Different types of consistency are discussed. Definitions and exercises to identify types of consistency are provided.

1. What
You
Can
Do
to
Write
Your
Thesis/Dissertation
Consistently
!

2. What
Does
“Write
Consistently”
Mean?
!
IT
MEANS
TO
KEEP
COHERENCE
AMONG
THE
DIFFERENT
PARTS
OF
YOUR
THESIS/
DISSERTATION.
IN
OTHER
WORDS,
ALL
ITS
PARTS
SHOULD
FIT
TOGETHER
AS
A
WHOLE.!

3. Types
of
Consistency
!
• Coherence
of
Ideas
• Coherence
of
Wording
• Coherence
of
Habits
!

4. Coherence
of
Ideas
(I)
!
It
is
also
called
logical
coherence.
All
ideas
should
be
related
so
as
to
contribute
to
achieve
the
purpose
of
the
thesis/
disserta;on.
Ideas
can
either
support
or
challenge
the
points
of
view
that
cons;tute
the
main
focus
of
the
study
,
but
they
cannot
be
unrelated
to
it.
In
other
words,
ideas
should
be
harmonically
connected
like
sound
waves
in
a
song.

5. Coherence
of
Ideas
(II)
!
Ideas
must
be
coherent
throughout
the
whole
thesis/
disserta;on.
Their
discussion
has
to
follow
the
same
line
of
thought
in
each
chapter
and
very
especially
with
pivotal
elements
like:
• Problem
• Purpose
• Research
Ques;on
• Theore;cal
Framework
• Methodology

6. Counterexample
of
Coherence
of
Ideas
!
Problem:
High
school
students
of
a
Texan
school
district
who
are
taught
using
a
tradi;onal
lecture
approach
get
low
scores
in
Science
tests.
Purpose:
The
purpose
of
this
study
is
to
know
why
students
do
not
like
Science
subjects.
Research
Ques;on:
Why
do
Science
teachers
prefer
lectures?
Theore;cal
Framework:
This
study
will
be
based
on
theories
like
the
drive
theory
of
mo;va;on
and
construc;vism.
Methodology:
A
quasi-­‐experimental
research
design
will
be
used.

7. !
Can
you
iden+fy
the
inconsistencies
of
the
previous
slide?
Hints
to
iden;fy
the
inconsistencies:
1.
Establish
the
focus
of
each
pivotal
element.
2.
Do
all
pivotal
elements
have
the
same
focus?
Are
they
harmonically
connected?

8. Coherence
of
Wording
(I)
!
It
is
also
called
textual
coherence.
Some
texts
are
perceived
as
easy
to
read
while
others
require
too
much
effort
to
interpret.
Text
readability
is
the
result
of
the
interconnec;on
between
text
surface
(elements
like
words,
grammar,
style,etc.)
and
the
concepts
and
rela;ons
that
underlie
it.
In
other
words,
wording
should
not
only
be
right
from
the
gramma;cal
point
of
view
but
also
express
the
right
concepts
and
their
rela;onships.

9. Coherence
of
Wording
(II)
!
Consistency
of
wording
is
achieved
by
means
of
ac;ons
like:
• Applying
the
rules
associated
to
the
type
of
text
that
is
expected
in
a
thesis/
disserta;on.
• Using
the
language
devices
that
assure
a
cohesive
text
surface
(for
example,
signal
words
and
phrases).
• Linking
concepts
and
rela;ons
explicitly
or
implicitly.
• Using
the
same
wording
for
pivotal
concepts.
• Paraphrasing
other
elements.
Ac;ons
to
assure
consistency
of
wording
will
be
discussed
in
the
conference
Wri$ng
Chapters,
Paragraphs,
and
Sentences
on
November
16th,
2013

10. Counterexample
of
Coherence
of
Wording
!
Wordings
of
what
a
study
intends
to
do
(purpose)
In
chapter
1:
This
study
wanted
to
know
how
effec;ve
differen;a;on
is
to
teach
Science
in
High
School.
In
the
literature
review:
This
study
was
focused
on
effec;ve
strategies
to
teach
Habits
Science.
In
chapter
5:
Since
this
study
intended
to
find
out
a
way
to
improve
Science
teaching,
….

11. !
Can
you
iden+fy
the
inconsistencies
of
the
previous
slide?
Hints
to
iden;fy
the
inconsistencies:
1.
Determine
the
focus
of
each
established
purpose.
2.
Do
all
they
have
the
same
focus?
Do
all
they
mean
the
same
from
the
research
point
of
view
(same
associated
problem,
research
ques;on,
and
methodology
?

12. Coherence
of
Habits
(I)
!
It
can
also
be
called
wri0ng
rou0ne.
It
refers
to
a
set
of
ac;ons
that
you
can
do
whenever
you
have
to
write
a
sec;on
of
your
thesis/disserta;on
in
order
to
achieve
consistent
results.
Although
each
writer
may
find
a
different
set
of
ac;ons
that
fits
her/his
style
be_er,
academic
wri;ng
is
usually
approached
using
a
basic
pa_ern.

13. Coherence
of
Habits
(II)
!
1. Prewri;ng
Ac;vi;es
2. Write
Dra`
3. Review
Dra`

14. Prewriting
Activities
• Think
about
what
you
want
to
communicate
in
the
thesis/
disserta;on
sec;on
in
order
to
establish
its
focus.
• Review
literature
to
find
support
for
your
arguments
and
also
counterarguments
that
may
challenge
your
points
of
view.
• Iden;fy
cita;ons
that
can
be
used.
• Create
an
outline
for
the
sec;on.
• Review
the
outline
to
know
if
its
ideas
flow
well.

15. Write
Draft
• Write a first draft of the section using the outline as a!
guide.!
• Do the actions suggested to assure text and logical!
coherence.!
• Read the draft to check readability.!
• Check if it follows the outline.!
• Write as many drafts as you consider necessary to be sure!
the text reflects your ideas accurately.

16. Review
Draft
• Check the coherence of the section in relation to other
parts of the thesis/dissertation.!
• Proofread draft.!
• Have other people read draft to check readability.!
• Edit draft as needed.

17. !
Now
You
Know!
• What
“write
consistently”
means
• Types
of
consistency
• Coherence
of
ideas
• Coherence
of
wording
• Coherence
of
habits
• How
to
recognize
them
Any
question?
You
are
invited
to
use
the
DoctoralNet
Academy
Map
at
h6p://www.gliffy.com/
publish/3116574/
And
see
the
different
stages
that
you
should
follow
to
develop
your
thesis/
disserta;on

18. Thanks
for
reading!
Hope you find this conference useful and
want to meet us soon!