How to write a better thesis / David Evans, Paul Gruba, Justin Zobel.

This edition originally published: Melbourne, Victoria: Melbourne University Press, 2011.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 157-158) and index.

1. What is a Thesis -- 2. Thesis Structure -- 3. Mechanics of writing -- 4. Making a Strong Start -- 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 -- Aim and Scope of the Study -- Significance of the Study -- Overview of the Study -- Research Questions and Hypotheses -- Revising the Aim, Aligning the Conclusion -- Summary of Chapter 5: The Introductory Chapter -- 6. Background Chapters -- Developing Critical Thinking -- Establishing Context -- The 95% Syndrome -- Understanding Current Theory, Discoveries, and Debates -- Understanding Current Practices and Technologies -- Preliminary Investigations -- Revising -- Summary of Chapter 6: Background Chapters 7. Establishing Your Contribution -- Kinds of Contribution -- Observation or Innovation? -- Study or Case Study? -- Method -- `Research Methods' -- Argument -- Organization -- Summary of Chapter 7: Establishing Your Contribution -- 8. Outcomes and Results -- Quantitative or Qualitative Data? -- From Data to Results -- What `the Data' Is Comprised of -- Presentation -- Analysis -- Reasoning From Data -- Quantitative or Qualitative, Revisited -- Reflection -- Illustrations -- Summary of Chapter 8: Outcomes and Results -- 9. The Discussion or Interpretation -- The Task of the Chapter -- Structuring the Discussion -- Remembering Your Aim and Scope -- Writing with Authority -- Summary of Chapter 9: The Discussion or Interpretation -- 10. The Conclusion -- Summary of Chapter 10: The Conclusion -- 11. Before You Submit -- From First to Second Draft Structural Editing -- The Main Text -- Dotting the `I's and Crossing the `T's -- Preliminary Pages -- Title Page -- Abstract -- Table of Contents -- Preface and Acknowledgments -- Declaration -- The Main Text -- Aim and Scope -- Background -- Design of Your Own Work -- Results -- Discussion -- Conclusions -- Format -- Figures and Tables -- Any Figure or Table -- Graphs (or Charts) -- Tables -- Notes and References -- Appendices -- Glossary -- Summary of Chapter 11: Before You Submit -- 12. Beyond the Thesis -- Disseminating Your Research -- Kinds of Dissemination -- Dissemination Plans -- Joint Authorship -- Seminar and Conference Presentations -- Being a Graduate Student -- Effective Research -- The Arc of a Research Degree -- Summary of Chapter 12: Beyond the Thesis.

From proposal to examination, producing a dissertation or thesis is a challenge. Grounded in decades of experience with research training and supervision, this fully updated and revised editiontakes an integrated, down-to-earth approach drawingon case studies and examples to guide you step-by-step towards productive success. Early chapters frame the tasks ahead and show you how to get started. From there, practical advice and illustrations take you through the elements of formulating research questions, working with software, and purposeful writing of each of the different kinds of chapters, and finishes with a focus on revision, dissemination and deadlines. How to Write a Better Thesis presents a cohesive approach to research that will help youachieve your goals. David Evans was Reader and Associate Professor in the Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning, University of Melbourne. Paul Gruba is Senior Lecturer in the School of Languages and Linguistics, University of Melbourne. Justin Zobel is Professor in the Department of Computing and Information Systems, University of Melbourne.