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How to write your undergraduate dissertation / Bryan Greetham.

By: Material type: TextTextSeries: Palgrave study skillsPublication details: Basingstoke : Palgrave Macmillan, 2014.Edition: Second editionDescription: xi, 395 pages: charts ; 22. cmISBN:
  • 9781137389763
  • 1137389761
Subject(s): DDC classification:
  • 808.066 GRE
Contents:
Examiners and supervisors. Examiners: What are they looking for? -- Working with your supervisor -- Generating and developing original ideas. What activities suit you best? -- Types of research -- What interests you most? -- Generating your own ideas 1: using trigger questions -- Generating your own ideas 2: Perspectives and levels -- Developing your ideas 1: Causal relations -- Developing your ideas 2: Conceptual relations -- Original questions and hypotheses 1: Using analogies -- Original questions and hypotheses 2: Working with your structures -- Deciding on your project. Searching the literature 1: Knowing what to look for -- Searching the literature 2: How to search -- Choosing the topic -- Organizing your work. Planning your research -- Managing your time -- Your retrieval system -- Reading -- Note-taking -- Doing your research. Qualitative and quantitative research -- Secondary sources -- Primary sources 1: Quantitative research -- Primary sources 2: Designing and distributing your questionnaire -- Primary sources 3: Qualitative research- interviews and focus groups -- Primary sources 4: Qualitative research- case studies and observations -- Planning your dissertation. The main components and introduction -- The literature review -- Research methods, findings, conclusion and appendices -- Organizing your thinking. Developing consistent arguments 1: The components -- Developing consistent arguments 2: The connections -- Using evidence 1: Describing it -- Using evidence 2: Drawing inferences -- Using evidence 3: Creating causal connections -- Using language 1: Clarity- jargon -- Using language 2: Clarity-manipulative words -- Using language 3: Clarity- consistency -- Writing your dissertation. The first draft -- Style 1: Finding your own voice -- Style 2: Simplicity and economy -- Plagiarism, referencing and bibliographies. Plagiarism -- Referencing and bibliographies -- Editing. Revision 1: The structure -- Revision 2: The content.
Summary: Unlike any other book this teaches students how to generate their own ideas and develop them into original research projects. Using examples from all disciplines, it not only teaches students how to plan and research using all the qualitative and quantitative techniques and instruments, but also how to construct arguments and use evidence and language consistently. Throughout it emphasizes that writing is the most difficult form of thinking and dissertations are a test of our ability both to think and write clearly.
Holdings
Item type Current library Call number Copy number Status Date due Barcode
Standard Loan Clonmel Library Main Collection 808.066 GRE (Browse shelf(Opens below)) 1 Available 39002100628388
Standard Loan Moylish Library Main Collection 808.066 GRE (Browse shelf(Opens below)) 1 Missing 39002100628289
Standard Loan Thurles Library Main Collection 808.02 GRE (Browse shelf(Opens below)) 1 Available 39002100628438

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Writing a dissertation is like running a marathon: a successful one takes months of careful planning and preparation. This practical guide takes undergraduate students step-by-step through the process of completing a dissertation, from the initial stages of generating original ideas and planning the project through to writing their first draft and critically reviewing their own work.

It shows students how to choose the most appropriate methods for collecting and analysing their data and how to then integrate this research into their dissertation. Students will learn how to develop consistent and persuasive arguments and write up their research in a clear and concise style.

This book is an essential resource for undergraduates of all disciplines who are required to write a dissertation as part of their degree.

Previous edition: 2009.

Includes bibliographical references (page 389) and index.

Examiners and supervisors. Examiners: What are they looking for? -- Working with your supervisor -- Generating and developing original ideas. What activities suit you best? -- Types of research -- What interests you most? -- Generating your own ideas 1: using trigger questions -- Generating your own ideas 2: Perspectives and levels -- Developing your ideas 1: Causal relations -- Developing your ideas 2: Conceptual relations -- Original questions and hypotheses 1: Using analogies -- Original questions and hypotheses 2: Working with your structures -- Deciding on your project. Searching the literature 1: Knowing what to look for -- Searching the literature 2: How to search -- Choosing the topic -- Organizing your work. Planning your research -- Managing your time -- Your retrieval system -- Reading -- Note-taking -- Doing your research. Qualitative and quantitative research -- Secondary sources -- Primary sources 1: Quantitative research -- Primary sources 2: Designing and distributing your questionnaire -- Primary sources 3: Qualitative research- interviews and focus groups -- Primary sources 4: Qualitative research- case studies and observations -- Planning your dissertation. The main components and introduction -- The literature review -- Research methods, findings, conclusion and appendices -- Organizing your thinking. Developing consistent arguments 1: The components -- Developing consistent arguments 2: The connections -- Using evidence 1: Describing it -- Using evidence 2: Drawing inferences -- Using evidence 3: Creating causal connections -- Using language 1: Clarity- jargon -- Using language 2: Clarity-manipulative words -- Using language 3: Clarity- consistency -- Writing your dissertation. The first draft -- Style 1: Finding your own voice -- Style 2: Simplicity and economy -- Plagiarism, referencing and bibliographies. Plagiarism -- Referencing and bibliographies -- Editing. Revision 1: The structure -- Revision 2: The content.

