Thesis and Dissertation Writing in a Second Language: a handbook for Supervisors

Application: choice of verb tense
Ask your student to look at the literature review in a thesis or disserta-
tion in their own area and find an example of each of the above tenses
being used in a reporting verb. Do they agree with the suggestion for
the choice of tense made in Table 7.4?

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Critiquing previous research
A key feature of a review of previous research is critiquing previous studies.
This is something many second-language students find difficult to do. Below
are some questions students may wish to consider in their reading and cri-
tiquing of previous work.
●
Is the research problem clearly stated?
●
Are the variables clearly described and defined?
●
Is the design of the study appropriate for the particular research question?
●
Are the research instruments appropriate for the particular study?
●
Are the data analysis procedures appropriate for the particular study?
●
Was the author consistent in the way they analysed their results?
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Are the conclusions, implications and recommendations warranted by
the results?
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Writing the background chapters