By John Shelby
Before you begin your thesis writing, it is essential that you have thoroughly completed the two steps of thesis writing. Again, the four steps of thesis writing are as follows:
Without having completely processed your ideas for your thesis writing, developed a strong proposal, and thoroughly researched until you can research no more, then the actual thesis writing is going to hurt. You will be back and forth from your desk to the library, making phone calls to participants in surveys or studies, emailing everyone who assisted you in conducting the studies. Enough cannot be said for having all your research done and organized as thoroughly as possible before you sit down to write.
To Be or To Stay? What Was the Question?
Now is the time to take a few days or a week off of work if at all possible. You need to be able to immerse yourself in your research and focus exclusively on your thesis writing. You don’t have time to make the commute, do graveyard shifts, get sucked into overtime, or be mentally or physically drained by your job. Your thesis writing is the focus of your education up to this point and the foundation upon which you will build your career. Take it seriously and give yourself all the space you can afford.
Where Do I Begin?
Not at the beginning. The best place to begin writing is where you have the strongest research. If the middle is where you feel most at ease, then begin there. Or the end, if you know where you’re going but haven’t quite figured out the best way to get there. The point is, writing chronologically is not logical just because it will be read chronologically. Section by section do your thesis writing and worry about order and transitions later. When you complete all of the sections, it will be easier to see which part naturally leads to the next. Your proposed beginning may end up second to last. Keep an open mind.
Let Your Outline Be Your Guide
You probably did a good job of creating a proposal or outline that very thoroughly described the thesis writing question and how you propose to answer it. You spent time describing the research and work that have been documented in your field and which you will use as a foundation. You went on to describe why the answer to your thesis question would benefit and further work in your field. You then listed in detail how you intended to go about conducting your research and studies to find the answer to your thesis question, and the answer you presume to prove correct.
Now that you’ve done that, you can use this outline as a definitive guide to your thesis writing. Section by section, you have already stated what you are going to write. Then you researched and conducted studies. Combine the two of these and you have your completed thesis in non-paragraph form. It’s your job now to put it into a flowing and readable format.
Protecting the Innocent
If you must alter any identifying details of your study participants, make that the very last thing you do in your thesis writing – or the very first. If it’s the first thing you do, keep a chart handy to refer to so that you don’t get mixed up. If it’s the last thing you do, use the Find and Replace function on your word processing program and do one final read through with only the name changes in mind. All it takes is one slip to give up someone’s anonymity and ruin the integrity of your project.
Date Everything
Every time you print a new draft of a section during your thesis writing, make sure that the date of printing is on every page and that every page is numbered. Staple immediately and, to make it easier to find a particular draft later, color code them according to a system that works for you. Keep everything as well and do make copies when you make changes. You never know what you will decide to use in different section or what paragraph will need to return to its original wording.
A Word About Tables
Don’t waste time in the first stages of drafting and thesis writing by attempting to create perfect tables and graphs on your computer. It takes too long and you risk having to go back and re-work it should the data or components change or your advising committee tell you to. Create a solid draft by hand and change it as necessary. Concentrate on making the information easily understood. The last step will be to input this graph into your computer. This is a task you can hire out if necessary.
Be sure to introduce graphical information in the text of your thesis writing directly before the placement of the graph. It should be clear why you are including the information and why it is necessary to present in table form. For multiple tables, use the same language throughout and introduce each one as simply as possible.
Thesis Writing Style
Your goal for the tone of your thesis writing should be to offer a simple and easily understood explanation every step of the way. This is not a feature story in a magazine or a letter. This is a dry step-by-step thesis peppered with key words that will serve to best describe your purpose and your means.
Use the same word to describe the same thing throughout. This is not a piece of fiction that relies on variation to spark interest. You don’t want to create mystery. You want to create a simple document that avoids any confusion. If you start calling the participants in your study ‘consumers’, continue to refer to them as ‘consumers’ throughout and don’t change to ‘buyers’ or even ‘participants’. It creates unnecessary questions.
Thesis Writing Library
Most schools have a floor or section dedicated to storing previously written theses. Make it a point to check out the recent ones in your field. Note the font, the tone, the format. Each of these characteristics will guide you toward creating a thesis that will need as little corrections as possible.
Table of Contents
The table of contents serves as a map to your thesis writing, not only for the reader but for you, the writer, as well. Create a thorough table of contents before you begin writing and refer to it throughout the thesis writing process. Continually re-evaluate your order choice and be sure that you have included every relevant piece of information.
