Your thesis/dissertation is not the end of your study but your first piece of significant academic work. Completing it is both a contribution to new knowledge AND a learning process for you. What you learn about research and writing will outlive the relevance of the content. You can start by breaking the task of producing a thesis/dissertation into manageable “chunks”. This section addresses many of the challenges you will face along the way.

The Thesis Regulations are available from the Graduate Studie Office here.

Challenge 1 – getting started

Find out what you are expected to do by:

• Attending department based orientation and technical programs
• Read course handbooks
• Read the Graduate Students Office guidelines
• Books and websites on dissertation writing
• Look for previous dissertations in the library

Challenge 2 – managing your writing

Set up your dissertation files – a separate file for each section (See session on “Planning thesis production using MS Word”)

• Cover page – see your handbook
• Formalities – see Graduate Studies Office's guidelines
• References/bibliography
• Appendices
• Key words
• Abstract
• List of Tables and Figures
• Ethics statement
• Statement of original authorship
• Acknowledgements
• Table of contents

Chapters (one file each)

• Chapter 1. Introduction and overview
• Chapter 2. Literature review
• Chapter 3. Research question
• Chapter 4. Methodology
• Chapter 5. Results
• Chapter 6. Discussion
• Chapter 7. Summary and conclusions
  

Challenge 3. - Free up headspace

• Write down everything you can so that you do not need to keep it in short term memory
• Do not write sequentially and be prepared to leave gaps
• Recycle
• Copy and paste into the appropriate chapter any material you have already written including preliminary reference sections or bibliographies (see sessions on EndNote)
• Set up a “recycle” file. Do not delete any paragraph you write.  Save it because you may be able to reuse it somewhere else.

Structure each chapter

• Tell ‘em what you’r goin to tell ‘em (8)
• Tell ‘em (2)
• Tell ‘em what you told ‘em (6)

E.g. Chapter 1

• Introduction
• What the thesis is about (write now)
• What the chapters say (write after they are written)
• Summary and conclusion and
• Why the research is important (write anytime you work this out)

Challenge 4. – figuring out what your thesis is about

• Free up headspace then focus specifically on your research question and write it down
• Use research seminars, study groups, conferences and peers to get feedback on your idea
• Make sure it is expressed in terms that your peers can understand
• Discuss the refined statement with your supervisor and reach agreement as early in the process as possible

Challenge 5. – planning and management

• Identify the tasks that need to be done to complete each chapter
• Estimate how long each task will take
• Use planning tools such as Gantt Charts to establish important sequences
• Enter start dates, milestones and completion dates in your diary
• Review and revise regularly
• Hopelessly inaccurate estimates are much more efficient than no estimates at all

Challenge 6. – managing content AND process

Content

• Set task targets with your supervisor
• Make maximum use the library and resources (see library sessions)
• Get your material reviewed by peers (seminars, conferences)
• Make contact with people doing similar research (network)

Process

• Staying motivated
• Rewards for progress
• Graph your word-count (chapters and refs only)
• Keep a journal of your progress recording how you solved problems and overcame difficulties
• Manage social support
• Keep your sense of humour