Writing an Applied Linguistics Thesis or Dissertation: A Guide to Presenting Empirical Research

Once the research is over, the question of exactly how to write each chapter of a thesis or dissertation remains. This invaluable guide introduces first-time thesis writers to the process of writing up empirical research. To help students understand what content and structure are appropriate for the different parts of a thesis, John Bitchener presents a range of options, illustrating them with analyses of and commentary on sections from a real Masters thesis in Applied Linguistics.

Highly practical, and relevant across a wide range of disciplines, this step-by-step handbook:
• provides guidelines on the type of content typically presented in each section of an empirical thesis, as well as key linguistic and presentation features
• explores options for organizing and structuring this material to ensure it is rhetorically and persuasively effective
• offers analysed examples with follow up commentary on how each of these aspects have been considered by one successful thesis writer
• includes useful answers to FAQs, further reading suggestions and additional activities for students to apply what they have learned.