From Research to Thesis - Putting the Jigsaw Together

Self doubt and fear of failure are simply reflections of the complexity of the task, not reflections on the individual confronting the task. The issue for writing is rarely one of the ability to write…..it is the task itself that is hard, complex and frustratingly difficult to coordinate and manage. Cantwell. 2006. Thinking and writing for your thesis. In Denholm & Evans (eds) Doctorates Downunder – keys to successful doctoral study in Australia and New Zealand. Acer Press, Victoria. P 183.

University’s requirements

Examiners’ expectations

Thesis & thesis types

Thesis structures

Main text elements

Resources & support

Putting the jigsaw together

Requirements for UWA Thesis

See UWA Thesis Rules at: http://handbooks.uwa.edu.au/rules?id=56045 http://handbooks.uwa.edu.au/rules?id=34528 41.(1)(a) A thesis may be presented in the form of a typescript, a published book or a paper or series of papers which have been published in refereed journals

Requirements for UWA Thesis

See UWA Thesis Style Guidelines at: http://www.postgraduate.uwa.edu.au/students/thesis/style Title page Abstract Table of contents Acknowledgements Declarations Main text Bibliography/ Reference list Appendices

Examination Criteria

http://www.postgraduate.uwa.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0014/23333/PhD-ERF.pdf

What do examiners like to see?

“The candidate sets out to describe the focus of her research in the very first sentence of the Introduction. This kind of clarity is typical of the entire thesis.” “The thesis is well written and has been put together with care; it has a logical structure, is well illustrated and it is easy for the reader to navigate their way through.” “The clear presentation of hypothesis and aim at the start of each chapter is an attractive feature.” “Getting to the point is a key focus of the PhD training. The candidate has demonstrated this well in the introduction and throughout the thesis.”

Understand the ‘Thesis’

The argument A thesis makes an original contribution to knowledge through research, puts forward a clear and consistent argument, and convinces the reader of its validity through logic, analysis and evidence. The document A thesis is a complete and coherent story in which each chapter is an integral part. Anderson and Poole. Thesis and assignment writing. Brisbane: John Wiley and Sons, 1994.

How does your thesis

Fill a gap in previous research? Answer questions raised by previous research? Build on previous knowledge? Add to the literature in your field? “My thesis argues that ….”

Exploring Creativity in Writing Retreats

Untangling the ‘thesis’ mess will require thinking & writing

Structuring your thesis

What type of thesis are you writing? What is your thesis?

1. What are your main ideas? 2. Prepare a ‘forward’ outline 3. Talk your way through the outline – does it make sense? What gaps

need to be filled? Does it need re-arranging? Do you need to remove any sections?

4. Write 5. Prepare a ‘reverse’ outline 6. Repeat steps 3-5

Main text

Introduction Research General discussion

Introduction

Introduces the area that the thesis addresses Refers to literature to demonstrate that research is needed Outlines the thesis (research questions, aims, hypotheses) and thesis approach (methodology, method) Describes the organisation and structure of the thesis

General discussion

Synthesises the main findings of the thesis – more than a summary

Discusses the findings in the context of previous research

Establishes the significance of the work

Suggestions for future research

Main text

Introduction Research General discussion

Thesis Structures – Many possibilities

Traditional thesis

Thesis as series of papers

Separate literature review chapter

Separate methodology / methods chapter

Multiple small chapters

References at end of each chapter

……

Advice

Talk through your outlines

Difficult concept links/ structures often require more text to ensure the reader understands

Your final structure may not match exactly the order of the work

You may need to leave some work out / delete some text

You don’t need to start writing at the beginning

Be prepared to write many, many drafts

But understand your thesis is a story that cannot fully capture the complexity of your research or the complexity of the system you are working with.

Submission

Register for the GRS Thesis Writing Workshops http://www.postgraduate.uwa.edu.au/students/resources/workshops

Make an appointment with a GEO http://www.postgraduate.uwa.edu.au/students/resources/officers

Thesis Writing Workshops

http://www.postgraduate.uwa.edu.au/students/resources/workshops