thesis whisperer discussion

• Directories

Chapter writing

  A chapter is a discrete unit of a research report or thesis, and it needs to be able to be read as such.

Your examiners may read your thesis abstract, introduction and conclusion first, but then they may come back weeks later and read a chapter at random, or select one that they are interested in (Mullins & Kiley, 2002). This means that each chapter needs to be easy to read, without the reader having to reread the thesis' introduction to remember what it is about. At the same time, it needs to be clear how the chapter contributes to the development of your overall thesis argument. In the following pages you'll find advice on how to effectively plan and structure your chapters, commuicate and develop your argument with authority, and create clarity and cohesion within your chapters. 

Chapter structures

When it comes to structuring a chapter, a chapter should:

• have an introduction that indicates the chapter's argument / key message
• clearly address part of the thesis' overall research question/s or aim/s
• use a structure that persuades the reader of the argument 
• have a conclusion that sums up the chapter's contribution to the thesis and shows the link to the next chapter.

To make your chapter easy to read, an introduction, body and conclusion is needed. The introduction should give an overview of how the chapter contributes to your thesis. In a chapter introduction, it works well to explain how the chapter answers or contributes to the overall research question. That way, the reader is reminded of your thesis' purpose and they can understand why this chapter is relevant to it. Before writing, make an outline and show it to a friend or supervisor to test the persuasiveness of the chapter's structure.

The chapter's body should develop the key message logically and persuasively. The sequence of sections and ideas is important to developing a persuasive and clear argument. When outlining your chapter, carefully consider the order in which you will present the information. Ask yourself these questions. 

• Would it make your analysis clearer and more convincing to organise your chapter by themes rather than chronologically?
• If you were demonstrating why a particular case study contradicts extant theoretical literature, would it be better to organise the chapter into themes toshow how the case study relates to the literature in respect to each theme, rather than having a dense literature review at the beginning of the chapter?
• Is a brief literature review at the beginning of the chapter necessary and sufficient to establish the key ideas that the chapter's analysis develops?
• What is the best order to convince readers of your overall point? 

Our friend the Thesis Whisperer has written about writing  discussion chapters and discussion sections within chapters .

If used appropriately, subheadings can also be useful to help your reader to follow your line of argument, distinguish ideas and understand the key idea for each section. Subheadings should not be a substitute for flow or transitional sentences however. In general, substantive discussion should follow a subheading. Use your opening paragraph to a new section to introduce the key ideas that will be developed so that your readers do not get lost or are left wondering how the ideas build on what's already covered. How you connect the different sections of your paper is especially important in a long piece of writing like a chapter.

Paragraphing techniques are essential to develop a persuasive and coherent argument within your chapters. Each paragraph needs to present one main idea. Each paragraph needs to have a topic sentence and supporting evidence, and a final sentence that might summarise that idea, emphasise its significance, draw a conclusion or create a link to the next idea. Using language that shows the connections between ideas can be helpful for developing chapter  flow  and  cohesion .

As suggested in our  page on thesis structures , a good way to test out the persuasiveness and logic of your chapter is to talk it over with a friend or colleague. Try to explain the chapter's purpose and argument, and give your key reasons for your argument. Ask them whether it makes sense, or whether there are any ideas that weren't clear. If you find that you express your ideas differently and in a different order to how they're written down, consider whether it would better to revise your argument and adjust the structure to persuasively and more logically make your case in writing.

In sum, when you plan, write and edit your chapter, think about your reader and what they need in order to understand your argument.

• Have you stated your chapter's argument?
• Will a reader be able to identify how it contributes to the whole thesis' research question/s or aim/s?
• Does your chapter flow logically from one idea to the next, and is it convincing?
• Finally, does it have a conclusion that pulls the chapter's key points together and explains its connection to the next chapter?

These elements are central to helpfing your reader follow and be persuaded by your work.

• Mullins, G., & Kiley, M. (2002). 'It's a PhD, not a Nobel Prize': How experienced examiners assess research theses.  Studies in Higher Education ,  27 (4), 369-386. doi:10.1080/0307507022000011507

Reference documents

• Chapter diagram (PDF, 1.14 MB)
• Chapter template (DOCX, 66.58 KB)

Use contact details to request an alternative file format.

• ANU Library Academic Skills
• +61 2 6125 2972

broadenstudy.com

Buy this domain.

The domain broadenstudy.com may be for sale by its owner!

This webpage was generated by the domain owner using Sedo Domain Parking . Disclaimer: Sedo maintains no relationship with third party advertisers. Reference to any specific service or trade mark is not controlled by Sedo nor does it constitute or imply its association, endorsement or recommendation.

Podsocs - podcasts for social workers

The thesis whisperer:.

