Bibliography Focus

Your thesis’ bibliography might contain hundreds of references. While you will have used all of these to shape and inform your research, it’s impossible for you to remember every detail. Your examiners won’t expect that from you either. They’re not unreasonable, but they will want to see evidence that you know your stuff.

What could you do in preparation?

• You could take another look at the references that have helped build up your methods.
• You could be sure of how sources containing important information have helped your research.
• You could look again at any references you disagree with – to be sure you’re certain why you disagree with them.
• You could create an edited bibliography: a top twenty list of the most useful papers that you’ve cited.

You don’t need to do all of these. You might need to do something else. But you need to do something to bring your bibliography into focus before your viva.