Chapter 1 General Introduction 1
1.1 Basic information of research 1
1.1.1 Definition of research 1
1.1.2 Features of research 2
1.1.3 Classification of research 3
1.1.4 Research process 5
1.2 Brief introduction to:thesis” 6
1.2.1 Definition of thesis 6
1.2.2 Standards of a good thesis 8
1.2.3 Significance of writing a thesis 9
1.2.4 Structure of a BA thesis 10
Exercises 11
Chapter 2 Pre-Writing Process 14
2.1 Topic research 14
2.1.1 Definition of topic 14
2.1.2 Principles of topic selection 15
2.1.3 Topic selection 16
2.1.4 Topic specification 17
2.1.5 Disciplines and possible topics 19
2.1.6 Topicing failure 23
2.2 Literature retrieval 25
2.2.1 Definition of literature 25
2.2.2 Data banks for literature retrieval 26
2.2.3 Literature administration 28
2.3 Thesis proposal 30
2.3.1 Definition of thesis proposal 30
2.3.2 Components of a thesis proposal 30
Exercises 32
Chapter 3 Writing Process 35
3.1 Outlining 35
3.1.1 Types of outline 35
3.1.2 Rules for outlining 36
3.1.3 Styles of outlining 38
3.1.4 Outline models of English thesis 39
3.2 Drafting 45
3.2.1 Choosing proper words 45
3.2.2 Using the proper tense 45
3.2.3 Supporting with evidence 46
3.2.4 Keeping the academic style 46
3.3 Avoiding Plagiarism 47
3.3.1 Definition of plagiarism 47
3.3.2 Plagiarism avoidance 47
3.4 Revising 48
3.4.1 Macro-revising 48
3.4.2 Micro-revising 49
Exercises 49
Chapter 4 Thesis Components 52
4.1 Abstract 52
4.1.1 Types of abstract 52
4.1.2 Models of abstract 52
4.1.3 Composition of effective abstracts 55
4.2 Introduction 57
4.2.1 Models of introduction 57
4.2.2 Composition of effective introductions 59
4.3 Thesis body 61
4.3.1 Literature review 61
4.3.2 Methods 62
4.3.3 Results 64
4.3.4 Discussion 65
4.4 Conclusion 66
4.4.1 Models of conclusion 67
4.4.2 Composition of effective conclusions 67
4.5 Other indispensable elements 68
4.5.1 Bibliography 68
4.5.2 Acknowledgements 69
4.5.3 Appendix 71
Exercises 71
Chapter 5 Developing Effective Paragraphs 74
5.1 Introduction paragraph and thesis statement 74
5.2 Argument,evidence and effective paragraphs 75
5.3 Techniques for effective paragraph composition 75
5.3.1 Exemplification 76
5.3.2 Comparison and contrast 78
5.3.3 Classification 79
5.3.4 Definition 81
5.3.5 Cause and effect 81
Exercises 83
Chapter 6 Ways of Documentation 85
6.1 Definition of documentation 85
6.2 The Chicago Manual of Style 85
6.2.1 The Notes-Bibliography system 86
6.2.2 The in-text author-date system 96
6.3 MLA style 100
6.3.1 In-text citation format 101
6.3.2 MLA"Works Cited"format 103
6.4 APA style 105
6.4.1 Parenthetical citations in text 106
6.4.2 APA"References"format 108
Exercises 108
Chapter 7 Mechanics of Writing 111
7.1 Capitalization 111
7.2 Abbreviation and italics 112
7.3 Numbers and punctuations 115
7.4 Tables and figures 122
Exercises 124
Chapter 8 Language and Style 126
8.1 Formality 127
8.1.1 Professional words 127
8.1.2 Written forms 128
8.2 Objectivity 129
8.2.1 Impersonal expressions 129
8.2.2 Passive voice 130
8.2.3 Indication of research limitations 131
8.3 Explicitness 131
8.3.1 Clear arguments with evidence 131
8.3.2 Academic wording 131
8.3.3 Conventional structure 133
8.4 Coherence 133
8.4.1 Transitional signals 134
8.4.2 Effective paragraphs 134
Exercises 135
Chapter 9 Methodology of Language Research 137
9.1 Observational research 137
9.1.1 General information 137
9.1.2 Classification of observations 138
9.1.3 Natural observation 139
9.1.4 A research example 140
9.2 Survey study 142
9.2.1 Types of surveys 142
9.2.2 Procedures of survey 143
9.2.3 Advantages and disadvantages 146
9.2.4 A research example 146
9.3 Experimental study 148
9.3.1 Basic concepts 149
9.3.2 Five steps of experiment 150
9.3.3 Advantages and disadvantages 152
9.3.4 A research example 152
9.4 Case study 155
9.4.1 Introduction and definition 155
9.4.2 Procedures:Five phases 156
9.4.3 Advantages and limitations 157
9.4.4 A research example 158
Exercises 160
Chapter 10 Thesis Defense 163
10.1 Aims of thesis defense 163
10.2 Procedure of thesis defense 163
10.2.1 Presenting thesis 164
10.2.2 Questioning and answering 166
10.2.3 Judging thesis defense 167
10.3 Thesis-defending strategies 168
10.3.1 General suggestions 168
10.3.2 Strategies for thesis presentation 169
10.3.3 Strategies for questioning and answering 169
10.4 Thesis submission 170
Exercises 170
Chapter 11 Study of a Sample Thesis 174
Appendix A 193
Appendix B 196
Bibliography 199
Acknowledgements 201