What is a thesis?

A thesis (also known as a dissertation) is a clear, concise report based on academic research. It is usually required for earning your PhD, Master’s or undergraduate degree. A thesis should describe the purpose and outcome of the study. It also gives all the details that show how and why the research was successful. They include the literature review, methods, results and discussion. (Throughout this article, we will use the terms ‘thesis’ and ‘dissertation’ interchangeably in showing you how to write a thesis).

Read the manual

While you get ready to write your thesis , start off on the front foot. Read the brief or instructions you got from your lecturer or supervisor on how to write your thesis. Make sure you fully understand what you are required to do, and, if you are not sure about anything, check in with your supervisor for clarification.

Plan the structure of the text, and, while doing so, try to run it by your supervisor so that they can approve it and offer suggestions on structure and content where necessary.

 

 

How to start to write your thesis 

Writing your thesis can be overwhelming. The secret of how to write a good thesis is to take it one step at a time. Tackle each section of the paper in sequence from start to finish to help you stay focused and on top of it. Writing your thesis sections in this way helps you feel confident to move forward after each section. This article shows you how to do precisely that, providing valuable tips and tricks for outlining and writing your thesis successfully.

Keep the instructions close at hand while you write and edit your thesis. Make sure you always have the title of the project foremost in your mind. It will help you to avoid including research that is overly general or does not address the question.

Make sure your supervisor has approved the format you are using.

How to structure your thesis 

The final version that you write of your thesis will be in this order: Abstract, Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Results/Discussion, Conclusion. You will also need to list your references, and you might need to include supporting information such as interview transcripts or data sheets.

But which section of your thesis do you write first?

Once you have organised a list of relevant literature into important themes, you should have a pretty good idea of where to start with the Literature Review. To write your thesis effectively, it is wise to divide your Literature Review into several parts to help you express the information clearly.

Understanding how to write a thesis means understanding your research and keeping your project on track. You should write the sections in this order: Literature Review, Methodology, Results/Discussion, Introduction, Conclusion, Abstract. This way, you can start with writing about the critical background information, then share what methods you used. Then you can write in your thesis about your main findings and discuss why they are essential. Next, you can tailor your Introduction to the central themes of your discussion. Finally, you can conclude with a summary of all the above, then write a short abstract to highlight the most exciting features of your research.

To write your thesis properly, it is important to keep your research question in view at all times. Every source you cite should connect, directly or indirectly, to the question your thesis answers. If you can’t explain why a source is there, cut it. Or, if the source is too general, you might consider re-positioning it in your Introduction.

 

 

How to research your thesis 

In order to write your thesis correctly, it is important that it is built on a foundation of thorough research. Delve into reputable sources, scholarly articles, books, and other relevant materials to gather a comprehensive understanding of your subject. Take diligent notes and ensure you have a firm grasp of the key concepts before you begin writing your thesis.

Start with a research question, which asks: ‘What important issue am I trying to address?’ Keep in mind that your research question is likely to change. Don’t be afraid to go with a general research question at first, then read about the topic and adjust the question as you go. Read the literature and see–based on what other researchers are saying­–if you can pick out what’s ‘missing’ in the knowledge about the issue.

For example, you might find that some researchers have attempted to answer a similar research question as you have and have suggested that future projects could use different methods to get a better result. So your project could try to fill in the missing information by trying out one or more of those new methods to see if that approach works better.

Getting your referencing right

Make sure to master the skill of in-text citations and referencing before you write your thesis. Citing sources accurately and consistently is fundamental in academic writing. Follow the citation style required by your institution or field (such as APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.). Proper referencing not only acknowledges the work of others but also strengthens the credibility of your own research.

While referencing tools such as Google Scholar are very useful and can save you a lot of time, be aware that there are often variations in referencing styles between universities. In our experience, one such variation is the use of single quotation marks around the title of the work. But there may be other variations also. Make yourself familiar with your university’s referencing requirements. If necessary, ask your supervisor to give you an example of appropriate referencing for a scholarly journal, and also for a non-academic journal (such as a newspaper or a trade website). For the latter,  it is important to include full URLs for the article or page in question and the date on which you accessed it.