In conversation with Inger Mewburn

Are you a PhD student? Thinking of writing a blog? Or just like or want to improve your writing? This is the podcast for you! @#% Mild Course Language

Inger Mewburn is a researcher, specialising in research education since 2006. Prior to this she lectured in architecture and worked in architecture offices for around a decade. She is currently the Director of Research Training at The Australian National University where she is responsible for co-ordinating, communicating and measuring all the centrally run research training activities and doing research on student experience to inform practice. Aside from editing and contributing to The Thesis Whisperer, Inger writes scholarly papers, books and book chapters about research student experiences. She is a regular guest speaker at other universities and does occasional media interviews.

Recommended citation – APA6th

Fronek, P. (Host). (2013, August 30). The Thesis Whisperer: In conversation with Inger Mewburn [Episode 56]. Podsocs . Podcast retrieved Month Day, Year, from http://www.podsocs.com/podcast/the-thesis-whisperer/ .

• Related Podcasts
• Writing for publication

http://thesiswhisperer.com/

16 episodes

The podcast feed for Thesiswhisperer.com: tune in for audio projects produced by Professor Inger Mewburn from The Australian National University. Scroll down in the feed for past projects, including 'Academics Talk about The Chair' and 'Your brain on Writing'... Coming soon: 'Academic workers talk about Severance'

Thesiswhisperer Pod Thesis Whisperer

• Society & Culture
• 5.0 • 3 Ratings
• OCT 21, 2023

Episode Nine: The We, we are

It's the final episode of Severance, and it's really fucking tense! For our final show this season, it's just us: Outie Anitra and Innie Inger, talking about episode 9.  So much happened this episode! So many big reveals, and new plot lines opened. Helly has the most Dystopian Cinderella moment, Mark is Ricken's fanboy, Dylan is taking one for the workers collective and Irv only says a single word (but he makes it count).  We still live in hope for season two - hopefully we won't be in the break room waiting too long! Our office door is always open so please leave your comments in the suggestion box (well, the review section of whatever platform you are on right now). Send us an email at [email protected] or record a speak pipe message at www.speakpipe.com/thesiswhisperer. You might want to tell us about this episode, your theories about what is actually being done at Lumon or speculate on plot points for season two. We'll read them all out in the last show! For more information about us, visit the (Academic) Workers talk about Severance website. You can find Anitra on BlueSky and Mastodon as @anitranot You can find Inger on all the social channels as @thesiswhisperer

• SEP 16, 2023

Episode Eight: What's for dinner?

Worker solidarity is the theme of this episode, and in celebration, we invited Anitra's current boss, Geoff Stringer. Don't worry though - he's not going to rat us out to the higher ups. The team dissect episode: What's for Dinner. This is the episode where Inger had to text Anitra all the way through because it was so damn tense. Plans are made, dreams are broken - most importantly, certain people are at the 'find out' stage of the Fuck Around journey. And we are here for every delicious moment! Our office door is always open so please leave your comments in the suggestion box (well, the review section of whatever platform you are on right now). Send us an email at [email protected] or record a speak pipe message at www.speakpipe.com/thesiswhisperer. You might want to tell us about this episode, your theories about what is actually being done at Lumon or speculate on plot points for season two. We'll read them all out in the last show! For more information about us, visit the (Academic) Workers talk about Severance website. You can find Anitra on BlueSky and Mastodon as @anitranot You can find Inger on all the social channels as @thesiswhisperer

Episode Seven: Defiant Jazz

You'll never look at mandated company fun the same way after this episode, especially when it becomes clear that inter-departmental politics can get its own body count.  Prof Narelle Lemon, who is now at Edith Cowan University, joins us again to dissect episode seven of Severance. There's so much in this episode - the action is really heating up. Milcheck tries his best to keep a lid on the simmering tensions, and only earns himself a bite from Dylan. There is no Ricken in this episode, but he is till present in his absence.  Everything seems to be heading in a bad direction - but will worker solidarity win out over corporate oppression? We can't wait to find out. Our office door is always open so please leave your comments in the suggestion box (well, the review section of whatever platform you are on right now). Send us an email at [email protected] or record a speak pipe message at www.speakpipe.com/thesiswhisperer. You might want to tell us about this episode, your theories about what is actually being done at Lumon or speculate on plot points for season two. We'll read them all out in the last show! For more information about us, visit the (Academic) Workers talk about Severance website. You can find Anitra on BlueSky and Mastodon as @anitranot You can find Inger on all the social channels as @thesiswhisperer

• SEP 2, 2023

Episode Five: The grim barbarity of optics and design

We saved this one for Anitra's co-worker and Director of Digital Experience, Joyce Seitzinger, because it is the infamous "bring-your-baby-goat-to-work" day episode.  There is also a lot of Ricken in this ep, which gives us an excuse to talk about our favourite academic. Anitra compares Ricken to Yoda while Joyce points out that the comparison works only if Yoda were really really self-involved. Plus, mysterious baby goats. Our office door is always open so please leave your comments in the suggestion box (well, the review section of whatever platform you are on right now). Send us an email at [email protected] or record a speak pipe message at www.speakpipe.com/thesiswhisperer. You might want to tell us about this episode, your theories about what is actually being done at Lumon or speculate on plot points for season two. We'll read them all out in the last show! For more information about us, visit the (Academic) Workers talk about Severance website. You can find Anitra on BlueSky and Mastodon as @anitranot You can find Inger on all the social channels as @thesiswhisperer

