How to Write a Better Thesis

Contents

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

xii Contents

Plagiarism and Research Integrity ................................................................. 34

Summary of Chapter 3: Mechanics of Writing .............................................. 36

4 Making a Strong Start ................................................................................. 39

Creating a Structure

Initial Efforts

Writing up at the End

Starting, and Starting Again

The Creative Process

Writing an Individual Chapter

Literature

Styles of Working

Working with Your Supervisor

Summary of Chapter 4: Making a Strong Start

5 The Introductory Chapter

Establishing a Context

Stating the Problem, Motivating the Study