Academic English: How to Write a Thesis

What you'll learn

Module 1: Becoming an academic writer

Where to begin as an academic research writer? How can you take an idea and turn it into a research thesis or article? This module explores what it means to be an academic research writer in the 21st Century, covering concepts such as identifying current or future problems for research, challenging established facts or beliefs, and understanding and replicating existing research in your discipline. We also explore expert opinions on starting the academic writing process, and the different forms in which academic research writing may appear.

Module 2: Understanding academic language and conventions

Academic writing is the means of communicating with members of your discipline or research area. It is therefore important to learn how academics communicate with each other in written form, the language that makes academic writing different from other kinds of writing, and the conventions of citation and referencing used in your particular field of research. This module covers these ideas and more while presenting some useful tools that can help you bridge the gap between non-academic and academic writing forms.

Module 3: Planning and writing the introduction and the literature review

Despite some differences, the structure, language and processes used in writing the introduction and literature review sections of a research thesis or article are remarkably similar across disciplines. This module explores how writers can establish their research territory, present the gaps in current knowledge, and formulate their goals and aims, before considering how the work of others can be integrated into your own arguments and stance.

Module 4: Exploring the method and results sections

This module covers key aspects of reporting research methods and data types. We explain how to report participant samples, research instruments, experimental procedures and research design, before covering how to report a range of qualitative and quantitative data types includings interview and observation data, surveys, statistical tests, tables and charts.

Module 5: Discussing and concluding your findings

Now the research is complete, what does it all mean? This final module helps you find and select the key points of your research findings so that you can summarise what it all means for the academic reader in your discipline or research area. We cover the art of making claims about your findings while considering your study's limitations and ideas for future research.