Purpose of the Thesis; Writing style
and audience; Order and component of a thesis;
Title; Copy rights, Dedication,
Acknowledgement; Table of contents, list of table, figures. Appendices and
footnotes; Abstract; Abstract: functions; content and structure. Analysis of a
sample abstract patterns; key literature features of an abstract. Questions
related to abstract writing; Introduction chapter in a thesis;
Functions of the introduction chapter;
Introduction: content and structure; establishing a research territory;
Indicating gaps/niche. Occupy the niche/gap; statement of the problem/context;
Aims of the study; Clarification of key terms; Organization of the thesis; Key
linguistic features in significance of study.
Key linguistic features in
indicating gap, in occupying gap; Active vs. passive voice use;
linguistic features: adjectives and
pronouns; Language use in making comparisons; Introduction: Questions answered.
Literature review; Functions of literature review; content and structure; Body
of literature review; Organizing literature review. Reporting research;
summarizing; conclusion of the literature review; introduction to the
literature review chapter; paraphrasing and coherence; synthesizing: cohesion
in literature review. Language focus: tense and citation; Reporting literature;
Choice of verb and tense. Evaluating and critiquing published research; Stance
towards published research. Reviewing the literature:
organizing; important questions asked. Methodology; Functions; Content and
structure; Introduction in a methodology chapter. Methodology: Main body;
Ending methodology chapter; Triangulation; Key structural points; Data
collection procedures; Instruments. Data collection; Data analysis; Issues of
data reliability; Issues of data validity; Ethical concerns; Summarizing.
Methodology: language use;
Important questions asked. Results chapter; Functions; Content and structure;
Quantitative results. Qualitative results; Qualitative
responses; key linguistic features: tenses;
Caution in presenting results; presenting qualitative results visually. Presenting
qualitative results; Data display; Formatting and numbering; Discussion of
tables; Principles of figure use; Types of figures; Standard for figures; Important
questions answered. Discussion of results: Functions; Content and structure;
Sample Analysis of a discussion; Conclusion of a discussion; key linguistic
features (M 87-93)
Limitations in discussion; Important questions
answered; Conclusion; Functions; Content and structure; Introduction in
conclusion chapter; Summarizing key findings. Implications; Implications for
future research; Limitations; Concluding paragraph; Conclusion: key linguistic
features; Important questions asked.Confidentiality. Writing clearly and
concisely; Headings; Numbering; Writing style; Continuity. Smoothness of
expression; Tone; Economy of expression; Precision and clarity; Linguistic
devices; Strategies to improve writing style. Appropriate level of specificity;
Reducing bias in language; Acknowledge participation; Reducing bias: Gender;
Reducing bias: Ethnicity; Reducing bias: Disabilities and age.Grammar and
usage; Subject verb agreement; Crediting sources: Direct quotations;
Paraphrasing and quoting; Citation in text; References. Mechanics of styles:
Punctuation (period); Capitalization; Numbers; Punctuation: Quotation marks;
Abbreviation; Academic writing: some other considerations. Academic style: Formal language; Writing
process; Principles of academic writing; Analyzing a thesis; Goal setting;
Defining the writing task. Writing purpose; How will my thesis be assessed?
Assessment of thesis design; Tackling issues; Defining originality; Keeping
back-ups. Reasons for not writing: peer support; Discussing feedback; Free
writing; Benefits of free writing; Generative writing; Writing to prompts. Other
problems in writing; Writers’ block; Resolving the issues; Scaffolding an
argument; Positioning of self; Writing a case study.