Pranjana ^ Vol 11, No 2, Jul-Dec, 2008

Book Review
Title: Writing Your Thesis
Author: Paul Oliver
Publisher: Sage Publication India Pvt Ltd
Edition: 2nd
Price: 295
ISBN: 978-8178299181
Reviewed by: Monawwer Eqbal and Dr Deepak Singh
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Research is defined as a human activity based on intellectual application in the investigation

information topic . The primary purpose for an applied research is discovering, interpreting,
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and the development of methods and systems for the advancement of human knowledge
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on a wide variety of scientific matters of our world and the universe (www. http://
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research) 18.2.2008.

There are varied real problems for the students as well as academicians embarking upon
a research project of knowing how to start a reserch; how to develop a reserch proposal
and the art of writing reserch. The book “Writing Your Thesis” authored by Paul Oliver
is an essential reading for students who are about to complete or start thesis wirting at
the Masters or Ph.D Level.

This book is designed to help postgraduate students and research scholars with the
process, preparation, writing and examination of their thesis. Many students are able to
design their programme of research and collect the data, but they find it quit difficult to
transform their data into practical and applicable form for thesis. Using his extensive
experience as a successful thesis supervisor on a number of scholars, the author outlines,
the purpose of the thesis and what it should achieve; define strategies for organizing ones
work as ones thesis. He also focuses on how to the incorporate a theoretical perspective;
sound techniques of academic writing; how to benefit from ones supervisors experience;
what to do about publishing preliminary findings; and tips on preparing for the oral
examination.

There are 14 chapters in the book, which are divided into two parts. Part one deals with
the process of academic writing, content of thesis, role of supervisor, and layout of thesis.
While second part focuses on research methodology and technique of data analysis etc.

1. The Research Thesis

In this chapter author explores the criteria, which help to distinguish a masters from
a doctoral thesis and also discusses the broad characteristics of academic writing
along with some of the features, which characterize a well-written thesis.

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 2. The Intellectual Content of the Thesis
Chapter 2, deals with strategies for writing about the academic content of a thesis.
He examines the role of the thesis in making an original contribution to knowledge,
and discusses the incorporation of data within the thesis. This chapter explores
some of the fundamental philosophical terms, which may be employed in a thesis,
and discusses strategies for integrating them in the test.

3. Organizing your work

Chapter 3 discusses some of the practical issues involved in organizing the writing of
the thesis and highlights the ways of planning the structure of the thesis and provisional
chapter length, and also discusses strategies by which one can manage time effectively.
Methods for recording reference have been examined as well as different approaches
to the order of writing the chapters of the thesis.
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4. The Role of the Supervisor

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The role of the supervisor in the writing of thesis is very important. This chapter
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explores the overall role of the thesis supervisor, and the ways in which researcher
can work together in a team to maximize chances of success.

5. Grammar, Punctuation and Conventions Of Academic Writing

In this chapter, the style of academic writing required in order to be successful thesis
writing and neutral language, and some of the conventions of grammar and
punctuation have been examined. Referencing style within academic writing has
been also reviewed.

6. Layout of the Thesis

Chapters 6 considers the presentation of the thesis and looks at different aspects of
page layout and of formatting and also examines the use of tables and figures, and
the content of the appendices.

7. Preliminary Page and The Introduction.

Chapter 7 examines the structure of the early pages of thesis, prior to the first
chapter. It has elaborated the different elements, which are included in
the introductory chapter. It also discusses the explanation of the choice
of topic, and the writing of research aims.

8. The Literature Review

In this chapter, different approaches to the writing of the literature review has been
considered. Strategies for subdividing the literature, and for coping with an apparent
lack of relevant studies are examined. Also discussed the use of a variety of research
sources, including materials from the Internet.

9. Methodology
Chapter 9 discusses strategies for writing an account of the methodology of the
research. How the definition of the sample and the collection of data follow from
the specification of the aims have been explained in details.
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 Pranjana ^ Vol 11, No 2, Jul-Dec, 2008

10. The Data Analysis Chapter.

In this Chapter, different strategies for the presentation of research data analysis
have been explored as well as discussed how to subdivide the data into chapter and
also how to present both qualitative and qualitative data in understandable manner.

11. The conclusion

Chapter11 looks at the essential contents of a good conclusion and discusses how
to review the aims as well as how to stress the contribution to knowledge made by
researchers .

12. Completing The Thesis

Chapter 12 considers strategies for checking and proofreading the thesis manuscript
and also examines the role of the supervisors in checking the thesis.
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13. Publishing Findings During Preparation Of The Thesis

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In this chapter, some of the advantages and disadvantages of trying to publish an

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academic article while working on research thesis have been discussed.

14. The Oral Examination

Chapter 14 discusses the nature of the viva voce examination and consider the
organization of viva, the type of questions which may be asked and the possible
outcomes.

The layout of this book is designed to make it more accessible for the researches.
Full table of contentS is given at the beginning of the book and as well as summary
of each chapters. An annotated bibliography has been added at the end of each
chapter as a guide to further reading. Over all Writing Your Thesis by Paul Oliver will
be invaluable resource all prospective and current postgraduate students and any
one who yearns for a more candid account of what it is really like doing Ph.D . It
uses simple language, is easy to read and the advices one good. Just about anything
that a student would want to know about in writing a thesis is discussed.

- Reviewed by

Monawer Eqbal Dr. Deepak Singh

Librarian & Managing Editor Programme Co-ordinator
Information Resource Centre PGDM
Inmantec, Ghaziabad Inmantec, Ghaziabad

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