Dissertations and Extended Essays

1. Dissertations and Extended Essays Shaun Theobald The Student Learning Advisory Service

2. The workshop structure • Preliminary information/discussion • Maximising project potential • Preparing a synopsis or abstract • Time management&managing reading • Summary/final discussion

3. Your final subject choice • Engagement; intellectual curiosity = academic ‘fun’ • Choose a subject you enjoy • Then (with the right organisation & preparation etc…) the ‘results’ will follow • Your opportunity to negotiate your own area of interest

4. Preliminary • What questions do you have about extended essays/dissertations? • What kind of document are you going to produce? • Word limit? • No of chapters? • Visual material? • Secondary sources?

5. Preliminary-dissertation structure • Normal process = • (Abstract) • Ch 1 Introduction • Ch 2 Literature review (but may be integrated into other chs.) • Chs 3-6/7 Discussion • Each chapter ‘unfolds’ a topic/argument • Ch 7/8 Conclusion • References/bibliography • Appendices

6. Preliminary –the characteristics of a dissertation • How does a dissertation (extended essay) differ from an academic essay? • More depth • Topics explored in more detail • More ‘angles’ covered • Greater amount of literature used • More formal survey of this literature • More critical/summative evaluation of the literature • More independent, ‘original’ research

7. Preliminary –Originality • How can you articulate ‘independent evaluation’ at dissertation level? (cf a PhD) • 1. Wider use of sources – your selection • Stronger evaluation • Detailed analysis of the ‘argument’ • Comparison of sources • Identifying underlying themes/approaches • Rigorous embedding as ‘evidence’ in your writing

8. Preliminary-Originality • 2. Your writing may include an element of empirical/original research • Field observations/data • Surveys/questionnaires • In general, you are still working with existing research; carrying out a limited amount of original research • Keep things in proportion! Your dissertation is not a PhD where you will be mainly ‘on your own’… • BUT MAKE ROOM FOR YOUR OWN VIEWS!

9. Preliminary- types of dissertation • Case study • Relates a specific example to a theoretical perspective/ generic ‘argument’ • Comparative • Two + different ‘scenarios’ compared within a theoretical perspective/ generic ‘argument’ • Quantitative investigation • Data used to test/extend existing arguments • Critical analysis • Review of ‘argument’ using existing sources, but making independent evaluations and comparisons

10. Maximising project potential: getting started • Start as soon as possible • Record any early ideas • Compile a list of any terminology/discipline-specific terms • Keep track of references and reading! • Talk widely to others – fellow students; the department • Record things all the time…so you can retrieve ideas/information later on

11. Maximising project potential: organisation • Organisation is vital • Organisation in one place • Study space - the ‘base camp’ for your work • Filing away - research material to hand! • Continuity needed • Maintain reading records • Working with others? • Agreeing space/time

12. Maximising project potential: preparing for reading/research • Prepare your bibliography • Understand department/module referencing conventions http://www.kent.ac.uk/uelt/ai/ • Keep an active record of your reading – • Material you will read • Recommended material • Rejected material

13. Maximising project potential: planning and choosing the topic • What? Why? How? Where? When? • Guidance from Department/Module • Your instincts • Your interests • Width and depth • Current academic thinking • Consulting journals to access this

14. Maximising project potential: planning and choosing the topic • Build on the ‘spark of interest’: • Start with specific ideas/ data/ observations/ a piece of reading • Think how this could be extended to a hypothesis • Think about further reading • If time allows, read further now…but at the skimming/abstract level! • Refine hypothesis [from reading as well, if possible]

15. Maximising project potential: planning and choosing the topic • Consult librarians • Use electronic data http://www.kent.ac.uk/library/online/index.html • Initial literature reviews • Budgetary constraints-time + money? • Access to materials/libraries? • Methodological/fieldwork constraints?

16. Literature reviews • Think about your own ideas before you search • Relate the literature review to your ideas • Show sensible focus and selection • Be guided by others: dept.; supervisor; librarian

17. Literature reviews • Integrate your literature review into your writing • Discuss your material • Don’t just ‘tack-on’ a summary of research! • Use the “opening-out” approach (Dunleavy p119) • Download available: Managing and organising the literature review

18. Preparing a synopsis • Hypothesis-How? • Aims-Why? • Argument-What? • A document to guide you • A document to discuss with your supervisor • A document that can be revised

19. The ‘pretend’ abstract • Just an idea to get your started • Works like a ‘real’ abstract • Will be totally revised in the long-term • Positive forward-looking syntax & grammar • A confidence booster? • Concretises & crystallises your thinking • Starts you writing!

20. ACTIVITY • Ten-minutes • Either • a. Writing up what you can on the synopsis pro forma • b. Trying a mock abstract

21. Supervision • Take charge? • (Diplomatically!) • Anticipate questions in advance • Plan actions to discuss them… • Then record agreed actions • Always have a specific agenda • Plan meetings strategically + regularly

22. Time management • Priorities • Schedules • Using gap time effectively • Working to a deadline • Working backwards from a deadline • Leaving time for disasters! • Leaving time for creative thinking • Writing in chapter stages? • Or one draft, then review?

23. Time management: 4 big tips! • Write-up empirical research as you go along • Work to a time/word limit • Allow about 25% of total time for writing up • Remember the time needed at the end for binding, paginating, sorting appendices etc! • Downloads: Study planner + Ten tips on time management

24. Managing reading • Seek guidance • Establish priorities • Read actively: always carry forward questions & skim + scan + read for detail • Practice ‘rapid-access’ reading • Work with an active and accurate bibliography

25. Notes from reading • Make notes selective • Not summaries! • Use a variety of methods • Systematic organisation • Systematic filing • Bibliographical details • + page nos. • Separation of source material from your paraphrases • Avoiding the plagiarism trap

26. Managing writing • PLAN ahead & time-manage • Overall plan • Detailed plans • Academic paragraph structure? • Write in 2hr (?) bursts • Set day/hour word targets • Light review constantly • Careful editing later • At the end of the writing ‘day’? • (Time for final editing)

27. Over-view • Download – Making projects productive + final points on getting a good mark http://www.rlf.org.uk/FELLOWSHIPSCHEME/writing/diswriting/intro.htm

28. Good luck with your writing… • For further support, contact us… • www.kent.ac.uk/uelt/learning