United Innovator presents a concise guide on the steps to writing a thesis dissertation. Our expert tips cover essential stages, from choosing a compelling topic to conducting thorough research, outlining the structure, crafting a solid methodology, and analyzing data. We delve into writing clear and cohesive chapters, refining arguments, and providing effective conclusions. Trust our comprehensive framework to navigate the path to a successful thesis dissertation. Visit https://www.unitedinnovator.com/thesis-writing-for-postgraduates.php to know more.
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Step-by-Step Guide to Write a Thesis Dissertation by United Innovator
1. 7 steps to writing a Thesis dissertation - United
Innovator
Understanding What A Thesis Is
● A thesis is a prolonged work.
● This is an original work describing the process and results of research
undertaken by the student.
● It's a chance to engage in your own research and can be the most rewarding
part of a degree.
● However, it's also probably the first time you've had to tackle a substantial and
original piece of work, which can also be the most stressful part of it.
● An undergraduate thesis is usually around ten thousand words and is
organized into chapters.
● Like an academic book, it should have sections such as a "contents page"
and a "bibliography".
● You will have a set amount of time to produce your dissertation, giving you
plenty of time to research your topic and retrieve the results.
● A vital part of writing a great thesis is managing your time.
2. ● One of the most crucial points of a thesis is that it should be about a topic that
interests you.
● The more you enjoy the research process of your dissertation, the more you
will get from the experience.
● Choose your subject carefully and don't rush; learning to choose your topic is
critical.
The Difference Between A Dissertation Or Thesis?
● Dissertation and thesis are at times used in each other’s place .
● The name used will also vary depending on the country you are in.
● In some countries, it is generally accepted that the term 'dissertation' is used
for undergraduate study, while a 'thesis' is associated with postgraduate study,
particularly a doctorate.
● There will be some variability in this regard, particularly with master's degrees,
where the dissertation is sometimes referred to as a thesis.
A Thesis Isn't Any Of These Things
● The thesis writing is not an excuse to avoid working until the last week.
● If you leave everything until a week before the deadline, it will be practically
impossible to finish it.
● However, if you are having trouble completing your thesis, approaching a
thesis writing service might be the best option.
● The thesis is not a place to put forward all your personal opinions. It's your
own research, but it's always in context.
● Remain critical when it comes to your academic writing while also maintaining
thorough professionalism and objectivity at all times.
● Support your theories with examples and quotes.
● The thesis is not work that you do in a group.
● This is your own research.
Who Writes Theses?
3. ● The vast majority of those who engage in thesis writing are students in higher
education, most of whom are undergraduates.
● The bulk of these students will have to write or will have already written a
dissertation.
● The thesis is a piece of research that many people have done; it doesn't make
it easy for you, but it means you're not the only one writing it.
● Undergraduate degrees are assessed in different ways, but most degrees will
have the thesis as the main part of the assessment.
● There is no escaping it. If you are studying for a degree, you will need to write
a dissertation.
● If you are pursuing a Masters or Ph.D., you will need to write more
dissertations/theses - they will just be more in-depth and longer.
● If you can learn the basics now, you will have the basics to continue your
studies.
Differences Between Undergraduate & Postgraduate Theses
● The differences between undergraduate and postgraduate theses are of
degree rather than of kind.
● They share a common structure and a need for logical rigor.
4. ● It is only in the substance and in the assertiveness placed on it that the
differences appear.
● Specifically, some universities require that -
● A doctoral thesis must be a substantial and original contribution to research,
for instance, through the discovery of knowledge, the devising of theories, or
the creative reinterpretation of known data and established notions.
● An undergraduate thesis is currently graded on the quality of the research, the
importance of the contributions, and the style of presentation. Therefore, the
undergraduate thesis is evaluated on an equivalent basis to the postgraduate
one. Undoubtedly, the three most typically cited qualities that qualify for a
first-class undergraduate thesis are ingenuity, sovereignty, and proficiency.
● Candidates writing a higher degree thesis - and the doctoral thesis in
particular – have to present their research in the context of current knowledge.
This implies an in-depth and critical review of the literature, not particularly
limited to the narrow subject of the research, but covering the general field.
The doctoral student must also clearly show the original contributions he has
made. Although none of these requirements apply strictly to undergraduate
work, the candidate must demonstrate knowledge of relevant previous work in
their thesis.
● In short, a thesis - whether undergraduate or postgraduate - is evidence of the
candidate's ability to conduct independent research under the direction of a
supervisor, as well as to analyze and communicate significant findings from
this work.
