Writing a thesis is probably the biggest and most complex writing task you will ever undertake, and even if you do go on to write other scholarly books and articles, the first time you tackle something of this size and complexity is obviously the hardest. So, what's expected? What are the traps to watch out for? And what are some tips for success? This section will answer these questions by looking at:

• Conceptualising what a thesis is as a whole
• Format requirements
• Assessors - questions and criteria
• Assessment - do's and don'ts
• Possible structures
• Expectations for and problems with the various sections of a thesis
• Can I use "I"?
• Improving your writing and dealing with writer's block
• References and further reading