Table of Contents

Part 1: Academic Research: An Overview

A.  Conducting Academic Research

B.   The Differences between a Thesis and a Dissertation

D.  Developing Independence as a Researcher and Finding your Voice

E.   Meeting the Challenges of Academic Research

a.                     Intellectual Challenges

b.                     Emotional Challenges

c.                     Motivational Challenges

      d.                     Organisational Challenges

F.  Becoming a Member of an Academic Community

a.                     Attending Research Seminars and Conferences

b.                     Networking in Person and on the Internet

c.                     Creating a Support Group

G.  Choosing and Working with Your Supervisor

Part 2: Preparing to Write

A.  Familiarity with Your School’s Rules & Regulations

B.   Ethical Considerations

C.  Deciding on a Research Topic

D.  Identifying a Gap in the Literature

E.   Generating Research Questions and Research Hypotheses

F.   Deciding on the Research Approach

a.                     Quantitative Approaches

b.                     Qualitative Approaches

c.                     Mixed-methods Approaches

d.                     Disciplinary and Subject Variations

Part 3: Clear and Effective Writing

A.  Reading and Planning before You Write

B.   Sources of Information

C.  Selecting Appropriate Information

D.  Note-taking

E.   The Style of Academic Writing

a.                     Clarity

b.                     Level of Formality

c.                     Eliminating Biased Language

d.                     Supporting Your Claims

e.                     Acknowledging Alternative Perspectives

f.                      Avoiding Plagiarism

h.                     Summarising and Concluding Individual Chapters