Barry White Workshop...

Barry White sure knows his soul but what about thesis writing?..Below are notes from the very good/useful/succinct/timely workshop taken by Dr W. Barry White (though the aforementioned may well have an honorary degree).

Illustrations - see book by Edward Tufte 'Beautiful Evidence' See his website: http://www.edwardtufte.com/tufte/

Thesis definition

• an original proposition, statement or assertion advanced and maintained by argument
• where it's not possible to  encapsulate the thesis in a title, it should be stated early in the text (eg. at the beginning of the introduction)
• ideally expressed as a question - this provides a focus; state this question at the beginning
• or a purpose statement instead of question

By writing down what your thesis is not about, you can more easily draft  a statement of what it is about. Far easier to disprove something than to prove it. The null hypothesis.

Vocabulary

Use appropriate vocabulary. Science - investigates, Humanities (architecture) - explores. 

Can use language which hedges (eg. the example of the DNA discovery) eg. 'appears to' 'suggests' etc 

Systematic arguments (usually only applies in science) versus Inductive arguments (sound or unsound) - 'likely' 'possible' etc

• eg. inductive - you are human; most humans eat fish; therefore you are likely to eat fish OR you are human; some humans eat prawns; therefore it is possible that you eat prawns

Title

Concept: Specific boundaries

Eg. 'The rhetoric of adolescent fiction: the pedagogy of reading practices in south…etc…

Or

Concept … Specific boundaries

Make sure you always have a title - this will most probably change over time

Examiner will want to see your title concepts defined - the focus

The title should assist examiners to understand what your intention is. Thus, all terms used in the title should be defined early on.

Introduction

Delimitations - define the limits of your research (chapter one). 

Likewise, the key concepts need to be defined early (eg. what is meant by architectural placebo, phenomenological etc)

The introduction sets the tone of the thesis - be assertive in the purpose statement at the start.

Purpose statement
Explanation about what is to come next
Then indicate the topic area and emphasise its current or future importance/relevance (why am I doing this?)*
Provide definitions of terms and phrases as used in the thesis, as required (eg. architectural placebo,  salutogenics, my interpretation of these phrases)

• What are the origins of my research?
• *Why is this research important?
• What are the major issues and debates around the topic?
• What are the key concepts, theories and ideas?

Generally, the introduction could use the following format:

1. Purpose of the research
2. Structure of this chapter
3. Theoretical framework
4. Definition of terms
5. Context
6. Focus of the research
7. Significance of the research
8. Structure of the thesis (then including sections outlining what is in each chapter)

The relationship between the introduction and the conclusion is close - all the questions and issues raised in the introduction will need to be addressed in the conclusion.

Structure - general

• Metatext, to make the writing reader friendly by providing explanations of text to follow, how it's going to be structured etc
• Chapters - very flexible - make up each chapter as relevant, but explain why this structure is appropriate
• Be careful not to overquote. Try to incorporate into your own sentences. Also, be discriminating about what references you use and/or put things like 'see for a good example, …'

Conclusion

Rather than 'wrap things up', good conclusions 'open things up'. 'join the conversation' about this topic NB. Summary versus conclusion (these are different)

Examiners are looking for your unique insight - the indeterminate qualities