Writing a Thesis: or how I learned to Iove cleaning the house, go shopping, do yard work, walk the cat, and find other ways to procrastinate

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Writing a Thesis: or how I learned to Iove cleaning the house, go shopping, do yard work, walk the cat, and find other ways to procrastinate Paul Verburg Based on presentation developed by Toby

1 Writing a Thesis: or how I learned to Iove cleaning the house, go shopping, do yard work, walk the cat, and find other ways to procrastinate Paul Verburg Based on presentation developed by Toby Walsh, University College Cork & Uppsala University The Good News You only have to write ONE thesis Except if you are a glutton for punishment and do a MS and a PhD Except you French and Germans who have to do a habilitation At the end, you can add MS or PhD behind your name Good for upgrades on planes (not really) 1

It s unlike any other document Thesis writing is not a marketable skill The Bad News Why write a thesis?

2 Writing a thesis is hard, painful work You ve already done the fun part (the research) Some people never manage to write one 99% perspiration 1% inspiration? It s unlike any other document Thesis writing is not a marketable skill The Bad News Why write a thesis? You all have to suffer like we did! In the process, you will learn How to research How to write You get to add MS or PhD to your name Your family will be most impressed 2

others Your advisor Your thesis committee (or not) What a thesis isn t?

3 Why write a thesis? It will make you famous Unlikely It will advance our knowledge Just a little It will be read by others Your advisor Your thesis committee (or not) What a thesis isn t? What I did in the lab over the last years I first read the background material I then implemented an algorithm I ran some experiments A thesis is a logical reconstruction of your research Not a historical narrative 3

gaps! A thesis is a logical reconstruction With a single coherent message What is a thesis?

4 What a thesis isn t? A brain dump of everything you ve done You get to leave out the dead ends But you have to fill in any obvious gaps! A thesis is a logical reconstruction With a single coherent message What is a thesis? Demonstration of an understanding of the state of the art Critical appreciation of existing work A novel contribution Evaluated systematically Early Chemists describe the first DIRT MOLECULE (The Far Side by Gary Larson) 4

5 What is a thesis? Opens a new area of research Provides unifying framework Resolves long standing question Thoroughly explores area Contradicts existing knowledge Experimentally validates theory Provides empirical data Derives superior algorithms Develops new methodology Read some theses Good way to get a feel for the beast 5

6 Ok, when do I start? When do I actually start writing my thesis? After you are done with all your experiments? Ok, when do I start? When do I actually start writing my thesis? After you are done with all your experiments? No, the day you start your degree Write it all down! 6

7 So, how do I start? 7

8 So, how do I start? Write a thesis message 1 sentence So, how do I start? Write a thesis message 1 sentence 1 paragraph 8

So, how do I start? Write a thesis message 1 sentence 1 paragraph 1 page Everything you write should be directed at this Thesis (noun). 1. A proposition maintained by argument 2.

9 So, how do I start? Write a thesis message 1 sentence 1 paragraph 1 page Everything you write should be directed at this Thesis (noun). 1. A proposition maintained by argument 2. A dissertation advancing original research Thesis message You re tackling an important research problem You ve made an original contribution to its resolution 9

10 What next? So, I ve got a good thesis message What do I do next? What next? So, I ve got a good thesis message What do I do next? Write the table of contents Logical structure of your thesis 10

11 Table of Contents 1. Abstract 2. General Introduction Thesis message 3. Background Context, definitions, notation 4. Problem statement/hypothesis 5. Chapter 1 6. Chapter 2 7. Chapter 3 8. General Conclusions/Recommendations Nested hourglass model The whole thesis Each section, subsection Most paragraphs Broad focus at beginning, end; specifics/narrow focus in middle 11

12 Organization of the thesis Abstract Introduction Background/Lit. review Problem statement/research question Methods Data presentation Interpretation Discussion Conclusions References What next? So, I ve got a good thesis message And a table of contents What do I do next? 12

13 What next? So, I ve got a good thesis message And a table of contents What do I do next? Make a timetable Targets to meet Light at the end of the tunnel Timetable How long will it take? Depends on many factors How much you ve written as papers Heavy tailed distribution Min = 2 months (very rare) Max = infinity Mean = infinity Median = 6 9 months 13

14 Timetable Your thesis is your baby P. Prosser Give it 9 months Write it up Fill in gaps, expts You have to know when to let it go Put a fence around what you ve done What next? So, I ve got a good thesis message And a table of contents and timetable What do I do next? 14

What next? So, I ve got a good thesis message And a table of contents and timetable What do I do next? Prepare your committee Thesis committee Who should be on your committee?