Unlike any other book this teaches students how to generate their own ideas and develop them into original research projects. Using examples from all disciplines, it not only teaches students how to plan and research using all the qualitative and quantitative techniques and instruments, but also how to construct arguments and use evidence and language consistently. Throughout it emphasizes that writing is the most difficult form of thinking and dissertations are a test of our ability both to think and write clearly.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

  • Preface (p. x)
  • Acknowledgements (p. xi)
  • Introduction (p. 1)
  • Part 1 Examiners and Supervisors (p. 7)
  • 1 Examiners: What are they Looking for? (p. 9)
  • 2 Working with your Supervisor (p. 16)
  • Part 2 Generating and Developing Original Ideas (p. 23)
  • 3 What Activities Suit you Best? (p. 25)
  • 4 Types of Research (p. 33)
  • 5 What Interests you Most? (p. 43)
  • 6 Generating your Own Ideas 1: Using Trigger Questions (p. 51)
  • 7 Generating your Own Ideas 2: Perspectives and Levels (p. 59)
  • 8 Developing your Ideas 1: Causal Relations (p. 66)
  • 9 Developing your Ideas 2: Conceptual Relations (p. 75)
  • 10 Original Questions and Hypotheses 1: Using Analogies (p. 88)
  • 11 Original Questions and Hypotheses 2: Working with your Structures (p. 95)
  • Part 3 Deriding on your Project (p. 107)
  • 12 Searching the Literature 1: Knowing What to Look for (p. 109)
  • 13 Searching the Literature 2: How to Search (p. 116)
  • 14 Choosing the Topic (p. 125)
  • Part 4 Organising your Work (p. 137)
  • 15 Planning your Research (p. 139)
  • 16 Managing your Time (p. 150)
  • 17 Your Retrieval System (p. 163)
  • 18 Reading (p. 171)
  • 19 Note-taking (p. 179)
  • Part 5 Doing your Research (p. 189)
  • 20 Qualitative and Quantitative Research (p. 191)
  • 21 Secondary Sources (p. 199)
  • 22 Primary Sources 1: Quantitative Research (p. 206)
  • 23 Primary Sources 2: Designing and Distributing your Questionnaire (p. 212)
  • 24 Primary Sources 3: Qualitative Research û Interviews and Focus Groups (p. 222)
  • 25 Primary Sources 4: Qualitative Research - Case Studies and Observations (p. 229)
  • Part 6 Planning your Dissertation (p. 239)
  • 26 The Main Components and Introduction (p. 241)
  • 27 The Literature Review (p. 246)
  • 28 Research Methods, Findings, Conclusion and Appendices (p. 254)
  • Part 7 Organising your Thinking (p. 265)
  • 29 Developing Consistent Arguments 1: The Components (p. 267)
  • 30 Developing Consistent Arguments 2: The Connections (p. 276)
  • 31 Using Evidence 1: Describing it (p. 286)
  • 32 Using Evidence 2: Drawing Inferences (p. 293)
  • 33 Using Evidence 3: Creating Causal Connections (p. 301)
  • 34 Using Language 1: Clarity - jargon (p. 308)
  • 35 Using Language 2: Clarity - Manipulative Words (p. 317)
  • 36 Using Language 3: Consistency (p. 324)
  • Part 8 Writing your Dissertation (p. 329)
  • 37 The First Draft (p. 331)
  • 38 Style 1: Finding your Own Voice (p. 339)
  • 39 Style 2: Simplicity and Economy (p. 344)
  • Part 9 Plagiarism, Referencing and Bibliographies (p. 353)
  • 40 Plagiarism (p. 355)
  • 41 Referencing and Bibliographies (p. 361)
  • Part 10 Editing (p. 371)
  • 42 Revision 1: The Structure (p. 373)
  • 43 Revision 2: The Content (p. 381)
  • Conclusion (p. 388)
  • Bibliography (p. 389)
  • Index (p. 390)

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Bryan Greetham was educated at the universities of Kent and Sussex, UK. He holds a PhD in moral philosophy from the University of Newcastle, Australia. He is currently engaged in research into moral thinking and the Holocaust, and teaches philosophy at the University of Maryland. He is the author of How to Write Better Essays, Thinking Skills for Professionals and Philosophy.

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