Thesis Structure Mark III

My third meeting with Dr. Hurrell about the thesis generated the third possible structure:

The initial plan involved three different kinds of chapters: A chapters that serve to introduce and conclude the thesis, B chapters that deal with fairly straightforward recounting of existing work, and C chapters that constitute new analysis.

Original: (24 October 2006)

A₁ Stockholm and Kyoto: Case Studies
B₁ Literature review
C₁ Practical consequences of science based policy-making
C₂Theoretical and moral consequences
A₂ Conclusion

Version generated for the thesis seminar, with each chapter around 5000 words: (24 November 2006)

A₁ Introduction
B₁ Literature review
B₂ Background to case studies
C₁ Information and consensus issues
C₂ Normative and distributive issues
A₂ Conclusion

The big change is greater integration between sections. Rather than treating the literature review as an isolated component, it should happen over the course of the analytic discussion. Thus, the entire B component is being integrated into the C chapters, with some of the general overview material moved to the A chapters. So too, the background to Stockholm and Kyoto. As such, the structure now resembles:

A₁ Introduction
C₁ Problem identification and investigation
C₂ Consensus formation in science and politics
C₃ Remedy design and implementation

A timeline was also developed for submission:

A₁ Submit by 5 February, discuss 8 February
C₁ Submit by 28 February
C₂ Submit by 15 March
C₃ Submit by 31 March
A₂ Submit after 10 April

Dr. Hurrell leaves for Brazil on April 1st and the final thesis is due on the 22nd. That period will be used for my final editing, as well as the incorporation of suggestions from any friends who are good enough to look the thing over on my behalf.

The structure is important because it sets out the approximate fraction of my 30,000 words to be devoted to each issue. Dr. Hurrell says that 2/3 of the thesis should be comprised of C chapters, which partially explains the reasoning behind the new arrangement. Also, the structure of the thesis will ultimately be mirrored in the structure of my thinking about the question, and how I divide and answer it. One possibility discussed was to state that there are a very broad collection of literatures pertaining to this subject, but that they do not form a coherent whole. As such, a major purpose of this research could simply be to categorize differing perspectives and extract what they can usefully contribute to international relations, and where IR can contribute to them.

PS. The MIT International Review has finally committed to publishing my fish paper in a specific issue: the upcoming one, this spring. All I need to do is complete one final revision by Monday.

Author: Milan

In the spring of 2005, I graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in International Relations and a general focus in the area of environmental politics. In the fall of 2005, I began reading for an M.Phil in IR at Wadham College, Oxford. Outside school, I am very interested in photography, writing, and the outdoors. I am writing this blog to keep in touch with friends and family around the world, provide a more personal view of graduate student life in Oxford, and pass on some lessons I've learned here. View all posts by Milan