How-to-Write-a-Better-Thesis

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Contents 1 What Is a Thesis? ......................................................................................... 1 Criteria for Examination ................................................................................ 1 Attributes of a Successful Thesis............................................................ 1 Guidelines for Examiners ....................................................................... 2 Types of Thesis ............................................................................................... 3 Look at Other Theses ..................................................................................... 4 Examiners’ Reports ........................................................................................ 5 Summary of Chapter 1: What Is a Thesis? ..................................................... 6 2 Thesis Structure ........................................................................................... 9 Why We Have Trouble with New Tasks ........................................................ 9 Structuring Your Thesis .................................................................................. 10 The ‘Standard’ Thesis Structure ..................................................................... 11 Narrative ......................................................................................................... 14 Non-standard Thesis Structures ..................................................................... 15 Summary of Chapter 2: Thesis Structure ....................................................... 15 3 Mechanics of Writing ................................................................................... 17 Writing at a Computer .................................................................................... 17 Presentation .................................................................................................... 18 Writing Tools .................................................................................................. 19 References ...................................................................................................... 20 Tables and Figures .......................................................................................... 21 Tracking Changes ........................................................................................... 23 Document and Version Management ............................................................. 23 Writing Style .................................................................................................. 25 Thesiese .......................................................................................................... 26 Use of the Passive Voice ................................................................................ 27 Use of the First Person ................................................................................... 28 Verb Tenses .................................................................................................... 29 Punctuation ..................................................................................................... 30 Appendices ..................................................................................................... 33 xi
xii Contents Plagiarism and Research Integrity ................................................................. 34 Summary of Chapter 3: Mechanics of Writing .............................................. 36 4 Making a Strong Start ................................................................................. 39 Creating a Structure ........................................................................................ 40 Initial Efforts .................................................................................................. 42 Writing up at the End ..................................................................................... 44 Starting, and Starting Again ........................................................................... 45 The Creative Process ...................................................................................... 46 Writing an Individual Chapter ........................................................................ 48 Literature ........................................................................................................ 51 Styles of Working ........................................................................................... 53 Working with Your Supervisor ....................................................................... 55 Summary of Chapter 4: Making a Strong Start .............................................. 58 5 The Introductory Chapter ........................................................................... 61 Establishing a Context .................................................................................... 61 Stating the Problem, Motivating the Study .................................................... 62 Aim and Scope of the Study ........................................................................... 64 Significance of the Study ............................................................................... 66 Overview of the Study ................................................................................... 67 Research Questions and Hypotheses .............................................................. 68 Revising the Aim, Aligning the Conclusion ................................................... 70 Summary of Chapter 5: The Introductory Chapter ........................................ 71 6 Background Chapters .................................................................................. 73 Developing Critical Thinking......................................................................... 74 Establishing Context ...................................................................................... 76 The 95 % Syndrome ....................................................................................... 76 Understanding Current Theory, Discoveries, and Debates ............................ 77 Understanding Current Practices and Technologies ....................................... 78 Preliminary Investigations ............................................................................. 79 Revising.......................................................................................................... 