Implications Section
Be sure that this section is not a reiteration of facts presented, but a serious discussion of conclusions that can be drawn from those facts. This section is not a summary but a way to help the reader understand what conclusions can reasonably be drawn from your findings. Discuss the future of the field and how your research can change that future or impact it in some way. Also, draw parallels between your specialization and other areas of study in your field. This is the section to expand your scope and discuss broad topics associated with your work.
Suggestions for Further Research
Try to come up with suggestions that extend your thesis writing’s scope. What can be studied that will use your research and findings as a foundation and expand forward? This is not always an easy question to answer. Be sure that your suggestions are not for research that could have been conducted before your thesis writing or could be conducted without the findings of your thesis writing.
Full Circle
When you have completed the first draft of your thesis writing, take a few days away from your work. When you have given yourself enough space, go back to the beginning and read the entire thing through. Make sure that each section naturally leads to the next. Make sure that the first section sets up the reader for the findings in the conclusive section. Edit accordingly.
Your Thesis Writing Defense
Walk into your defense as if they were the students and you are the professor. You know more about your thesis writing and subject matter than all of the committee combined. Let that knowledge empower you, not cow you. Like any upper level seminar, a thesis writing defense is meant to be an exchange of suggestions and a comparison of ideas. Take what each person says to you not as a criticism but as an honest suggestion that holds merit. You are here because you want to graduate, because you want your degree. They are there to help you reach that goal. If you feel that other goals are drawing the committee’s attention off course, gently guide it back to a zone of comfort for you.
Control the Defense
To best know how to guide your thesis writing defense, it is a good idea to attend other defenses in your field if that is possible. Ask for an invitation first. You will gain from this the same thing that you gain from looking at written copies of successful theses that came before you – an understanding of how to present your work in the most efficient format possible. Attending another person’s defense will also present you with examples of what not to do, as well.
Practice Run
If you and your fellow students have any extra time and they are amenable to the idea, a practice run for your defense is a good idea. Your friends may be able to come up with questions that you had not anticipated, giving you a chance to formulate a defense. They will also help point out places where you could be more thorough in your description, pieces of information that you may have left out, or an order for the presentation that may make more logical sense to someone who is not as familiar with the material as you are.
Don’t, however, offer unfinished drafts of your thesis writing. Too much input from your advising committee ahead of time will hurt you rather than help, giving you too many options to choose from. Only show drafts to your thesis advisor according to a pre-set schedule. Your thesis advisor is, strictly speaking, on your side as long as you present your project according to your pre-defense discussions. If you don’t look good, she doesn’t look good. She wants everything to go as smoothly as possible just as much as you do.
Attitude
Taking a defensive stance at your defense advising meeting is only going to create more friction. Listen sincerely to everyone’s suggestions, ask questions if necessary, and use your research to back up your convictions. Discuss different viewpoints calmly and without emotion. It may be difficult to detach yourself in this way after all the time and effort you have put in, but it is the best way to handle the situation and come out on top. Validate everyone’s opinion, neither conceding nor disagreeing if things start to get out of hand.
Prepare for Your Thesis Writing Defense
You did the research. You created the proposal. You conducted the studies. You wrote the thesis and discussed it with your advisor. Don’t go into your defense without having planned everything as much as possible. You’ve put in too much work to give up the reins at this point. Create a game plan according to the following steps to safeguard yourself against catastrophe:
1. Prepare a 15 to 30 minute lecture on your project that offers a brief overview of every aspect of your thesis writing.
2. Use visuals – graphs, handouts, an overhead projection or prepared posters that outline and add to your presentation. This will allow you to relax instead of being concerned that you are forgetting something. Make sure that you and your advising committee have something to refer back to. Add extra notes to your copy.
3. Document your defense. Videotaping may be too intrusive, but a small audio cassette player should be no problem. Record your presentation as well as the question and answer session so that you can go back and listen to what everyone had to say without concern that you will miss an important comment or misrepresent an idea in your notes.
Your Future
Your thesis writing prepares a strong foundation for future research and positions that you will move onto in your career. Publications are a big part of your climb up the ladder. There’s no better time than the present while all the information is still fresh in your mind to write an article for a peer reviewed journal or a paper for a conference. Exploit every aspect of your graduate thesis writing. You gave quite a bit to making it a success. Give it a chance to make you a success.