Discussion Paper: Dr. Chris Flemming’s Diseases of the Thesis
By: AC F. Ver
By: AC F. Ver
As I discuss to you the assertions of Chris Flemming in his article Diseases of the Thesis, upfront, let me emphasize that in his article, he said “I can’t claim that this is an exhaustive typology; and even those that do get a mention are not yet recognized by recent incarnations of DSM. That may have something to do with the fact that these illnesses are not unique to persons; although it might be stretching it to call them ‘cultural’, it seems fairly evident that they are not merely individual maladies. It is, however, part of a symptomatology common to them all to suggest just this to those afflicted- part of the disease, that is, is to believe that you are alone in having it (and perhaps also beyond cure)”.
Although I concur that writing a thesis isn’t always smooth sailing, I cannot accept completely as a gospel truth his claims that a thesis writer is a fraud designed to mislead people, tormented and depressed. This is so because I believe that thesis writing is a methodology wherein one has to follow in order to arrive in a conclusion that is supported by relevant facts (Johnson, 1993). The process of writing a thesis can be threatening. However, there are certain formats that the writer should follow in order to make the experience much easier (Cunningham, 2004). And because of these steps, a writer can’t be accused of being a fraud as he has comprehensively studied, researched, surveyed on and analyzed his topic, not to mention that he has to subject his conclusions into so many tests. Furthermore, he has to defend his work in front of a panel of experts in the field of his research (Hardy and Ramjeet, 2005). That is why in my opening statement, I presented that Chris Flemming can’t forcefully claim his ideas because thesis writing is a guided work which protects a writer from drifting to a reading depression and becoming a hoax (Simera, 2010). Mr. Flemming may be correct only if the writer is not aware of the steps and processes to be followed which makes the task difficult (UERMMMCI Graduate School, 2010). But a researcher has nothing to fear because there are the existing pioneer studies and researches that can further back up on future idea proposals. It is but normal for a beginner to commit mistakes but with the methodology of thesis writing, these can be detected early, thus, this can shift back on track the thoughts of a thesis writer. Foregoing facts considered, a writer is not tormented just as what Mr. Flemming claimed, on the contrary, the writer benefits from the newly found knowledge out of his hard work. Hence, exhaustive work is the key to good writing which is not adapted by Flemming in his article as what he admitted.
After this discussion, we can now test whether Flemming is correct or not by answering these questions:
1. Will in-depth research lead you to fraud?
2. Will you go wrong after going through the details of the guidelines and standards in thesis writing?
3. Will you be tormented or will you take the pleasure and benefit of the experience of thesis writing?
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References:
1. S. J. Cunningham (2004, June 22) How To Write A Thesis. Journal of Orthodontics.
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&hid=11&sid=06b67935-77a4-4d8f-908c-1cc48f0bc7c4%40sessionmgr11
2. Hardy S; Ramjeet J (2006, January 18) Reflections on how to write and organise a research thesis. Nurse Researcher [Nurse Res]
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&hid=108&sid=1abf0789-1a44-4d39-98d5-4b67e5b479eb%40sessionmgr110
3. Johnson SH (1993, December 10) Getting your research published: adapting the thesis style. Nurse Author & Editor [Nurse Author Ed]
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&hid=11&sid=8c7c911b-28cc-4c61-99c5-c284e40c80cd%40sessionmgr11
4. UERMMMCI Graduate School, 2010 (April 2010) Guidelines and Standards in Thesis Writing
5. Simera I; Moher D; Hirst A; Hoey J; Schulz KF; Altman DG (2010, April 26) Transparent and accurate reporting increases reliability, utility, and impact of your research: reporting guidelines and the EQUATOR Network. BMC Medicine [BMC Med] 2010
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=22&hid=109&sid=b76ff668-08a5-430b-879c-b594014ad2c5%40sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=mnh&AN=20420659
Although I concur that writing a thesis isn’t always smooth sailing, I cannot accept completely as a gospel truth his claims that a thesis writer is a fraud designed to mislead people, tormented and depressed. This is so because I believe that thesis writing is a methodology wherein one has to follow in order to arrive in a conclusion that is supported by relevant facts (Johnson, 1993). The process of writing a thesis can be threatening. However, there are certain formats that the writer should follow in order to make the experience much easier (Cunningham, 2004). And because of these steps, a writer can’t be accused of being a fraud as he has comprehensively studied, researched, surveyed on and analyzed his topic, not to mention that he has to subject his conclusions into so many tests. Furthermore, he has to defend his work in front of a panel of experts in the field of his research (Hardy and Ramjeet, 2005). That is why in my opening statement, I presented that Chris Flemming can’t forcefully claim his ideas because thesis writing is a guided work which protects a writer from drifting to a reading depression and becoming a hoax (Simera, 2010). Mr. Flemming may be correct only if the writer is not aware of the steps and processes to be followed which makes the task difficult (UERMMMCI Graduate School, 2010). But a researcher has nothing to fear because there are the existing pioneer studies and researches that can further back up on future idea proposals. It is but normal for a beginner to commit mistakes but with the methodology of thesis writing, these can be detected early, thus, this can shift back on track the thoughts of a thesis writer. Foregoing facts considered, a writer is not tormented just as what Mr. Flemming claimed, on the contrary, the writer benefits from the newly found knowledge out of his hard work. Hence, exhaustive work is the key to good writing which is not adapted by Flemming in his article as what he admitted.
After this discussion, we can now test whether Flemming is correct or not by answering these questions:
1. Will in-depth research lead you to fraud?
2. Will you go wrong after going through the details of the guidelines and standards in thesis writing?
3. Will you be tormented or will you take the pleasure and benefit of the experience of thesis writing?
[/font]
References:
1. S. J. Cunningham (2004, June 22) How To Write A Thesis. Journal of Orthodontics.
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&hid=11&sid=06b67935-77a4-4d8f-908c-1cc48f0bc7c4%40sessionmgr11
2. Hardy S; Ramjeet J (2006, January 18) Reflections on how to write and organise a research thesis. Nurse Researcher [Nurse Res]
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&hid=108&sid=1abf0789-1a44-4d39-98d5-4b67e5b479eb%40sessionmgr110
3. Johnson SH (1993, December 10) Getting your research published: adapting the thesis style. Nurse Author & Editor [Nurse Author Ed]
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&hid=11&sid=8c7c911b-28cc-4c61-99c5-c284e40c80cd%40sessionmgr11
4. UERMMMCI Graduate School, 2010 (April 2010) Guidelines and Standards in Thesis Writing
5. Simera I; Moher D; Hirst A; Hoey J; Schulz KF; Altman DG (2010, April 26) Transparent and accurate reporting increases reliability, utility, and impact of your research: reporting guidelines and the EQUATOR Network. BMC Medicine [BMC Med] 2010
http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=22&hid=109&sid=b76ff668-08a5-430b-879c-b594014ad2c5%40sessionmgr114&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=mnh&AN=20420659