Sectional Instructions for Theses

Here you can find some notes on how to write your thesis in the module of your choice.

Literature and Cultural Studies Section
Linguistics Section
Methodology Section

Literature Section + Culture Studies Section

This section lists requirements and methods specific for theses dealing with literary or cultural topics that may differ from General guidelines for writing theses:

Requirements and Assumptions:
Students are expected to be familiar with basic instruments of literary analysis and academic writing (see Critical Reading and all literary seminars and Academic Writing seminars)

Preparation:

Read complete instructions about theses on the department website.
Identify the field you are interested in: e.g. a particular author, body of literature (e.g. Native American), genre (e.g. Gothic novel) or period (e.g. Renaissance). Students are encouraged to create their own topic which has to be connected in some respect to literature and/or culture of an English speaking country/ies.
Consider the planning procedures.
Read the primary text(s) carefully and if possible, more than once.
Narrow down the topic to specify the angle/point of view from which you will discuss the text(s).
Make plentiful notes of your ideas and mark relevant passages in the text(s).
Identify and consult relevant secondary sources and make notes.
Formulate the thesis and consult it with you supervisor. In accordance with the instructions and requirements, students have to complete Projekt bakalářské a diplomové práce, see http://www.ped.muni.cz/studium/bc-a-mgr-studium/formulare-ke-stazeni and hand it in to their supervisor for approval. In case the schedule of the thesis as specified in the “Projekt bakalářské a diplomové práce” changes, students are expected to inform the supervisor.
Students should arrange regular consultations with the supervisor on the individual basis and inform them about their progress.

Writing Strategy

On the basis of critical reading and textual analysis, interweave your interpretation of the primary text(s) into a coherent, consistent argument, supported with quotes from the text and debating the secondary sources.
Avoid fragmentation: your goal is to link ideas rather than break them up into sections.
Be concrete and specific rather than general and strive for an in-depth analysis rather than sweeping perspectives.

Structure

The final theses supervised within the Literature Section or Culture Studies section of the Department typically follow the “objectives – point(s) of view/methods of analysis/approach to the topic – arguments” structure. It does not need to follow the division into theoretical and practical section recommended in General Guidelines.

The thesis should contain three main parts:

Introduction (e.g. stating the topic, goals and procedures, introduction to the areas discussed, background information such as definitions of terms used in the following analysis, introduction to the texts discussed)
Analysis (typically subdivided into chapters, according to various individual aspects of the topics)
Conclusion (Conclusion, Works Consulted and Works Cited, Appendix)

Form

The language and formal requirements of the thesis must comply with the general standards of academic writing (see General Guidelines http://katedry.ped.muni.cz/anglictina/common/general-guidelines-writing-theses)
The Department of English Language and Literature acknowledges APA reference style and MLA style.

Guides can be found at
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/
http://flash1r.apa.org/apastyle/basics/

Linguistics Section

Structure

The final theses supervised within the Linguistic Section of the Department follow preferably the theoretical-practical part structure.

The theoretical part discusses the reference literature and is divided into several sub-chapters according to the theoretical issues discussed. The final part of the theoretical part is the conclusion where the standpoint of the author of the thesis is stated clearly, so as to be used as theoretical basis for the analysis of the materials in the practical part.

The practical part presents the work with the language material and the solution to the problems stated in the Introduction. The results are summarised in the conclusion pointing to the evaluation of the objectives stated in the introduction (hypothesis) and bridging back to the theoretical part.

Outline

Below is a simplified outline of a linguistic study:

Topic (Not Too Broad!)

Define The Problem And Suggest A Solution

Theory Or Framework (Previous Research into the Topic)

Method Used

Text Material (Its Description)

Analysis (Practical Part)

Conclusions

Note

Text material of excessive length is to be confined to the Appendix, which is situated at the end of the thesis; it does not count to the overall number of pages of the work. Only individual charts (tables) and text samples may be incorporated within the body of the thesis, representing its integral part.

METHODOLOGY

Methodology Final Theses

Supervisor´s and student cooperation

What can a student expect from his/her supervisor:

1 – 3 consultations
help with the specification of the topic you choose
help with the focus, organisation and choice of research
some recommendations of literature available
moral support while writing the thesis
finding the second reader
thesis assessment following the assessment rubric after the submission (5 days before the defense)

What a supervisor expects from a student:

an active approach to writing the thesis (eg. suggesting ideas, choosing the topic, genuine interest in the topic investigation…)
realistic time management and meeting deadlines
a high degree of responsibility and autonomy (eg. acknowledging all the sources, following the general and subject-specific guidelines, language accuracy and appropriacy).

Bachelor Theses

ELT Methodology is an interdisciplinary field. If you want to write a thesis in the section of ELT Methodology, you should think about integrating your knowledge from the other fields studied at the faculty (esp.psychology, pedagogy, general didactics, teaching practice, linguistics, literature, culture studies).

Research possibilities

Research type and research methods must be chosen with regard to the aims of the thesis.

Most frequent types of research that can be used in the methodological theses:

Quantitative research (eg. coursebook analysis)

Qualitative research (eg. case study)

Action research

Design of innovative original materials or teaching units and their piloting

You can use the following quotation norms – APA, MLA, ISO, however, we suggest that for the Methodology-oriented theses APA norm is the most appropriate one.

See the simplified instructions on:

http://www.ped.muni.cz/pedor/archiv/PokynyProAutoryDleAPA_110714_PedOr.pdf

Structure

The final theses supervised within the ELT Methodology Section of the Department follow preferably the theoretical-practical part structure.

Outline

Below is a simplified outline of an ELT Methodology thesis:

Introduction (justification of the choice of topic, research problems, research aims, ways to fulfill the aims)

Theoretical Part (in several subchapters, definitions of the main concepts, critical review of literature relevant to your topic, possible outcomes for the practical part should be stated)

Practical Part (research aims, brief justificacation of a chosen research method, research sample, presentation of the findings, analysis and interpretations, all of it should demonstrate your understanding, analysis and evaluation of the concepts dealt with in the Theoretical part.).

4. Conclusion (the most important findings of your research, what you have learnt from your investigation, how you have developed as a teacher and what possible impact your investigation will have on your teaching. If you are going to continue your studies in the Mgr. Programme, your suggestions for the further investigation of the topic area would be appreciated.)

5. Bibliography

6. Appendices

Diplomam Theses (All Mgr. Programmes)

Research possibilities

Research type and research methods must be chosen with regard to the aims of the thesis.

Most frequent types of research that can be used in the methodological theses:

Quantitative research (eg. coursebook analysis)

Qualitative research (eg. case study)

Action research

Design of innovative original materials or teaching units and their piloting

Academic style

You can use the following academic styles– APA, MLA, ISO, however, we suggest that for the Methodology-oriented theses APA norm is the most appropriate one.

See the simplified instructions on: http://www.ped.muni.cz/pedor/archiv/PokynyProAutoryDleAPA_110714_PedOr.pdf

Structure

The final theses supervised within the ELT Methodology Section of the Department follow preferably the theoretical-practical part structure.

Outline

Below is a simplified outline of an ELT Methodology thesis:

Introduction (justification of the choice of topic, research problems, research aims, ways to fulfill the aims)

2. Theoretical Part (in several subchapters, definitions of the main concepts, critical review of literature relevant to your topic, review of previous research in the area under investigation, possible outcomes for the practical part)

3. Practical Part (research aims, research methods, description of a research sample, presentation of the findings, analysis and interpretation, all of it should demonstrate your understanding, analysis and evaluation of the concepts dealt with in the Theoretical part.).

5. Bibliography

6. Appendices