Writing a Thesis

• Your thesis should be legible and coherent.
• The thesis has clearly stated aims and scope in the introduction.
• It is written in an objective and analytical style.
• The argument flows logically.
• Opinions and conclusions must be supported by evidence or literature.
• The thesis includes a preface (if any), an abstract, an acknowledgements page (if you wish), a table of contents, a list of abbreviations and illustrations (if any), an introduction, proceeding chapters, a conclusion, footnotes, a bibliography and appendices.
• There should be a sensible division and allocation of material between the main text and the appendices, and between chapters themselves.
• Each section/chapter has an identity.
• Spelling, grammar and punctuation are correct and consistent. Avoid colloquial language and slang.
• The page layout, typeface and page numbering should be consistent.
• The body of the thesis is closely related to the thesis title.
• The work is all your own and all your sources are acknowledged.

Keep in mind to:

• Keep writing throughout your research. The ideas generated in this process will contribute to your research even if this written work does not make it into your thesis.
• Note your sources and bibliographic references as you go along. (Endnote software is a useful bibliographic database).
• Stick to the outline you have agreed with your supervisor.

• Discuss your research subject area with your supervisor who can advise on the suitability of the proposed topic and good sources of research material.
• Conduct an initial literature review. Identify your main sources for the thesis.
• Based on your initial literature review and in discussion with your supervisor, narrow the subject down and make a clear, concise outline of the project.
• Prepare a research plan or design and chapter structure.

Research Plan

Your research plan or design should include at least the following:

• Title and research question
• Summary of key argument
• Specify as much as you can the particular aspect of the subject matter you will focus on, including the basics, if appropriate, such as time-span and geographical location e.g..
• Indication of the original contribution your thesis will make to the existing literature
• Description of your research methods
• Expected conclusions
• Bibliography

• Accompany every quotation or citation, as well as paraphrased ideas and borrowed arguments, with a foot or end note.
• Your footnoting style should be consistent throughout the entire text and chosen to comply with university or publication rules.
• Short quotations, of up to forty words, should be incorporated into your own prose and enclosed within single quotation marks ( ‘ ’ ). Quotations within quotations should be enclosed within double quotation marks ( “ ” ).
• Longer quotations should begin on a new line and be indented and single spaced. Indented quotations do not require enclosure within quotation marks. Any words omitted from a quotation should be indicated by three single-spaced dots (…), or four if the omitted words precede a full stop.
• Your bibliography should list all the texts and editions you have used and all the critical and scholarly work that you have consulted. Items in the bibliography should be listed in alphabetical order by author surname and set out in a consistent style.
• References to the same work should be to the same edition, unless differences between editions are relevant to the argument.
• The Internet has limited quality control and some sources are unreliable or badly written. There are various sites which are specifically constructed for academic use. You should reference all web site citations by their full URL address.