Category Archives: contribution

writing conclusions – getting the stuff sorted

Posted on July 3, 2023 by pat thomson

Conclusions are hard. It might seem that all you have to do is go back to your research question and simply provide an answer. But the reality is that much more is needed. Much more. And that much more comes … Continue reading →

Posted in claims, conclusion, contribution, implications of research, now what, results, so what | Tagged academic writing, claims, contribution, implications, Pat Thomson, results, significance | 1 Comment

five focusing questions to kick off some writing

Posted on February 20, 2023 by pat thomson

So you’re about to write a paper. Or a chapter. You’ve gathered together all of the stuff you think you need – analysed data, a short list of references to cite, some early jottings. Now you begin to think about … Continue reading →

Posted in beginning writing, contribution, pomodoro, the point, Tiny Text | Tagged academic writing, argument, contribution, Pat Thomson, pomodoro, reader, Tiny Text, writing strategy | 1 Comment

why journal articles get rejected – #3

Posted on May 2, 2022 by pat thomson

Every journal article is expected to make a contribution. The writer has to say something that adds to the conversation about the particular topic in the target journal. And through this addition, they participate in the discussion in the field. … Continue reading →

Posted in contribution, journal article, peer review, rejection, significance | Tagged contribution, journal article, Pat Thomson, peer reveiw, rejection, significance | 1 Comment

writing for publication – finding an angle and an argument

Posted on February 1, 2021 by pat thomson

This is a story, a my story, which leads to eight pointers about writing for publication. I’m currently writing a paper. Well, yes, always writing something. But right now it’s a paper. A paper designed to do some thinking work … Continue reading →

Posted in argument, choosing the right journal, contribution, journal article, journal publication, literature a resource, the angle | Tagged angle, argument, contribution, Pat Thomson, writing a journal article | 5 Comments

“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

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

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 course – common problems in the Results/Discussion Section

Posted on February 9, 2015 by pat thomson

It’s always as well to know what can go wrong when writing a journal article. And there are multiple areas in any paper to think about. Just because there seem to be fewer conventions for the Results/Discussion section doesn’t mean … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing, argument, contribution, discussion, headings, results | Tagged academic writing problems, journal article, Pat Thomson, results | 5 Comments

preparing for the PhD oral exam

Posted on April 17, 2014 by pat thomson

As a supervisor it is part of my job to help doctoral researchers prepare for their viva. I’ve not done one myself, as Australian PhDs are typically examined by means of a long report from two or three examiners. However, … Continue reading →