fill in some basic info (name, major, committee members' names, etc.), and add to your dissertation while you work on your research. After all, it's easier to write and cite as you go than to do it months/years later when that stuff isn't fresh in your mind. |
- | <td>Tyrell McAllister's UCD Math dissertation template</a></td> | + | |
- | </tr> | + | Another template that complies with UCD's requirements was created by [[http://node99.org/|Sean Whalen]] and can be found on [[https://github.com/chebee7i/thesis-template|GitHub]] |
- | </table></p> | + | |
- | <p><b><i>Once you pass your Qual, download the dissertation template!</i></b> Fill in some basic info (name, major, committee members' names, etc.), and add to your dissertation while you work on your research. After all, it's easier to write and cite as you go than to do it months/years later when that stuff isn't fresh in your mind.</p> | + | ==== Writing a Master's or Ph.D. Thesis ==== |
- | <p><h1>Writing and Submitting a Master's or Ph.D. Thesis</h1> | + | |
- | (Thanks to Megumi Harada)</p> | + | //(Thanks to Megumi Harada)// |
- | <p><p> | + | Steps to your goal: |
- | <B> Steps to your goal: </B> <br></p> | + | * **Start early**. Jot down notes when you talk to your advisor. Keep them somewhere that you'll be able to find them again. Often, you find that little notes you write can serve as a "seed" to start the writing process. |
- | <p><ul> | + | * **Write a little each day.** Obvious, and yet few people follow this advice. Even just one hour a day, divided into four 15-minute sessions, goes a long way if you keep at it for a month. |
- | <li> <b> Start early. </b> Jot down notes when you talk to your | + | * Get your advisor to look at small parts of drafts and chapters early on. |
- | advisor. Keep them somewhere that you'll be able to find them | + | |
- | again. Often, you find that little notes you write can serve | + | ==== How To Graduate: The Paperwork ==== |
- | as a "seed" to start the writing process. </p> | + | |
- | <p><li> <b> Write a little each day. </b> Obvious, and yet few people follow this advice. | + | This is an **unofficial guide**. Please see [[https://grad.ucdavis.edu/resources/graduate-student-resources/academic-information-and-services/filing-thesis-or-dissertation|Preparing & Filing Your Thesis or Dissertation]] for the official set of instructions. |
- | Even just one hour a day, divided into four 15-minute sessions, goes a long way if you | + | * Take note of the [[https://grad.ucdavis.edu/sites/default/files/upload/files/current-students/academic-calendar.pdf|filing deadlines]]. They recommend completing your dissertation in time to give it to your committee for review at the beginning of the quarter in which you intend to graduate. In most cases, your committee probably won't need that much time, but you should check in with your committee members well in advance to make sure they'll be around when you need them. |
- | keep at it for a month. </p> | + | * Once your committee signs your dissertation's title page, you can file your dissertation electronically (see the Grad Studies website linked above for the specific instructions). The Grad Studies office will review it to make sure that it is formatted correctly and let you know if any corrections need to be made to the formatting. They will then inform you when your dissertation has been approved, after which time no further changes are allowed. |
- | <p></p> | + | * The final step is to make an appointment with the [[https://grad.ucdavis.edu/about-us/contact-us/graduate-senior-academic-advisors|Senior Academic Advisor]] for Mathematics and Applied Mathematics (as of Spring 2019, this is [[mailto:bwolf@ucdavis.edu|Brad Wolf]]). This appointment can't take place until **at least two business days** after you file your dissertation online. The purpose of this appointment is to file the remaining paperwork and receive an official letter confirming your degree. |
- | <p><li> <b> Learn Latex early. </b> Here are some basic references to get | + | |
- | you started. | + | As of Spring 2019, the documents you will need to bring are as follows (see the official checklist [[https://grad.ucdavis.edu/sites/default/files/upload/users/gs303_doctoraldegreecompletionlist.pdf|here]]). |
- | <ul> | + | * Your title page with the signatures of your committee members. |
- | <li> The Not-So-Short Introduction to LaTeX, by Tobias | + | * One copy of your abstract. |
- | Oetiker, et al. | + | * The dissertation embargo agreement (this requires your advisor's signature even if you aren't planning on an embargo on your dissertation). |
- | <li> For diagrams, use xy-pic. | + | * Two online surveys: The Survey of Earned Doctorates and the Graduate Studies Exit Survey. Each will give you a completion code which you will need to provide. |
- | </ul> </p> | + | * The Graduate Program Exit Information form. As of Spring 2019, this requires a signature from either Sarah or Tina. |
- | <p></p> | + | The three documents with signatures obviously must be physical copies. The other item can be emailed to the Academic Advisor when you set up your appointment. |
- | <p><br> | + | |
- | <b> NOTES/WARNINGS: </b> | + | |
- | <ul> | + | |
- | <li> While you're working on a draft, use the "draft" option | + | |
- | to avoid double-spacing (it'll save you printing time). Take | + | |