Start with a search strategy. Before you write a single sentence of your thesis, build a body of knowledge. Use databases like Scopus, Web of Science, or Google Scholar. Search systematically using keyword combinations. Keep a spreadsheet of what you’ve read, what argument each source makes, and how it relates to your research question.

Finding and searching relevant texts 

Writing a good dissertation is primarily a question of momentum. You may find yourself getting bogged down in research or even feeling stressed by not knowing where to start.

Fear not.

A great place to begin your research and help you to maintain momentum is Google Scholar. Google Scholar is a freely accessible search engine that contains a vast array of scholarly texts (articles, theses, books, etc.) across numerous disciplines. Google Scholar’s many features will help you simplify your research. If, for example, your supervisor has specified that your thesis should only include texts for the previous 10 years, you can use Google Scholar’s filters only to include texts published during that timeframe. Save a link to each source that you think is helpful. You can use Endnote, Excel or other software to store and sort your sources. You may like to number each source so you can easily find it again later.

How to summarise a text quickly

Here’s a handy tip on quickly summarising the most important points made in an academic text: first, start with the Abstract. An Abstract is a snapshot or summary of the content of a thesis (see more below). In your own words, summarise the Abstract. Then, read the Conclusion, fleshing out what you have already written based on the Abstract. Lastly, search for any keywords or themes that have featured prominently in the text. Let’s say the word ‘internet’ has featured as an important word/theme in the text. Use Control+F or Command+F on your keyboard to locate all the sentences and paragraphs in which the word appears. Repeat the process with other words if necessary. Using this method will help you get to the core of the content quickly and efficiently without becoming exhausted or overwhelmed.

Identifying thesis themes from the Literature Review

Once you have collected a list of academic texts that you’d like to review further, you can begin to identify the valuable themes. You have already looked through many Abstracts and Conclusions. Now you can take a closer look at the findings to see what themes (if any) are relevant to your research question. Skip any studies that you think are just not relevant and move on. Looking for themes is the best way to help keep your research on track. You may discover that you need to look for more studies on a particular theme, or different studies that would give you better information.

Taking notes

Reread the Abstract and Conclusions, more slowly this time, and take some notes. Trust your instincts. What is the first thing that stands out in the study? If the study seems relevant, spend some time reading the Results/Discussions. Even if the findings themselves don’t seem relevant, is there anything else about the study that stands out? Don’t spend too long trying to understand all the details. Instead, jot down one or two simple, clear notes about the theme of each text.

Start your paragraphs not with a summary of a text that is relevant to the thesis, but with a point that you want to make and then back up that point with relevant text. The point is to avoid a shopping list of the relevant texts without sufficient context or flow of argument.

Check that your transitions are satisfactory from one paragraph to the next. It will help the overall flow of what you are writing substantially.

How to write your thesis Literature Review

Organise your writing thematically, not chronologically. A common mistake is to write “Smith (2001) found X. Then Jones (2004) found Y.” That’s an annotated bibliography, not a literature review. Instead, group sources by theme, debate, or methodology. Each paragraph should advance a point about the field — then cite the sources that illustrate it.

Synthesise, don’t just report. The skill of a good literature review is showing how sources relate to each other. Do they agree? Contradict each other? Use different methods to reach similar conclusions? Your job is to weave them into a coherent map of the field, not list them one after another.

Identify the gap clearly. Every thesis-level literature review must lead somewhere — towards the gap, question, or problem your research addresses. This shouldn’t feel like a sudden swerve at the end. Build towards it. Each thematic section should implicitly or explicitly narrow in on what remains unresolved.

Be critical, not just descriptive. Note methodological limitations, small sample sizes, outdated data, or Western-centric assumptions where relevant. This shows scholarly maturity and helps justify why new research (yours) is needed.

Academic writing demands a formal tone and precise language. Avoid colloquialisms, contractions, abbreviations (such as ‘&’) and slang. Use strong verbs, descriptive adjectives, and appropriate academic vocabulary to convey your ideas effectively.

