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Richard Parncutt Revised April2014

Structuring the argument of a Bachelor’s thesis in systematic musicology Common problems and how to solve them. Richard Parncutt Revised April2014. Title page. Problem: Missing information

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Richard Parncutt Revised April2014

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  1. Structuring the argument of a Bachelor’s thesis in systematic musicology Common problems and how to solve them Richard Parncutt RevisedApril2014

  2. Title page • Problem: Missing information • Include title of essay, your name, matriculation no., name of course, semester of course, name of instructor, name of university, date of draft • Problem: A photo without a source • Unnecessary! There is no need to decorate student essays • You must state the source of any photo

  3. Abstract (1) • Problem: Abstract ismissing • Itshouldclarifythestructureofyourargument • Structure it like the main text (e.g. 1 sentence per heading) • Don’t talk about the text’s structure (not “in the intro…”) • Write grammatically complete sentences • It is ok to reproduce phrases verbatim from main text • Make abstract understandable independently of main text • Make it as informative as possible about your topic • Include main keywords for electronic literature search

  4. Abstract (2) • Problem: Abstract has introductory character • should instead summarize main theses and arguments • should be more concise than introduction • should not cite literature • should not refer directly to the structure of the paper • every point in abstract should be expanded in maintext • the last sentenceshouldbeaboutimplicationsoroutlook

  5. Abstract (3) • Problem: Abstract ismonolingual • Generally write two abstracts! One German, one English • Same content - but maybe quite different linguistic structures • About half a page or 1000 characters each • Give both abstracts a title  title in 2 languages for Zeugnis in Uni Graz Online

  6. Headings • Problem: Text contains no headings • Your text must contain at least three headings: “Introduction”, one of more headings describing the content of the main section (but not “Main section”), and a heading for the final section (e.g. “Conclusion”, “Discussion”, “Implications” etc.) • Subheadings are also possible but usually unnecessary. In that case follow APA style: Main headings are centered and subheadings are on the left.

  7. Citation style • Problem: Unclear or inconsistent citation style • Indicate it on the title page, e.g. “Citation style: APA” • Use only international standard styles (Chicago or MLA for humanities; see Wikipedia “citation style”) • Read the style guidelines and implement them! • Too many deviations  no grade! (Sorry, I don’t have time to correct citation style. Please take responsibility for it.)

  8. Writing style (1) • Problem: Writing is not informative • Tip: avoid negative statements, e.g. “According to the Institute of Y there is no universally accepted definition of X”. Instead, talk about what X really is (in your opinion - and in accordance with relevant literature) • Problem: “Blabla” • Get to the point. No need for e.g. “Throughout the years, the scientific interest in this topic grew, and several researchers investigated the effects of …”. Either write directly about the research or skip it.

  9. Writing style (2) • Problem: Text wanders, lacks direction • Solution: a clear hierarchical structure (your “argument”) • A clear narrative structure (superposed on the hierarchy) • Problem: Poor paragraph structure • Clarify the topic of each paragraph in the first sentence. • The rest of the paragraph should address only that topic. • A good paragraph has about 3 long or 6 short sentences. • The next paragraph should have a different topic. • Similar principles apply to sections (next hierarchical level).

  10. Writing style (3) • Problem: Unnecessary superlatives • The word “very” usually says nothing. Delete it! • Avoid exclamation marks too! For the same reason;-) • Tip: It’s acceptable to use exclamation marks in teaching guidelines, but not in academic texts!!! • Problem: Journalistic rather than academic style • E.g. spicing up your text with linguistic tricks and clichés • Instead, write (or construct) direct, clear sentences • Make your text interesting by talking about interesting things

  11. Yourmainthesis • Problem: Identicalto a claim in theliterature • Youshoulddepart in somewayfromtheliterature • Justifydeparturebycomparingsources • Problem: Attempt to “prove”/“verify” the thesis • In general, you can support a thesis but not prove it • The aim is instead to investigate possible theses • Look for arguments for and against each one • After that, concludethat one is (more) correct • This procedure aims to convince critical expert readers • Problem: Thesis or argument is too trivial • If it’s obvious, it’s also uninteresting • Don’t forget to seriously consider some counterarguments

  12. Possibletheses • Problem: listofpossiblethesesistoo trivial, e.g. • The mentionedeffectis positive • The effectis negative • Thereisnoeffect • The aboveis ok for an empiricalpaper. For a theoreticalpaperyoumightinsteadaskwhy? • Reasonorprocessno. 1? • Reason or process no. 2? (etc.) Intro: Present and explain this list in narrative text. Main part: Refer somewhere to each possible thesis. Conclusion: One of them becomes your main thesis.

