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How PhD Matters for Creative Writing PhD

A PhD in Creative Writing can prove to be very useful, even necessary, for those hoping to enter the field. There is so much more to a PhD in literary studies than just writing essays and attending classes; the academic calendar is rather busy and demands a lot of the students’ time. A typical PhD dissertation might include the following elements:

Literary Theory

As the name suggests, a Ph.D. in Creative Writing is concerned with the theory and practices of writing. Whether you are planning on entering the field as a professional or as a part-time lecturer, you will have to prove your theoretical knowledge in this area. This element, therefore, tends to occupy a rather prominent place in the dissertation.

Dissertation Proposal

This is the proposal for your PhD dissertation. Its aim is to interest a potential supervisor in taking it on, or at least to give you a better chance of being considered for a postgraduate place. It is therefore a rather long document, usually including a summary of the entire dissertation, the abstract, the introduction, the discussion of the main problems and controversies, and the conclusion. You should discuss the proposed topic in some detail and should provide evidence of your prior research or education in the field.

Dissertation Abstract

This is the short version of the dissertation, usually comprising of about 200-300 words. It is often used as the only formal component of a dissertation when submitted for examination. It is usually a fairly brief summary of the whole work, focusing on its major themes and conclusions. A really interesting or unique thesis will often include a short study of a particular author, artist, or body of work.

Dissertation Bibliography

This is the bibliography of sources used in the dissertation. It is usually a fairly long list of publications in books, journals, and online sources, such as websites and blogs. These are usually the works referenced in the text of the dissertation, although some dissertations may also contain an extensive list of primary sources used in the compilation of the work.

Dissertation Chapter

This is the chapter of the dissertation where you put your conclusions about the subject. Generally, the last chapter is reserved for this purpose. It is usually a summary of the entire work, including the Acknowledgements section, the Appendix, and the References.

As a PhD candidate in Creative Writing, you will have to show that you can conduct independent research and can think for yourself as a scholar. A particularly useful exercise for this kind of PhD would be to take an area of study that you are not familiar with and must research thoroughly, before being able to present your findings. This will not only give you a better understanding of the subject, it will also help you develop your own analysis and reasoning skills.

A PhD degree in Creative Writing can prove to be very useful, even necessary, for those hoping to enter the field. There is so much more to a PhD in literary studies than just writing essays and attending classes; the academic calendar is rather busy and demands a lot of the students’ time. A typical PhD dissertation might include the following elements:

  • Literary Theory
  • Dissertation Proposal
  • Dissertation Abstract
  • Dissertation Bibliography
  • Dissertation Chapter
  • References