Guide to the Successful Thesis and Dissertation

The title is a book by " James E Mauch and Jack W Birch" that I have been reading recently. My goal is to complete this book cover to cover in the next month. It has been designed as a 'A Handbook for Student and Faculty'.

Here is some 'wisdom' from the book that is worth pointing out:

It is a 'Thesis' when it is a Master level degree and a 'Dissertation' for a Doctoral degree.

"The doctoral dissertation is expected to represent independent and original research in the field of the candidate's graduate study. It must add, in some fashion, to understanding either from the critical examination of materials not hitherto dealt with or from the re-examination of traditional materials by means of new techniques or from new points of view. The project undertaken must be of sufficient difficulty and scope to test the candidate's ability to carry on further research (independently) and it must ensure.... mastering the skills needed for such research"

Now, I could not pass up on posting this because this represents in its entirety my 'mission' here at Graduate School and why I am here. Will I live upto this expectation and rigor is a whole another question but I know I am making my effort.