Using Scrivener for Dissertation Writing

Scrivener is a powerful writing tool that allows for detailed organization, outlining, and drafting of long-form content like dissertations. Here’s how to use Scrivener effectively for your dissertation:

1. Set Up Your Project

Create a New Project: Start by creating a new project in Scrivener. Choose the “Non-Fiction” template, which is ideal for dissertation-style writing.
Structure Your Dissertation: Use Scrivener’s Binder to create a folder for each chapter (e.g., Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, etc.). Within each folder, you can add documents for each subsection of the chapter.

2. Organize Your Research

Research Folder: Use Scrivener’s Research folder to store relevant articles, PDFs, notes, and web clippings. This centralizes all your research materials, making them easy to reference as you write.
Split-Screen: Scrivener allows you to split the screen so you can view your writing and research side-by-side, improving your workflow.

3. Write and Draft

Focus on Sections: Scrivener lets you break your writing into smaller, manageable chunks (e.g., sections of each chapter). This helps you focus on specific sections without feeling overwhelmed by the entire dissertation.
Use the Corkboard: The Corkboard view allows you to create “index cards” for each section or chapter of your dissertation. You can write summaries of what each section will contain, helping you keep track of your progress.

4. Compile and Export

Compile Your Dissertation: Once you’ve completed your writing, use Scrivener’s Compile feature to export your work into a single document. You can select the desired file format (e.g., Word, PDF, LaTeX) and adjust the formatting to meet your dissertation guidelines.
Backup: Scrivener offers automatic backups to ensure you never lose your progress. Regularly back up your work to an external hard drive or cloud storage.

Ideal For: Writers who need a flexible, structured writing environment and want to manage large amounts of content and research effectively.

Microsoft Word Tips for Dissertation Formatting

Microsoft Word is the most commonly used software for dissertation writing, and it has a range of features that can help you format your document according to dissertation guidelines:

1. Using Styles for Consistent Formatting

Heading Styles: Use Word’s built-in Heading 1, Heading 2, and Heading 3 styles for chapter and section titles. This ensures that your table of contents is automatically generated and that your headings are formatted consistently.
Body Text: Set the body text to 12-point Times New Roman and ensure that the line spacing is set to double.
Modify Styles: If the default styles don’t match your dissertation guidelines, modify them to meet your formatting needs. Right-click on a style and choose “Modify” to change font, size, color, and indentation.

2. Automatic Table of Contents

Use the References tab to insert a Table of Contents that updates automatically as you modify headings and page numbers.
After creating the TOC, you can update it at any time by right-clicking on it and selecting Update Field.

3. Citations and References

Use Word’s References tab to insert citations and create a bibliography. This tool integrates with citation management tools like EndNote, Zotero, and Mendeley, allowing you to insert references directly into the text and generate a bibliography in your chosen citation style.

4. Track Changes and Comments

Use Track Changes and Comments features to collaborate with your dissertation advisor or peers. This is especially useful when reviewing drafts and receiving feedback.

5. Page Numbering and Headers

Add page numbers in the Insert tab. You can choose different styles for page numbering (e.g., Roman numerals for the introduction and Arabic numerals for the rest of the dissertation).
Use Section Breaks to create different headers and footers for different parts of the dissertation (e.g., title page, abstract, and chapters).

By using Scrivener for organization, Microsoft Word for writing and formatting, and other tools like EndNote for reference management, you can streamline the dissertation process and produce a well-structured, polished final product. Choose the tools that best align with your writing style, research needs, and formatting requirements.