Thesis
The first generic quality of the Research Degree Graduate Qualities refers to the higher degree by research student's comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of the literature of the research area, detailed knowledge of appropriate research methodologies, ability to perform critical analysis and, most importantly, ability to produce original knowledge. See also Research proposal
Introduction
The final outcome of the process of exercising intellectual
independence or self-direction and acquiring
the principles of project management is the thesis.
The research proposal forms the structure for the thesis, which is
usually written up in the last six months of candidature. However
the process of writing the thesis is happening throughout the
candidature. The resources on this page will help you with
the development of your thesis.
UniSA resources
On campus workshops
Research Education Support Activities (RESA) offers on campus workshops relevant to stages in developing your thesis as part of the core series (all disciplines). Check the calendar for details of when these workshops are offered.
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Online workshops, courses and resources
Writing the thesis index (RESA) provides links to online workshops, courses and resources (including Word for thesis writing online workshop which has thesis templates and information about layout using Microsoft Word).
Library
- Finding theses and dissertations tells you how to search the catalogue for theses, databases relevant to finding theses and training available to develop your skills
- ePrints Digital Repository (arrow@unisa) - look for theses on your topic or in a related area in this open access archive of research literature
Other
Writing the thesis (Thesis submission) provides information on:
- Engage with the scholarly/professional debate
- Writing as part of the research process
- Thesis presentation, submission and examination
Strategies for writing a high quality research thesis: a personal view (PPT file, 756kb) - Prof Stephen Priest, Dean Research
Concepts for PhD design and examination (Ideas Research Group, Division of Business) covers a range of topics relevant to thesis preparation such as:
- Writing the Doctoral Dissertation
- It's a PhD not a Nobel Prize
Referencing (Learning and Teaching Unit) looks at styles of referencing, referencing electronic resources, avoiding plagiarism and frequently asked questions and links to Avoiding plagiarism
Completion scholarships
are designed to enable research
students in the final stages of writing their thesis to spend
uninterrupted time (up to six months) to complete the thesis
Other resources
Editing of Research Theses by Professional Editors (Deans and Directors of Graduate Studies website) provides guidelines for what is acceptable when theses are edited by professional editors.
The Lord of the Rings: an allegory of the PhD? by Dave Pritchard offers a humorous look at the process of writing a thesis.
Scientific writing guides (University of Adelaide) covers writing essays/articles and citing publications in bibliographies, as well as writing laboratory reports and theses. Both online and print resources are listed.
The following resource from PhD Stages, University of Queensland, contains sections relevant to this process
- Writing up
- Deciding on your structure
- Seeing the plot emerge
- Developing a picture of the thesis as a whole
- Preparing an outline
- Achieving unity in your thesis
- Working on a section
- Attending to details
- Writing an abstract
- Revising and editing
- Looking for the fit between your aims and your research design
How to organize your thesis (Prof John W Chinneck, Dept of Systems and Computer Engineering Carleton University Ottawa, Canada)
How to write a PhD thesis, Joe Wolfe, University of NSW (available in English, Spanish and French) 'gives simple and practical advice on the problems of getting started, getting organized, dividing the huge task into less formidable pieces and working on those pieces.'