As a student, you know how stressful it is to write your thesis or dissertation.
But you’re not the only one involved in this huge exercise. Spare a thought for your supervisor(s) and examiners. They have to read your document. And they’re probably stressed too!
A very smart move on your part is to make their lives easier. And it’s not hard to do! It’s called signposting.
Signposting means that you insert signposts at strategic points in your thesis to guide or direct the reader.
So, for example, at the beginning of each chapter, you need to say, briefly, what the various sections of that chapter cover.
For example, say: There are three main sections in Chapter 2, each of which addresses a fundamental aspect of ___. These are ___ (2.1), ___ (2.2), and ___ (2.3). And hyperlink these (the topic of a future blog).
Then do the same at the beginning of each section within each chapter.
Additionally, in later chapters when you refer to your research sub-questions, reference and repeat them so that your reader doesn’t have to go looking for them in earlier chapters.
For example, say: For ease of reference, the research sub-questions are repeated here, as stated in Section ___.
The same would apply to hypotheses (if applicable) – repeat them when you address them in later chapters.
Let me know if you’d like help with your dissertation or thesis.
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