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What follows is a list of useful resources for Postgraduate students. We welcome any suggestions for additions. Just point us in the right direction and please let us know if you have any suggestions.
Information for current UNSW Research Students
How
do I find thesis information? UNSW library
Writing your
Thesis Proposal
The Learning Centre at UNSW. A guide for students who are enrolled in
a postgraduate research degree and who have been asked to submit a thesis
proposal.
Getting Started
on Your Literature Review
A short guide from The Learning Centre at UNSW with a few suggestions
to get you started.
How
to write a Ph D Thesis
Notes on preparing and writing thesis at UNSW from Associate Professor
Joe Wolfe in the UNSW School of Physics.
The
Last Scramble: Submitting that Thesis
A very useful point-form list of advice on thesis writing. UNSW PhD graduate
Ben Searle produced the paper for a Postgraduate Board seminar and it
is now available to all research students via the website.
From
Finish to Start: Writing your thesis with the end in view (pdf)
Notes from Sue Starfield's presentation at the Thesis Submission Seminar
2006. For
further details, visit the Graduate
Research School website.
Postgraduate Research
A great site from the University of Queensland.
Thesis writing: Higher Degree by Research
From Deakin University. The resources discuss thesis writing and structure,
the writing process, the
literature review, and editing and style. There is also some great advice about
postgraduate
basics.
Climb the Thesis Mountain
An excellent guide to producing
a thesis from Monash University.
Writing Dissertations: A Guide for Graduates
From the Royal Literary Fund,
UK. This site offers writing skills advice for dissertation writers
and thesis writers.
Writing and Presenting
Your Thesis or Dissertation
By S. Joseph Levine, Ph.D., Michigan State University in East Lansing. A useful
site with good links.
Writing Theses and Dissertations
By Jennifer Hillman Helgren and David Parker at Claremont Graduate University
Writing
Research Theses or Dissertations (guidelines and tips for Engineering
theses)
University of Newcastle upon Tyne
Thesis writing resources
University of Wollongong Research Division
Re-envisioning
the PhD
From the University of Washington Graduate School. A great portal site
with some good advice included.
How to Write Your Thesis
From Columbia University, compiled by Kim Kastens, Stephanie Pfirman, Martin
Stute, Bill Hahn, Dallas Abbott, and Chris Scholz
Research Writing
From The University of South Australia LTU
Introduction to postgraduate study
From Massey University in NZ, this site discusses planning and writing and
producing theses and conference papers.
The
Thesis Whisperer
A newspaper style blog dedicated to helping research students everywhere.
It is edited by Dr Inger Mewburn of RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia
and has contributors from around the world.
How to fail your dissertation
Humour with some good advice!
How
To Write A Dissertation or Bedtime Reading For People Who Do Not Have
Time To Sleep
Purdue University
Piled Higher & Deeper:
Life (or the lack thereof) in Academia
A comic strip by Jorge Cham
Resources for Postgraduate students including advice for Masters students from the Centre for Academic Development at The University of Auckland.
How to Be a Good Graduate Student
A paper from Marie desJardins, Indianna University.
The Keogh Lab: Resources and advice for students
From Scott Keogh, Australian National University
What to Say in a Good Research Talk John Farrell, Department of Computer Science, James Cook University.
Some dos and don'ts of giving a good 15 minute talk Scott Keogh, ANU. Advice for preparing a short talk at a professional conference, where time is strictly limited.
Conference
Paper Guides
From Claremont Graduate University Writing Center. Includes guides to Conference
Paper Types, Conference Proposals and Abstracts, Preparing Papers for
Conferences in the Humanities and the Social Sciences and Tips for Delivering
Conference Papers.
Techniques for Managing Theses Using Microsoft Word
Very helpful guide from the Wniversity of Waterloo.
So You Want to Write a Book with MS Word
Advice on producing a book-length document
EndNoteand
Refworks
Bibliographic software that allows you to store, organise and
manage your references
to create in-text citations and bibliographies in the referencing
style that you require.
Some very useful books on thesis writing and doing a research degree(* = available from The Learning Centre)
*Bailey, S. (2006). Academic Writing: A handbook for international students. Abingdon: Routledge.
Becker, H. (2007, 2nd edition). Writing for social scientists: How to start and finish your thesis, book, or article. University of Chicago Press.
Betts, K. & Seitz, A. (1994). Writing essays and research reports in the social sciences. Melbourne: Nelson.
* Boddington, P. & Clanchy, J. (1999). Reading for study and research. Australia: Longman.
* Booth, W.C., Colomb. G.G. & Williams, J.M. (1995) The craft of research. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
* Craswell, G. (2005). Writing for Academic Success: A Postgraduate Guide. London: Sage.
While aimed at academic writing in general, this book has sections on thesis writing that covers a lot of key areas. There are also chapters on managing academic writing, the mechanics of academic writing, writing a literature review and other academic texts sch as journal articles and books.