  13. Terminologyfromthisguideline • Problem: Unnecessary reference to “my thesis”, subtopic 1”, “thesis implications”… • Avoid this terminology as far as possible • Headings should generally reflect content not structure • In the main section, the main headings are the subtopics • Convert all lists from tabular argument into narrative text

  14. Structure (1) • Problem: Paper talks about its own structure • Your text should implement the structure of the tabular argument without talking about it • E.g. avoid talking about “defining terms,” just do it! Don’t write e.g. “At the beginning of this part two terms have to be defined” • Don’t write “As mentioned already earlier in this paper, …”. Just get to the point! • Exception: at end of the introduction, describe the structure of the rest of the paper

  15. Structure (2) • Problem: Too much summarising of sources • Your own argument should make up most of the text • It is ok to occasionally and briefly summarize the main points of a primary source (e.g. in < 100 words) • See my page on academic independence • See ppt guidelines to SE “music psychology” on topic-driven (PS) versus thesis-driven (SE) work

  16. Introduction (1) • Problem: Inappropriateorderof material • Illustrative examplesshouldbeearly • General backgroundshouldbeearly (e.g. social, cultural, political, historiccontext) • Explanation ofstructureofmainpart: onlyatthe end

  17. Introduction (2) • Problem: Nobackground in relevant disciplines • Don‘t just listthe relevant disciplines • Makeconcreteclaimsaboutyourmainquestionthatmostpeople in thosedisciplineswouldsupport • Refertoliterature

  18. Main section • Problem: Main section not detailedenough • Read theliterature! • Organise material accordingtoyourstructure • Buildup a detailed, tightlyorganisedaccount • Details do not referdirectlytostatedtheses • Think abouteverynoun, verb and adjective in yourownthesis. Whatevidencemighttherebefororagainstit?

  19. Conclusion • Problem: Arguments for and against your thesis do not refer to the thesis as formulated • Make sure your thesis is well formulated. Refer only to that formulation! • Problem: Discussion of methodological limitations of sources is too superficial • If there are no obvious problems, don’t invent any • E.g. it is almost a cliché to write “not enough participants”

  20. Further research • Problem: Suggestionsforfurtherresearch do not addressexactformulationofyourthesis • Omitgeneralsuggestionsaboutresearch on yourtopic • Referonlytotheexactformulationofyourthesis • Same appliestopossibleresearchmethods

  21. Figuresandtables • Problem: Copied/scannedfrompublishedpaper • Prepareyourowngraphortablebased on datafromoneormore(!) articles relevant toyourspecificquestion • Wearelearningtowriteacademicarticlesforpublicationin whichfigures and tablesshouldbe original

  22. The processofresearchingandwriting • Problem: Talking about this process • The reader is interested in content, not what you did • Not e.g. „It was hard to find literature on topic X”

  23. Literature (1) • Problem: Not enough good literature cited (“good” = peer-reviewed or frequently cited) • Find out if your literature is “good” • If not, consider changing or revising your topic • Generally cite “good” literature more often • Your final literature list should be about 3 pages – much longer than for the preceding seminar!

  24. Literature (2) • Problem: Unclear origin of ideas • Make the origin of your main ideas clear • Usually every paragraph contains a reference - from the start of the introduction to the end of the conclusion • Problem: Referring to research without citing it • Don’t write “research shows…” or “many researchers have found…”. Instead, cite the literature directly

  25. Tabularargument (1) • Problem: Table is missing • You worked hard on it, so please include it as an appendix • Problem: Table is incomplete • It must include introduction, main part and final part and most ingredients of each part • Problem: Table does not correspond to text • Everything in the tabular argument should be expanded into the main text (includes the examples at the start) • When writing the text you will get ideas for revising the table. So move back and forth between text an table • E.g. you may revise a subthesis or the main thesisthis way

  26. Tabularargument(2) • Problem: Table is not conciseenough • ShouldbelessthanonepageeachforIntroduction, Subtopic 1, Subtopic 2, …, Conclusion • Problem: Illogicalstructureofthesis, subtheses… • Presentthestructure in class! We will discuss • Not enoughgood, diverse evidenceforthesis • Search literatureagain - orchangethesis

  27. (English) language • Problem: So poorthatitisdifficulttoread • Askforhelp • Practice givingpresentations in English

  28. Length • Problem: Length guidelines for bachelor’s theses in humanities (incl. Musikologie) • Theses in the sciences are typically about 20% shorter; AND • If your table is 4 pages, you can count it as up to 8 pages; AND • You can count the abstract as part of the text  instead of 30-40 pages for main text, you can submit 20-25 A longer thesis is ok if you solved all problems in this guideline;-)

  29. Submission • Problem: Only electronic copysubmitted • Please also printit, withtwopagesreducedontooneside (I also like double-sided) and staple thepagestogether • Problem: Onlypapercopysubmitted • Please also send an email attachment (preferablypdf) • I maylaterputit in theinternetifwebothagree, e.g. here: http://www.uni-graz.at/~parncutt/fk2_mitglieder.html • I mayrecommendthatyoureviseaccordingtomycommentsbeforepublication

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