Presentation scientific writing

Translation and summary of my experience as PhD-promotor

Dr. Frank Stumpe

Overview: The never ending story of a PhD

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Overview

Compare Plan

Write

Focus

First important point get a helicopter view

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What is my position today? Where should I be next time, the time after, etc?

What are the main red wire?

Overview process scientific working and risks

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Scientific Answer

Scientific Questions

Loosing focus

Not getting focus

Loosing direction

Overview process scientific working and risks

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Scientific Answer

Scientific Questions

Loosing focus

Not getting focus

Loosing direction

Close your research now

Order parts in a logical sequence of your PhD • Possible orders are

• The timeline: when do you have done what (not suitable for action research)

• Main blocks of scientific working

• Research questions, state of the art

• Used methodology for research

• Used theory and own framework

• Proof with cases

• Case description

• Results of the case

• Reflection of the results

• Possible future research and recommendations

• Summary

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Pro

ble

m S

olv

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Met

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can

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Take a look at other PhDs of the passed few months

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How have others made the structure

Second important point getting focus

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Define what do you want to deliver Describe your scientific target

Make your Summary of the PhD

1 page A4

Specify your results

Example

• Using the methodology of … this research proves that variability…

• During the use of the CORE-approach for software requirement gathering we investigate that …

• Based on this investigation we extend the approach by introducing …

• Proven with different practical cases the result is a new approach dealing with…

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Focus: the summary of your PhD • Write the summary in advanced

• Ask for review

• Using your promoters

• Using your colleagues

• Using your friends

• A good summary describes

• The sequence you use in the PhD-thesis

• Main used frameworks, methods and tools

• Briefly the practical proves

• Outcome of the research

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How to Write a Summary in 8 Easy Steps

• Writing a good summary demonstrates that you clearly understand a text...and that you can communicate that understanding to your readers. A summary can be tricky to write at first because it’s tempting to include too much or too little information. But by following our easy 8-step method, you will be able to summarize texts quickly and successfully for any class or subject.

• 1) Divide…and conquer. First off, skim the material you are going to summarize and divide it into sections. Focus on any part and subpart. Also look at any bold-faced terms and make sure you understand them before you read.

• 2) Understand. Now that you’ve prepared, go ahead and understand the selection. Prepare a way straight through. At this point, you don’t need to stop to look up anything that gives you trouble, just get a feel for your main idea and target.

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How to Write a Summary in 8 Easy Steps • 3) Reread and summarize. Rereading should be active reading.

Underline topic sentences and key facts. Label methods, frameworks and results that you want to refer to as you write your summary. Also label areas that should be avoided because the details - though they may be interesting - are too specific. Identify areas that you or others do not understand and try to clarify those points.

• 4) One sentence at a time. You should now have a firm grasp on the context you will be summarizing. In steps 1–3, you divided the piece into sections and located the PhD main ideas, points and targets. Now write down the main idea of each section in one well-developed sentence. Make sure that what you include in your sentences are key points, not minor details.

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How to Write a Summary in 8 Easy Steps • 5) Write a thesis statement. This is the key to any well-written

summary. Review the sentences you wrote in step 4. From them, you should be able to create a thesis statement that clearly communicates what the entire text will try to achieve. If you find that you are not able to do this step, then you should go back and make sure your sentences actually addressed key points.

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How to Write a Summary in 8 Easy Steps • 6) Ready to write. At this point, your first draft is virtually done. You can use

the thesis statement as the introductory sentence of your summary, and your other sentences can make up the body. Make sure that they are in order. Add some transition words (then, however, also, moreover) that help with the overall structure and flow of the summary. And once you are actually putting pen to paper (or fingers to keys!), remember these tips:

• Write in the present tense.

• Make sure to include the PhD title of the work (in the beginning the work-title).

• Be concise: a summary should not be equal in length to the original text. Keep max 1 A4

• Don't put your own opinions, ideas, or interpretations into the summary. The purpose of writing a summary is to accurately represent what the PhD wanted to say, not to provide a critique.

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How to Write a Summary in 8 Easy Steps • 7) Check for accuracy. Reread your summary and make certain that

you have accurately represented your ideas and key points. Check to make sure that your text does not contain your own commentary on the piece.

• 8) Revise. Once you are certain that your summary is accurate, you should (as with any piece of writing) revise it for style, grammar, and punctuation. If you have time, give your summary to someone else to read. This person should be able to understand the main text based on your summary alone. If he or she does not, you may have focused too much on one area of the piece and not enough on the author’s main idea

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Third important point the way to go

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Define how to deliver Identify possible parts of your PhD

Define your terms

Table of content

Generate a mind map with all possible parts of your PhD

• A mindmap is not made in one go, take your time

• Start with your first mindmap on a Friday, take a weekend of and start again on Monday

• Review and review your mindmap

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Create your table of content

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Summary Chapter n Chapter … Chapter 4 Chapter 3 Chapter 2 Chapter 1

Compare and validate

• Take the summary

• Does the table of content follows the summary?

• If not, decide what to change

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Explain your Table of content • Make a drawing of your table of content

• Describe in words what do you do in your table of content • Use each main chapter (level-1)

• Describe this chapter by using the headings level-2

• This will be your chapter 1.1

• Make a drawing of your table of each chapter

• Describe each chapter • Use each sub-chapter (level-2)

• Describe this chapter by using the headings level-2, level-3, etc.

• This will be your chapter X.1

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Start to make a “Comic strip”

• Make a drawing for each chapter and subchapter

• E.g. your theory with the frameworks, theory of action research, etc

• Start with a glossary

• Use an excel-sheet or others

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Term Definition Defined in chapter Scource

Make a line up of your drawings

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• While passing by explain your PhD

• Identify gabs where you need more time and you can’t pass smoothly

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Define your PhD project

Milestones

Stakeholders

Planning

Etc.

Fourth important point plan your way ahead

Define your PhD as a project

• Use standard methods

• Stakeholders; who is involved

• Timing: When I do what

• Scope: What should I write (see above)

• Quality: make sure to have reviews

• Risks and SWOT

• Communicate your planning and follow up

• Stick to the planning

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Fifth important point Write your text

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Describe the Comic-strip

Explain in words what you see

Make sure that another person can make your drawing by reading your text

Decide whether to use the drawing in your text or not

Write in parts, close each part and make sure that each part is independent

Write your text

• Write your text according your comic-strip

• What you see is what you write

• Add new definitions and terms in excel-sheet

• After each finish paragraph

• Review, review, review

• Use the search engine: if you find a term there must be a definition

• Either a source

• Either an own derivation

• Each chapter must be independent

• Combine the paragraphs together to one text

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Any Questions? 27