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According to the Council of Graduate Schools, only 57 percent of students who start their Ph. D.s complete them within 10 years, and many times it's the thesis or dissertation that is holding them back. But if you're equipped with How to Write an Exceptional Thesis or Dissertation, you won't waste precious time deliberating how to organize and execute a persuasive, thorough thesis or dissertation for both master's and doctorate levels. Even if you have never written a paper that spanned more than five pages or spoken in front of a committee, you will learn how to easily formulate and utilize the correct research methodology, organization, citation styles, formatting options, submission guidelines, and presentation pointers to ensure that the academic world will notice -- and respect -- your hard work. With this book, you will learn everything from the ground-level basics to the more detailed breakdown of the research process. You will gain a strong understanding of the difference between a thesis and dissertation, and you will grasp the components expected of your work -- regardless of the subject matter of your research. This book will walk you through the entire process step-by-step, teaching you how to structure a planning and writing schedule that will keep the process manageable and not overwhelming. You will learn how to locate and recognize a topic that is appropriate for your thesis or dissertation, and you will discover how to expand on the subject matter to ensure it's unique and distinct from any other research out there. How do you know if your research proposal is too broad or too narrow? How do you know what academic assistance is available to help you further? How to Write an Exceptional Thesis or Dissertation will break it all down. In this book, you will gain insight regarding the entire research process, from organizing your literature and materials most effectively to analyzing and evaluating the big picture for defense. This book will ensure that your argument is strong, sound, and persuasive throughout your entire thesis or dissertation, from the introductory chapter through the summarizing conclusive statements, and you will learn how to do so without plagiarizing or cutting corners. You will master how to write ethically, objectively, and properly according to your academic subject's standards, as well as how to work within a committee, work with the aid of your advisor, present your defense, and get your work published worldwide. Understand how to undergo a formal peer review and how to revise your writing to be accurate and up-to-date. With this book as your guide, you will even find out how your research can take you from a proposal to a published writing career. Within the pages of this easy-to-understand manual are countless interviews conducted with experienced, published academic writers and researchers who dispense valuable advice that will help you succeed. Read about their trials and errors through the thesis -- and dissertation -- writing process from proposal to defense, and apply this knowledge to your own academic career. With this book as your guide, your thesis or dissertation will be a pleasure for you to write -- and a pleasure for your academic audience to read. If you don't think you are capable of being a groundbreaking writer and researcher in your field, think again.
Umberto Eco's wise and witty guide to researching and writing a thesis, published in English for the first time. By the time Umberto Eco published his best-selling novel The Name of the Rose, he was one of Italy's most celebrated intellectuals, a distinguished academic and the author of influential works on semiotics. Some years before that, in 1977, Eco published a little book for his students, How to Write a Thesis, in which he offered useful advice on all the steps involved in researching and writing a thesis—from choosing a topic to organizing a work schedule to writing the final draft. Now in its twenty-third edition in Italy and translated into seventeen languages, How to Write a Thesis has become a classic. Remarkably, this is its first, long overdue publication in English. Eco's approach is anything but dry and academic. He not only offers practical advice but also considers larger questions about the value of the thesis-writing exercise. How to Write a Thesis is unlike any other writing manual. It reads like a novel. It is opinionated. It is frequently irreverent, sometimes polemical, and often hilarious. Eco advises students how to avoid “thesis neurosis” and he answers the important question “Must You Read Books?” He reminds students “You are not Proust” and “Write everything that comes into your head, but only in the first draft.” Of course, there was no Internet in 1977, but Eco's index card research system offers important lessons about critical thinking and information curating for students of today who may be burdened by Big Data. How to Write a Thesis belongs on the bookshelves of students, teachers, writers, and Eco fans everywhere. Already a classic, it would fit nicely between two other classics: Strunk and White and The Name of the Rose. Contents The Definition and Purpose of a Thesis • Choosing the Topic • Conducting Research • The Work Plan and the Index Cards • Writing the Thesis • The Final Draft
Written for students of MBA programmes the world over, this guide to writing your thesis covers getting started and planning a schedule, research, the role of the supervisor, writing style, structure, referencing, layout, your defence, marks and publication.
Are you looking to find your voice, hone your writing tactics, and cultivate communication skills with impact? Using real-world cases, student vignettes, and reflective questions, Lynn leads you through the A to Zen of the writing process, building your confidence as well as developing your skills. Find out how to: Understand yourself, your audience, and your project, so you better understand your role in communicating research Choose a question and plan an appropriate design Build a foundation of ethics and background research into your writing practice Find your own writing (life)style Work with your supervisor, so you can get the best from the relationship Navigate structure, arguments, and theory, for deeper critical engagement Contextualize your research and maximize its impact. Going beyond the standard ‘how to survive’ advice, this inspiring writing guide empowers you to develop the voice, tone, and critical engagement required for you to thrive at Master’s level SAGE Study Skills are essential study guides for students of all levels. From how to write great essays and succeeding at university, to writing your undergraduate dissertation and doing postgraduate research, SAGE Study Skills help you get the best from your time at university. Visit the SAGE Study Skills hub for tips, resources and videos on study success!
Packed with tried and tested detailed explanations, examples and supplemental materials, this guide takes you step-by-step through the thinking up and writing of your thesis.
Many courses and degrees require that students write a short thesis. This book guides students through their first experience of producing a thesis and undertaking original research. Written by experienced researchers and advisors, the book sets out signposts and tasks to help students to understand what is needed to succeed, including scoping a topic, managing references, interpreting data, and successful completion. For students, the task of writing a thesis is a transition from structured coursework to becoming a researcher. The book provides advice on: What to expect from research and how to work with a supervisor Getting organized and approaching the work in a productive way Developing an overall thesis structure and avoidance of mistakes such as inadvertent plagiarism Producing each major component: a strong introduction, background chapters that are situated in the discipline, and an explanation of methods and results that are crucial to successful original research How to wrap up a complex project with an extended checklist of the many details needed to be checked before a final submission Producing and managing a thesis for the first time can be a daunting task, and this reader-friendly guidebook provides a framework for students to do their best.
This book provides a step-by-step guide to writing the different chapters of a PhD dissertation, which will benefit aspiring, beginner and mid-track PhD students and candidates in the Social Sciences. Based on the authors’ combined experience of working with both Masters and PhD students through the dissertation writing process, it offers helpful writing guidelines, from the conceptualization and problematization of the dissertation through to the literature review, methodological issues, writing up results and, finally, to the discussion, conclusions and abstract writing process. With chapters dedicated to offering guidelines, suggestions and pitfalls to watch out for, this book will assist PhD students and candidates in the fields of the various Social Sciences with exercises and pointers on successfully navigating the writing of a PhD dissertation. It takes the PhD student in the Social Sciences through the maze of writing a dissertation, and provides a step-by-step train of thought throughout the entire writing process.
How to Write a BA Thesis is the only book that directly addresses the needs of undergraduate students writing a major paper. This book offers step-by-step advice on how to move from early ideas to finished paper. It covers choosing a topic, selecting an advisor, writing a proposal, conducting research, developing an argument, writing and editing the thesis, and making through a defense. Lipson also acknowledges the challenges that arise when tackling such a project, and he offers advice for breaking through writer’s block and juggling school-life demands. This is a must-read for anyone writing a BA thesis, or for anyone who advises these students.
