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Writing: High-Level Professional & Academic C2 - Lesson 13: Writing a Dissertation/Thesis Chapter (Introduction, Methodology...)

Sopheak Pich

Writing: High-Level Professional & Academic C2

Lesson 13: Writing a Dissertation/Thesis Chapter

Listen to key concepts for academic writing.

What you will learn: By the end of this lesson, you will understand the specific linguistic and structural requirements for writing a C2-level Introduction and Methodology chapter, focusing on establishing a research gap and justifying your approach with an academic voice.

Before You Start: C2 Core Concepts 🧠

Key Academic Vocabulary (Click 🔊)

This lesson focuses on high-level academic concepts.

Research Gap
| គម្លាតនៃការស្រាវជ្រាវ
The "missing piece" in existing research that your thesis or dissertation aims to fill.
Methodology
| វិធីសាស្រ្ត
The systematic, theoretical analysis of the methods applied to a field of study. (Not just *what* you did, but *why* you did it that way).
Validity
| សុពលភាព
The quality of being logical and factually sound. Does your method truly measure what it claims to measure?
Nominalization
| នាមនីយកម្ម
Turning a verb (e.g., *investigate*) into a noun (e.g., *an investigation*). This makes writing sound more formal and objective.

The B2 "Report" vs. The C2 "Dissertation"

A B2 report describes *what is*. A C2 dissertation *argues for what is not yet known*. The language is more formal, impersonal, and precise.

B2-Level Introduction (A Report)

"This report is about tourism in Cambodia. First, I will talk about Angkor Wat. Second, I will talk about the beaches. Finally, I will conclude that tourism is very important."

C2-Level Introduction (A Thesis)

"While extensive research has focused on the economic impact of tourism at Angkor, little attention has been paid to its sociological effects on local craft industries. This dissertation aims to fill that gap by analyzing how tourism-driven demand has reshaped traditional artisan communities."

The Introduction Chapter: The "Funnel"

Your introduction must act like a funnel, starting broad and narrowing down to your specific research question.

Step 1. General Context: Start broad. What is the overall topic? (e.g., "Sustainable agriculture is a topic of growing global concern.")

Step 2. The Problem (The Gap): What has previous research missed? (e.g., "However, while many studies have focused on rice, the impact on local fruit farming remains under-examined.")

Step 3. Your Response (Your Thesis): What will your paper do to fill that gap? (e.g., "Therefore, this thesis will investigate the effects of new irrigation policies on mango farmers in Kampong Speu.")

The Methodology Chapter: Justifying Your "How" 🛠️

This chapter is not just a list of *what* you did. It is an *argument* that justifies *why* you did it. You must defend your choices.

1. Justifying Your Approach

Explain *why* you chose your main method (e.g., qualitative, quantitative).

  • A qualitative methodology was adopted in order to gain a deeper, contextual understanding...
  • A quantitative approach was deemed most appropriate for measuring...
2. Describing Your Process

Use impersonal, formal language (passive voice, nominalization) to describe your steps.

  • Participants were selected based on the following criteria...
  • Data was collected through semi-structured interviews.
  • The analysis of the data was conducted using...
3. Addressing Limitations (Hedging)

Show you are a critical thinker by admitting your method's weaknesses.

  • It must be acknowledged that the sample size is relatively small...
  • This finding may not be generalizable to...
  • The results seem to suggest...

Practice Your Academic Voice 🎯

Quiz: Choose the Most Academic Sentence

Read the sentences below. Which one uses the most appropriate formal, objective, and impersonal tone for a C2 thesis?

1. Which sentence best identifies a "research gap"?

2. Which sentence is the best example of *justifying* a methodology?

3. Which sentence uses the most professional "Academic Voice"?

Key Vocabulary Reference (Click 🔊)

  • Dissertation / Thesis | សារណា
    A long, formal piece of writing on a particular subject, especially for a university degree.
  • Methodology | វិធីសាស្រ្ត
    The system of methods and principles used in a particular area of study.
  • Research Gap | គម្លាតនៃការស្រាវជ្រាវ
    A topic or area for which missing or insufficient information limits the ability to draw a conclusion.
  • Qualitative / Quantitative | គុណភាព / បរិមាណ
    Qualitative (words, interviews, observations) vs. Quantitative (numbers, statistics, surveys).
  • Validity | សុពលភាព
    The quality of being logical and factually sound.
  • Nominalization | នាមនីយកម្ម
    Turning a verb into a noun (e.g., "investigate" → "an investigation") to create a formal tone.
  • Hedging | ភាសាប hedge
    Using cautious or vague language (e.g., "may suggest," "it seems") to avoid sounding too absolute or 100% certain.

Your Writing Mission ⭐

Draft a Mini-Introduction

Your mission is to practice finding a "research gap" and writing a 3-sentence C2-level introduction.

  1. Choose a topic you know well (e.g., traffic in Phnom Penh, Cambodian social media use, the history of a local temple).
  2. Write 3 sentences that follow the "Funnel" structure:
    • Sentence 1 (General Context): Start broad. (e.g., "Traffic congestion is a critical issue facing most major cities in Southeast Asia.")
    • Sentence 2 (The Gap): State what is missing. (e.g., "While many studies have analyzed the economic costs, few have explored the impact of traffic noise on the mental health of street-side vendors.")
    • Sentence 3 (Your Response): State your paper's goal. (e.g., "This paper, therefore, aims to investigate the correlation between noise pollution and stress levels among vendors in Phnom Penh.")

Try to use formal language, nominalization ("investigation," "correlation"), and a clear, objective tone.