Academic Writing
Research is often seen as a more or less unbiased activity, conducted by people whose personal preferences, opinions and lives should be kept in the background whilst conducting their research and analyzing their data. The thesis itself is a professional narration that hopefully inspires the reader with confidence about the rigor of the study and […]
A good dissertation proposal sets you up for success in the journey of completing a dissertation. It is an extensive roadmap that will show what you are planning to research and how. It does not need to be exact, and it is expected that you might change certain parts of your research project as you […]
It is important not to run out of steam just before getting close to the finish line of your academic work. Your final dissertation chapter summarizes your work, as well as shows that your work has made a significant contribution to the available literature on your topic. As such, you should write your final chapter […]
It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters. (Epictetus, Ancient Greek philosopher) It is always reassuring and encouraging to receive positive and supportive feedback. It confirms that what you are doing is good and worthwhile. However, we are all sometimes faced with some more critical comments, and occasional constructive […]
When starting a project (or embarking on a life journey), whenever possible, it is always good to start with the end in mind. This gives you a sense of direction and purpose, pulls you towards your goal and usually saves you time in the long run. This philosophy can also be applied to planning and […]
A dissertation is the pinnacle of a doctoral student’s academic journey. The answer to ‘what is a dissertation?’ is not as easy as it sounds. A dissertation is a capstone assignment that marks the finish line for a doctoral student, and distinguishes them as a bona fide researcher. Students who have applied for a PhD […]
A PhD manuscript does not need to resemble a ‘door stop’. The traditional format — divided into introduction, literature review, methods, results and discussion — is not the only option for presenting your research. In some fields of study (and at some universities) students can opt for the three (or triple) article dissertation (TAD) format, […]
Writing and editing academic work can sometimes seem like a daunting, time-consuming task. Producing numerous pages of original, well-balanced, errorless text is certainly not a walk in the park for anyone. However, there are some useful techniques you can employ to speed up the writing process and make it more enjoyable. Fast writing, slow revising […]