How to write your thesis Methodology

Even if you use more than one method, you can write the Methodology section in three parts. In part one, name each method you have picked and explain why you chose it. In part two, list each step of the method in detail. Discuss the type of any equipment or approach you used. The idea is that someone else should be able to follow your list step-by-step and repeat what you did. In part three, discuss whether you changed the method somehow or just used one that researchers have used many times before. Try to be as clear and specific as possible about why your chosen method was the right one for your project.

Usually, we use one of two types of methods, or a ‘mixed method’ by combining them: quantitative, which measures the conditions of something, like colour, temperature, texture, weight, etc., or qualitative, which measures the impact of something, such as interviewing people about their opinions and/or experiences. Whichever type or combination of methods you choose, try to ensure that the information you get from it helps answer your research question.

How to write and conduct your thesis interviews 

Do you need to conduct interviews for your research? Think carefully about what questions you need to ask and to whom you should ask them. You might tie the questions into the most important or frequently occurring themes from the literature review. You can also write questions that will help you show the information that is missing according to your literature review. The questions should be short, clear, and direct. In the case of questionnaires, you have several options to help you collect quantitative or qualitative information or a mix of the two. The answer choices may be multiple-choice, such as having someone choose an answer on a Likert scale of 1 to 5 (e.g., ‘not at all’ to ‘extremely likely’).

Another type of interview is semi-structured, where you compile a list of questions around a central theme that allows interview participants to give answers without being restricted by pre-selected choices. You can also steer them back to the central theme, where you think it necessary, and prompt their thinking along those lines. Or you may prefer ‘open-ended’ answers, i.e., questions where the participants are free to answer broader questions as they wish, regardless of any central theme. You can later review the answers and look for any recurring themes or words that arise.

How to find and deal with your interview participants

You can interview people for your thesis simply by approaching them in public, arrange scheduled interviews with singles or groups, or send out electronic surveys. Try to be as thoughtful and polite as possible, as you may need special permission to talk to people, and some questions may be sensitive. If you need to build an electronic survey, many free and simple survey builders include Google Forms and Survey Monkey.

Summarising the results of the interviews

Interview results for your thesis should be included in the Findings/Results section of your dissertation. Sometimes, however, interviews give you too much information. So how do you sift through all the detail?

You can use charts or graphics to show interview results if your interview participants have filled out quantitative information such as age—for example, you can use a bar graph to show the ages of the participants. Charts work well to show Likert-scale answers—for example, you can use a pie chart to show the percentages of each Likert choice 1 through 5. If you picked out information such as themed words or phrases from ‘open-ended’ answers, what do they show about the people you interviewed? You should also explain whether you think the interview results helped you answer your research question and whether the information you collected is reliable, that is, whether it is trustworthy.

How to write the Results/Discussion of your thesis

You can either combine the Results and Discussion or write them as separate sections. To combine them, list your results clearly and consistently. Then write a few sentences to discuss what you noticed or whether the information helps answer your research question. If it did, how exactly did it help? You should mention studies from your literature review if they support your ideas that something about your results is significant—for example, whether other studies had had similar findings to yours?

To write your Results and Discussion as separate sections, put all the results together into one section with lists, tables, charts, or images and briefly describe the findings. This approach works well if you have a lot of quantitative information to report. Then, write a discussion without repeating what the results were. Devote a few paragraphs to what the results show. Remember to refer to any studies from your literature review that confirm what the interview participants’ answers or quantitative results have shown.

Limitations and ideas for future research

In a good dissertation it’s a good idea to mention whether your study was limited in some way—for example, if you find in the end that you could have asked different interview questions or changed one of your methods to get better results.

It would be best to suggest ideas for future research that you think make sense based on what you have learned, such as improving the method or moving on to the next steps in the project. How would you move the project forward, and what else could you hope to learn?

How to write your thesis Introduction

At this point, you already know your background well and have written about and discussed your results. Now you’re ready to write the Introduction to your thesis. You can write it in four parts. In part one, introduce your topic and mention why it is important. Part two should present the most important or frequently occurring themes you have covered in detail in your Literature Review. In part three, talk about other methods you could have used. Explain why the one you chose was the best choice. Finally, in part four, list your study objectives clearly and directly.