Cryer, P. (1996). The research student's guide to success. Open University press, Buckingham.
* Dunleavy, P. (2003). Authoring a PhD thesis: how to plan, draft, write and finish a doctoral dissertation. Palgrave Study Guides
Patrick Dunleavy shares his accumulated wisdom as an experienced doctoral supervisor and academic writer in the social sciences. Focussing on the links between writing and thinking, his book takes students through the process of planning, drafting, writing, revising and shaping the thesis in an engaging, insightful and sometimes amusing way.
* Elphinstone, L. & Schweitzer, R. (1998). How to get a research degree: A survival guide. St. Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin.
This small but comprehensive volume should be required reading for all commencing postgraduate research students and their supervisors. It is one of the best there is.
Ely, M., Vinz, R., Downing, M & Anzul, M. (1997). On writing qualitative research. London: The Falmer Press.
* Evans, D & Gruba, P. (2002). How to write a better thesis. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press.
A highly-recommended, easily accessible and comprehensive guide that focuses on writing the various sections of the thesis based on the writers’ extensive experience of supervising and supporting students in Australia.
Evans, D., Gruba, P. & Zobel, J. (2011). How to write a better thesis. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press.
Feak, C. & Swales, J. M. (2009). Telling a research story: Writing a literature review. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
Feak, C. & Swales, J. M. (2011). Creating contexts: Writing introductions across genres. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
* Hart, C. (1998). Doing a literature review. Releasing the social science research imagination. London: Sage.
A key text that all students in the social sciences should be familiar with before starting their literature review.
*Hart, C. (2005). Doing your Masters Dissertation. London: Sage.
A thorough and comprehensive handbook aimed at supporting students doing a master’s dissertation in the social sciences. It has sections on formulating a topic and finding a format, on research design and methodology, on ethics and a final section on writing.
* Holliday, A. (2002). Doing and writing qualitative research. London: Sage.
Although not specifically aimed at doctoral or masters students, this book is one of the few that helps qualitative researchers understand that the writing process is an integral part of doing qualitative research and becoming a qualitative researcher. It considers the particular challenges confronting qualitative writers as they attempt to ‘find their voice’.
Huff, A. H. (1999). Writing for scholarly publication. Thousand Oaks: Sage.
*Kearns, H & Gardiner, M. (2008). The seven secrets of highly successful research students. The PhD experience: What they didn’t tell you at induction. Time for research: Time management for PhD students. Defeating self sabotage: Getting your PhD finished. (4 booklets)
* Lewins, F. (1993). Writing a thesis: A guide to its nature and organization. Canberra: Bibliotech, ANUTECH.
*Manalo, E. & Trafford, J. (2004). Thinking to Thesis: A Guide to Graduate Success at all Levels. Auckland: Pearson.
This book covers many key issues for research students such as time and self-management and making the most of available resources. There is also a very useful chapter on writing a high-quality thesis.
* Madsen, D. (1992). Successful dissertations and theses: A guide to graduate student research from proposal to completion. San Fancisco: Jossey-Bass.
* Murray, R. (2002). How to write a thesis. Open University Press.
One of the few books that actually takes student writers through the process of writing a thesis at the various stages of the PhD. It cannot be recommended too highly. It is a book to be dipped into again and again depending on the particular problem encountered and will prove an invaluable source of inspiration and encouragement
*Paltridge, B. & Starfield, S. (2007). Thesis and dissertation writing in a second language. London: Routledge.
* Phillips, E., Pugh, D. (2004). How to get a Ph.D: A handbook for students and their supervisors. Fourth edition. Buckingham: Open University Press.
Now in its fourth edition, this ‘classic’ covers issues such as the PhD process, the nature of the PhD, and what students expect from their supervisors, university and departmental responsibilities.
* Punch, K.F. (2000). Developing effective research proposals, London: Sage.
*Ridley, D. (2008). The literature review: A step-by-step guide for students. London: Sage.
*Rugg, G. & Petre, M. (2004). The Unwritten Rules of PhD Research. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Well, they’ve now been written down and are worth reading!
Rudestam, K. E. & Newton, R. R. (2001). Surviving your dissertation. Newbury Park: Sage.
Sides, C.H. (1999). How to write and present technical information (3rd ed.) Cambridge University Press, Melbourne.
*Swales, J. & Feak, C. (2004). Academic Writing for Graduate Students: Essential tasks and skills. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
Swales, J. & Feak, C. (2000) English in today's research world: A writing guide. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
Swales, J. M. & Feak, C. (2009) Abstracts and the writing of abstracts. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
Thody, A. (2006). Writing and presenting research. London: Sage.
* The Sociology Writing Group. (1998). A guide to writing sociology papers. New York: St Martin's Press.
* Wallace, M. & Wray, A. (2006). Critical Reading and Writing for Postgraduates, London: Sage.
* Zerubavel, E. (1999). The Clockwork Muse. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
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