Keep coherence among the different parts of your thesis/ dissertation

All parts of the thesis/dissertation should fit together as a whole

Coherence of Ideas Coherence of Wording Coherence of Writing Habits Watch the conference “Checking the Consistency of Your Thesis/Dissertation”

Textual coherence Connection between text surface (words, grammar, style, etc.) and concepts, and relations that underlie it Text readability

By using these tools: Rules related to type of text Language devices to link sentences Linking concepts and relations Same wording for essential elements

Let’s see how to use those tools

Academic writing Formal Explicit Precise Unbiased Responsible Referencing style Citations No anthropomorphism Specific levels of headings

Read the following examples and identify what rule is not applied Example 1: The researchers couldn’t assign the treatment at random Example 2: The professional development program was persuaded to be interviewed Example 3: It has been stated that students with external locus of control deny responsibilities

Example 1: Formal aspect of academic writing The researchers could not assign the treatment at random Example 2: No anthropomorphism The staff of the professional development program was persuaded to be interviewed Example 3: Citations Rotter (1996) stated that students with external locus of control deny responsibilities Rules that are not applied

Sentences, and the ideas they express, should be linked smoothly. Transitions are provided by signal or transitional words and phrases, which direct the readers’ attention to the idea you want to express and let us write coherent texts.

Signal Words and Phrases (I) Continuation (more ideas to come): and, first of all, also, in addition, next, and finally…. Change of direction (something different is coming): but, although, instead of, on the contrary, despite, yet.. Sequence (there is an order): first, second, before, after,.. Illustration (this is what the idea means in reality): for example, for instance, specifically, such as… Emphasis (this is important): a significant factor, especially relevant, above all, a primary concern,… Cause, condition, or result (reason or modification): since, because, unless, in order that, therefore,..

Signal Words and Phrases (II) Spatial (location is coming): under, behind, in front of,… Comparison-contrast (compare A and B): more than, likewise, different from… Conclusion (this ends the discussion): in conclusion, finally, in summary, … Adapted from Fry, E., Fountoukidis, D, & Polk, J. (1985). The new reading teacher’s book of lists. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall

Sentence 1: Educators are continually looking for proven, innovative ways to help students improve their writing skills Sentence 2: This research benefits school administrators, classroom and specialist teachers, students, parents, AWE software providers, and curriculum developers that are creating digital writing programs Sentence 3: Local and state assessment officials may be interested in the potential cost-savings of using AWE software to grade and evaluate state writing assessments Can you link these sentences?

Does your linked sentences look like this? Educators are continually looking for proven, innovative ways to help students improve their writing skills. Therefore, beneficiaries of this research include school administrators, classroom and specialist teachers, students, parents, AWE software providers, and curriculum developers that are creating digital writing programs. Also, local and state assessment officials may be interested in the potential cost- savings of using AWE software to grade and evaluate state writing assessments. Taken from Jelderks, C. J. (2012). Digital writing for a digital age: peer editing in traditional versus digital writing formats. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Jones International University, Centennial, CO.

In order to have a coherent text, you have to link concepts and relations among them in an explicit or implicit way. The former way is preferred in a thesis/dissertation though the latter can be used when the connection is very evident. To link concepts and relations, you can use the methods of logical organization.

Chronological order Spatial order Classification Comparison and contrast Generalizations and specifics Cause – Effect Prediction

What method of logical organization can you use to link these paragraphs? Paragraph 1: Writing is an individual act that is performed to share ideas with other people. Consequently, it is in fact a social-constructive phenomenon in which variables of different nature are present. Those variables reflect the influence of all the elements involved (the writer, the text, the message, and the reader) and make writing a complex phenomenon Paragraph 2: A complex phenomenon like writing cannot be studied using a simple research design. A mixed methods design seems to be the best possible option to take into account all variables involved because it combines quantitative and qualitative data. That is the reason for choosing a sequential explanatory mixed methods research design for this study

These two paragraphs should be linked using a cause- effect relationship because the complexity of writing described in the first paragraph makes necessary to use a mixed methods research design, as it is established in the second one. That is why the second paragraph should include a signal word or phrase in order to make the cause-effect relationship evident. For example, therefore, consequently, for this reason, …

Essential elements of the thesis/dissertation should be worded in the same way throughout the whole paper. In other words, use the same wording to mention elements like the problem statement, the purpose, the research questions, and the research design whenever you refer to them. This assures coherence of wording

Wordings of what a study intends to do (purpose) In chapter 1: This study wanted to know how effective differentiation is to teach Science in High School. In the literature review: This study was focused on effective strategies to teach Science. In chapter 5: Since this study intended to find out a way to improve Science teaching, ….