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Thesis writing

Your thesis/dissertation is not the end of your study but your first piece of significant academic work. Completing it is both a contribution to new knowledge AND a learning process for you. What you learn about research and writing will outlive the relevance of the content. You can start by breaking the task of producing a thesis/dissertation into manageable “chunks”. This section addresses many of the challenges you will face along the way.

Getting started

Find out what you are expected to do by:

Attending department based orientation and technical programs
Read course handbooks
Read the Graduate Students Office guidelines
Books and websites on dissertation writing
Look for previous dissertations in the library

Managing your writing

Set up your dissertation files – a separate file for each section (See session on “Planning thesis production using MS Word”)

Cover page – see your handbook

Formalities – see Graduate Studies Office's guidelines

References/bibliography

Appendices

Key words

Abstract

List of Tables and Figures

Ethics statement

Statement of original authorship

Acknowledgements

Table of contents

Chapters (set up one file for each chapter)

Chapter 1. Introduction and overview
Chapter 2. Literature review
Chapter 3. Research question
Chapter 4. Methodology
Chapter 5. Results
Chapter 6. Discussion
Chapter 7. Summary and conclusions

Free up headspace

Write down everything you can so that you do not need to keep it in short term memory
Do not write sequentially and be prepared to leave gaps
Recycle
Copy and paste into the appropriate chapter any material you have already written including preliminary reference sections or bibliographies (see sessions on EndNote)
Set up a “recycle” file. Do not delete any paragraph you write. Save it because you may be able to reuse it somewhere else.

Structure each chapter

Tell ";em what you're goin to tell "em (8)
Tell "em (2)
Tell "em what you told "em (6)

E.g. Chapter 1

Introduction
What the thesis is about (write now)
What the chapters say (write after they are written)
Summary and conclusion and
Why the research is important (write anytime you work this out)

Figuring out what your research is about

Free up headspace then focus specifically on your research question and write it down
Use research seminars, study groups, conferences and peers to get feedback on your idea
Make sure it is expressed in terms that your peers can understand
Discuss the refined statement with your supervisor and reach agreement as early in the process as possible

Managing your writing

Identify the tasks that need to be done to complete each chapter
Estimate how long each task will take
Use planning tools such as Gantt Charts to establish important sequences
Enter start dates, milestones and completion dates in your diary
Review and revise regularly
Hopelessly inaccurate estimates are much more efficient than no estimates at all

Planning and Management

Having short-term and long-term goals as well as a realistic plan will help you manage your progress and ensure you generate effective content.

Set task targets with your supervisor
Make maximum use of resources
Get your material reviewed by peers (seminars, conferences, publish)
Make contact with people doing similar research (network)

Managing content and process

Content
- Set task targets with your supervisor
- Make maximum use the library and resources (see library sessions)
- Get your material reviewed by peers (seminars, conferences)
- Make contact with people doing similar research (network)
Process
- Staying motivated
- Rewards for progress
- Graph your word-count (chapters and refs only)
- Keep a journal of your progress recording how you solved problems and overcame difficulties
- Manage social support
- Keep your sense of humour