Producing your

Thesis

Martina Raftery

Outline
Why do a Thesis?
Research & Planning
Writing
Proofing
Referencing
Time management
Stress management

Contemporary Art Archive 2

by Lyndall Jones

The Thesis
Weighting? E.g. 20% of final degree
grade
Draft Dissertation
Due 7th of April 2017
Dissertation Finished Product
Wordcount
Due 5th of May 2017

Why am I doing a Thesis?

Professional
development
Aspect of your
studio practice
Explore own
interests
Add something new
Become an expert
Freedom: A Fable by Kara
Walker

What makes a Good

Thesis?

Interesting and innovative

Demonstrates critical understanding
of research topic
Uses a range of quality sources
Puts forward a clear argument
Is logically structured and ordered
Meets Learning Requirements

Learning Outcomes
See Handbook
Planning
Research
Analysis
Communication

A Thesis
Structure?
Many ways to write
Personal
Chance to explore and express
Must address your research question
Discuss with supervisor
Read others: list of First Class Honours
theses - Handbook

Brainstorm/Active
Research

Plan out your

Thesis

Get sequence of ideas in place

Keep research and writing focused
Identify what is relevant and what isnt
Helps build argument
Evenly distribute word count
Reduce stress

Eating the Thesis Piece

by Piece
10,000 words
2,500 word essays x
4
Plan
Create a timeline
Create goals
Home (2011) by Miler
Lagos

S.M.A.R.T. Goals

Example
Specific Begin Thesis
introduction
Measurable I will write 300
words
Attainable I can manage
300 words
Relevant Working towards
deadline

Write

Workspace consistent, comfortable &

organised
Follow your structure
Refer back to the research question
Each paragraph:
Introduce
Backup with evidence
Summarise

Proof and Edit

What to look for:
Relevant to topic?
Back up points - bring in expert
opinions?
Spelling, Grammar & Punctuation
Correct formatting see handbook
Correct referencing see handbook

NCAD Referencing
System

Why Reference?
Credit your
sources
Demonstrate
readings
Bring in experts
opinions
Avoid plagiarism
accidental or not
Strengthen your

MARK AIRS/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

Trustworthy Source?
Credible source
Academic writing: use of correct
spelling, grammar and proper
terminology
Recently dated
Use websites for your own
understanding and then reference
academic sources such as
books/articles
No Wikipedia

Reliable Evidence and

Sources
NCAD Library
NCAD Online
Journals
NIVAL
Google Scholar

Donald Judd (1987)Complete writings, 1975 - 1986

Eindhoven: Van Abbemuseum.

Things you need to

note:
The authors
name
The year it was
published
The title
Who published it
Where it was
published
The pages you
used

Citations in the Text

Author
Year
Page Number
(Smith, 1990, p. 25)

It takes a great deal

of time and thought
to install work
carefully. This should
not always be
thrown away.
From: Donald Judd
(1987)Complete writings,
1975-1986.Eindhoven:
Van Abbemuseum p. 111

It takes a great deal of time and

thought to install work carefully. This
should not always be thrown
away.Most art is fragile and some
should be placed and never moved
again (Judd, 1987, p. 35).
Judd placed a great importance on
the curation of work, remarking that
this process should take a large
amount of time and thought to be
done correctly (1987, p. 35).

Bibliography
List ALL material, including
interviews
List it alphabetically by
authors name.
Poyner, R. (1998) Design without
Boundaries. London: Booth-Clibborn
Editions
Wells, L. (ed.) (2004) Photography: A Critical
Introduction. 3rd ed. London: Routledge

Bibliography - Books
Author (or editor), (year of
publication in parenthesis), Title in
Italics. Place of publication:
publisher.
Poyner, R. (1998) Design without Boundaries.
London: Booth-Clibborn Editions.

Bibliography Chapters
with Different Authors

Author, year (in parenthesis), title of

chapter or essay then write in
followed by name & initial of
editor/overall author, title in italics.
Place of publication: publisher, page
number(s).
Smith, P. J. (1997) British Art in the 1980s
and 1990s in Murphy, B. (ed), Art from
Britain. Sidney: Museum of Contemporary

Bibliography Web
Resources

Author/ editors name, (year in

parenthesis), Title in Italics. Place
of Publication: Publisher (if
ascertainable). Available from:
URL (Accessed: date)
Holland, M. (2004) Guide to Citing Internet
Sources. Poole: Bournemouth University.
Available at:
http://www.bournemouth.ac.uk.library/usin

Bibliography Journal
Articles
Author, (year of publication),
title of article, title of journal in
italics, volume number (part
number), page numbers of
article.
Dawes, J. and Rowley, J. (1998)
'Enhancing the customer experience:
contributions from information
technology', Management Decision,

Bibliography - Films
Title of film (Year of
Distribution) Director
[Material designation]. Place
of distribution: Distribution
Company.
Macbeth (1948) Directed by
Orson Welles [Film]. USA:
Republic Pictures

Fig. 2 Piet Mondrian Broadway Boogie Woogie(1942-43) Oil on canvas,

The Museum of Modern Art, New York

Other Formats

Theses
Exhibition Catalogues
Newspaper Articles
Television Programmes
Youtube Clips
Interviews
Podcasts

Where to Find the

Guidelines?

Barriers to Writing

Fuchsia Macaree

What is making you strive towards

perfectionism?
Ideals are directions, not absolutes
Focus on your end goal and dont
obsess over the fine detail
Delegate you cannot do
everything

Time Management
To Do Lists Prioritise
Organisation: notes, workspace, emails
Timetabling - Google Calendar App
Timers - Tomato Timer
Limit Distractions - Cold Turkey

Stress Management
Exercise
Social Support
Meditation: Mindfulness
Free Meditation Downloads
The Free Mindfulness Project
UCLA Mindfulness

 Eat healthily
Take regular breaks
Avoid all-nighters
Avoid alcohol or stimulants
Seek professional help if needed

Final Words
Read your handbook!
Start early
Plan
Put your passion and
personality into it
Manage your stress
Ask for help
Enjoy it!

Questions?