The reverse symmetry or chiastic structure is usually used in literature examples are Beowulf, Starwars, Harry Potter, Beauty and the beast, other examples in ancient literature such as the epic poetry of the Iliad and the Odyssey...etc.
Alternate names for chiastic structured writing are inverted parallelism, reverse symmetry, concentric symmetry, ring structures...etc
Have Psychological research shown or supported that it is easier for the reader to follow the information using that writing structure...etc.?
Believe it or not, a “reverse symmetry structure” is standard for a PhD thesis-book. It is just not called that. It is called “closure”, vital for the reader's psychological satisfaction.
- THE RESEARCH QUESTION
- YOUR METHODS, MATERIALS, DATA, ANALYSIS
- THE RESEARCH ANSWER
Thanks.
I totally agree with Dr. Ian Kennedy. I believe there is "reverse symmetry structure" in PhD thesis/dissertation. Therefore, I am looking for material to read to further explains/exploit the structure with more examples, with more research citation supporting the structure showing how readers understand it better,...etc.
So far I found the book "Writing for science and engineering-2nd edition" is the only reading that slightly touches the standard structure
Title
..........Abstract
........................Introduction
..........................................Methods (sometimes chapters with another reverse symmetry structure like a sub-ring structure)
..........................Discussion and results
...........Conculsion
Recommendation and future work
My strong advice is not to try to invent a way-out structure, but to conform.
Your examiner will not pass you unless you stick to the norms. The structure you dotted out is fine for planning purposes, except that Results come logically before a Discussion of them.
And don't forget your vital References section at the end!
My intention was to conform to the standard format but within the format use reversed symmetry which is usually done but not intentionally and is called delibrate repetition in the book titled "Writing for science and engineering-2nd edition"
The format is based on what is called paper format. (more on the format at the bottom)
Sorry I will re-explain and correct it.
Title
......Abstract
...............General introduction (Background, motivation, problem statement, research objectives, thesis layout)
.........................Literature review with the conclusion of research gaps
...........................Chapters are publishable papers with each is structured as a journal publication paper without abstract and references i.e. its structure is repeated with introduction, problem formulation, ..., results, discussion, conclusion. The chapters form sub-rings structure)
...........Conculsions and future work
References
===========================================================
Theses at the University of Alberta can be written in the traditional, monograph format or in a multiple-manuscript, journal-article format (sometimes called a “paper-based” thesis), or a combination of both formats. https://cloudfront.ualberta.ca/-/media/gradstudies/current-students/academicrequirements/thesisrequirementandpreparation/2016-03-29-fgsrminimumthesisformattingrequirements.pdf http://www.uwindsor.ca/graduate/1046/format
In my E-textbook, I recommend the paper per chapter plan for doing a PhD thesis and give an detailed outline for it.
https://www.amazon.com/how-research-todays-tips-tools-ebook/dp/b01i5jjdxc
Unfortunately, I could not find your book in my library. Can you refer me to other references on writing analytical/theoritical engineering research?
Follow this link
Article Symmetry, Structure, and Emergent Subsystems
regards
Thanks for the article, the article is not about writing scientific documents using some writing structure. It is an academic article in physics, quantum mechanics...etc not my field.
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