Briefly explain what the study is. How are you going to find out? What is your methodology? Why did you choose this methodology? Who are your participants? Where is it happening?

General points to follow while writing all the chapters of your dissertation.

1. Keep the language simple and straightforward. While you are writing/editing, keep in mind that you might have a ‘non-expert audience’ reading your work. Therefore, explain any definitions, concepts and theories as clearly as possible.
2. Be clear. A sentence of 50+ words is inappropriate. Refrain from writing lengthy sentences.
3. Ensure that you use correct citation format. It is unacceptable to use incorrect citation format at this point. Use APA 7th edition.
4. Correcting a draft is not to be confused with proofreading. The purpose of correcting a draft is for the supervisor to evaluate the content of the chapter according to the guidelines provided in the MLI Handbook and the tips provided during the online supervisory meetings.
5. Find relevant recent literature. Recent in research means the last 10-15 years. Of course, there are exceptions mainly when you are referring to classical theories and research (e.g. Kanner identified autism in 1944 – no one can deny that). Hence this is acceptable for you to use in your work.
6. Being descriptive only is unacceptable. Your work should include a thorough analysis (depth!) of everything that you are writing.
7. It is et al. not et. al
8. No acronyms in the Abstract. From the Introduction onwards, you may use acronyms as follows: The first time you mention Learning Support Educator write: Learning Support Educator (LSE), then each time you refer to this just write LSE. This applies to Kindergarten Educators (KGE), The Ministry for Education and Employment (MEDE), Head of School (HoS), Assistant Head of School (Asst HoS) etc. This rule does not apply if the word is in a title (e.g. in a subtitle of the Lit Review).
9. Check that your text is 1.5 line spacing, justified (both left and right) – as per MLI Handbook.
10. If you have named your interviewees as participants and you refer to Participant 1, Participant 2 etc – the p has to be a capital letter. Same if you have Parent 1, Parent 2 or KGE 1, KGE 2 etc.
11. When you direct quote, you need (surname, year, page number). Choose either p. or pg. – choose one and stick to it.
12. If you refer to a subject/title quite often e.g. Mathematics – choose one way of saying it and stick to it – Maths or Mathematics – consistency is key.
13. When referring to yourself, do not use ‘the author’ – always use ‘the researcher’. Write in the third person.
14. When you refer to your participants, ideally do not use he/she – as this is very gender-stereotyped. Use ‘the parent’ or ‘the educator’ or ‘the teacher’.
15. At the end of every chapter (just before the beginning of a new chapter), I would like you to add a short linking paragraph – which says what you’ve done in this chapter and what is coming up in the next chapter.

 

1. G) Chapter 1 – Introduction (1000 words)

– Refer to: https://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/introduction

Do not try to mention everything in the introduction chapter. What you need to do is to present a broad outline of your work and your main arguments. Briefly explain the concepts you will address throughout your research. Justify every decision that you took.

1. Introduction (include literature)

1.1 The Context of the Study (250 words)

 Briefly explain what the study is. How are you going to find out? What is your methodology? Why did you choose this methodology? Who are your participants? Where is it happening?

1.2 The Relevance of the Study (250 words)

 Why is the study important? Why is it important for:

o the field of Inclusive Education field internationally and locally?

o those studying in the field (theories, academia etc.)?

o those working in the field (other teachers, LSEs, policymakers etc.)?

1.3 The Aims, the Objectives and the Research Questions/Hypothesis (250 words)

 From the proposal.

 What do you want to find out?

1.4 Personal Motivation (250 words)

 Why did you choose this topic?

 What is your positionality (opinion) about the topic?

 How did your idea for the research originate? (Work experience? Familiar experience?)

 Will this experience lead you to any biases? What will you do to minimize these biases?

The final paragraph in the Introduction usually sets out an outline of what follows in the dissertation. For instance, Chapter 2 will delve into the literature …, Chapter 3 discusses the selected methodology by the researcher, Chapter 4 outlines … etc.

General Text

• text: 1.5 line spacing, justified (both left and right)
• font: Calibri [size 12] OR Arial [size 12] OR Verdana [size 11]
• margins: left margin at least 4.0 cm, right margin 1.5 cm, top margin 3.0 cm and bottom margin 2.5 cm;
• page number: centred at the bottom of the page OR to the right bottom corner;
• paragraphs: no indentation;
• in-text emphasis: use italics or bold type-face

  Use of footnotes is permitted

Use the APA system of referencing;

Headings and sub-headings

• Chapter headings: in block capitals, same as that of the main text, but size 14, bold (e.g. ‘CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION’)
• Chapter headings: to start on a new page (centred or on the left)
• All other sub-headings under the Chapter Headings shall follow main-text formatting (see previous slide) and followed by a single line space.

Long Quotations

• Single line spacing
• Indented left
• Justified left and right
• Must include author name, date and page number referring to the parent text
• Must be preceded and followed by a line space

Developing the introduction chapter.

• Don’t try to mention everything in the introduction chapter.
• What you need to do is to present a broad outline of your work your main arguments.
• Explain the context of your research
• Show why your chosen topic is important and how it is relevant to theory practice, policy or social issues;
• Do not forget to include your aims, objections and research questions/hypotheses
• Briefly explain the concepts you will address throughout your research
• Outline what has aspired you and why did you choose this topic, type of methodology etc. Hence you need to justify every decision that you took
• Do not forget to include your aims, objections and research questions/hypotheses
• The final paragraph usually sets out an outline of what follows in the dissertation. For instance, Chapter 2 discusses my selected methodology, Chapter 3 outlines etc…

Introduction:

Most of this section would have already been completed as part of your research proposal.

1. Explain the context of your research;
2. Show why it is important and how it is relevant to theory practice, policy or social issues;

• Set out the broad aim(s) and specific objectives of the study;

1. Define the research questions and concepts;
2. Demonstrate how and why you made the decisions you did.

Sections in the Introduction Chapter:

Chapter 1: Introduction

• An Overview
• Main objectives of the study
• The Layout of the study – this part has to be a brief description each chapter .