PHD STUDENTS EMPOWERED ON DEVELOPMENT OF CHAPTER TWO OF A THESIS

On 6th September 2025, PhD students were taken through the development and conceptualization of Chapter Two by AOSARS. They were guided on how to plan and visualize their writing like a blueprint to ensure clarity and coherence before beginning. The structure of Chapter Two was outlined, covering the theoretical framework, literature review, critique, summary, and conceptual framework, with emphasis on creating content maps or action plans to guide the writing process.

Students were shown practical ways to identify and apply theories through coursework, searches in Mendeley Desktop, and the ethical use of AI to simulate draft write-ups. They also learned to engage with literature by distinguishing between theoretical and empirical studies and understanding the difference between annotated and critical reviews. Ethical AI demonstrations illustrated how structured summaries can support annotated reviews, while critical reviews required deeper methodological critique and thematic comparison.

The session further emphasized the identification of research gaps—contextual, conceptual, or methodological—and the development of conceptual frameworks that visually represent variables and objectives while ensuring coherence with literature and instruments. Practical writing demonstrations highlighted how to paraphrase and layer ideas from multiple sources to ensure originality and rigor. Students were reminded of the importance of consistent practice, critical thinking, and strong writing skills to achieve high-quality research outputs.