How to write your thesis Conclusion

A thesis Conclusion should be a summary of all your previous sections. Don’t include any new information, ideas, or terms. Just summarise your topic and explain in one or two sentences why you did the research. Then, recall your methods and talk about how you achieved your objectives. Next, use bullet points or numbers to list your main findings. You don’t need to give details; just mention what was most important about each result. A good Conclusion summarises the limitations of your research and reminds the reader about your suggested ideas for future research. You can close the section with a sentence about what your study contributes to the knowledge of your chosen field.

Writing the Abstract

A thesis Abstract is the first section of your thesis. It may be the shortest section of your thesis, but it carries the greatest weight. It is the first thing your examiner reads, and often the only part that appears in academic databases and search results. A poorly written abstract can undermine months — even years — of rigorous research. A strong one commands attention and sets the tone for everything that follows.

Although it is the first section,  the abstract should be written after everything else is complete. Only when your argument is fully formed, your conclusions are finalised, and your chapters are polished can you accurately summarise what your research actually achieved. Many people make the mistake of writing the abstract early and never revisiting it. By submission day, it no longer reflects the thesis. This is one of the most common issues professional editors encounter.

The Abstract in a good dissertation should only highlight the best features of your research. It should explain what is exciting about your work and what someone would expect to learn from reading your thesis. A good Abstract explains in a few hundred (usually 250 to 350) words what the topic was. It sets out the problem you were trying to solve. The methods you used to solve the problem. What you found. And finally, it explains what your findings add to what is already known about your topic.

Here’s how to write an abstract that does your work justice.

Understanding what an Abstract does

An abstract is not an introduction. It does not ease the reader in gently or provide background context. It is a standalone summary of your entire thesis — your research question, methodology, findings, and conclusions — compressed into 250 to 350 words (though this varies by institution, so always check your university’s guidelines).

Think of it as the answer to the question: “What did you research do, how did you do it, and what did you find?”

Cover the four essential elements to write your thesis

A well-structured PhD Abstract typically addresses four things:

1. The Problem — What gap in knowledge or research question motivated your study?
2. The Methodology — What approach, framework, or methods did you use?
3. The Findings — What did your research reveal?
4. The Significance — Why does it matter? What does it contribute to the field?

Keep each element concise. Every sentence in your abstract should earn its place.

Use clear, precise language when writing your thesis

Thesis writing can often drift toward the verbose, but your abstract demands clarity above all else. Avoid jargon where possible, eliminate filler phrases like “this thesis seeks to explore”, and favour active, direct constructions. If a reader cannot understand the core of your research after one reading, the abstract needs to be revised.

Proofread your thesis as a standalone document

Once drafted, read your abstract in isolation — without the thesis around it. Does it make complete sense on its own? Does it accurately reflect your work? Is it free of grammatical errors, typos, and inconsistencies?

Better still, have it reviewed by a professional editor. Given how much depends on those few hundred words, it is worth the investment.

Proofreading the final version of your thesis

Remember that much of what we call ‘writing’ is rewriting. After completing writing your thesis, take the time to edit and proofread meticulously. Check for grammatical errors, punctuation mistakes, spelling errors, and consistency in formatting. Reading your work aloud can help you catch awkward phrasing and improve overall clarity.

While editing, ask yourself whether the text you have written in your thesis contains all the content that you need to answer the question correctly and fully. Delete any overly general or superfluous content, paying particular attention to general statements that follow specific ones, as these interfere with the flow of your argument and may not be relevant to individual points you are trying to make, especially when general statements come at the end of a paragraph. If you are in doubt about the accuracy of any content, check the relevant part of your text against the source material you have summarised or otherwise referred to.

Have you defined all acronyms and abbreviations?

Seek feedback and peer review

External feedback is invaluable in refining your writing for your thesis. Share your work with peers, professors, or mentors who can offer constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement. A fresh perspective can identify areas that require enhancement.

Be patient and persist in writing your thesis

Becoming a proficient academic writer takes time and practice. While you are writing your thesis, don’t be discouraged by challenges or setbacks. Embrace each writing experience as an opportunity to learn and grow. Gradually, you’ll refine your skills and develop your unique writing voice.