Table of contents

- Preface to the Third Edition (Page 6)
- Introduction (Page 8)
- Contents (Page 10)
- Chapter 1 (Page 14)
- What Is a Thesis? (Page 14)
- Criteria for Examination (Page 14)
- Attributes of a Successful Thesis (Page 14)
- Guidelines for Examiners (Page 15)
- Types of Thesis (Page 16)
- Look at Other Theses (Page 17)
- Examiners’ Reports (Page 18)
- Summary of Chapter 1: What is a Thesis? (Page 19)
- Chapter 2 (Page 21)
- Thesis Structure (Page 21)
- Why We Have Trouble with New Tasks (Page 21)
- Structuring Your Thesis (Page 22)
- The ‘Standard’ Thesis Structure (Page 23)
- Narrative (Page 26)
- Non-standard Thesis Structures (Page 27)
- Summary of Chapter 2: Thesis Structure (Page 27)
- Chapter 3 (Page 29)
- Mechanics of Writing (Page 29)
- Writing at a Computer (Page 29)
- Presentation (Page 30)
- Writing Tools (Page 31)
- References (Page 32)
- Tables and Figures (Page 33)
- Tracking Changes (Page 35)
- Document and Version Management (Page 35)
- Writing Style (Page 37)
- Thesiese (Page 38)
- Use of the Passive Voice (Page 39)
- Use of the First Person (Page 40)
- Verb Tenses (Page 41)
- Punctuation (Page 42)
- Appendices (Page 45)
- Plagiarism and Research Integrity (Page 46)
- Summary of Chapter 3: Mechanics of Writing (Page 48)
- Chapter 4 (Page 50)
- Making a Strong Start (Page 50)
- Creating a Structure (Page 51)
- Initial Efforts (Page 53)
- Writing up at the End (Page 55)
- Starting, and Starting Again (Page 56)
- The Creative Process (Page 57)
- Writing an Individual Chapter (Page 59)
- Literature (Page 62)
- Styles of Working (Page 64)
- Working with Your Supervisor (Page 66)
- Summary of Chapter 4: Making a Strong Start (Page 69)
- Chapter 5 (Page 71)
- The Introductory Chapter (Page 71)
- Establishing a Context (Page 71)
- Stating the Problem, Motivating the Study (Page 72)
- Aim and Scope of the Study (Page 74)
- Significance of the Study (Page 76)
- Overview of the Study (Page 77)
- Research Questions and Hypotheses (Page 78)
- Revising the Aim, Aligning the Conclusion (Page 80)
- Summary of Chapter 5: The Introductory Chapter (Page 81)
- Chapter 6 (Page 83)
- Background Chapters (Page 83)
- Developing Critical Thinking (Page 84)
- Establishing Context (Page 86)
- The 95 % Syndrome (Page 86)
- Understanding Current Theory, Discoveries, and Debates (Page 87)
- Understanding Current Practices and Technologies (Page 88)
- Preliminary Investigations (Page 89)
- Revising (Page 89)
- Summary of Chapter 6: Background Chapters (Page 91)
- Chapter 7 (Page 93)
- Establishing Your Contribution (Page 93)
- Kinds of Contribution (Page 94)
- Observation or Innovation? (Page 95)
- Study or Case Study? (Page 95)
- Method (Page 98)
- ‘Research Methods’ (Page 100)
- Argument (Page 102)
- Organization (Page 103)
- Summary of Chapter 7: Establishing Your Contribution (Page 104)
- Chapter 8 (Page 106)
- Outcomes and Results (Page 106)
- Quantitative or Qualitative Data? (Page 107)
- From Data to Results (Page 108)
- What ‘the Data’ Is Comprised of (Page 109)
- Presentation (Page 110)
- Analysis (Page 112)
- Reasoning From Data (Page 113)
- Quantitative or Qualitative, Revisited (Page 114)
- Reflection (Page 116)
- Illustrations (Page 117)
- Summary of Chapter 8: Outcomes and Results (Page 121)
- Chapter 9 (Page 122)
- The Discussion or Interpretation (Page 122)
- The Task of the Chapter (Page 122)
- Structuring the Discussion (Page 124)
- Remembering Your Aim and Scope (Page 125)
- Writing with Authority (Page 126)
- Summary of Chapter 9: The Discussion or Interpretation (Page 127)
- Chapter 10 (Page 129)
- The Conclusion (Page 129)
- Summary of Chapter 10: The Conclusion (Page 131)
- Chapter 11 (Page 132)
- Before You Submit (Page 132)
- From First to Second Draft (Page 132)
- Structural Editing (Page 135)
- The Main Text (Page 135)
- Dotting the ‘i’s and Crossing the ‘t’s (Page 136)
- Preliminary Pages (Page 136)
- Title Page (Page 137)
- Abstract (Page 137)
- Table of Contents (Page 137)
- Preface and Acknowledgments (Page 137)
- Declaration (Page 138)
- The Main Text (Page 138)
- Aim and Scope (Page 138)
- Background (Page 138)
- Design of Your Own Work (Page 139)
- Results (Page 139)
- Discussion (Page 139)
- Conclusions (Page 140)
- Format (Page 140)
- Figures and Tables (Page 140)
- Any Figure or Table (Page 140)
- Graphs (or Charts) (Page 141)
- Tables (Page 141)
- Notes and References (Page 141)
- Appendices (Page 142)
- Glossary (Page 143)
- Summary of Chapter 11: Before You Submit (Page 143)
- Chapter 12 (Page 144)
- Beyond the Thesis (Page 144)
- Disseminating Your Research (Page 145)
- Kinds of Dissemination (Page 146)
- Dissemination Plans (Page 147)
- Joint Authorship (Page 149)
- Seminar and Conference Presentations (Page 150)
- Being a Graduate Student (Page 152)
- Effective Research (Page 153)
- The Arc of a Research Degree (Page 154)
- Summary of Chapter 12: Beyond the Thesis (Page 156)
- Appendix (Page 158)
- Afterword (Page 158)
- Appendix: Analysis of Examiners’ Reports (Page 160)
- Characteristics of a High Quality Thesis (Page 160)
- Characteristics of a Poor Thesis (Page 161)
- Notes on Further Resources (Page 163)
- Index (Page 165)