How to Write a Better Thesis – Paul Gruba, David G. Evans

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
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
8 Outcomes and Results…………………………………………………………………….. 97
Quantitative or Qualitative Data? ……………………………………………………….. 98
From Data to Results ………………………………………………………………………… 99
What ‘the Data’ Is Comprised of………………………………………………………… 100
Presentation …………………………………………………………………………………….. 101
Analysis ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 103
Reasoning From Data ……………………………………………………………………….. 104
Quantitative or Qualitative, Revisited …………………………………………………. 105
Reflection ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 107
Illustrations ……………………………………………………………………………………… 108
Summary of Chapter 8: Outcomes and Results ……………………………………. 112
9 The Discussion or Interpretation …………………………………………………….. 113
The Task of the Chapter ……………………………………………………………………. 113
Structuring the Discussion ………………………………………………………………… 115
Remembering Your Aim and Scope ……………………………………………………. 116
Writing with Authority ……………………………………………………………………… 117
Summary of Chapter 9: The Discussion or Interpretation ……………………… 118
10 The Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………………. 121
Summary of Chapter 10: The Conclusion ……………………………………………. 123
11 Before You Submit………………………………………………………………………….. 125
From First to Second Draft ……………………………………………………………….. 125
Structural Editing …………………………………………………………………………….. 128
The Main Text …………………………………………………………………………………. 128
Dotting the ‘i’s and Crossing the ‘t’s …………………………………………………… 129
Preliminary Pages ……………………………………………………………………… 129
Title Page …………………………………………………………………………………. 130
Abstract ……………………………………………………………………………………. 130
Table of Contents ………………………………………………………………………. 130
Preface and Acknowledgments ……………………………………………………. 130
Declaration ………………………………………………………………………………. 131
The Main Text ………………………………………………………………………….. 131
Aim and Scope …………………………………………………………………………. 131
Background ………………………………………………………………………………. 131
Design of Your Own Work …………………………………………………………. 132
Results …………………………………………………………………………………….. 132
Discussion ………………………………………………………………………………… 132
Conclusions ……………………………………………………………………………… 133
Format ……………………………………………………………………………………… 133
Figures and Tables …………………………………………………………………….. 133
Any Figure or Table …………………………………………………………………… 133
Graphs (or Charts) …………………………………………………………………….. 134
Tables ………………………………………………………………………………………. 134
Notes and References ………………………………………………………………… 134
Appendices ………………………………………………………………………………. 135
Glossary …………………………………………………………………………………… 136
Summary of Chapter 11: Before You Submit ………………………………………. 136
12 Beyond the Thesis ………………………………………………………………………….. 137
Disseminating Your Research ……………………………………………………………. 138
Kinds of Dissemination …………………………………………………………………….. 139
Dissemination Plans …………………………………………………………………………. 140
Joint Authorship ………………………………………………………………………………. 142
Seminar and Conference Presentations ……………………………………………….. 143
Being a Graduate Student ………………………………………………………………….. 145
Effective Research……………………………………………………………………………. 146
The Arc of a Research Degree …………………………………………………………… 147
Summary of Chapter 12: Beyond the Thesis ……………………………………….. 149
Appendix …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 151
Notes on Further Resources …………………………………………………………………. 157
Index …………………………………………………………………………………………………… 159