How to write a Dissertation The average dissertation

How to write a Dissertation

“The average dissertation is nothing but transference of bones from one graveyard to another” FRANK DOBIE

It is proof that one can not only DO SCIENCE but also WRITE SCIENCE

DISSERTATION • A treatise • A written composition that deals with a subject formally and systematically

THESIS A proposition laid down or stated especially as a theme to be discussed or proved or maintained against attack

What is the problem ? Introduction How did you study the problem ? Material and methods What did you find ? Results What do these findings mean ? Discussion

ANATOMY OF A THESIS Title Introduction (Preface) Review of the literature Material and methods Results Discussion Conclusion References

A newspaper is better than a magazine. A seashore is a better place than the street. At first, it is better to run than to walk. You may have to try several times. It takes some skill but it’s easy to learn. Even young children can enjoy it. Birds seldom get too close. Rain, however, soaks very fast. Too many people doing the same thing can also cause problems. One needs lots of room. If there are no complications, it can be very peaceful. A rock will serve as an anchor. If it breaks loose, you will not get a second chance.

MAKING AND FLYING A KITE A newspaper is better than a magazine. A seashore is a better place than the street. At first, it is better to run than to walk. You may have to try several times. It takes some skill but it’s easy to learn. Even young children can enjoy it. Birds seldom get too close. Rain, however, soaks very fast. Too many people doing the same thing can also cause problems. One needs lots of room. If there are no complications, it can be very peaceful. A rock will serve as an anchor. If it breaks loose, you will not get a second chance.

THE TITLE Describe the CONTENT in the fewest possible words

THE TITLE • Comprehensive • Brief • No abbreviations

“On the addition to the method of microscopic research by a new way of producing colourcontrast between an object and its background or between definite parts of the object itself”

CELL-BLOCK STUDY

INTRODUCTION Contents of the dissertation in 200 to 500 words

INTRODUCTION • Nature and scope of the problem • Rationale for the present study

Review of the Literature

MATERIAL AND METHODS A competent worker must be able to repeat your work

MATERIAL AND METHODS Avoid trade names unless absolutely essential

MATERIAL AND METHODS Do not mix results here ! (Reproducibility of your work, not your results)

RESULTS The shortest part of your work is usually the RESULTS section !

RESULTS Including everything does not prove that you have unlimited information; it proves that you lack discrimination!

It is clearly shown in Table 1 …………….

DON’T DRAW WRONG CONCLUSIONS !

When the legs of the flea were removed, the flea could no longer hear

DISCUSSION • Present principles, relationships and generalizations shown by the results

DISCUSSION • Agreement or contrast with previously published work

DISCUSSION • Point out lack of correlation

DISCUSSION • State your conclusions • Give reasons for your conclusions

DISCUSSION • Discuss the implications of your results

DISCUSSION • Limitations of your work • Scope for further work

THE SUMMARY The problem The solution The principal conclusions

THE SUMMARY AVOID • Experimental detail • References to previous work

REMEMBER ! The conclusion is mentioned in the Discussion and Summary

REFERENCES WRITE REFERENCES IN FULL

REFERENCES Include only references seen by you

REFERENCES Harvard System: Names in alphabetical order

REFERENCES (Harvard style) Andersen J, Jensen J. ------Burns WA, Norrison AB. ----Chang SC. -----Durkin K. ------

REFERENCES Vancouver style : Numbered according to order of appearance in the text

REFERENCES (Vancouver style) 1. Chang SC. ------2. Durkin K. ------3. Andersen J, Jensen J. -------4. Burns WA, Morrison AB. ------

Standard Journal Article Benson ES, Anderson RE, Smith RS. A core curriculum in graduate medical education in pathology. Arch Pathol Lab Med 1987; 111 : 321 - 3

• Venkatachenulu • Ven Chen Lu • Rangadorai • Randor Guy

• List all authors when six or less • When seven or more, list first six followed by et al.

International Committee of Medical Journal Editors Ann Intern Med 1997; 126: 36 - 47

Uniform requirements for manuscripts submitted to biomedical journals http: //www. icmje. org/

Reference book PRINCIPLES OF THESIS WRITING Tejinder Singh, Dheeraj Shah & Piyush Gupta Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers First edition 2008

If literal errors, misspellings, occur in a written work, could not have such errors occurred in a scientific work ?

The man of science appears to be the only man who has something to say just now and the only man who does not know how to say it. Sir James Barrie

There is no second chance