Writing a Thesis

Your thesis/dissertation is not the end of your study but your first piece of significant academic work. Completing it is both a contribution to new knowledge AND a learning process for you. What you learn about research and writing will outlive the relevance of the content. You can start by breaking the task of producing a thesis/dissertation into manageable chunks. This section addresses many of the challenges you will face along the way. The Thesis Regulations are available from the Graduate Studie Officehere.

Challenge 1 getting started

Find out what you are expected to do by:

Attending department based orientation and technical programs Read course handbooks Read the Graduate Students Office guidelines Books and websites on dissertation writing Look for previous dissertations in the library

Challenge 2 managing your writing

Set up your dissertation files a separate file for each section (See session on Planning thesis production using MS Word)

Cover page see your handbook Formalities see Graduate Studies Office's guidelines References/bibliography Appendices Key words Abstract List of Tables and Figures Ethics statement Statement of original authorship Acknowledgements Table of contents

Chapters (one file each)

Chapter 1. Introduction and overview Chapter 2. Literature review Chapter 3. Research question Chapter 4. Methodology Chapter 5. Results Chapter 6. Discussion Chapter 7. Summary and conclusions

Challenge 3. - Free up headspace

Write down everything you can so that you do not need to keep it in short term memory Do not write sequentially and be prepared to leave gaps Recycle Copy and paste into the appropriate chapter any material you have already written including preliminary reference sections or bibliographies (see sessions on EndNote) Set up a recycle file. Do not delete any paragraph you write. Save it because you may be able to reuse it somewhere else.

Structure each chapter

Tell em what your goin to tell em (8) Tell em (2) Tell em what you told em (6)

- Mark Twain E.g. Chapter 1

Introduction What the thesis is about (write now) What the chapters say (write after they are written) Summary and conclusion and Why the research is important (write anytime you work this out)

Challenge 4. figuring out what your thesis is about

Free up headspace then focus specifically on your research question and write it down Use research seminars, study groups, conferences and peers to get feedback on your idea Make sure it is expressed in terms that your peers can understand Discuss the refined statement with your supervisor and reach agreement as early in the process as possible

Challenge 5. planning and management

Identify the tasks that need to be done to complete each chapter Estimate how long each task will take Use planning tools such as Gantt Charts to establish important sequences Enter start dates, milestones and completion dates in your diary Review and revise regularly Hopelessly inaccurate estimates are much more efficient than no estimates at all

Challenge 6. managing content AND process

Content

Set task targets with your supervisor Make maximum use the library and resources (see library sessions) Get your material reviewed by peers (seminars, conferences) Make contact with people doing similar research (network)

Process

Staying motivated Rewards for progress Graph your word-count (chapters and refs only) Keep a journal of your progress recording how you solved problems and overcame difficulties Manage social support Keep your sense of humour

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