Master's and Doctoral students often have unnecessary difficulty with the technical requirements of constructing a research proposal, writing a thesis and submitting it for examination. Students can expect expert supervision in conducting their research and drawing conclusions, but the responsibility for presenting their work in the correct way and in accordance with accepted conventions is theirs alone. This guide has been developed in response to both students' and supervisors' needs. The step-by-step discussion of the entire thesis undertaking spells out information for students that academics often take for granted, and that students often struggle to access on their own. In plain language and with clear examples, it explains the technical requirements of the various stages of developing a research proposal, writing the thesis and preparing it for examination.
Nelleke Bak is currently the project manager of postgraduate enrolment and throughput at the University of the Western Cape. With many years? experience of supervising first generation Master?s and Doctoral students, principally from non-English speaking backgrounds, she has developed a set of invaluable hints to share with thesis students and supervisors alike.
Part A - Developing and submitting a research proposal
Chapter 1 - Thinking about the research proposal
Chapter 2 - Putting the research proposal together
Part B - Negotiating and sustaining the supervision and thesis writing process
Chapter 3 - Getting off to a good start
Chapter 4 - Working with focus
Chapter 5 - Developing academic discernment
Part C - Preparing the thesis for examination
Chapter 6 - Some information about the parts of the thesis
Chapter 7 - General advice about writing and presenting a thesis
Appendices
1. What a thesis is and what it is not
2. A checklist for research proposals
3. Examples of a well-constructed (abridged) proposal for a theoretical study and empirical investigation
4. Worksheet for choosing and refining your topic
5. List of some theoretical positions
6. Examples of a well-constructed and a less satisfactory literature review
7. Research methods and sources
8. Some criteria for judging Master?s and Doctoral theses
9. Example of a contract entered into between student and supervisor
10. Some practical suggestions for thesis writing
11. Blocks to critical engagement
12. Example of a title page
13. Example of an abstract
14. Example of a declaration
15. Examples of a contents page of a theoretical study and of an empirical study
16. Example of an endnotes page
17. Administrative process and checklist for submission of theses
18. Some useful websites and reference books
19. Sources of funding
References
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