Preface
 Chapter 1: Defining the Dissertation
  1.1 Introductory remarks
  1.2 Thesis, dissertation, paper
  1.3 Summary and evaluation of information
  1.4 The process of writing a dissertation
  1.5 Summary
  1.6 Exercises
 Chapter 2: Basic Writing and Academic Writing
  2.1 Introduction
  2.2 Basic writing
  2.3 Academic writing
  2.4 Style and mechanics
  2.5 Important terms and concepts
  2.6 Summary
  2.7 Exercises
 Chapter 3: Data, Analysis, and Research Paradigms
  3.1 Introduction
  3.2 Data collection
  3.3 Analysis
  3.4 Research paradigms
  3.5 Types of research
  3.6 Summary
  3.7 Exercises
 Chapter 4: Prewriting (1): Developing the Subject
  4.1 Introduction
  4.2 Managing your time
  4.3 Locating your interest
  4.4 Selecting a topic
  4.5 Considering manageability and availability
  4.6 Summary
  4.7 Exercises
 Chapter 5: Prewriting (2)：Reading the Literature
  5.1 Introduction
  5.2 Familiarizing yourself with the background
  5.3 Discovering existing studies
  5.4 Reading the relevant literature
  5.5 Taking notes
  5.6 Discovering questions and problems
  5.7 Focusing on your research
  5.8 Preparing a working bibliography
  5.9 Summary
  5.10 Exercises
 Chapter 6: Prewriting (3): Thesis Formulation and Research Questions
  6.1 Introduction
  6.2 The thesis statement
  6.3 The research question
  6.4 The research method
  6.5 Summary
  6.6 Exercises
 Chapter 7: Prewriting (4): Conducting Primary Research—an Example
  7.1 Introduction
  7.2 Research interest and research aim
  7.3 Thesis statement and research questions
  7.4 Literature review
  7.5 Research method and data collection
  7.6 An example of data collection and data editing
  7.7 Theoretical basis
  7.8 Analysis
  7.9 Summary
  7.10 Exercises
 Chapter 8: Writing (1): Elements of a Dissertation
  8.1 Introduction
  8.2 The macrostructure
  8.3 The abstract
  8.4 The introduction
  8.5 The literature review
  8.6 The theoretical framework
  8.7 Research method and data
  8.8 Analysis and discussion
  8.9 The conclusion
  8.10 Summary
  8.11 Exercises
 Chapter 9: Writing (2): Organizing Ideas
  9.1 Introduction
  9.2 The skeleton and the meat
  9.3 The language of the elements of structure
  9.4 Referring to previous studies
  9.5 Re-organizing ideas
  9.6 Advice on quoting
  9.7 Advice on the choice of reporting verbs
  9.8 Summary
  9.9 Exercises
 Chapter 10: Writing (3): Writing and Revising
  10.1 Introduction
  10.2 Creating the overall plan
  10.3 Outlines and section headings
  10.4 The proportional suggestion
  10.5 Developing the first draft and possible problems
  10.6 Researching before writing
  10.7 Revising the first draft
  10.8 Summary
  10.9 Exercises
 Chapter 11: Writing (4): Avoiding Plagiarism
  11.1 Introduction
  11.2 Defining plagiarism
  11.3 The temptation to plagiarize
  11.4 The cost of plagiarism
  11.5 Paraphrasing vs plagiarism
  11.6 How to avoid plagiarism
  11.7 Summary
  11.8 Exercises
 Chapter 12: Preparing the Final Draft
  12.1 Introduction
  12.2 Formatting the final draft
  12.3 Checking the details
  12.4 Summary
  12.5 Exercises
 Chapter 13: References and Appendixes
  13.1 Introduction
  13.2 The function of documenting sources
  13.3 Different styles of referencing
  13.4 References in the running text
  13.5 References at the end of the dissertation
  13.6 Appendixes
  13.7 Summary
  13.8 Exercises
 Chapter 14: Submission and Evaluation
  14.1 Introduction
  14.2 Working with your tutor
  14.3 Submission
  14.4 Evaluation criteria
  14.5 The dissertation defence
  14.6 Summary
  14.7 Exercises
 Appendix 1: A Sample Paper in Chinese
 Appendix 2: A Sample Paper for Further Analysis
 Appendix 3: Suggested Answers to the Exercises
 About the Authors