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Writing
the Thesis
Overseas
students may find that they have particular problems, caused partly
by linguistic and partly by cultural differences, in
- Relations
with their supervisor,
- Selection
of the research topic,
- Participation
in discussions, and
- Writing
their thesis in English.
MORE
TO TKINK ABOUT
A
If you have any experience in a research project already, analyse
the part you played in it. (If you have not had such experience,
interview another student who has.)
In
the course of your analysis (or interview), make notes in answer
to the following questions:
- What stages
of the project were you involved in?
- What part
did you play in each of these stages?
- To what
extent did you feel you understood and participated m the overall
management of the project? (compare your answer with the comment
quoted.
On
the basis of your notes and what we have said in this chapter about
independent research, write further notes identifying the ,areas
in which you may need to develop new skills and confidence.
Some
of the senior academic staff in your department may have acted as
supervisors. Find out from one of these staff what expectations
he holds about his research students. You might base your questions
on the issues we have raised in this chapter. For example:
- What initial
competencies would the supervisor assume that his research students
have in: the discipline? research strategies? - writing skills?
- What new
skills would a student be expected to learn in order to undertake
a research programme or degree in your department?
- How important
is the ability to work independently?
- How important
is the student's participation in seminars and other discussions?
produce
original ideas
chapter
about independent
findings
and discuss
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