PRESENTED BY MONICA PEREIRA CSUCI GRADUATE WRITING STUDIO The Research (and Writing) Process

Research? “Whether you knew it or not when you started, conducting research is the defining feature of your graduate career. If you plan to stay in academe, it will be the defining feature of your academic life.” --Lesli Mitchell The Ultimate Grad School Survival Guide This is a big deal… …and it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

Getting Started (sometimes the hardest part) There will be months of coursework and group projects. Writing a thesis is the most solitary activity of your graduate career. Prepare yourself for this.  Temptation to procrastinate: what pulls us away?  Finding focus: what is your contribution?  Setting aside time and space: where and when works for you?  Developing a support system: what resources do you have (or need) to help you stay on track and get the job done?

What is a Thesis? How is this different from all of the papers you have written (besides being longer)? What it’s not:  A loose collection of anecdotal information What it’s not only:  Reporting of others’ knowledge What it is:  Creation of knowledge  Added security of academic support  Contribution to a larger academic discussion  Problems and solutions

Beginning to Write Read sources critically and to explore:  Studies similar to what you want to produce.  Abstracts  Literature Reviews  Footnotes (help to contextualize areas not covered)  Conclusions, Discussions, and Recommendations for further study. Take notes (write by summarizing/paraphrasing – don’t just highlight and copy – why?) This is the start of developing and using your own voice.

Create a Map or Timetable: Don’t wait! What are the deadlines I already know? How can I map out the pieces, with measurable goals along the way? Set reasonable deadlines!  Research  Written drafts:  Introduction  Literature Review  Research and Findings  Conclusions  Final drafts: what help do I need, from whom?  Final committee review

Beginning to Write Especially for Graduate Writers /sws/quickhelp/gradua te.html /sws/quickhelp/gradua te.html Center for Writing, University of Minnesota If you feel like you have explored all of the sources you can find, help is here!  Check out others’ thesis and dissertations.  Borrow from other universities using Interlibrary Loan [ m].  Get to know your librarians; they are a good source of information and can show you how to ferret out all kinds of resources.

Writing Drafts Get it down, let it flow, don’t overthink it! This should be the LEAST time-consuming stage, and can start while you are still researching. If it’s taking you forever to write 1,000 words, two things could be happening: 1. You don’t have a clue about what you should be or want to be saying. Back to the research and/or drawing board… 2. You are revising while you draft, so that you end up with one sentence per hour.

What is my “voice,” and how will I recognize it? You will find your voice when you practice using it in class, group work, online discussions, presentations, etc. What is your unique contribution to your discipline?  Your writing, your voice. Make it heard.  Use quotations only when the language is so unique or specific that you must use it to add power to your project.  Cite all sources, even for others’ ideas.  YOU are the author; show your critical thinking skills and tell how it matters.

What are the pieces of the Thesis, and how do they fit together? Tell them what you’re going to show & tell… Introduction  Present your subject, problem, and the purpose and scope of your work.  Capture the reader’s interest and imagination with  A story or anecdote that illustrates the problem,  A big question,  A powerful quote, or  A piece of powerful, key data.  You may want to write the Introduction last.

What are the pieces of the Thesis, and how do they fit together? The Literature Review ona.edu/help/tutorials/ litreviews/whatis.html ona.edu/help/tutorials/ litreviews/whatis.html University Libraries, University of Arizona Literature Review  Thoroughly and accurately examine and describe what has already been done on your topic.  Provide the framework for the scope of your project.  What are the gaps? Where does your study “fit?”

What are the pieces of the Thesis, and how do they fit together? This is the “guts” of the whole thing. Describe your Research Process  What were the parameters?  Who was involved? (Did you gather your own data?)  What “worked” – or did not? Report your Findings  What trends did you find?  Did you discover something that has not been addressed? (Creation of knowledge)  Present your findings in tables, figures, and examples.

What are the pieces of the Thesis, and how do they fit together? Tell them what you told them… Conclusion  Place the paper in a larger context.  Convince the reader that what they read was meaningful (in what way – why does this work matter?).  Go beyond mere summary, and avoid repeating word-for-word a statement you wrote earlier in the paper.  Answer the question: “Where should we go from here, to further the research and knowledge in this field?”  Make suggestions or a call to action.

Pulling it all together Write transitions so that the chapters “flow” and build upon each other. Polish each chapter: is it clear? Have I made my case for the purpose of that chapter? Put together the “front matter” (title page, copyright page, acknowledgements, and Table of Contents) and the “end matter” (any Appendices, and the Works Cited/Bibliography) Confirm that all the formatting is correct, per department specifications.

Getting help: Don’t wait until the last minute! What kind of help do you need, and what resources do you have available?  Content: check with your Thesis Advisor  Research, Literature Review, and Source Citations: Final writing: grammar, style, and “flow”: contact the Graduate Writing Studio Instructors.  What other help? (dinners, child care, moral support?) Writing a thesis is a big deal, and can seem overwhelming. Break it into pieces, take it one step at a time, and ask for help. You can do it!

Scholarly Expressions Seize opportunities to give presentations. You can share research, and build confidence. Presentation Skills The Graduate School, University of Washington Developing Oral Presentation Skills Graduate Division, UC Santa Barbara Attending conferences is a good way to expand your network of fellow researchers, and pick up fresh ideas. Ask questions of other presenters (talks and posters).

Expand Your Technology Skills Pick up new technology skills. Social media – creation and editing: academic blogs, wikis, etc. Software – MS Excel, SAS, SPSS, R, LaTeX (typesetting), etc. Productivity resources – EndNote/Web, RefWorks, Mendeley, etc. Check CSU CI Lynda.com, or browse the Internet for free resources.