In a previous article entitled “structuring your introduction”, we suggested that a good way of approaching your introductory chapter was to treat it like any other essay and begin with an introduction before moving on to the main body of the chapter and ending with a...
Types of argument: the categorical syllogism Arguments are the life force of your thesis. Claims are easy to make, but unless that claim comes as part of an argument then it is of limited value. Rather, it is the presence and strength of the arguments that will...
Writing a paper jointly authored with your supervisor Given the amount of research you will be doing, and its necessarily original nature, it makes sense to publish at least some of your work while you are still a student. This is because your full focus should be on...
Understanding and explaining the methodology behind your research is an important part of the PhD process and may even be allocated its own chapter in your final thesis. In developing and explaining your methodology you will probably come across the term,...
For some PhDs, particularly those in science and social science, the literature review will form a discrete chapter. For others, such as those in law or the arts and humanities, it may be integrated more diffusely throughout the thesis. Beyond this structural...
Planning a research trip is a frequently encountered aspect of any doctoral project. Only a minority of PhDs can be written entirely from one’s desk, or from materials found online. Most research requires some travel, either to consult archives, conduct fieldwork, or...
