Writing a Thesis

1
Writing a Thesis

• John Kirby
• Postgraduate Tutor
• Faculty of Medical Sciences
• University of Newcastle

7th February, 2014
2
(No Transcript)
3
(No Transcript)
4
1 page
5
(No Transcript)
6
British Standard

• BSI 48211990
• Now withdrawn! But can still provide useful
  information
• Library Quick reference section (also some
  useful textbooks).

7
Criteria all theses

• Should be
• Authentic
• Scholarly
• Professional
• Well-structured, written and presented

8
MPhil candidates

• Should
• Demonstrate advanced knowledge
• Have good knowledge of literature
• Theses need not (but usually do)
• Contain material worthy of publication

9
PhD/MD candidates

• Should
• Provide evidence of adequate industry
• Demonstrate ability for originality
• Understand relationship with wider field
• Thesis should contain material worthy of
  publication

10
Look at some theses

• Not just those on your supervisors shelf
• Often groups evolve a house style which may not
  suit you
• Beware the arms race
• Go to the library and look at a wide range of
  theses in your field
• But remember - it is your thesis
• If you feel strongly about a particular format,
  discuss it with your supervisor and agree before
  starting work

11
Types of thesis

• Standard
• Divided into chapters with results and
  interpretations
• By publication
• Only for staff candidates
• A series of 4 related papers in period of
  registration
• All authors must agree you were the major
  contributor
• 10,000 word introduction
• Could be published as a review
• Can be difficult to examine as papers have
  already satisfied external referees!
• Need to make a prima facie case for the
  submission
• Please see http//www.ncl.ac.uk/regulations/docs/
  2003/rscdoctor.html

12
A caution

• You will be required to submit an electronic form
  of your thesis in parallel with the two paper
  copies
• This file could be easily checked for potential
  plagiarism

From the Times Higher Education Supplement
13
What is plagiarism?
Please try this program!
http//www.ncl.ac.uk/right-cite/
14
(No Transcript)
15
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a
single step. The Way of Lao-tzu Chinese
philosopher (604 BC - 531 BC)
16
One journey of a thousand miles?

• No this is far too daunting.
• Divide your thesis into many smaller sections
• Then you have many short journeys with each
  taking little time and seeming very achievable!
• This requires good planning or you will produce
  lots of small pieces of text that do not link
  together

17
How do I write a book?

• Agree a preliminary table of contents with your
  supervisor (progress review 3).
• This should be very detailed
• Materials and methodology are easy (descriptive)
  and get you started.
• Results section is also descriptive and is
  crucial to the structure of your thesis.
• Introduction and discussion can be harder to
  write.

18
Make your life easy!

• Produce high quality images as you go.
• dont wait until the end to put these together
• then simply cut and paste them into your thesis
• You may already have done this for annual
  progress reviews
• Maintain a bibliography as you go.
• dont simply download abstracts into Endnote
• use the add notes facility to remind yourself
  why you think the paper is good (or bad).

19
One typical thesis layout

• Title page (what is your title!)
• Abstract (one page 300 words)
• Table of contents
• List of Figures and Tables
• Abbreviations
• Acknowledgements

20
Caution These plans can vary by subject area

• Introduction
• End with a clear statement of aims
• Materials Methodology
• Results chapter(s)
• Typically have one per aim
• Often have separate mini introductions and
  specific discussions
• Concluding discussion
• Context with literature
• Strengths, weaknesses, future work
• Bibliography
• Format?

21
Table of contents
1 Introduction Page 1.1 History of
problem 1 1.2 First issue 1 1.2.1 sub
issue 1 2 1.2.2 sub issue
2 4 1.3 Second issue 1.3.1 sub issue
1 5 1.3.2 sub issue 2 7 1.3.3 sub
issue 3 8 1.3.4 sub issue 4
12 1.4 Third issue 1.4.1 sub issue
1 14 1.4.1.a sub sub issue
1 15 1.4.1.b sub sub issue 2 16 1.4.2 sub
issue 2 18 1.5 Fourth issue 20 1.6 Fifth
issue 1.6.1 25 etc, etc
22
Backup, Backup, Backup!
Tips

• Write what you know/think and then reference a
  block of text
• Try not to insert graphics within the text
• Use separate pages
• MUCH easier to format the final document
• Minimise unnecessary use of colour
• Cheaper and quicker to print

23
Finished?

• Get fiends and family to prrofread
• If English is not your first language, it can be
  helpful to employ a proof-reader.
• Lists are available in the Students Union.
• The cost is quite reasonable
• The proof-reader will (must!) only alter English
  and not the concept you are trying to express.
• Remember your supervisor will focus mainly on
  your science rather than your English.

24
Reference format

• The university recommends the Harvard format
  (and supplies an appropriate Endnote format!)
• So, in the main text use
• (Kirby et al., 2010)
• rather than
• 278
• Ask your supervisors for advice as Institutes
  might suggest alternatives

25
Formatting a huge document
26
can be very hard!

• Speak to former students
• Or
• Attend the Graduate Schools managing long
  documents workshop

27
these can be done on-line (ask Richy)
28
Finished!

• Liaise with your supervisors
• They must nominate examiners well in advance of
  submission (to avoid long delays)
• Final printing takes much longer than you think!
• Colour toner? Enough paper? (both usually run out
  late on Sunday night)
• Binding
• Soft binding at first (Library)

29
(No Transcript)
30
Good Luck!