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The Dissertation
Quick questions on Choosing a topic and framing a thesis: SQA Advanced Higher English dissertation
5short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is pair texts with productive tension?Show answer
The best dissertations pair texts that are alike enough to compare and different enough to be worth comparing. Two texts on a shared concern (memory, exile, power, faith) but from different periods, genres or perspectives create the tension a good argument needs. Pairs with too little in common force the comparison; pairs that are too alike leave nothing to argue.
What is make the topic focused, not broad?Show answer
A broad topic ("the theme of love in two novels") becomes a survey: it touches everything and argues nothing. A focused topic ("how two novelists use the failure of a marriage to critique their society's idea of love") names a claim. Narrow the topic until it points at an argument, then check that your texts give you enough material to develop it.
What is q1?Show answer
What makes two texts a good pairing for a dissertation? [2 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
What is the difference between a topic and a thesis? [2 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
What is the test that a thesis is strong enough? [1 mark]
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