● The candidate for higher degrees must also demonstrate a mastery of
literature and clearly indicate what his original work is and why it is significant.
Step By Step Process Of Writing A World Class Thesis
(Irrepsecitive Of The Domain)
Irrespective of whether you're accustomed to thesis writing or not, you'll find that the
steps highlighted offer massive insight into where you may be going wrong in your
thesis writing journey and the processes that you need to enhance to truly be able to
achieve a world-class thesis.
5. ● Step #1
Understanding What A Robust Thesis Writing Process Looks Like
● When it comes to thesis work, every type of thesis has its own set of
practices, for instance, how often and at what stage the thesis is presented in
a seminar.
● Full instructions are given at the beginning of the seminars.
● However, writing a thesis generally progresses through the following stages.
● The process begins with choosing the research topic.
● You've got to come up with a topic yourself, after which you discuss the topic
in general terms with your supervisor.
● The thesis research topic can be found in any area of
the field.
● You can acquire a general idea of
the central and topical themes by consulting
the recent volumes of the most relevant scientific journals.
● Particularly the topics that are studied by top research scientists deserve
consideration.
● A thesis can also be commissioned by a company or other organization
outside the university.
● As with all scientific research decisions, there must be strong arguments
regarding the choice of the research topic.
● Several aspects are worth highlighting -
● your personal interest in the subject,
● the resources at your disposal (your expertise, know-how, and available time),
● availability of source material,
● data availability,
● the scientific importance of the subject,
● the general social interest of the subject and
● the importance of the subject for your future professional career.
● Once the topic has been chosen and accepted by the supervisor, the next
step involves familiarizing yourself with the scientific literature available on the
topic.
● Reading past research has several purposes -
Describing The General Picture
6. ● What is the cutting-edge knowledge in the chosen area of
research?
● Is there a lot or little previous research?
● Is it recent or older?
● Who are the main academics?
● From what perspectives has the subject been studied before?
● What types of methods and data have been used in past research?
● What are the most important findings?
● What is the link between your thesis and other publications in the field?
Gaining Firm Footing
● Strengthening substance knowledge helps you focus on essential literature
regarding your own thesis.
● This, in turn, helps you choose the studies on which you will develop the
theoretical framework of the thesis and design its empirical research
framework.
Understanding The Current State Of Things
● Developing expertise helps you critically appraise existing literature and
identify gaps and potential gaps in it, helps you clarify your point of view, and
define the actual research problem or research task.
● It is worth starting by studying previous research in textbooks, edited
compilations, or review articles published as recently as possible.
● This represents an easy way to access the actual source material, i.e.,
scientific journal articles.
● Bibliographic databases are another valuable tool.
● Advice on the use of databases can be discovered easily on the web these
days.
● These resources are mainly designed for students who want to obtain a
bachelor's degree but can be adapted to the needs of students who are also
writing their master's thesis.
● Your institutional library can also prove to be helpful in this regard.
● The library staff is made up of experts in information retrieval.
● They help locate source material at all times, not just during taught classes.
7. ● Step #2
Cementing Your Research Focus By Zeroing In On A Suitable
Topic
● The choice of research topic and knowledge of the literature in the chosen
area of
research are of vital importance to start the thesis process.
● In order to ensure a smooth research process and good results, narrowing
down the research topic is the most critical task.
● Crystallizing the research focus and focusing on a limited area allows you to
effectively manage your study.
● For students writing their first thesis, it is often difficult to circumscribe the
research topic, and it sometimes happens that even after the work is
completed, it is not yet clear, to some extent, what the real purpose of the
research study is.
● The most common problem is a topic that is too broadly defined. It should be
noted that a broadly defined topic does not equate to in-depth knowledge of
the topic.
● Rather, it is evidence of the inability to discern the essential from the
inessential.
● The ability to define the research topic so that the thesis offers a solution to a
precisely specified research problem or task is one of the most crucial skills
you can acquire as a thesis writer.
● Step #3
Structuring & Formatting Your Thesis Appropriately
● The general structure of a thesis is always the same, regardless of the
research topic or the direction of the research.
● A thesis includes the following ingredients in the order indicated
● the cover page (abstract),
● the table of contents,
● the introduction,
● the body,
● the abstract,
8. ● the list of references, and
● any annexes.
● The following description of the structure relates to theses comprising both a
theoretical section and an empirical section.
The Cover Page
● The content and layout of a thesis cover page have to be defined precisely.
● The thesis title should be informative, concise, and in harmony with the
content of the thesis.
The Abstract
● Abstracts are only required in masters theses.
● The abstract presents its reader with a good general idea of
the content and
the most important conclusions of the thesis.
