Transcript Thesis Writing Tips

Thesis Writing Tips
1. How do I format the bibliography and citations in body of the
paper?
All written assignments (style, spelling, usage, references and footnotes) must
conform to requirements set forth in the Chicago Manual of Style, fifteenth edition
(University of Chicago Press 2003). The Journal of Planning Education and
Research (JPER) requires the Chicago Manual of Style. JPER is one of the most
respected and authoritative journals in the field of urban and regional planning.
To see a section of the JPER’s guide to authors submitting manuscripts, and other
specific examples of how to properly format your bibliography, click here
The Chicago Manual of Style Web site is at:
http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/cmosfaq/tools.html
• 2. Can you show me some examples of
written work students did in past
years?
For exemplary student work from last year,
click here
3. How can I frame my study? What is a good way to organize it
conceptually?
Examples of narrative devices (conceptual lenses) you could use to frame your study
http://seniorsequence.net/?page_id=279
•Integration (knowledge management, transdisciplinarity, epistemic cultures, PSS/ DSS)
•Science communication (research translation, science-society linkages)
•Globalism (grand challenges, transborder comparative frames of reference)
•Diversity and Justice (challenges of multiculturalism, demographic shifts)
•Governance (planning theory re civic engagement, power and democracy)
•Networks and flows (network theory, public policy networks, new forms of social activism)
•Social Change (planning strategies re advocacy, social movements, activist networks)
•Innovation (source of, process, collaborative models)
•Sustainability (the three E’s economics, equity, environment)
•Imagination (role of story/narrative in planning, framing)
Guide to Critical Thinking and Action for Urban and Regional Studies (click here for pdf )
Four Traditions of Planning Theory (click here for pdf)
Research Design and Methods Worksheet (click here for pdf)
Evidence Worksheet (click here for word doc)
Conceptual Map for Sustainable City-Region Development (click here for pdf)
The 3 Es of Sustainable Development (click here for pdf )
Object of
Study
Story
1. _______________
2. _______________
3._______________
What is your object of study? By “object” I do not
necessarily mean a physical object. The object can be a
network, policy, institutional arrangement, flow of resources,
event, place, etc. You need to be able to say what your
object is in less than five or ten words (e.g. non-profit
housing organization, regional planning agency, Center City
Development Corporation, Leed Criteria, Regional
Comprehensive Plan, the flow of used tires, community
benefits agreement, social movement, downtown)
What is your story? That is, what is the narrative at the
heart of your investigation? Is your story mainly about
empowerment, defensible space, new institutionalism,
equity in planning, greening of architecture, governance,
sustainability , coalition building, science communication,
regional development, gentrification, environmental
planning, or what?
What are your main points in the story you are telling?
That is, what are you highlighting as the most important
findings, lessons learned, and/or take-home points. What
do you want the reader to come away with most of all? You
can have just two points, or four or five. Three is a nice
manageable number
THEORY
An examined
conceptualization
of some object
Andrew Sayer
(1992)
4. Are there guides I can use as worksheets to help me
get clarity (for research and writing purposes)?
Below are some of the handouts we’ve shared in the
Senior Sequence:
• Guide to Critical Thinking and Action for Urban and
Regional Studies (click here for pdf )
• Four Traditions of Planning Theory (click here for pdf)
• Research Design and Methods Worksheet (click here for
pdf)
• Evidence Worksheet (click here for word doc)
• Conceptual Map for Sustainable City-Region
Development (click here for pdf)
• The 3 Es of Sustainable Development (click here for pdf)
5. Can I make reference to myself in the paper (can I use I)?
Use I only sparingly, if at all. It is legitimate to use I when you need to say something
about your specific role or credibility. For instance, something like this would be ok.
As a research intern at the Center on Policy Initiatives, I was a participant observer
during many of the meetings I analyze in this thesis.
You don’t need to say I conducted interviews with so and so. Instead, weave the
interview data into your report. Here is an example of SRP text using interview data:
Sample SRP text
Several officials mentioned the political climate of SD influences the city’s ability to meet
a certain target. Jane Smith, CEO … stated “It has been really hard for us to try to get
legislation through because the city council doesn’t like to impose mandates. Instead,
they like to go for voluntary compliance” (interview by author, 2.3.08).
Don’t say I think in the paper. That is assumed. Rather than say I think, try saying : The
evidence suggests that….
Think of your ideas as the embodiment of collective knowledge (from your readings and
conversation with others).
SRP Check List
FORMATTING YOUR BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://seniorsequence.net/?page_id=39
All written assignments (style, spelling, usage, references and footnotes) must conform to
requirements set forth in the Chicago Manual of Style, fifteenth edition (University of Chicago Press
2003). This is what the Journal of Planning Education and Research (JPER) requires. JPER is one of
the most respected and authoratative journals in the field of urban and regional planning.
Conceptual framework
and literature review
•
Did I successfully place my SRP in a conceptual
framework?
• Does my SRP spell out a clear research question,
argument, or problem? Does it provide
specifics/background/evidence on why it important?
• Do I clearly outline my specific objectives, including
how my research provides insight into the general
topic or problem?
• Do I clearly spell out how my research is related to
other previous and ongoing research? Did I tell you if
anyone else is doing what I did? Is my literature review
organized around a clearly articulated theme or
argument?
Research design and
methods
• Did I clearly explain my data collection strategy and
methodology?
• Did I explain my research design and my logic for
choosing particular methods (why, for instance, I
chose to do interviews, content analysis, and/or
archival research)?
• Your research design is your "action plan for getting
from here to there, where here may be defined as the
initial set of questions to be answered, and there is
some set of conclusions (answers) about these
questions" (Yin 1994: 19). Do I convince the reader
that my approach is rigorous and based in social
science methods‐‐be they qualitative or quantitative?
Concluding section:
Outcome/ Findings)
• Do you get a clear picture of my findings?
Do I convince you that they are
significant?
• Have I reiterated the main points of my
study, and suggested why I think it matters
(linking back into the key literature)?
• Do I spell out the implications of my
research, and identify what questions
remain unanswered?