writing your thesis or dissertation alysoun taylor-hall november 12, 2014
TRANSCRIPT
Writing Your Thesis or Dissertation
Entering the conversationEstablishing good research habits & toolsConducting your literature searchGetting ready to writeWriting:
Introduction Abstract Body Conclusion
Finishing your thesisGeneral writing tipsUploading & Resources
About Me
BA in English w/Concentration in Professional Writing
Certificate in Technical WritingMBAProgram Coordinator for Ph.D. in Engineering
ProgramTechnical Writer/Editor for CEPRO research
groupAdjunct Instructor for EGR 3350: Technical
Communication for Engineers and Computer Scientists
Entering the Conversation
Research as an ongoing conversationYou are being invited to join the conversationStart by listening to what’s already been saidPractice good manners
Establishing Good Research Habits
Document as you goKeep a research notebook/journalArchive your dataLearn to use available tools
LaTeX:http://www.cs.wright.edu/~jslater/classes/Thesis-Dissertation.html
Be sure to check out Dr. Slater’s “archiving data” link
Thesis and Dissertation Handbook:http://www.wright.edu/graduate-school/graduate-thesis-dissertation-handbook
Conducting Your Literature Search
Conduct your own comprehensive searchStart with current publications, but be sure
to check older resources as wellFollow up on the works cited in relevant
publicationsTalk to other researchers in your fieldContact Phil Flynn, Engineering Librarian,
for assistance with your search:[email protected]
Conducting Your Literature Search
Document your search from the very beginning
Use available tools and resourcesRefWorks:
http://www.libraries.wright.edu/quicklinks/refworks/
Jab Refhttp://jabref.sourceforge.net/
Getting Ready to Write
Audience AnalysisWho will be reading your thesis/dissertation?Types of Audiences
General/lay audience Expert audience Executive audience
What do your readers know about your topic?What do they need to know?
Tip: As a writer, you sound “smart” when your reader can understand your ideas
Writing Your Introduction
Write your introduction firstUse your research notebook/journalLay out your argument for your topicOrganize your thesis to support your
argument
Writing Your Abstract
Generally a 1-page document that summarizes your research
Write for more of an executive audience Keep sentences relatively short and direct Limit explanations of complex concepts Assume that many readers will only read the first
pageFocus on your motivations
Why does this work need to be done? Who will benefit?
Writing Your Abstract
Allow plenty of time for revisionAsk other readers to read your abstract
Ask someone unfamiliar with your topicYour abstract should be as clean, clear, and
concise as you can make itGood practice for writing research proposals
Writing the Body of Your Document
Remember audience analysis What does your “expert” audience already know? What do they need to know?
Remember to cite as you go Graphs, figures, tables Any language that is not your own
Some readers will skip around, so each chapter should stand alone to some extent Point readers to where they need to go within the
document
Writing Your Conclusion
Provides a satisfactory stopping point for the reader
Generally relatively brief No need to restate the entire abstract In a thesis or dissertation, conclusion should
emphasize findings and future work Highlight original contribution
The only other part some readers will read Make sure the conclusion is well edited
Finishing Your Thesis
Allow plenty of time for revision and finishingEdit your document thoroughly
Use spell-check and grammar toolshttp://www.cs.wright.edu/~jslater/classes/Thesis-Dissertation.html
Hire an editor if necessary Follow the Thesis and Dissertation Handbook
http://www.wright.edu/graduate-school/graduate-thesis-dissertation-handbook
Include Acknowledgments Be careful of personal acknowledgments
Request a Format Check
Style Guides
How do you know what format to use for your citations?Style guides provide specific guidelines:Examples: MLA, APA, Chicago/TurabianProvide specific guidance on many style
issues, including citationsMany disciplines have a standard style
Examples: Psychology uses APA; English uses MLAUnfortunately, Engineering does not have a
standard style guide
Engineering Styles
What style should you use?Check the University Libraries website to
find style guides for your discipline:
http://guides.libraries.wright.edu/content.php?pid=59883&sid=0
Check publications in your discipline and follow their format
Ask your professor or advisorAsk the University Librarian
Uploading
Convert your document to a PDFFollow instructions on SoGS website
http://www.wright.edu/graduate-school/graduate-thesis-and-dissertation-handbook-procedures
Binding optionshttp://www.thesisondemand.com/
General Writing Tips
Understand how readers process your writingYour goal is to make the reader’s job as easy
as possibleSave their energy to focus on your ideas, not
your writingEffective writing doesn’t tire the reader
General Writing Tips
Understand how readers process your writing, cont.
Limitations of short-term memoryPresent the information in the most logical
order for ease of processingAllow frequent breaks so readers can process
what they’ve read and move it out of short-term memory Parenthetical information demands more from your
reader
General Writing Tips
Punctuation provides sign posts to guide your reader through your document Punctuation works best when it meets subconscious
reader expectations Written punctuation does not follow spoken “breaks”
in the sentence Learn to punctuate according to American English
norms Good punctuation
Keeps your reader from tiring Allows your reader to focus on your ideas
General Writing Tips
Use active voice:Subject Verb Object
notObject Verb (implied Subject)
I will take out the trashnot
The trash will be taken out
Active voice is far less tiring than passive voice
Examples Using Active Voice
Examples:Passive:
The steak was eaten by the puppy.Active:
The puppy ate the steak!
Passive:In this work, questions were investigated . . .
Active:This work investigates questions . . .
More on Active Voice: http://www.uark.edu/campus-resources/qwrtcntr/resources/handouts/activepassive.htm
General Writing Tips
But . . . vary your writing style occasionallyMaintain reader interestToo many sentences in the same style begin
to sound “sing songy”Invert the order of a few sentencesCombine two sentences
But make sure you do this correctly (not run on)
Help with Writing Skills
EGR 3350/5350: Technical Communications for Engineering and Computer Scientists
University Writing Centerhttp://www.wright.edu/academics/writingctr/
Thesis and Dissertation Preparation Workshop
Held every year in the fallSponsored by the Graduate SchoolContact Lisa Lewandowski:
New Workshop
Get Your Cite Right for EngineersSponsored by the Dunbar LibraryTaught by Phil Flynn and meWalks through the research process from
beginning to end
Resources
Useful web resources for research writing:The School of Graduate Studies Thesis and Dissertation Handbook:
http://www.wright.edu/graduate-school/graduate-thesis-dissertation-handbook
University Libraries:http://www.libraries.wright.edu/
University Writing Center:http://www.wright.edu/uc/success/services/writing-center.html
Resources
Other University-based Writing Websites: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Writing
Center:http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/
Rensellaer Center for Communication Practices:http://www.ccp.rpi.edu/resources/
Purdue Writing Centerhttp://owl.english.purdue.edu/
Non-university-based, but still good: Grammar Girl:
http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl