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• How to Write a 1st-Class Thesis or Dissertation

The dissertation is an individual piece of research writing based on an approved research topic. The dissertation has two aims. Firstly, it should demonstrate extensive knowledge in the chosen topic areas. Secondly, the dissertation should reflect a clear understanding of the relevant research methods (Freyens 2006, pp. 495-511). When it comes to writing up a 1st-class thesis or dissertation, students must know what the markers are looking for in such a piece of work. This will give students a focus. The following describes the meaning of a 1st-class thesis.

What is Project / Research Proposal?
The marking scheme for a 1st-class dissertation is upwards of 70 per cent. The thesis that achieves this marking level must be carried out at a superior level. The research writing must be excellent and all of the criteria will have been met to a very high level. For example, it should have clear objectives and aims. The writing should be tightly structured; grammatically and syntactically correct; substantive; and interesting (Brown 2006, pp. 209-221). These points will be explained in more depth in later sections

1st-class dissertation writing should consist of the following:

• The dissertation should consist of specific sections including an Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Conclusion and Recommendations (Waytowich et al. 2006, pp. 195-208).
• Research works must reveal extensive knowledge and understanding of theoretical and practical materials (Waytowich et al. 2006, pp. 195-208). For instance, a dissertation studying branding strategy of cosmetic brands in China should show the understanding of branding theory. The following is an example:
  "The American Marketing Association defines a brand as 'a name, term, sign, symbol, or design, or a combination of them'. It does not have an expiration date like patent and copyright (Kotler 2003, pp. 418-419). The main purpose of a brand is to identify the products or services of a seller or groups of sellers and differentiate an offering of a seller from that of its competitors. For example, when people hear or see KFC. It can carry many associations in the mind of people - fried chicken, happy meal, Kentucky, chicken nuggets and an old man."
• If the dissertation is for business or management studies, the integration with and implication for improving business and management practice must be clearly developed (Johnson & Spicer 2006, pp. 39-54). The research writing must show strong evidence of critical and creative thinking and a readiness to consider the limitations of the theory and methods used and applied within the research. It should also recommend alternative options (Johnson & Spicer 2006, pp. 39-54). For example, a thesis focusing on perceptions and attitudes toward The Body Shop in China may provide the following recommendations:
  "This study examined the effects of perceptions and attitudes of consumers toward a single brand - Body Shop. It was found that the effect of a brands image on brand evaluation was moderated by several factors. These include international brand, brand knowledge, quality of the products, price, and advertising. It can also be assumed from the data collected, by using the focus group interview, that brand extension and global brands influence buying decisions. Future research should extend these results by examining perceived quality towards international brands and perceptions toward brand extension."

What Should be in a 1st-class Dissertation?
There are several characteristics that a 1st-class thesis should have (Josson 2006, pp. 479-490). The followings are some of these characteristics and are described in different chapters as follows:

Introduction

• The background of the study should be provided. For example, a study on cosmetic business opportunities in China for The Body Shop can begin by providing information on the Chinese cosmetic industry in general. You can then move on to give The Body Shop's company information and background.
• Provide the aims and objectives of the study (Josson 2006, pp. 479-490). For example, "the aim of this research is to find a positioning of The Body Shop brand within the consumer's mind".

Literature Review

• 1st-class thesis writing must have a focus on contemporary issues that are relevant to the area of the study, the theory and practice, together with a clear statement of the problems to be researched (Josson 2006, pp. 479-490).
• It is important for students to use up-to-date support evidence (Josson 2006, pp. 479-490). For example, journal articles relevant to the area of research, in the literature review, should be current. A student conducting a study in 2007 should use journal articles and news from 2006 and 2007.
• Good thesis writing must contain an analysis of relevant theories and models based on the demonstrably systematic and in-depth literature search (Waytowich et al. 2006, pp. 195-208). Good sources for literature are textbooks, journal articles, newspapers and the news. When using secondary data, students must ensure that the sources are reliable. Some of the reliable sources of secondary data can be found at www.emeraldinsight.com, www.bbc.co.uk and www.statistics.gov.uk.

Methodology

• The methodology chapter details the research design (primary or secondary research); timetable (how many days and weeks you would spend giving out questionnaires, typing up thesis, etc.); types and sources of information (for instance, secondary data will be obtained from textbooks and journal articles); and data analysis (analysis methods) should be provided. Students should refer to previous student dissertations and theses, found in libraries (Waytowich et al. 2006, pp. 195-208).
• 1st-class thesis writing should contain a critical survey approach. For example, if a student uses questionnaires, he/she must adopt SPSS to analyse the data. Different types of research methods can be found in business research books. One of the recommended sources is "Marketing Research: An International Approach" by Marcus J. Schmidt and Svend Hollensen (2006, pp.63-89).
• If you know that you do not like numbers, avoid using quantitative research and adopt qualitative research methods instead (Schmidt & Hollensen 2006, pp.63-89). It is also wise to discuss and consult your supervisor who may be able to advise you on optional research methods.