15 What next? So, I ve got a good thesis message And a table of contents and timetable What do I do next? Prepare your committee Thesis committee Who should be on your committee? Ideally you and your supervisor will come to a mutual decision Important, well known researchers People notice if your committee was tough You ll get good feedback They may employ you They may recommend you to others 15

16 Thesis committee Why decide your committee before you start writing? They can help you (what a concept!) They re busy people Even busy people have open dates in their diaries a year ahead They ll still manage to schedule other events on the day of your defense What next? So, I ve got a good thesis message And a table of contents, timetable and committee What do I do next? 16

17 What next? So, I ve got a good thesis message And a table of contents, timetable and committee What do I do next? Work to your timetable! Writing each chapter Some people say don t start with the Introduction or Conclusion Starting with an Introduction can help you focus; should have been written as part of the proposal Start where you feel happiest Typically a middle chapter Write outwards Finally Conclusions and revisit the Introduction (and don t forget the abstract) Write everything with your thesis message in mind Something on paper is better than nothing 17

18 Writing each chapter Get feedback before you write too much One person to read each chapter as it is written Another person to read thesis in order Lay some good groundwork LaTeX macros Bib file Indexing Writing each chapter You ll discover holes in your research Parameters you didn t measure Experiments you didn t run Mix writing with research 18

19 How long should thesis be? As long as necessary Check on rules for min/max length Don t include unnecessary stuff to lengthen it Don t omit critical information to shorten it Nash s PhD thesis 27 pages long Won him a Nobel prize Common mistakes Informal text Committee members will jump on imprecision Opinions.. I don t believe climate change is caused by humans.. A thesis is an argument!.. Humans may not be the main cause of climate change because.. 19

20 Common problems It s never possible to cover all issues So you will ever finish? Common problems It s never possible to cover all issues So you will ever finish? It s sometimes enough to identify the issues that were not covered Examiners greatly appreciate you identifying limitations (it is better to point out your own shortcomings rather than have somebody else point them out for you) 20

last Common problems At some point, your brain will surely become toast Take a

21 Common problems Ideas become obvious to you You stop writing to a sufficient level of detail Especially hurts the opening chapters as they are often written last Common problems At some point, your brain will surely become toast Take a break Eat properly, exercise, sleep Toasted brain is only temporary Just look at me? 21

22 What to expect from your advisor? Your not in this on your own Your supervisor is on your side Your success is their success What to expect from your advisor? Intellectual support Quality assurance What standard a thesis should reach Indication of when to stop Emotional support Encouragement Constructive atmosphere 22

23 Smiles What not to expect from your advisor? If draft chapters contain simple spelling mistakes and typos Mind reading skills Motivation dipping Absence = illness Defending your thesis Logistics Public/Private? How long should the talk be? Give committee enough time to read before defense Allow enough time to make corrections (needing to have the thesis in at a certain time is not a good reason to pass!) 23

24 Defending your thesis Don t panic You re probably the world s expert on this topic by now! Your examiners are human They ve sat in your seat They will help you find what changes (if any) are needed to make this the required quality Defending your thesis Practice, Practice, Practice Give the talk to a friendly but critical audience Prepare your opening statement (most nervewracking moment) Enjoy it You have the world s experts in the room They want to talk about your work How often will that happen in the future? 24

25 What are examiners looking for? Review of literature Is the literature relevant? Is it comprehensive? Does it summarize the essential aspects? Does it link to the methodology in the thesis? Does it lead to a clear hypothesis? Methodology Is the methodology justified? Is the data collected appropriately? Are the limitations identified? What are examiners looking for? Presentation of results Are the results shown to support the hypothesis? Is the data properly analyzed? Are the results presented clearly? Are patterns identified and summarized? Discussion and Conclusions Have the hypotheses in fact been tested? Are the main points to emerge identified? Are the limits of the research identified? Are links made to the literature? Are the speculations well grounded? 25

Turn it into a book Publish some journal articles around it Make copies

26 It s all over You ve finished writing & defending your thesis What do you do next? It s all over You ve finished writing & defending your thesis What do you do next? Turn it into a book Publish some journal articles around it Make copies for your parents, Make a copy for yourself My thesis 26

27 It s all over You ve finished writing & defending your thesis What do you do next? Just think, you ll never have to do it again! It s all over You ve finished writing & defending your thesis What do you do next? Just think, you ll never have to do it again! Unless you continue to do a PhD Unless you re French or German 27

28 Good Luck! 28

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