Completing your thesis A practical guide

Master’s and Doctoral students often have unnecessary difficulty with the technical requirements of constructing a research proposal, writing a thesis and submitting it for examination. Students can expect expert supervision in conducting their research and drawing conclusions, but the responsibility for presenting their work in the correct way and in accordance with accepted conventions is theirs alone. This guide has been developed in response to both students’ and supervisors’ needs. The step-by-step discussion of the entire thesis undertaking spells out information for students that academics often take for granted, and that students often struggle to access on their own. In plain language and with clear examples, it explains the technical requirements of the various stages of developing a research proposal, writing the thesis and preparing it for examination.
Nelleke Bak is currently the project manager of postgraduate enrolment and throughput at the University of the Western Cape. With many years’ experience of supervising first generation Master’s and Doctoral students, principally from non-English speaking backgrounds, she has developed a set of invaluable hints to share with thesis students and supervisors alike.