How to Write a Better Thesis

by David Evans, Paul Gruba

This concise guide emphasizes clear and logical structure as the key to a well-written thesis. Offering concrete examples of common structural problems, and numerous devices, tricks, and tests by which to avoid them, in a direct and conversational tone, it proves that the astute researcher must no longer regard writing as the last chore but rather as a crucial part of the research process. This updated edition reflects the changes in research style brought about by the Internet.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Research, Reference, Academia, Academic

198 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

There is more than one author with this name
David Evans, senior associate of the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning at the University of Melbourne, is coeditor of Restoring the Land.

Reviews

[Eliza Marin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A succinct, Australian and step-by-step way into how to properly write a thesis the way no professor can ever take the time to explain it to you. It gives you the confidence that if you take it one by one you can actually make it until the end. It goes through criteria for judging a thesis, the struggle of starting and editing it over and over again, the weigh of each chapter and where is your contribution supposed to lie, what should results measure and how to interpret them in a constructive, self-critical discussion. It goes beyond your thesis and where every academic pursuit should go, there, at the question of 'what is the point of research and this one in particular'. It touches not only the specifics of writing and the conundrum of it but the beautifully and philosophically put questions of why, we, researchers, do what we do. It creates a more thoughtful, candid and authentic voiced generation of academics and future kindred-spirited scientific writers.

[Pedro Rosas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basic one

[Debbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Received via NetGalley and Melbourne University Publishing in exchange for an completely unbiased review.

How to Write a Better Thesis is about writing your first thesis. The questions you will have to ask, the issues you will face when choosing research methods and even the desire to procrastinate are all discussed in this book. The authors even include a brief checklist near the end of the book to allow students to photocopy the "minimums" in thesis completion preparation.

The book itself reads very much like an essay (or thesis) itself; with a research question at the beginning, a description of the purpose of a thesis, the overall usefulness of theses to the academic world, and the steps involved to develop a strong piece of writing. The ending sums up the entirety of the book, and directs a reader back to the initial aim of the book: aiding a student towards an academic thesis writing framework.

An insightful, well rounded and sometimes understandably dull - this book is worth the purchase if you are about to start your thesis project. It would be very useful to read, highlighting the important parts and utilizing the checklist. Considering the authors themselves are thesis advisors the book has some useful tips and tricks that steer the reader away from popular mistakes that they have seen time and again. Well worth the effort to read if you have time during this stressful time of your life!

[Eva Evangelisious · Rating 4 out of 5]

very helpful for students that they are lost on what to write for their thesis. it provides examples that can help you understand the ''do'' and ''don't'' of your own paper. it is also helpful for the outline of your study and how to develop the structure of your paper.

[Nik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great reference book for PhD applicants. Simple, well written, good examples and to the point. A good investment.

[Marielena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was by far the best book on dissertation writing I have read. It has a well-organized structure and covers each part of dissertation writing with concise and up-to-date advice and practical tips. It also has extra information about the submission process, as well as about publishing your results, and the life after the dissertation. Overall, I think it's a very concrete and easy-to-follow guide to thesis writing. One message was the clearest of all: write early and never allow long periods of time without writing - especially the last one gets in my 'hard-to-swallow-truths' list. Now I just have to persuade myself to do the actual writing of my own dissertation - is it productive procrastination when you read about dissertation writing without actually doing the dissertation writing? *sigh*

Who recommended the book to me: no one; I'm just a weirdo (and a pretty desperate one) browsing books about dissertation writing; this one caught my attention because it was relatively recently published and it had good reviews on Goodreads.
I would recommend to: people who have decided to do a PhD (*gasps in terror*) and want to learn more about the way to structure and write their dissertation.

[Simge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baştan sona büyük hevesle okuduğum bir kitap oldu. Yazarlar, zaten zor olan bir süreci kolaylaştırmak için bir kitapta ne yapılabilirse onu fazlasıyla yapmışlar bence. Düşüncelerimi düzene sokmamda ve sonrasında kağıda dökmemde de etkisi yadsınamaz boyutta. Doğrudan kendi konunuza yönelik örnekler bulmak bu tarz hemen her kitapta zor oluyor fakat bence bu kitap verdiği örneklerle -örnek farklı disiplinlerden olsa dahi- bu sıkıntının da üstesinden gelmiş. Kitap, bir tezin yazılma aşamalarını farklı alanlardaki tezlere de uyacak şekilde takip etmiş ve ortaya okunması ve anlaşılması oldukça kolay, eğitici bir kitap çıkmış. Bu bakımdan yazarlara, hocalarıma gerçekten büyük minnet duyuyorum; böyle eserlere her zaman rastlanmıyor.

[Uyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for any Australian PhD students and candidates. If you're struggling with writing or making your research output an enjoyable (readable) narration, for the love of God, please read this book!!!

[Fernando · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did like it despite is an australian book. ;) lol

[Kevin Riley]

Good information for those writing a thesis, or about to begin doing so. Covers virtually everything you need to know.

[Atika · Rating 5 out of 5]

concise, helpful, probably would be going back to refer to certain sections.

[Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

I cheerfully pillaged all its structural outlines and found them very useful in clarifying what kind of thing I am trying to end up with at the end of the next few years. I'll refer back to it in a year or so once I've finished exams and begun my actual research.

[Joshua]

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[Vincent Russo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but probably more for students who are in a more qualitative field. The first few chapters were much more broad and useful (at least to me) than the remaining portion of the book.

[Yang Zhang]

I skimmed.

[Alex Linschoten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful, but ultimately uninspiring. Copy the end-of-PhD checklist from 3/4 of the way through...