Episode Six: Hide and Seek

Love is in the air in episode six of Severance, where inter-departmental politics is platonic. Sort of. Maybe. Bert and Irv grow closer, Mark and Helly take the work flirt to the next level and Devon has a mysterious encounter in the local park...  Anitra's work colleague and future novel co-writer Chris joins us this week to dissect the many Kier mystery kinda-reveals. He also gives us a word to describe that spooky feeling of buildings that should be full of people, but aren't. A word we all need after lockdown for sure. Our office door is always open so please leave your comments in the suggestion box (well, the review section of whatever platform you are on right now). Send us an email at [email protected] or record a speak pipe message at www.speakpipe.com/thesiswhisperer. You might want to tell us about this episode, your theories about what is actually being done at Lumon or speculate on plot points for season two. We'll read them all out in the last show! For more information about us, visit the (Academic) Workers talk about Severance website. You can find Anitra on BlueSky and Mastodon as @anitranot You can find Inger on all the social channels as @thesiswhisperer

• AUG 19, 2023

Episode four: The You you are

In this episode we are joined by Inger’s ANU colleague and fellow podcaster Will Grant and we are talking about how no one wants to go into the break room. Like, ever.  We dissect Cobel’s (unasked for) freelancing — ‘wet work’ at Petey’s funeral — and whether or not she is getting any stock options. Will disturbingly points out the ways humans are never very far away from choosing violence. Our office door is always open so please leave your comments in the suggestion box (well, the review section of whatever platform you are on right now). Send us an email at [email protected] or record a speak pipe message at www.speakpipe.com/thesiswhisperer. You might want to tell us about this episode, your theories about what is actually being done at Lumon or speculate on plot points for season two. We'll read them all out in the last show! For more information about us, visit the (Academic) Workers talk about Severance website. You can find Anitra on BlueSky and Mastodon as @anitranot You can find Inger on all the social channels as @thesiswhisperer

• © 2023 Thesiswhisperer Pod

Customer Reviews

Top podcasts in society & culture.

Bennie Hawra

Online Essay Writing Service to Reach Academic Success.

Are you looking for the best essay writing service to help you with meeting your academic goals? You are lucky because your search has ended. is a place where all students get exactly what they need: customized academic papers written by experts with vast knowledge in all fields of study. All of our writers are dedicated to their job and do their best to produce all types of academic papers of superior quality. We have experts even in very specific fields of study, so you will definitely find a writer who can manage your order.

• Individual approach
• Fraud protection

Looking for something more advanced and urgent? Then opt-in for an advanced essay writer who’ll bring in more depth to your research and be able to fulfill the task within a limited period of time. In college, there are always assignments that are a bit more complicated and time-taking, even when it’s a common essay. Also, in search for an above-average essay writing quality, more means better, whereas content brought by a native English speaker is always a smarter choice. So, if your budget affords, go for one of the top 30 writers on our platform. The writing quality and finesse won’t disappoint you!

Premium essay writers

Essay writing help from a premium expert is something everyone has to try! It won’t be cheap but money isn’t the reason why students in the U.S. seek the services of premium writers. The main reason is that the writing quality premium writers produce is figuratively out of this world. An admission essay, for example, from a premium writer will definitely get you into any college despite the toughness of the competition. Coursework, for example, written by premium essay writers will help you secure a positive course grade and foster your GPA.

Useful Links

• Request a call back
• Write For Us

Perfect Essay

Please fill the form correctly

• How it Works
• Top Writers

Viola V. Madsen

Customer Reviews

Jam Operasional (09.00-17.00)

+62 813-1717-0136 (Corporate)                                      +62 812-4458-4482 (Recruitment)

• Dissertations
• Business Plans
• PowerPoint Presentations
• Editing and Proofreading
• Annotated Bibliography
• Book Review/Movie Review
• Reflective Paper
• Company/Industry Analysis
• Article Analysis
• Custom Writing Service
• Assignment Help
• Write My Essay
• Paper Writing Help
• Write Papers For Me
• College Paper Writing Service

Write essay for me and soar high!

We always had the trust of our customers, and this is due to the superior quality of our writing. No sign of plagiarism is to be found within any content of the entire draft that we write. The writings are thoroughly checked through anti-plagiarism software. Also, you can check some of the feedback stated by our customers and then ask us to write essay for me.

Rebecca Geach

You are free to order a full plagiarism PDF report while placing the order or afterwards by contacting our Customer Support Team.