WRITING A MASTER’S THESIS

To aid students in writing their PAGE final thesis

PAGE 2nd year student (includes double degree with King's) and completion of 1st year courses

Better understanding of how to write the dissertation for PAGE

This is a practical course designed to help you in preparing and writing your dissertation, especially for PAGE. It deals with issues of design, research and writing. It is NOT a substitute for supervision by your supervisor(s). The first part consists of lectures and questions and answers, and the second part of presentations by students.

Della Porta D, Keating M, eds. Approaches and Methodologies in the Social Sciences: A Pluralist Perspective. Cambridge University Press; 2008. A George and A Bennett, Case Studies and Theory Development in the Social Sciences, CUP, 2005

Lectures, student presentations, group discussions

Attendance and participation and handing in thesis outline dealing with: research question, method, research design, sources. Students are very strongly recommended to attend this course as it provides feedback on a key part of the course, namely the dissertation. If students have very good reasons for being unable to attend, they should contact the course teacher to explain this and if he agrees, they will have to write a 4000 work essay covering the key elements of the dissertation research design and methodology including: the research question, how it engages with a wider literature and which one, the research design, the methodology, and the empirical material to be used. Students presenting the 4000 word option MUST contact the course teacher beforehand and specify their non-attendance on the dissertation handed in

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