The Table Of Contents
● The table of contents is abbreviated as CONTENTS and, like all other main
chapter headings, is printed in bold.
● The table of contents presents the structure of the thesis, that is to say, the
titles and the subtitles accompanied by their page numbers.
● The indentation offers a clearer picture of the hierarchy of all the chapters in
the thesis as well as also subchapters.
● There should be at least two sub-chapters at each chapter level (e.g., 2.1 and
2.2).
● Chapter levels should not exceed three (for example, main chapter 2 and
subchapters 2.1 and 2.1.1).
● The titles of the REFERENCES and APPENDICES chapters are not
numbered.
● There are separate tables of contents indexing all the figures and tables in a
thesis.
The Introduction
● The purpose of the very first chapter of a thesis is to guide readers to the
theme of the thesis and to arouse their interest in the subject.
9. ● The introduction normally contains the following questions -
● description, context, and importance of the research topic,
● the purpose and motivation of the study,
● research problem or task and research question(s),
● relationship with and added value to previous research,
● description of the research method(s) and data (at a general level),
● the most important findings and conclusions (especially in quantitative
research) and
● paragraph of the roadmap, for instance - "This thesis proceeds as follows. In
chapter 2…".
● In the introduction, the speaking style should be short and direct.
● However, especially in master's theses, the introduction sometimes takes up
so many pages that a division into subchapters may well be necessary.
Theoretical Framework
The theoretical framework is not a chapter title but a section that forms the
basis of your own research.
● This section may contain several chapters, and its structure and content are
determined by the chosen topic and the direction of the research.
● Typically, the following issues are addressed -
● definition of key terms and concepts,
● description of the central theoretical frameworks and research approaches
related to the chosen theme,
● distinctly defining both the theoretical as well as conceptual frameworks of the
thesis,
● review of previous empirical studies (different points of view, methodological
approaches, most important results, differences of opinion, contradictions,
and gaps),
● positioning of the thesis in relation to the field of research and
● distinctly defining the research methodology (in the case of qualitative
research) or the hypotheses that’s to be tested (in the case of quantitative
research).
Data & Research Method(s)
10. ● This section of the thesis includes the description and justification of the data
used (content, quality, quantity, collection method, adjustments made) and the
research method(s) chosen.
● Descriptions should be so distinct and transparent that just by following them,
the research can be repeated.
● The description of commonly used methods in a particular area of
research
does not need to be as detailed as that of new or less common methods.
Data Analysis
● Data analysis is not a chapter title but the most important section of a master's
thesis that contains a detailed description of your own research, the results
you have obtained, and their interpretation.
● The results are not only reported but are also reflected in the previously
presented theoretical framework and previous empirical results.
● This section can contain several chapters, and it can be structured in various
ways, for instance, thematically or by research problems.
Summary
● This chapter (the alternative title of this section is CONCLUSIONS) begins
with a repetition of the thesis objective and its stated research problem, after
which answers will be given to the following types of questions -
● What are the primary findings of the study, and what new information has
been obtained?
● How do the results confirm or differ from previous research findings?
● To what extent can the results be generalized?
● How reliable are the results, and what are the search restrictions?
● How can the results be exploited?
● What sort of topics and queries crop up for further research as a consequence
of your present research?
● The summary chapter is, therefore, very similar to the analysis section, but
now no numerical results have to be presented.
● The ideas are expressed only in written text, just using fewer words.
List Of References
11. ● The list of references bears the abbreviated title REFERENCES in bold type
and is not numbered.
● The list of references contains all sources cited in the text.
● The list of references follows a certain set of instructions.
Appendices
● Appendices contain all this clarifying information which is of no use if
presented in the actual text.
● Typical appendices are questionnaires used in research, outlines of
semi-structured interviews, and detailed descriptions of data.
● Appendices are the place for material that takes up too much space in the
body of the thesis (for example, long mathematical expressions).
● In the text, there must be a reference to all annexes.
● Appendices are numbered consecutively.
● In the table of contents, the appendices have a title describing their content.
● Step #4
Getting Down To Business - Writing Down Everything You've
Researched & Discovered
● They say you learn to write by writing. While this is also true for academic
writing, we have our own style characterized by adhering to agreed-upon
formal writing techniques.
● A thesis writer is expected to know the basics of academic literary
conventions.
● This step describes the typical characteristics of an academic text as well as
the language and layout requirements for theses in most popular journals
these days.
Style Of Writing
● Scientific writing requires a good knowledge of standard language and
mastery of a formal style of writing.
12. ● The grammatical and spelling rules of the language must be respected.
