Thesis Writing Format with Example and Rules

Writing a Thesis

A thesis is a dissertation that a candidate may be required to write at undergraduate, graduate or post graduate levels. It is a written record of the work that a candidate has undertaken and thus acts as an evidence of their knowledge and capabilities in their relevant field of interest. It is, therefore, a fair means for an examiner to gauge them.

Thesis writing is considered to be the most daunting part of graduate education and a loathsome form of obligatory writing that a candidate must go through. However, it is at the same time, also the most important (and self-indulgent) piece of work that represents the candidate for years to come. If written well, it can be published in a scholarly journal and score the candidate with an established reputation among peers.

A thesis doesn’t have to be so nerve-wracking though. It is after all, the culmination of the hours of education, training, research and academic writing that has been done throughout the graduate career. If planned out correctly and thought through properly, it can be easier than it is believed to be.

Following are some pointers to help you with thesis writing:

Collecting Data

Before you begin writing your thesis, you should do your research and collect all the data that is relevant or required. Then organize

as to what you will use and set aside the rest for when the need be.

Structure

A good thesis should contain the following sections:

• Title
• Contents
• Lists of tables and figures
• Abstract
• Introduction
• Background of the study
• Statement of the problem
• Objectives of the study
• Rationale of the study
• Research methodology
• Critical analysis Results
• Discussion Conclusion
• Recommendations
• Acknowledgments
• References Appendices

The Title

• A thesis should begin with a title page that contains the topic of the thesis, along with names of the author, institution, department, and advisors (if any).

The Preliminary Pages

• The preliminary pages of the thesis should contain a table of Contents, followed by lists of tables and figures.

 Start Writing

• After the preliminary pages come the Abstract and Introduction The very first piece of writing that the examiner eyes on (after skimming through the contents.) will be the ‘Abstract’. An ‘Abstract’ is a bird’s eye view of your thesis and describes your study in a nutshell. The abstract is usually not longer than a page or two.
• The ’Introduction’ is a vital summary of the main thesis (body) that is to come ahead and thus a crucial part of the thesis. Often, it is the first thing that examiners read to get the gist of the research and argument inside the thesis. If discouraged by these first few pages, they often do not want to read ahead. It should not be too short or too lengthy.
• It is often advised that the ’Abstract’ and ‘Introduction’ be written in the end (after writing the main thesis), as it gives the writer a better perspective of what the thesis is about.

Body of the Thesis

• The main body of the thesis comes next. Remember, that your thesis (apart from possibly scoring you a scholarship), is a stepping stone towards the career path that you have decided to pursue. Therefore, it should be representative of your beliefs.
• A good thesis is well-researched and well-planned. Whatever arguments you give to prove your point should be convincing and compelling. Avoid ambiguity and support your work with tables and figures for better understanding. Try to generate questions and present hypotheses as well.
• A thesis work should always be original. Plagiarism is not only punishable by law; it also tarnishes your reputation and credibility before you even begin your career. It is, however, alright to quote other authors or their work for the sake of supporting or justifying your argument, but only if you give proper credit and mention references and foot notes.
• As shown on the previous page, outline and format your thesis with sections, subsections, headings and paragraphs. Nobody wants to read one big blob of non-stop continuous text. You want to make it as easy as possible for the examiner to read, skim and understand your point.

Make sure that the language used is standard and proper English that is not too informal or too difficult. Also make sure that there is enough space between lines (and in the margins) for the examiner to write any comments or make corrections.

Winding Up

• In the end, check and review your work again and again and again. Edit and polish it as many times as possible. If time allows, let it sit on your desk for a few days, then revisit it with a fresh perspective and review it all over once more. Before submission, have a colleague or an associate review it and give their feedback. Has it professionally proofread if possible? Check your spellings, punctuation and grammar again and again. Make sure the presentation is simple yet attractive.