I am writing 6,000 word thesis on how the “How the proliferation of social media lead to the rise of QAnon”
(By social media I focus mainly on social news forums like reddit but also mainstream social media such as twitter ect.)
15 peer reviewed sources need to be mentioned throughout the essay.
The General structure of the essay should be
1An abstract(300 words)
2A contents page
3An introduction paragraph which would basically explain the rational for choosing this topic and why it is important. As well as some research questions and hypotheses(500 words)
4Background information where you describe the history and nature of the topic as well as a brief mention of existing literature on the subject(300 words)
5Literature Review(2000 words)(not data analysis, don’t analyse or construct arguments yet, simply go over what’s already been written on the subject and other peoples findings)
- Restates the research topic and question
- Evidence of consulting wide range of valid sources of information, especially literature in the scholarly field of study
- Identifies several key themes in the scholarship
- Highlights the most important debates in the research on your topic
- Compares and contrast scholars’ view on your subject matter and relates this to your research topic
- Critically evaluates the quality of selected literature particularly the strength, weaknesses and limitations of arguments.
- Identifies and justifies gaps where applicable
- Synthesises the selected literature to form a coherent narrative that frames your research question
- The work is presented in a suitable academic style and is organised into a logical, clear and well-structured format
- Appropriately references sources as in-text citations and in a reference list using the Harvard system
- Uses correct grammar, spelling and punctuation
Try and locate three themes within the lit review which you can use later to construct your data analysis in a way that supports the thesis. I would reccomend focusing on these 3 themes. (Lack of information gate keeping in social media, The lack of accountability in social media anonymity. The networking opportunities social media offers to fringe communities) but these are just suggestions, If you find better themes that’s fine.
6Methodology( 500 words
Don’t worry about surveys or graphs the only methodology used is data analysis The only methodology used was Data Analysis
- Restates research topic and question(s) and any underlying assumptions underpinning the study
- Indicates how the approach fits the overall research design and has a clear connection to your research problem
- Describes and justifies the specific methods of data collection employed
- Provide a justification for subject selection and sampling procedure
- Explains how your results will be analysed
- Describe potential limitations.
- Organised into a logical, clear and well-structured format
- Discusses key ethical issues and explains how they have been addressed
- Appropriately references sources as in-text citations and in a reference list using the Harvard system
7(Findings, Data Analysis, 3 THEMES) 1,500 words
Here is where you construct the argument supporting the thesis based upon three themes you found in the literature review.
8Conclusion 500 words
List of References(Harvard Style)
15 academic and peer reviewed sources need to be mention here and throughout the thesis)
Double Spacing
Time New roman Font 12