Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Some Examples of Gems from History Each pronoun should agree with their antecedent Just between you and I, case is important A preposition is a poor word to end a sentence with Verbs has to agree with their subject Dont use no double negatives A writer mustnt shift your point of view When dangling, dont use participles Join clauses good, like a conjunction should Dont write a run-on sentence because it is difficult when you got to punctuate it so it makes sense when the reader reads what you wrote About sentence fragments Do you have any others?
Outline of Presentation
A thesis is a journey and only one part of your academic training How is a thesis structured, our views Based on the field of biomedical science and social science Questions
About Laurie
PhD in Human Rehabilitation (University of Northern Colorado USA) 15 years at QUT Faculties of Arts, Social Sciences, Built Environment and Engineering and Creative Industries (2012) 8 PhD (supervise) and 4 PhD (cosuper) Research focus: with people!
About Terry
PhD in Biochemistry (UQ) Seven years U Pennsylvania USA Three years Australian National Uni Twenty four years QIT/QUT Director Research Studies FaST Head of School Biomedical Sciences Personal focus
Over two dozen graduated students Research on structure and function
What is a PhD?
A holder of a Ph.D. should have knowledge, skills, perspectives and understanding to be capable of self-directed scientific work of a quality satisfactory to others in the field
What is a thesis?
A themed written argument Exposition of original research in context Culmination of an apprenticeship Possibly largest (& most selfindulgent) work students do Something that could be published (is published)
Social Science
Thesis writing begins early Formulation of research questions Data gathered, then analysed various ways
Getting Started
Encourage you to Pin the working title and hypothesis above the work area Read some theses from your group/area Have a plan and concept map Take the lead use their own words and ideas Plan the argument
How to write
Content background, methods, results, conclusions Format typeface, spacing, figures Style language, logic and efficiency Planning do it today; yes, NOW Timing estimate and double or treble it Editing acceptable inputs Finishing deciding to draw the line under the exercise
Writing IS fun!
CRUNCH TIME (when? see later)! This is the hardest part Allocate 2 to 3 times the amount of time to writing as to gathering material Students must be writers as well as a researchers - write well Write early and write often Learn to draft and revise Get it right, but get it written first!
A Generic Structure
Introduction/Theme Literature Review Why am I doing this? What is known? What is unknown?
Aims
Methodology Results Discussion Conclusion
Thesis by Publication
Common practice in many countries QUT has this option Thesis has published manuscripts (as chapters) with format of traditional thesis Discuss this with supervisor early and plan out papers in advance
one has to be accepted before thesis submission
Results Conclusion
Gathering material
Fieldwork, literature review Interviews; Methodology (6 months) Proof of Principle (6 months) Data analysis and validation Maintain notes (laboratory workbooks), but also
turn notes into thoughts from the start
Ch 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Title Intro/Abstract Lit Review (rev) Methods Results 1 Results 2 Results 3 Conclusion
Special Cases
International Students
Expressions Cultures Support networks
Maintaining Momentum
Strategies in Therapy of Avoidance
the paragraph
the page
PhD project management should include a strand for thesis writing Consult, review, TODAY.
Dont be afraid to play with sentence structure to get the idea across
practice expression and interpretation as a team.
Most theses are read in trains, boats, planes and buses Oh no, not another one
Conclusions
Then questions: Are they answered or considered? Is any of it published? Corrections: some examiners think this is the only way to show theyve read it; expect to have some
Editing - know the different versions Three types: substantive editing exemplary editing proof-reading Supervisors are helpers and advisors,
not editors or proof readers
Summary
Start today, never later Keep title and hypothesis handy Write down skeleton arguments clearly Expand arguments into chapters Keep concurrent folders for each chapter Keep the thesis plan a living plan Simple sentences, simple ideas, linked structures Maintain your project plan (manage, revise, update) Dont be afraid to cut and cull Be prepared for multiple drafts Know your audience Help the reader to understand Get advice from others (reading drafts) Finally, remember: You will probably know more about the thesis, as a whole, than any of the examiners.
Efficiency of Expression - 1
Many authors, including this laboratory (1), have been engaged in the study of the identification and detection of specific biologically active molecules by autographic methods. This problem has recently been reviewed (2). Many authors (1-4) have used autographic methods to detect and identify biologically required molecules (for review see ref 4).
Efficiency of Expression - 2
Using L. arabinosus, detection of about 10-3 g of pantothenic acid was possible utilising the tetrazolium plate technique, meanwhile detection of 10-4 g and even less was achieved by the slide method advocated here. However, E. coli produced a somewhat more satisfactory growth response than L. arabinosus, for this species forms more compact and easily observed microcolonies upon incubation at suitable growth temperatures. With L. arabinosus, the tetrazolium plate technique could detect 10-3 g of pantothenic acid whereas the slide method could detect as little as 10-4 g. The growth response with this organism was, however, more difficult to observe than with E. coli, which forms more compact microcolonies on incubation.
Efficiency of Expression - 3
The slide method reported appears to offer a possible useful application in identification of unknown paper chromatogram spots. Since the lowest concentration of most amino acids detectable as spots lies in the range of 10-1 g to 5.0 g and this method will detect as little as 10-2 g (Table 1), it would perhaps be possible in many cases to cut a spot area into two or more pieces and screen it against several different organisms with varying amino acid requirements. The very high specificity of nutrient requiring mutant bacteria would provide a precise means of identification which may often be applied in circumstances wherein limitations of time or availability of sample are prohibitory to identification of spots by more conventional methods.
Efficiency of Expression - 3a
The method may perhaps be applied to the identification of unknown compounds on paper chromatograms; spots cut from such chromatograms could be incubated with auxotrophic bacteria having highly specific nutrient requirements. Spots of amino acids that are detectable with spray reagents contain at least 0.1 to 5.0 g, and since the slide method will detect as little as 0.01 g (Table 1), a single spot from a chromatogram could, if necessary, be divided and tested against several organisms with different amino acid requirements. This bioassay would be rapid, sensitive and specific.
References
Books Truss, L. Eats, Shoots and Leaves Profile Books, London, 2003. Day, R. How to write a scientific paper ISI Press 1979 Cribb & Hartomo Sharing Knowledge: A Guide to Effective Science Communication CSIRO Publishing 2002
(more about general communication than theses)