● The scientific language is unequivocal and precise and discards vague
expressions such as "several studies show that…", without any valid
reference to an example.
● Academic English text does not make use of contracted forms such as “isn’t”
or “won’t”.
● All standardized forms of English are accepted, but they should not be mixed.
● A characteristic feature of the scientific style is the use of special concepts
and terms, which must be defined at their first appearance in the text.
● Acronyms, such as NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration),
can be used if they make the language flow more smoothly and if the reader
is familiar with their meaning beforehand.
● Short phrases like "eg." and "cf." can be used in parentheses, but in
consecutive text, whole words are written.
● In academia, the use of the first-person pronouns "I" or "we" is a source of
some disagreement.
● Academic writing tends to be neutral, and the goal is objectivity, which is why
passive voice or third person is generally used.
● The first person plural is the correct choice if you wish to emphasize the
choices you, as a researcher, have made.
● Note that academic texts use the pronoun "we" even if the speech is about
one person only.
● Time is normally the present, even when referring to past research.
● Academic texts are a means of transmitting information.
● To avoid misunderstandings, the expression must be exact and precise.
● This is achieved by logically organizing the text, writing carefully thought-out
sentences, and cleverly dividing your text into paragraphs, sub-chapters, and
chapters, which then form a solid whole.
● You can help your text be clear by putting yourself in your reader's shoes and
looking at the text from an outsider's perspective.
● Other important aspects are fluency and consistency of expression.
● Do the individual sentences and paragraphs fit their surroundings, and are the
chapters mutually related?
13. ● Fluidity is gained by letting the reader know, between chapters, what will be
covered next.
● This is how the reader will follow the rhythm of your thoughts.
● This can be done either at the start of a new chapter before the first subtitle or
at the end of the previous chapter.
● The chosen practice should be followed consistently throughout the work.
● Step #5
Offering Citations For All References Used
● Academic texts typically include references to previous studies that are
marked by citations in-text.
● In your thesis, each piece of text that is not based on your own reasoning
should be accompanied by an appropriate reference to the original source(s).
● Only facts that can be considered general knowledge do not require citation.
If, however, your text is based on a source, even if it is general knowledge,
the source must be indicated.
● A person who uses someone else's text without citing the original author is
guilty of academic theft.
● This practice is referred to as plagiarism and is considered a serious
academic offense at almost all universities.
● A bachelor's thesis and a master's thesis are two separate dissertations.
Nevertheless, linking the two is very much feasible.
● A common practice is such that, in the license thesis, the student writes a
review of the previous literature on the chosen subject.
● This examination then becomes the foundation of the theoretical part of the
student's dissertation.
● It should be noted that self-plagiarism, i.e., using your own text unchanged
two or more times, is also unacceptable.
● If you use the text of your bachelor's thesis as the basis of your master's
thesis, you must clearly indicate which part of your work is based on your
previous work.
● It's best to do this in the last paragraph of the introduction to your master's
thesis, in the so-called roadmap paragraph.
14. ● The fact that the bachelor's thesis and the master's thesis are two
independent dissertations leads to the practice that the bachelor's thesis must
be written before the master's thesis.
● In addition, you must be able to clearly show the added value that your
master's degree thesis brings to your bachelor's thesis.
● References can be cited in different ways.
● Different disciplines have different practices, and even within one discipline,
there are variations within different scientific journals.
● In most fields, the most common technique is the so-called Harvard system, in
which references are cited in the text with the author's name followed by the
date of publication and the page number if required.
● Step #6
Illustrating The Text
● A thesis often includes elements supporting and illustrating the text, such as
tables, figures, and mathematical formulas.
● All illustrative material is closely related to the text.
● However, all tables and figures should be laid out in such a way that the
reader can understand them without reading the text.
● The text presents the essential observations and conclusions based on the
tables and figures without repeating the individual numerical information (i.e.,
the single digits) reported therein.
● They are placed as close as possible to the section of text where they are first
mentioned.
Tables
● A large amount of information can be compressed into tables, for example, by
reporting numerical information and presenting summaries.
● In order to get a neat result, it is advantageous to use the table tool of the
word processing program.
● Typically, the table fills the entire column.
15. ● A wide table is laid out horizontally.
● The same font as that of the text in the body is made use of. The font size is
10 pt.
● A table has a short but descriptive title.
● The title is written above the table, using a 10pt font size and bold letters.
● The column headings have horizontal lines both above them as well as below.
● There are also lines at the bottom of the table.
● Below the table is a legend giving all the information necessary to understand
the table. The caption font size is 9 pt.