- | it out at the end for your final draft. <li> To get the | + | |
- | margins exactly right, you might have to tamper with the | + | |
- | header settings. </ul> <br> <li> Get your advisor to look | + | |
- | at small parts of drafts and chapters early on. <li> Get | + | |
- | Graduate Division's outline of formatting, pagination, | + | |
- | thesis paper brand requirements, and other sundry | + | |
- | annoyances. <p> <li> <b> What to do before you run over to the | + | |
- | Grad Degrees office: </b> | + | |
- | <ul> | + | |
- | <li> Re-read the Grad Degree | + | |
- | Office's requirements handout. <li> Call the Office to | + | |
- | double-check with them your records fit theirs. Your name | + | |
- | has to match theirs (e.g. if you got married and changed | + | |
- | your name), the exact degree you hold from your | + | |
- | undergraduate institution has to match exactly what they | + | |
- | have (e.g. is it a "B.Sc." or "A.B." or "B.A."?), and your | + | |
- | dissertation committee, with a Chair specified, has to match | + | |
- | their most recent records (if you switched advisors or | + | |
- | changed your outside member, you should double check). <p> <li> | + | |
- | You have to fill out quite a few long forms that the Grad | + | |
- | Deg Office before you hand in your thesis. To minimize your | + | |
- | suffering in dealing with the utter chaos of the Grad | + | |
- | Degrees Office close to filing deadlines, get these forms | + | |
- | and fill them out well ahead of time. </p> | + | |
- | <p> <li> <b> Make 4-5 extra copies of your title page and | + | |
- | abstract. </b> Take these with you when you file. </p> | + | |
- | <p> <li> <b> Bring something into which to put your library-copy | + | |
- | thesis plus the extra copy. </b> The boxes that your | + | |
- | expensive thesis paper come in will do -- bring two of | + | |
- | them, one for each copy. </p> | + | |
- | <p> <li> If you elect to add a copyright page, it should be the page immediately after the cover/title/signature page, and it should NOT have a page number. (In other words, the title page is page "i", and the page after the copyright page is page "ii".)</p> | + | |
- | <p> </ul></p> | + | |
- | </p> | + | |
- | </p> | + | |
- | <p></ul></p> | + | |
- | <h1>How To Graduate: The Paperwork</h1> | + | |
- | <p>This is an <b>unofficial</b> guide. Please see <a href="https://gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/current-students/academic-services-information/filing-thesis-or-dissertation">Preparing & Filing Your Thesis or Dissertation</a> for the official set of instructions.</p> | + | |
- | <p>In order to graduate, you need to meet with the Student Affairs Officer in Graduate Studies for the <a href="https://gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/programs/gmat">Mathematics</a> / <a href="https://gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/programs/gapm">Applied Mathematics</a> Department (click on the "People" tab). <b><i>Email this person several weeks in advance</i></b> to make an appointment and get a list of what you need to take care of. See the filing dates calendar on the <a href="https://gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/current-students/academic-services-information/filing-thesis-or-dissertation">Preparing & Filing Your Thesis or Dissertation</a> page to find out the date by which you need to meet with the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS).</p> | + | |
- | <p>You need to submit your dissertation electronically <b><i>at least 2 business days</i></b> before your meeting with OGS so that they can approve it. They're not going to read it, they're just going to make sure it conforms to the formatting specifications. See the <a href="https://gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/current-students/academic-services-information/filing-thesis-or-dissertation">Preparing & Filing Your Thesis or Dissertation</a> page for more info on submitting your dissertation electronically. If some formatting changes are required, the Student Affairs Officer will email you and you'll resubmit it after making the necessary changes. Once your dissertation is approved, it can no longer be changed.</p> | + | |
- | <p>Things you'll need when you meet with OGS (see the <a href="https://gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/current-students/academic-services-information/degree-candidates">Degree Candidates</a> page for more details):</p> | + | |
- | <ul> | + | |
- | <p><li>signed title page (<b>physical copy</b>)</li></p> | + | |
- | <p><li>proof of completed surveys (as of February 2016, you'll need to complete the Confidential Questionnaire for Exiting Doctoral Students and Survey of Earned Doctorate)</li></p> | + | |
- | <p><li>dissertation embargo agreement -- <i>your adviser needs to sign it even if you aren't petitioning for an embargo on your dissertation</i> (<b>physical copy</b>)</li></p> | + | |
- | <p><li>your specially formatted abstract (see the <a href="https://gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/current-students/academic-services-information/filing-thesis-or-dissertation">Preparing & Filing Your Thesis or Dissertation</a> page for more info)</li></p> | + | |
- | <p><li>Graduate Program Exit form</li></p> | + | |
- | </ul> | + | |
- | </html> | + |