Managing the Dissertation Writing Process

Finding Dissertations

Sample of project management tools

Tool considerations:

  • Cost 
  • Devices -- “apps” vs. Laptop 
  • Collaboration
  • Fewer features vs. lots of features
  • Learning curve
  • Security/privacy 

Tools:

More Options

Student Writing Support from the Center for Writing

Student Writing Support (SWS) offers collaborative one-to-one writing consultations to help student writers develop confidence and effective writing strategies. SWS offers three kinds of consultations:

  1. walk-in consultations in 15 Nicholson Hall
  2. appointments in Zoom
  3. appointments in SWS.online

Our writing consultants will listen to your goals and concerns, read and respond to your written work, pose questions that help you clarify and articulate your ideas, and affirm the experiences and abilities you bring to your writing. We value your life experiences and languages, and we seek to provide a supportive space for you to share and develop your voice.

Sample of online books

Get materials we don't own or from our print collection (Interlibrary Loan & Document Delivery)

Citation managers

Feature Zotero Mendeley (not recommended) EndNote 20 EndNote Online
Cost Free Free Price options Free
Styles Many citation styles Many citation styles Many citation styles Fewer citation styles
Plug-ins Microsoft Word, Google Docs Microsoft Word (not compatible with UMN Office 365) Microsoft Word Microsoft Word
Access Desktop/Web Desktop/Web Desktop/Web Web
Storage 300MB free 2GB free Unlimited 2GB free
PDF reader yes yes yes no
Editor integration Word, Google Docs Word Word Word
Sharing Unlimited Limited Unlimited Limited
Support Zotero support Mendeley support EndNote 20 support EndNote Online support

What is a citation manager?

A citation manager is a software tool used to create personalized databases of citation information and notes. They allow you to:

  • import and organize citation information from article indexes and other sources,
  • export your citations into Word documents or other types of publications,
  • format citations for your papers and bibliographies using APA and many other styles, and
  • include your own notes.

Choosing a citation manager

BrowZine

Browse scholarly journals available from the UMN Libraries on your tablet device, iPhone, or via the web using BrowZine.

  • Read journal articles on your preferred device. 
  • Create personal libraries of your favorite journals. 
  • Set up alerts for new issues of journals.

For a quick overview, see this one-minute video about BrowZine. For more information, see the full BrowZine guide.

Last Updated: Jan 26, 2024 12:44 PM