Category Archives: argument

“discussion” – it’s about moving forward

Posted on July 20, 2020 by pat thomson

Discussion. It’s a word that immediately comes to mind when we think about communicating research. First we report the results, and then we discuss them. Discussion might be a separate thesis chapter just before the conclusion, or the end of … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing, argument, contribution, discussion, research | Tagged academic discussion, argument, contribution, original contribution, Pat Thomson, research | 1 Comment

tracking the path to research claims

Posted on January 6, 2020 by pat thomson

All researchers make claims about their work. Remember the phrase staking a claim? That’s what we are actually doing when we claim something. We are metaphorically placing a marker in a field that we are prepared to stand on, stand … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing, argument, claim, claims, evidence, revision, revision strategy, thesis, thesis revision | Tagged argument, claims, evidence, Pat Thomson, revision, thesis | 1 Comment

planning a paper

Posted on November 18, 2019 by pat thomson

Last week I was in Norway running a three part workshop on planning a journal article. The workshop was based around a Tiny Text abstract. As a planner myself, I use Tiny Texts for sorting out the contribution argument … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing, argument, contribution, journal article, planning, planning a paper, Tiny Text | Tagged academic writing, argument, contribution, journal article, planning | 7 Comments

a thesis (often) needs A Big Idea

Posted on June 10, 2019 by pat thomson

Everyone knows that the thesis has to make a contribution. No probs. Well yes, there are actually probs. At the end of the research it can be hard to find one. Contribution, where is it? You’re exhausted from generating all … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing, argument, Big Idea, contribution, thesis | 5 Comments

what is “measured” writing?

Posted on May 13, 2019 by pat thomson

I was recently part of a small discussion on another social media platform where someone reported that their supervisor had said their writing wasn’t sufficiently “measured’. Without seeing the actual work it was pretty hard to understand what the supervisor … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing, argument, boosters, disciplines, hedges, measured writing, nominalisation, passive voice, stance, thingification | Tagged academic writing, measured writing, Pat Thomson, stance, supervision | 9 Comments

mapping a text

Posted on March 4, 2019 by pat thomson

I love a good map. I’m not talking about the satnav you have in your car, or its predecessor the street directory. Nor am I talking about the underground map I occasionally have to consult when I’m down in London. … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing, argument, book writing, mapping, thesis | Tagged argument, book, mapping, Pat Thomson, thesis | 7 Comments

getting to grips with ‘the paragraph’

Posted on November 5, 2018 by pat thomson

I was recently asked how I felt about paragraphs. “Well you know, all the feels” I might have replied. But I didn’t, largely because I don’t usually think about the paragraph. The question made me wonder whether I take the … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing, argument, drafting, outline, outline by sentences, Outline move, paragraph, revision, revision strategy, topic sentence | Tagged argument, draft, outlne, paragraph, Pat Thomson, revision, topic sentence | 1 Comment

thesis knowhow – “the contribution” can create coherence

Posted on April 2, 2018 by pat thomson

My Nordic colleagues often say that the thesis has to have a red thread, a line of argument that holds things together. So what’s this red thread? Think of the red thread as a sturdy rope that guides the reader … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing, argument, coherence, contribution, thesis, thesis warrant | Tagged argument, coherence, contribution, Pat Thomson, red thread, thesis | 7 Comments

writing the thesis – work, moves and structure

Posted on January 8, 2018 by pat thomson

Before you start to wrestle your material into a thesis structure, it’s helpful to consider the work that the thesis has to do, and the moves that ensure the work is done. Once you understand the work and the moves, … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing, academic writing as work, argument, four thesis moves, structure, thesis, thesis warrant | Tagged argument, four thesis moves, Pat Thomson, thesis, thesis structure | 6 Comments

the citation dump – and three more citation tactics to avoid – #thesisknowhow

Posted on September 18, 2017 by pat thomson

All doctoral researchers know they must locate their work in the literatures. They also know that they must refer to the relevant literatures when they make an argument. Unsubstantiated claims are not acceptable, unless of course they are what is … Continue reading →