THESES AND
DISSERTATIONS
Theses and Dissertations Terminology
THESIS
DISSERTATION
UK/AUS
UK/AUS
BACHELOR’S
HONORS;
MASTER’S
DOCTORATE
(PH.D; DPHIL
OR MPHIL)
US/CAN
BACHELOR’S
HONORS;
TAUGHT
MASTER’S
DOCTORATE
(PH.D; DPHIL
OR MPHIL)
US/CAN
Theses and Dissertations Word Count
Doctorate
80,000~100,000
MPhil
30,000~60,000
Taught Master’s
10,000~30,000
Theses and Dissertations Features
MASTER’S
DOCTORAL
ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION OR TESTING OF IDEAS
DISTINCT CONTRIBUTION TO KNOWLEDGE
COMPETENCE IN INDEPENDENT WORK
UNDERSTANDING OF APPROPRIATE
TECHNIQUES/METHODS AND THEIR LIMITATIONS
ABILITY TO MAKE CRITICAL USE OF PUBLISHED
WORK AND SOURCE MATERIALS
AWARENESS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE
TOPIC AND WIDER FIELD
PRESENTATION OF HIGH QUALITY WRITTEN
WORK
MORE COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT OF
TOPIC
DEMONSTRATED AUTHORITY
WORTHY OF PUBLICATION
EXCELLENCE IN STYLE AND GRAMMAR
ERROR FREE ENGLISH
STRUCTURE
Theses and Dissertations Models
TRADITIONAL MODEL
TOPICAL MODEL
Introduction
Introduction
Literature
Review
Materials and
Methods
Literature Review
Results
Topic 3
Discussion
Conclusion(s)
Topic 1
Topic 2
Topic 4
….
Conclusion(s)
Theses and Dissertations
TRADITIONAL MODEL (COMPLEX)
Introduction
Background to the Study and Literature Review
(Background Theory)
COMPILATION (ANTHOLOGY) MODEL
Introduction
Background to the Study
(General Methods)
Research Article 1
Study 1
• Introduction
• Methods
• Results
• Discussion and Conclusions
Research Article 2
Study 2
• Introduction
• Methods
• Results
• Discussion and Conclusions
Research Article 3
Study 3
• Introduction
• Methods
• Results
• Discussion and Conclusions
Discussion
Discussion
Conclusion
Conclusion
• Introduction
• Literature Review
• Materials and Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusions
• Introduction
• Literature Review
• Materials and Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusions
• Introduction
• Literature Review
• Materials and Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Conclusions
Theses and Dissertations Section Weight
15% ↓
INTRODUCTION
20% ↑
LITERATURE REVIEW
METHODOLOGY
RESULTS
15% ↓
15% ↑
20% ↑
DISCUSSION
CONCLUSION
10% ↓
PROCESS
Theses and Dissertations
TOPIC
RESEARCH
QUESTION
SUBMISSION
AND/OR
PUBLICATION
SIGNIFICANCE
AND
FEASIBILITY
DEFENCE AND
ASSESSMENT
FEEDBACK AND
REVISING
PROPOSAL
DRAFTING
DOCUMENT
CONVENTIONS
Theses and Dissertations Format
FRONT MATTER
• TITLE PAGE(S)
• DECLARATION
• APPROVAL
• DEDICATION
• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
• ABSTRACT
ORGANIZING MATTER
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• LIST OF TABLES
• LIST OF FIGURES
• LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
TEXT
BACK MATTER
• NON-SUBSTANTIVE CHAPTERS
• SUBSTANTIVE CHAPTERS
• REFERENCES
• APPENDICES
• SPINE
COMMON
PROBLEMS
Theses and Dissertations
RHETORICAL/LINGUISTIC
SUPERVISOR/EXAMINER ISSUES
INSTITUTIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
SOCIAL/SUPPORT ISSUES
BEHAVIORAL ISSUES
Theses and Dissertations
ACADEMIC FEATURES (12)
DRAFTING
METADISCOURSE/DISPLAY
REVISING MULTIPLE ITERATIONS
RHETORICAL/LINGUISTIC
AUTHOR/EDITOR BOUNDARIES
CONTENT
PROOFREADING DEVELOPMENTAL MECHANICAL
LANGUAGE
CORRELATING PARTS
EXTENSIVE READING
POSITIONING
DISCOURSE COMMUNITY CONVENTIONS
TECHNICAL
Theses and Dissertations
CROSS-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
COMMUNICATION/POLITENESS NORMS
FEEDBACK/MONITORING/SUPPORT
SUPERVISOR/EXAMINER
ISSUES
TACIT EXPECTATIONS
ACCENT/PRONUNCIATION/DIALECT/IDIOM
GROUP SUPERVISION
NUMBER OF SUPERVISORS/EXAMINERS
EXAMINATION TYPES
EXAMINER EXPECTATIONS
Theses and Dissertations
REQUIREMENTS
PROCEDURES
COMMUNICATION
SUPPORT
INSTITUTIONAL
CONSIDERATIONS
Theses and Dissertations
SOCIAL/SUPPORT
ISSUES
ACCESS TO
RESEARCH CULTURE
ACCESS TO SOCIAL
NETWORKS
GROUP
SUPERVISION
SOCIAL ANXIETY
ISOLATION
MARGINALIZATION
Theses and Dissertations
WRITERS’ BLOCK
PERFECTIONISM
BEHAVIORAL
ISSUES
FEAR/ACCEPTANCE OF CRITICISM
FEAR OF QUESTIONING
LINGUISTIC IDENTITY VS. RESEARCH
COMPETENCY
SHARON L. MORRISON
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PAN-PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
KYUNG HEE UNIVERSITY
Sharon.Morrison.95@post.harvard.edu
morrison@khu.ac.kr