Academic Research & Writing

1. ACADEMIC RESEARCH &
WRITING
BY
KAMRAN ISHFAQ

2. What is academic writing
• Precise, clear and objective language
• Punctuation and grammar CORRECT
• Soft and formal style
• (not the style used in newspapers, novels,
magazines, or everyday conversation, etc)
• Logic text/ statements (s) based on reasoning

3. Managing your research and daily life challenges
Direct Challenges
• Financial constraints
• Computer failure
• University closure, political instability
• Problem in data collection and analysis
• Repeated rejection of draft chapters by your supervisor
• Amendments suggested by external examiners
Major Challenges in MS / PhD Research
Indirect Challenges
• Family Responsibility
• No bijlee, no atta, no cheeni, no ghee, no gass, no
petrol….
• Person specific problems……

7. Preparation of your research proposal
(five pillars of research proposal)
• Be courageous: put your idea on paper
• Be confident: highlights the importance of your
research topic( Introduction)
• Select strong references ( literature review)
• Describe and justify your technique of work
( methodology)
• Outcome of your work: describe that how your
findings would contribute to existing body of
knowledge ( conclusion& recommendations).

8. Basic tips in Academic Writing
Language
• Be straightforward
• Be impersonal (i.e. don’t use ‘I and ‘we)
• Be cautious (i.e. the statement should not be
easily challenged).
• Don’t’ start sentences with linking words, e.g.
such, but, and, or, yet….

9. Maintenance of Continuity in the Thesis
(Useful words for developing linkage in the text)
• When adding argument or emphasizing a
statement
and, also, as well as, moreover, further,
furthermore, in addition, additionally, next,
secondly, thirdly, fourthly, ...

10. • When making comparisons, highlighting
similarities or differences
• similarly, likewise, in the same way, equally,
although, however, yet, conversely,
• on the contrary, otherwise, but, even so,
despite, notwithstanding, ...

11. • When providing reasons and/or explaining
results
• for this reason, to this end, for this purpose,
because, since, so that, as, so,
• as a consequence, as a result, hence, therefore,
thus, inevitably, for example,
• for instance, by way of illustration, such as, this
demonstrates, ...

12. • When drawing conclusions
• as has been noted, finally, in brief, in short, to
summarize, consequently, so, therefore, in
conclusion, accordingly, it reflects...

13. Reporting Verbs
• During citation, choose suitable ‘reporting
verbs’ as these can:
• strengthen the arguments you are presenting;
and,
• help the reader to understand why the source
is relevant.

15. Seven Person-specific Challenges Commonly
Faced during Research and Write up
• Unknown hesitation at pre-writing stage of research
proposal
• Lack of confidence in data collection / field work
• During the thesis work, pre-write up nervousness and
indecisiveness
• Hesitancy and reluctance regarding how and where to
start each chapter
• Lack of confidence and skill with regard to critical
analysis
• Lack of expertise and appreciation with regard to
cross-referencing
• Inability to make the concluding chapter a true
reflective of the thesis

16. What an examiner is looking for in your thesis:
Seven Strands of Evaluation
• Intellectual depth of the thesis
• Originality of the work
• Critical analysis of the issue
• Adequate referencing and cross referencing
• Quality and quantity of bibliography
• Interwoven arguments and supporting
information
• Quality of English linguistic narration

17. thanks