Postgraduate workshop: Writing up the dissertation Presentation by Jane Saville Academic Development Manager Library Services 2017/18

Task 1 Briefly reflect on your progress to date … Are you on track? If not, why not? What’s holding you back? Do you need to revisit your plan? Do you need to seek help?

Workshop aims To revise building an argument. To clarify what makes a good introduction and conclusion. To signpost common requirements for presenting figures and tables. To provide tips for review/editing.

Throughout your dissertation you will make clear: Why your specific topic is worth researching. Why your method is a good way to research your topic. Why your method of analysis is appropriate. (cont.)

Why your interpretations and conclusions are reasonable. (University of Leicester) You will build a well-developed argument. This is the key to a successful dissertation.

Building an argument Task 2 Imagine you have a pile of children’s building bricks in front of you. Draw a picture of a tower you would build for a toddler, using the bricks. Answer the questions which follow.

Which tower is better? Why?1= Pixabay 2= Google images 3- Clip Art

Features of an academic argument - Linking words/tentative language. - Academic style = clearly and succinctly expressed, objective, well-organised and formal. - Minimal description/maximum comparison, contrast and evaluation of evidence in the introduction/ lit review/ discussion/analysis chapter. - Strong, balanced ,critical review of evidence presented in a ‘line of reasoning.’ - Synthesising i.e. forming a conclusion /conclusions from above.

Watch the video to save you weeks of time! A useful resource for good … critical reading. Watch the video to save you weeks of time! http://academicskills.uwe.ac.uk/general/workbooks/reading-and-note-taking/6820/home … synthesising. Within a paragraph, in this example. http://learninghub.une.edu.au/tlc/aso/aso-online/academic-writing/synthesising-evidence.php. … academic phrases. The academic phrasebank: a lifesaver! http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/.

Introductions and conclusions Task 3: The envelope contains features of a good introduction and conclusion. In pairs, separate them out and put them into a logical order. Draw the shape of a good introduction and a good conclusion.

A good introduction 1. Explain the context of the topic: general narrow to reach your focus. This may include giving definitions* of key terms. * Whose definition? / Shared knowledge?/ Extended definition?

2. The topic as you understand it: after indicating the focus, offer the key issues and perspectives. State your aims/ thesis statement; objectives/goals and, if relevant, your hypothesis. A hypothesis = What you aim to achieve; the steps you will take to achieve this and what you expect the outcome to be. Objectives – Try to evaluate them as: Specific / Measurable/ Achievable/ Realistic and Tangible (SMART objectives).

3. A brief explanation of how you plan to address the topic, which includes your methodology, and an outline of how your work will be organised and presented.

Task 4 (handout): Is it a good introduction? How many of the recommended features does it contain? Do you have any tips you can share with the group?

A good conclusion 1. Summarise the main points of your findings and analysis.

2. Refer back to your introduction: restate the aims/objectives 2. Refer back to your introduction: restate the aims/objectives. Did you achieve them? Was your hypothesis proven or not? If disproven, why?

3. Conclude your dissertation i. e 3. Conclude your dissertation i.e. Can you draw together all the strands and make sense of them? What does your analysis mean for the discipline/profession?

4. Refer back to key sources to support your conclusions: this will strengthen your conclusion and link back to your reading/the existing literature.

5. Reflect on the process (if you did original research) and comment on any limitations of the dissertation.

6. Make recommendations to your discipline/profession 6. Make recommendations to your discipline/profession. Try to say what you think should happen next i.e. changing a policy/ guidelines; adopting a new approach/ model/ theory; further research required etc.

Task 5 (handout): Is it a good conclusion? How many of the recommended features does it contain? Do you have any tips you can share with the group?

Resources for presenting figures Watch the following demo of how to use a figure: http://learninghub.une.edu.au/tlc/aso/aso-online/academic-writing/tables-figures.php

Other useful resources: University of Leicester. (2012) Presenting numerical data [online]. Available from: http://www2.le.ac.uk/office s/ld/resources/study- guides-pdfs/numeracy- skills- pdfs/presenting%20numeric al%20data%20updated%20 LD.pdf For the sciences: University of Bradford, Writing for Science [online]. Available from: http://www.bradford.ac.uk /academic- skills/media/academicskills advice/documents/academi cskillsresources/writing- science/Infosheet- diagrams-and-tables.pdf

NB Check against UWE Harvard! http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/studysupport/studyskills/referencing/uweharvard.aspx#diagramstablesgraphs

Help with maths and statistics Useful links from the UWE Intranet: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/studysupport/studyskills/mathematicsandstatistics.aspx Statistical tools: use Lynda.com http://www.lynda.com/SPSS-tutorials/SPSS-Statistics-Essential-Training/182376-2.html

Reviewing, editing and proofreading To maximise your marks, you should do these three activities before submitting! Task 6 (handout): Match each activity with its description and then answer the questions.

Task 7: Practice ! a) Write down things which are regularly commented on in your feedback and/or errors you frequently make when writing. Create a checklist, tailored to your typical errors, your dissertation and the faculty requirements.

b) Using a draft from your dissertation, choose one of the 2 activities below. - Tailor the example checklist (handout) to your dissertation and typical errors. Then start reviewing your own work.  or/   - Help someone else to check their work: comment on strengths and tactfully suggest improvements/ ask questions to clarify.

… look at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dRMD7HYVDc. Finally … If this is you … … look at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dRMD7HYVDc. Dissertation question time, University of Derby, July 2012 (several videos in the same series, answered by a panel of academic staff. This one is about making the process less stressful.).

Good luck with your dissertation!

Reference List Lynda.com. SPSS Statistics Essential Training [online] Available from: https://www.lynda.com/SPSS-tutorials/SPSS-Statistics-Essential-Training/182376-2.html. [Accessed 03 July 2017]. McMillan, K. & J. Weyers (2011) How to write dissertations & Project reports. Gosport: Pearson Education Ltd: 27.

University of Derby (2012) Dissertation Question Time [online] University of Derby (2012) Dissertation Question Time [online]. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dRMD7HYVDc. [Accessed 03 July 2017). University of Bradford Writing for Science [online]. Available from: http://www.bradford.ac.uk/academic-skills/media/academicskillsadvice/documents/academicskillsresources/writing-science/Infosheet-diagrams-and-tables.pdf. [Accessed 03 July 2017].