Data Analysis and Research Results

• Analysing primary data will depend on the research methodology (Schmidt & Hollensen 2006, p. 545). The SPSS program is used for questionnaires. For example, "from the research results, Body Lotion is the most widely and frequently used product for the sample group at the percentage of 90 per cent". Focus group interviews can be analysed by using descriptive patterns. For instance, according to focus group interviews, "Cleanser is the most frequently used product among focus group participants."
• When producing descriptive thesis writing, remember that it should be critical. This does not mean that it has to be negative. It is, however, a matter of adopting a questioning approach and trying to explain the reasons why things are as they are. It is important for students to show the significance of their argument and to demonstrate, interpret and explain as fully as possible (Jonsson 2006, pp. 479-490).
• If there are figures, tables, calculations and other statistics, then a full and critical comment and explanation must be provided. Poor marks may be given if students fail to give relevant and significant explanations (Jonsson 2006, pp. 479-490).

Conclusion
A thesis should have relevant conclusions and recommendations for further action/investigation. This should be included in the final chapter of the thesis (Jonsson 2006, pp. 479-490). For example, a study on perception towards The Body Shop may find that brand knowledge is a main concern. As a result, advertising strategy may need to be freshened up - new television and media adverts.

When referencing your thesis, adopt the Harvard system. This can be obtained by using search engines, such as Google and Yahoo. One of the recommended websites is http://library.curtin.edu.au.

Writing Style for a 1st-Class Thesis
Writing style at the higher education level is very important, especially if students want to gain a distinction mark. Writing up a thesis is different from writing a letter to a friend or family member (Stevens & Campbell 2006, pp. 536-556). There are several key points of writing style that students have to take into consideration when writing up their thesis:

• When writing up a 1st-class thesis you should avoid much of the informality and conversational expression of everyday communication. Avoid excessive technical language. Thesis writing must be produced in a clear and concise style (Jonsson 2006, pp. 479-490).
• Use nouns such as "researcher" in thesis writing. This is because these words are preferable in academic writing as they are more accurate and transparent than first person terms such as "I" or "me" (Gilmore et al. 2006, pp. 468-478).
• If English is not your first language, it is advisable to have your thesis proofread by a native speaker to correct grammatical mistakes before submitting it (Jonsson 2006, pp. 479-490).
• When planning your writing, ignore the language and verb agreement. However, when you start to write, spend more time correcting spelling mistakes and ensuring that your grammar etc. are correct. The more time you spend rewriting your paper, the better your writing skills will get. This is because you can express the best of your ideas - not just the last-minute thoughts (Jonsson 2006, pp. 479-490).
• After finishing your writing, get someone to read your work in order to see what people think about the language and the ideas the paper presents (Gilmore et al. 2006, pp. 468-478).

References

Books
Kotler, P 2003, Marketing Management, Prentice Hall, New Jersey.

Schmidt, M & Hollensen, S 2006, Marketing Research: An International Approach, Pearson Education Limited, Essex.

Journal Articles
Brown, R 2006, 'The marriage breaking aspect: experiences of the MBA', Education and Training, vol. 48, no. 4, pp. 209-221.

Freyens, B 2006, 'Measures of training costs in Australia', Management Research News, vol. 29, no. 8, pp. 495-511.

Gilmore, A; Carson, D & Perry, C 2006, 'Academic publishing: Best practices for editors, guest editors, authors and reviewers', European Business Review, vol. 18, no. 6, pp. 468-478.

Johnson, C & Spicer, D 2006, 'A case study of action learning in an MBA program', Education and Training, vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 39-54.

Josson, S 2006, 'On academic writing', European Business Review, vol. 18, no. 6, pp. 479-490.

Stevens, C & Campbell, P 2006, 'Collaborating to connect global citizenship, information literacy and lifelong learning in the global studies classroom', Reference Services Review, vol. 34, no. 4, pp. 536-556.

Waytowich, V; Onwuegbuzie, A & Jiao, Q 2006, 'Characteristics of doctoral students who commit citation errors', Library Review, vol. 55, no. 3, pp. 195-208.

Worldwide Web
BBC News 2007, News. Retrieved: January 30, 2007, from www.bbc.co.uk/

Emerald 2007, Articles. Retrieved January 30, 2007, from www.emeraldinsight.com/

Google 2007, Search. Retrieved: January 30, 2007, from www.google.co.uk/

National Statistics 2007, Data. Retrieved: January 30, 2007, from www.statistics.gov.uk/

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