79 Summary of Chapter 6: Background Chapters .............................................. 81 7 Establishing Your Contribution .................................................................. 83 Kinds of Contribution .................................................................................... 84 Observation or Innovation? ............................................................................ 85 Study or Case Study? ..................................................................................... 85 Method ........................................................................................................... 88 ‘Research Methods’ ........................................................................................ 90 Argument ........................................................................................................ 92 Organization ................................................................................................... 93 Summary of Chapter 7: Establishing Your Contribution ............................... 94
Page 2 and 3: How to Write a Better Thesis
Page 4 and 5: David Evans † University of Melbo
Page 6 and 7: Preface to the Third Edition When I
Page 8 and 9: Introduction Thesis writing can be
Page 12 and 13: Contents xiii 8 Outcomes and Result
Page 14 and 15: Chapter 1 What Is a Thesis? Simply
Page 16 and 17: Types of Thesis 3 These questions
Page 18 and 19: Examiners’ Reports 5 layout. See
Page 20 and 21: Summary of Chapter 1: What Is a The
Page 22 and 23: 10 2 Thesis Structure Research is u
Page 24 and 25: 12 2 Thesis Structure Some of these
Page 26 and 27: 14 2 Thesis Structure are ‘finish
Page 28 and 29: 16 2 Thesis Structure 2. Background
Page 30 and 31: 18 3 Mechanics of Writing that even
Page 32 and 33: 20 3 Mechanics of Writing have oddi
Page 34 and 35: 22 3 Mechanics of Writing I recomme
Page 36 and 37: 24 3 Mechanics of Writing • Frequ
Page 38 and 39: 26 3 Mechanics of Writing There is
Page 40 and 41: 28 3 Mechanics of Writing The agric
Page 42 and 43: 30 3 Mechanics of Writing wrong. Th
Page 44 and 45: 32 3 Mechanics of Writing • Long
Page 46 and 47: 34 3 Mechanics of Writing might giv
Page 48 and 49: 36 3 Mechanics of Writing thesis. Y
Page 50 and 51: Chapter 4 Making a Strong Start In
Page 52 and 53: Creating a Structure 41 are trying
Page 54 and 55: Initial Efforts 43 of it in detail
Page 56 and 57: Starting, and Starting Again 45 ad
Page 58 and 59: The Creative Process 47 you must a
Page 60 and 61:
Writing an Individual Chapter 49 H
Page 62 and 63:
Literature 51 From ‘Chapter Five
Page 64 and 65:
Styles of Working 53 And don’t f
Page 66 and 67:
Working with Your Supervisor 55 Th
Page 68 and 69:
Working with Your Supervisor 57 pa
Page 70 and 71:
Summary of Chapter 4: Making a Stro
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62 5 The Introductory Chapter at th
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64 5 The Introductory Chapter curre
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66 5 The Introductory Chapter From
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68 5 The Introductory Chapter resea
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70 5 The Introductory Chapter the f
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72 5 The Introductory Chapter 3. Ai
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74 6 Background Chapters Developing
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76 6 Background Chapters Establishi
Page 88 and 89:
78 6 Background Chapters Throughout
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80 6 Background Chapters • You un
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82 6 Background Chapters • In som
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84 7 Establishing Your Contribution
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Page 100 and 101:
Page 102 and 103:
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Chapter 8 Outcomes and Results In a
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From Data to Results 99 Jackie’s
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Presentation 101 Presentation In t
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Analysis 103 haste, and overconfid
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Quantitative or Qualitative, Revisi
Page 116 and 117:
Reflection 107 in his thesis, wher
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Illustrations 109 interpreted, and
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Illustrations 111 they can read an
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Chapter 9 The Discussion or Interpr
Page 124 and 125:
Structuring the Discussion 115 can
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Writing with Authority 117 criteri
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Summary of Chapter 9: The Discussio
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122 10 The Conclusion One way that
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Chapter 11 Before You Submit You ha
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From First to Second Draft 127 abo
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Dotting the ‘i’s and Crossing t
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Chapter 12 Beyond the Thesis Studen
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Kinds of Dissemination 139 Feedbac
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Dissemination Plans 141 • Primar
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Seminar and Conference Presentation
Page 152 and 153:
Being a Graduate Student 145 more
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The Arc of a Research Degree 147 t
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Summary of Chapter 12: Beyond the T
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Appendix Afterword The creation of
Page 160 and 161:
Appendix 153 Appendix: Analysis of
Page 162 and 163:
Appendix 155 • The text is unnece
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158 Notes on Further Resources Phil
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160 Index Books, writing, 25 Bracke
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162 Index H Harvard reference syste
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164 Index Proper names, 20 Punctuat
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166 Index discussion of results, 12
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