Bitchener J. Writing an Applied Linguistics Thesis or Dissertation - A Guide to Presenting Empirical Research

Basingstoke, New York: Palgrave Macmillan, Macmillan Publishers Limited, 2010. — XII, 216 p.This book has been written in response to frequently asked questions by first time thesis writers about (1) the content that is relevant to different parts of a thesis, (2) how the content can be most effectively organized and (3) the extent to which the various sections of a thesis have particular language and presentational characteristics. Each of these issues is discussed in relation to the typical part-genres of an empirically based thesis: the abstract, the introduction, the literature review, the methodology, the results, the discussion of results and the conclusion. The focus of the book is therefore on the writing up of the thesis rather than on the research process.The book will be of interest to a wide audience. The main target group is first-time writers of an empirically based thesis. To varying extents, it will also have relevance to writers of other thesis types. Secondly, although the illustrative material presented in the book has been drawn from theses in Applied Linguistics, this does not mean that it is only relevant for those working within this discipline. Any student writing up a piece of empirical research, particularly but not exclusively with a social science orientation, will find the book instructive. Thirdly, the book has been written for both native and second language speakers of English. Finally, it is anticipated that the book will also be useful for thesis supervisors and for training units within tertiary institutions preparing supervisors and others for the task ahead.The book comprises eight chapters: the background to the book, the abstract, the introduction, the literature review, the methodology, the results, the discussion of results and the conclusion.