Writing a Thesis

The hardest part of creating a thesis is often simply choosing the thesis subject. As with most things in life it helps to start with what you know. By choosing topic that is familiar or which you have had some research involvement with in the past will give you, the writer, a great head start in both how to begin and also what to write about. The best way to begin writing is to write.

Allow yourself to begin creating a stream of consciousness rambling of your initial ideas and concepts around a particular subject. From these ramblings it is very likely that a solid thesis idea will begin to take shape and this will form the basis of your thesis which should ideally begin and grow from a single statement of fact or idea.

Once you have this focal point or thesis beginning you can begin to organise the remainder of your ramblings into information that is still relevant and warrants additional research, or information that is now superfluous to your core concept. Organize the remaining good stuff into categories from which you can begin to research additional information in support of your thesis argument.

Refuting your thesis argument

Refuting your thesis argument and then making counter arguments in support of the thesis are important aspects of the thesis process. By covering all of the data that refutes your thesis findings you show that you have thoroughly examined all aspects of the argument and are still prepared to assert your argument in full light of all the data. Counter arguments are an exceptionally good way of reinforcing the validity of your thesis claims.

Keeping track of sources

As you go through this process be sure to highlight all direct references, and cross reference these to relevant sources. Save yourself time later by making sure these sources are recorded with complete information including page numbers, publisher and other publication information. It is time consuming and sometimes a real hassle to have to return to rifle through books at a later date in order to figure out where information came from. With regard to internet references you will have to recheck these site urls again just prior to paper submission. Frustrating thesis committees with dead end links in not in the best interest of a thesis author.

Editing the thesis

Finish writing the thesis early. That will give you enough time to let the document sit for a week before you undertake an initial macro edit. A first edit should focus upon the big picture. Have all your points been made? Are all points duly supported by data and information? Are all data, information and ideas appropriately referenced within the text and in the references list at the end of the thesis document? Does your thesis flow seamlessly from section to section? Once all of these questions have been answered and addressed you will be ready to move on to a micro edit.

Unless you are an English major it is often a good idea to let someone else read your thesis before submission. Ideally this person will be willing to offer you an objective opinion about the content and whether you have adequately supported your thesis argument. Although it is quite alright and even a good idea for you to do the initial micro edit of your thesis document it is again, a good idea to let someone, even a professional editor, give the thesis a final review to check for detail mistakes which are easily overlooked by an author. The micro edit should involve a thorough check for spelling, syntax and punctuation. A professional thesis document should not have any of these basic mistakes.

As stated and as with most things, beginning is usually the hardest part of the thesis writing process.