Both Good and Original
Some practical tips for writing your
PhD
"Your manuscript is both good and
original. But the part that is good is
not original, and the part that is
original is not good." (Attributed to
Samuel Johnson.)
The Problem with the PhD
“The average PhD thesis is nothing but a
transference of bones from one graveyard to
another.”
J. Frank Dobie
What’s in a thesis?
It should:
• be substantial and ground-breaking
• define a hypothesis
• provide arguments to substantiate or refute
that hypothesis
• make a difference
• have 2 -3 key research ideas
• be something you can be proud of
The Writing-Up Stage
Problems
• Things take longer than you expect
• Shaping and refining the thesis or argument is
difficult
• Sorting out chapters, sections and sub-sections is
time-consuming
• Integrating and responding to comments
requires further thinking and re-writing
• Editing and proofreading require time and
energy
Ten tips for writing your thesis
1. Plan your argument
Write one sentence for each of the following:
Introduction
The problem
What the literature says
My approach to this problem
My response/solution/observations
The result/outcome
Ten tips for writing your thesis
2. Plan your thesis
Use your argument as a basis for a chapter
outline
Start a binder or box file for each chapter
Be prepared to change your mind
Writing your thesis outline
Aim for a respectable number of chapters
Five chapters is probably too little
8 or more would be very ambitious
6/7 chapters is the average
Writing your thesis outline – fill in the
standard chapters first
Thesis Outline
1. Introduction
2. Literature Review
3. Methodology
4.
5.
6.
7. Conclusions
Make up titles for the ‘meat’ chapters
1. Introduction
2. Literature Review
3. Methodology
4. (That stuff you did in your first year)
5. (Stuff you’re supposed to be doing now)
6. (Make stuff up)
7. Conclusions
PhD Comics
Ten top tips for writing your thesis
3. Make the most of your reading
Write a summary of the ideas
Write your own response to these ideas
Keep a citation record
Ten tips for writing your theses
4. Write summaries of the various sections
and chapters
Submit these to colleagues and other PhD
students in your area
Ten tips for writing your thesis
5. You don’t have to start at the beginning
You could start with the Methodology
Leave the Abstract until last
Ten tips for writing your thesis
6. Consider how you present your material
Logical order
Clarity
Develop your argument
Ten tips for writing your thesis
7. Maintain pace by working on different tasks
Draft
Edit
Research
Ten tips for writing your thesis
8. Form a work group with other PhD students
Exchange ideas
Conduct peer reviews
Provide feedback and support
Ten tips for writing your thesis
9. Develop a writing routine
Start writing from the beginning
Write on a daily basis
Write in the same place
On the value of writing ...
“I write to keep me from going mad from the
contradictions I find among mankind – and to
work some of these contradictions out for
myself.”
Michel de Montaigne
Ten tips for writing your thesis
10. Set realistic and manageable goals
200 words a day
1,400 words a week
5,600 words a month
50,000 words in 9 months!
Questions to ask yourself
Why will your work change the world?
What would you do differently if you had the
chance?
How will you know when you’ve finished?
How do you measure success?
Words of wisdom
“A man may write at any time, if he will set
himself doggedly to it.”
Samuel Johnson