● The possible source is indicated in the title of the table or in the legend.
Numbers
● In scientific research, as in any communication, numbers are an effective
means of conveying information.
● Much like tables, figures can be made use of to offer a clearer picture of the
outcomes of your own research.
● You need to bear in mind that the numbers are protected by copyright laws.
● Therefore, you should not copy or digitize another person's figures in your
thesis without the permission of the copyright holder.
● If you don't have the required permission, you will need to redraw the figure
yourself – preferably using a graphics program – and provide the reader with
reference to the original source.
Figures
● In the figures, the same font is used as in the body of the text.
● A figure has a short but descriptive title.
● The title is written below the figure, using a 10 pt font size and bold letters.
● In the figure, the 10 pt font size is usual.
● GAIN
● ASSESS
● LOSSES
● If the figure isn’t the same size as that of the entire column, it’s placed in the
center of the page.
16. ● If you make changes to someone else's figure, you must indicate this by
adding the words "adapted from" to the reference.
Formulae & Equations
● When presenting mathematical equations and symbols, the equation editor
that’s in whichever word processing tool you prefer, must be made use of.
● The main font is Times new roman 12 pt, italic.
● The size of subscripts and superscripts is 8 pt.
● Formulae and equations are indented 1.5 cm.
● The equation number is in parentheses and right-aligned.
● It is not necessary to number equations that are part of a series of
intermediate steps that are not specifically addressed in the text.
● The symbols used must be defined on their first occurrence.
● The use of symbols should be consistent - that is, the same symbol should
not be used to designate different things, and the same variable or concept
should not be referred to using different symbols in different contexts.
● Step #7
Giving Due Importance To Ethical Considerations
● When you do your research, you should not treat people unfairly or badly.
● You must not harm people, use the information you discover in your research
to harm them or allow it to be used to harm them.
● This may sound alarmist, and you shouldn't assume that you'll be plagued
with such issues when researching. Nevertheless, it is reasonable to
anticipate that such difficulties could arise.
● Indeed, most universities now have research ethics codes and research
ethics boards, and you may need to seek formal ethics approval for your
project or sign a protocol to confirm that you conduct your research in
accordance with prescribed ethical standards before starting the search.
● It is best to go to the website of the institution where you are enrolled and find
its code or policy on research ethics and governance and details of any
approval procedures you may have to follow.
17. ● When planning your project, it will be a good idea to allow time for obtaining
any necessary ethical approval.
● The stage at which ethics approval must be sought will be prescribed by your
institution.
● In general, the timing will depend on whether the approval is that the project is
ethical in principle (i.e., not inherently unethical) or is more concretely focused
on the conduct of the research (is it conducted ethically?).
● If this is the case in principle, approval should be sought at the start of the
project.
● If the approval relates to the practice of research, then approval can
reasonably only be sought after the literature review has begun and the
research instruments (questionnaires, interview schedules, case study
protocols, etc.).
● Nevertheless, be guided by the policies and procedures of your own
institution.
● Do some extended research on the ethical issues and dilemmas you may
encounter at different stages of a research project.
● This will help you understand all aspects of a simple ethical principle - first, do
no harm.
Writing a thesis necessitates expertise in the ins and outs of scientific writing. This
blog presents a simple step-by-step process that anyone (whether a newbie or
veteran of thesis writing) can follow. It begins by offering insight into what a thesis is,
how it differs from a dissertation and how one should plan out their academic writing
process. The instructions will guide you, on your own, in writing a dissertation,
fine-tuning in language and layout, and conforming to the formal requirements set for
dissertations. When the responsibility for the formalities falls to you, during your
supervision interviews, you and your supervisor can concentrate on the essentials,
that is to say, on the content of your work. After reading this blog, especially if you
are writing your first thesis, you may feel that the task ahead requires you to master
and memorize an enormous amount of information. In a way, it's true, because the
list of topics to consider is indeed very long, and, finally, commas seem to become
your best friend. Fortunately, it is not necessary to learn these detailed rules by
heart. You can always come back to this blog at anytime. It should be kept in mind,
18. however, that a blog like this cannot be a perfect guide. During the writing of the
thesis, questions certainly arise which cannot be anticipated, but in the face of all the
problems and uncertainties, you can always turn to your thesis director. Ultimately, it
must be emphasized that simply reading these instructions will not be enough to
complete your thesis. Your own thinking power, your thirst for knowledge, and your
own determination are the tools required to do the job. You could always get a
professional thesis writing team, such as United Innovators, to help ease the process
so you can focus on the creative aspects of writing your thesis.