英国伦敦大学硕士毕业论文写作指导_ 英国论文写作研究.docx

Royal Holloway, University of London School of ManagementStudent Project and Dissertation Handbook 2008/2009英国伦敦大学硕士毕业论文写作指导Royal Holloway, University of LondonTable of Contents1. Introduction_32. The Nature of the Project_33. Choosing a Suitable Topic for the Project_44. The Formal Research Proposal_75. The Role of the Academic Supervisor_96. Research Methods_107. Reading List_118. Planning and Managing Your Project_129. The Final Dissertation_1410. Referencing_1611. Plagiarism_2012. Assessment_2313. Filing and Publication_2414. Provisional Dissertation Timetable _26Appendix: Using JISC Plagiarism Detection Service_2721. IntroductionThe research project/dissertation is a very important part of your Masters degree. It is an opportunity to learn and practise researching and writing skills, which you will need in your career. It is the part of the programme where you can apply the analytical and problem-solving techniques you have acquired during your studies to pursue a specialist interest in greater depth. Students find the project demanding but at the same time one of the most rewarding aspects of their Masters.The purpose of this guide is to help you approach your dissertation effectively. Every project is different: there is no single right way, but many wrong ways to do research. However, with clarity of purpose, careful planning and good organisation, you will save time and achieve more.If you have a problem once you have begun your project, your supervisor will be the first person to contact on many issues. However, administrative problems should be referred to the School of Management Reception, and any further academic problems should be brought to the attention of the Programme Director. Please note that dissertations have to be prepared by the deadlines set by the School of Management and will only be deferred in extenuating circumstances and on the judgement of the Director of Graduate Studies.2. The Nature of the ProjectThe dissertation project is not intended to be an original contribution to knowledge, but it should demonstrate your ability to collect data systematically, organise your findings, and ensure that your research results are presented in a cogent and clear manner.The project should demonstrate both the technical knowledge that you have acquired throughout the Masters degree programme and also the ability to integrate knowledge from different subject areas in order to apply it analytically to an academic but business-related problem.1In marking your dissertation, examiners will be looking for the following attributes:1.Is the student fully aware of the state of knowledge in the chosen area?1 A note to MA European Business students: The project can be related to a specific business problem or issue or a policy area with relevance to European business. In the former case, there may be similarities to a consultancy report for a particular client. However, it is important to bear in mind that, if the project addresses a particular business problem, as a piece of academic work it will be necessary to develop and present the theoretical basis of the argument at greater length.A note to MSc Sustainability & Management students: since sustainability covers issues of importance to both Management and Geography, students can choose a topic in either discipline.32.Has the student identified all the variables relevant to the problems examined and recognised the inter-relationships between them?3.Has the student adopted and used appropriate methods of investigation?4.Has the student carried out an appropriate and sufficient analysis of the findings?5.Has the student presented the report effectively and professionally?6.Where appropriate, has the student examined a range of possible solutions, framed suitable criteria and proposed a viable solution or recommendation?7.If the topic of the project requires the student to seekpermission to undertake the research;英国伦敦大学硕士毕业论文写作指导a formal ethical assessment and approval (through an ethics committee or a similar body) to undertake the research;permission to quote a person, a company or an organisation;permission to write up the research material; orpermission to publish any research results,the examiners will note whether such permission or approval has been sought and acquired.Every one of these attributes is important. A good project must score well on each criterion.3. Choosing a Suitable Topic for the ProjectStudents following the Conversion Pathway/Programme Pathway of a Masters degree programme will be asked to compose a research proposal of 3,500 to 4,000 words as part of their Research Methods course in the Autumn Term.2 They will receive guidance during the Research Methods course and then submit the proposal to be marked. When deciding on the titles for their projects, Conversion/Programme Pathway students should consult a member of staff engaged on the teaching for their Masters programme. The Director of Graduate Studies will ultimately allocate a Dissertation Supervisor/Project Supervisor to each student based on the topic chosen.Students on the Research Pathway of a Masters degree programme will be asked to consult the Director of their Masters programme or another member of staff2 Writing a 1,500 word dissertation proposal also applies to MBA International Management/MSc International Management students; however, the deadline for the proposal is usually in January.4engaged on the teaching for their Masters programme in addition to any preparation for the dissertation done in the context of taught methodology classes. The Programme Director will give guidance when the students decide upon their dissertation topics and when they prepare to submit a 1,500-word research proposal towards the end of the Spring Term. The Director of Graduate Studies will then allocate a Dissertation Supervisor/Project Supervisor to each student based on the topic chosen.Each student should refine his or her project topic in consultation with the personal dissertation supervisor. Note that the choice of a topic can be crucial to the success of a dissertation and warrants the expenditure of both time and energy. The key point is that the project must focus on a topic that is closely related to your Masters degree programme (e.g. an Asia Pacific business topic for all MA Asia Pacific Business students, a European business topic for MA European Business students, etc.; if in doubt, consult a member of teaching staff for your programme as early as possible).If you have thought about the matter a great deal, but still cannot find a topic, try brainstorming. Remember the rules of brainstorming: capture and list on paper or on a board every idea (however silly, odd or way out) that comes to you. Do not stop to dissect or analyse your thoughts at this stage. When you have run out of ideas, read the list through; more ideas are likely to emerge. When you can think of no more ideas, go through the list grouping the thoughts together and testing them against the criteria outlined below.Broadly, there are three criteria against which you should test your ideas for a topic:a)Is it a substantial problem or opportunity?b)Is it realistic given the time and resources available?c)Is it intellectually challenging?The project should have both theoretical and practical elements; a project weighed too heavily on either side is inappropriate.3 Your project must be framed in such a way that you can cover it adequately in the time available and report on it fully within the word limit imposed. Most projects err initially on the side of being far too expansive. One of the first tasks your supervisor will usually set is to ask you to define your topic more tightly and precisely. This must be done at the beginning of the project if you are going to use your time effectively.3 A note to MA European Business students: For example, a description of the formation of the European Union would be insufficient as a topic. Examples of suitable projects might include an analysis of the trade policy of the European Union in relation to its external trade and how it might affect a particular sector (e.g. agriculture); an assessment of the impact of deregulation policy either within a particular Member State or at the EU level in a particular industry; the strategic management dilemmas relating to privatization in a specific area (e.g. telecoms); an assessment of the effects of policies designed to improve the competitiveness of European business in a particular sector; and the role of business interest groups and lobbying on EU policy in a particular area (e.g. employment regulation).5Research on previously unexplored areas can be exciting. However, one reason why a topic has been left u