First steps in thesis writing - macmillanihe.com

1 1 First steps in thesis writingPlease note this is an interactive workshop. You may wish to have your PhD ideas to mind and a notebook and pen to hand! 2 Welcome! Microphones are muted for sound quality Questions and comments are welcome! Please enter them in the Questions/Chat area You will be sent a recording of the webinar3 First steps in thesis writingDesmond Thomas,Author of The PhD writing HandbookIntroducing myself4 For the last 15 years, I have worked as a PhD writing skills tutor and course designerWhat I have discovered .. Most doctoral-level writers love doing research.

2 But when it comes to writing they tend to procrastinate. And when they begin writing , they find it really hard Almost everyone in this situation believes they are unique! writing is an integral part of any academic career. It may be hard to get started but it does become easier and even enjoyable. But there is no quick fix. Skills have to be ve also discovered some writing mythsWritingThinking Reading6 How it needs to fundamental problem to consider How can I record my thinking as a result of what I read and the discussions I have with others? Over a three-year period (or more), how can I keep track of changes in my thinking to feed into my writing ?

3 One certainty: as you read and as you write, your thinking will change8 Anticipate and address questions such as these that you might have while beginning toplan and write your doctoral thesis Take some practical ideas from the relevant chapters ofThe PhD writing Handbook, that will enable you to begin your journey as a PhD thesis writer Try to convince you that you are not alone!In this webinar we will ..Poll 1a: Your early stage worries ..1. The time it takes you to read and write2. Getting organized and sticking to deadlines3. The sheer volume of material that you will need to read4.

4 Taking good quality notes that will effortlessly feed into your writing5. Producing a good quality literature reviewWhich of these concern you most? 10 Poll 1b: Your early stage worries .. meaningful research having enough background structured and coherent your supervisor s language difficultiesOnce again, which of these concern you most?11 Longer term worries can include Getting lost Running out of time Staying motivated and not running out of ideas or energy Achieving a manageable work-life balance so that the thesis does not take over your life Producing work of publishable quality Others may publish similar findings and do a better job than you do12 What do the early stages of thesis writing involve?

5 When is the best time to begin writing ? How do I develop and break down my chosen topic area? How can I develop effective strategies for reading that will feed into a written text? How can I manage reading and writing time in order to achieve the best results? How can I stay motivated for the long road ahead?Questions for all of us to considerPoll 2: your regional Europe/Central/Eastern Asia/South Asia/East America/South which region are you based?14 Poll 3: the stage you ve to begin doctoral weeks/months of doctoral of First year of doctoral year of doctoral year of doctoral study15 Poll 4: Disciplinary area(s) questions or comments?

6 Early stage writing tasks ( )Stage of PhD research projectPossible writing tasks1. Developing the research topic The initial research proposal An updated written research rationale or revised research proposal A written application for ethical approval of a research project Introduction letters and participant consent forms2. Reviewing relevant literature Summarizing and paraphrasing of key texts Analytic notetaking in response to key reading texts Analytic memos or summaries based on the notes Comparative memos or summaries combining notes from several texts Annotated bibliographies3.

7 Producing a literature review Critical reviews of journal articles based on research findings Literature-review draft structure Exploration and definition of key concepts relevant to the research project4. Producing a framework for the thesis A table of contents and an abstract A monthly plan1819 Developing your research topic Finding a topic that is feasible Finding a topic that is specific Finding a topic that is significant20 Topic feasibility criteria Size/scope/scale/focus Time Resources needed Skills that you need to develop Accessibility of data Risk level (physical, reputational, relevance, interest) Distance (psychological as well as physical)

8 Ethical considerationsGeneral ethical principles Physical, mental, social damage Special care for the vulnerable Environmental damage Informed consent from participants Confidentiality Damage to reputations No conflicting interests Honesty: no manipulation of facts and data Respect for laws & regulations21 Feasibility taskHow could we change this topic to make it feasible for a doctoral research project? What impact is the land reform policy in Zimbabwe having on the local economy? 22A more feasible alternative? The economic impact of the land reform policy in Zimbabwe from 1980-1999 How could this be improved further?

9 Which format(question or topic area/title) is more useful at this stage?2324 Breaking down a topic laterallyBulgariaEducational reform1989-1995 Pre-WW2 TraditionsPost-1989 InfluencesSocialism/CommunismInfluencesS ubjectareasPerceptions of reformEffects on teachers?25 Sub-topics can generate simple questions such as .. What is generally understood by the term educational reform ? Is reform always seen as beneficial? What were the main influences of socialism on the education system between 1949 and 1989? What kind of educational traditions existed before the socialist period?

10 What have been the effects of reform on particular groups? Generate also some new questions laterally across your topic have been the attitudes of Bulgarian post-communist governments towards educational reform? what extent is educational reform seen as a reaction to socialism/communism? what extent have pre-WW2 educational traditions been re-introduced?26 Now it s your turn .. (see )????????2728A possible big question ?Is secondary education in Bulgaria undergoing a process of reform or returning to its traditional roots?29 How to find the big question ?