how-to-write-a-thesis book recommendations?

[parallel_phd]

I'm planning to spend much of the summer writing, so am looking for a book on how to write a thesis...I'm currently considering 'How to Write a Thesis' by Rowena Murray and 'Authoring a PhD' by Patrick Dunleavy....

Any recommendations? *looks hopeful*

Comments

[xxxlibris]

What kind of thing are you after? I guess I'd be wary of books unless they're discipline-specific, but more than happy to share with you my own thoughts on thesis-writing, aka How I Dun Wrote It.

[parallelgirl]

yeah, I was wondering about the discipline-specificity thing...
I would love to hear how you did it :)

[xxxlibris]

Ok, will try and have time to make a specific post on this later this evening...

[parallelgirl]

there's no rush- but whenever you get to it, it would be very much appreciated.

[menthe_reglisse]

If it's the actual thesis-ness of the writing that you want to read about, then I'd guess something like the Murray (which I've skimmed) and the Dunleavey would be helpful. There's also a chapter on 'academic writing' in 'Doing Postgrad Research' Stephen Potter (ed) 2nd ed, which looks quite useful, although I haven't actually read it myself, but I know and rate the author. I have a copy I can loan you if you want a flick. Oh and I see there's a chapter in Pat Cryer's 'Research Student's Guide to Sucess' and brief mentions in Philips and Pugh 'How to get a PhD', which again, I'm happy to lend

[parallelgirl]

yeah, it's mainly the thesis-ness, I'm not all that sure of the form!

I have the Cryer and P+P, thanks, and they seem like good starting points. I would love to borrow the Potter though! And I should have a look back at the U500 course materials, I think some of them covered some of this kind of ground.

I'll probably pick up the other two when I get paid, I'll see how I get on for a bit I think (I think I might be having such strong buy-books urges so that I'll feel I'm doing something about getting started on writing- it might be better just to start!)

[menthe_reglisse]

If you haven't already done so, I'd recommend spending an afternoon in a university library looking at the structure of half a dozen theses. I found that really helpful for getting a sense both of what seemed to be common and where people were being really interesting and innovative.

[xxxlibris]

Yes, this more than anything. If there's anyone vaguely in your field doing similar methods/approches, a look at their thesis will be more valuable than any other textbook.