Doctoral Dissertation Meltdown? New Book Aims to Ease Writing Process for Education Graduate Students

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July 10, 2009, Denver, CO and Olympia Fields, IL (PressReleasePoint) – Writing a doctoral dissertation in education doesn’t have to be painful--if students have the right kind of example. That’s the message of renowned educator Karen P. Rooks-Dotson, Ed.D., whose new book is giving an ideal model for scores of degree candidates while imparting breakthrough research into special education.

Just released by Outskirts Press, An Educational Applied Dissertation Model: Effectively Identifying Students at Risk Using School-Based Problem-Solving is itself an important dissertation with groundbreaking contributions to teaching. And it gives doctorate of education students all the tools they need to effectively craft their own dissertation. That means exemplary use of abstracts, case studies, research, appendices and effective argumentation.

“So many degree candidates don’t fully understand all the components that go into a dissertation,” states Rooks-Dotson, a retired principal who earned her doctorate in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University. “This book is to be used as a model to help those educators working on their doctoral program approach the dissertation component in a comprehensive manner.”

That can only help a person’s chances of completing an advanced degree. Studies show that while completion rates vary by course of study, overall 57 percent of students who start a doctoral program finish within 10 years, according to the Council of Graduate Schools Ph.D. Completion Project. Learning good dissertation-writing skills can help more students finish in less time by removing uncertainty surrounding the capstone project.

But Rooks-Dotson’s book is more than a handy guide. The product of a major study of a high-performing Chicago neighborhood school, she discovered problems in the identification of special education students--presaging academic troubles later in school. To ensure all students were supported, Rooks-Dotson implemented a revised School-Based Problem-Solving (SBPS) program that emphasized prevention and early intervention to solve problems before they got out of hand. The end result? Increased student learning and increased operational efficiency.

Most important? Results indicated that similar SBPS processes would likely benefit other schools in situations similar to the targeted elementary school and increase student achievement, making the work a must-read for teachers, students and administrators alike.

An Educational Applied Dissertation Model is now available through Ingram, Baker & Taylor, Amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and the online bookstore of Outskirts Press, at outskirtspress.com/store.php.

Book Statistics
ISBN: 978-1-4327-4156-3
Suggested Retail Price:
US$24.95, CAN$31.95
Size and Format: 8.25 x 11 paperback
Page Count: 88
Genre: Educators

About the Author: Karen P. Rooks-Dotson, Ed.D., is a writer who served as a teacher, assistant principal and principal in Chicago’s inner-city schools. She holds a master’s in arts degree in educational supervision as well as a doctorate in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University. She lives in Olympia Fields, IL.

Author Contact: Visit her on the Web at www.outskirtspress.com/ educationaldissertationmodel

About Outskirts Press, Inc.: Outskirts Press, Inc. offers full-service, custom self-publishing services for authors seeking a cost-effective, fast, and flexible way to publish and distribute their books worldwide while retaining all their rights and full creative control. Available for authors globally at www.outskirtspress.com and located on the outskirts of Denver, Colorado, Outskirts Press represents the future of book publishing, today.

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