Top 7 Thesis Writing Tips for Ph.D. Students

One of the most important stages in the life of a Ph.D. student is when they are assigned to complete their thesis. This is one of the main assignments upon which Ph.D. students are graded. A thesis or even a dissertation is a document that reflects the candidate's research and understanding of the subject matter. It conveys all the information the candidate has understood and absorbed in their academic period. It shows the reader what the candidate believes and what he/she intends to prove. A thesis can make or break the academic record of a candidate. A well thought, researched and written thesis helps to seal the final grade for a candidate's academic excellence. However, more often than not, students find it difficult to cope up with the enormity of the task. In this article, we shall discuss the top 7 tips to write a thesis which can have a sound impact on the reader.

Tips for writing a resonating thesis work

Most students usually start writing their thesis in the last few months before the deadline. This can lead to a hastily written thesis and does not cover the entire research carried out in the past few years. However, these 7 tips will surely help to write a clear, well thought out and researched thesis.

1. Plan the structure well in advance

Before you set out to write the thesis, you should plan out the structure of your thesis. It might help to consult your professor about the layout and subject matter covered. After consultation creates rough drafts of what you have in mind. Most parts of your writing will need to be edited or rewritten. Hence it makes sense to create rough drafts and save your information so that you can edit it as needed.

Sometimes a Ph.D. student has not time to do just that, under such circumstances it's helpful to use cheap dissertation writing services.

2. Avoid writing dull and lifeless content

Your thesis, as academic as it sounds need not be dull and devoid of flair. It helps to write as if you are actually communicating with the reader. You can read articles on writing and incorporate them into your text. Make sure you are using most of the active voices than passive. Most great writers have left a number of tips on how to write naturally to engage the audience. 

3. Jot ideas whenever you get them

Never start your write up in chronological order. Work on each part as soon as ideas about it come into your mind. You can always come back and restructure all of it to attain order and make sense. This helps you to jot down relevant ideas whenever possible and negates the chance of missing out on something important which you might forget later.

4. Make sure to analyze what you have written

After you have written a passage, make sure to analyze it critically. You can finish a draft and leave it, only to come back later and scrutinize the write up for errors, inconsistency, dangling modifiers, etc. Checking your write-ups can allow you to detect common errors and mistakes in your sentence. You can also brush up the language and edit it accordingly. You can always ask a colleague or a friend to read and analyze it for you.

5. Use specified referencing styles

Be sure you are well versed in the style of referencing your university wants you to use. The most common mistake students make is to use citations in the text which are usually absent in the bibliography. Always make sure to cross-check your references whenever possible and correct them.

6. Use quotations and avoid plagiarism

When you quote text from other sources, make sure to write in italic. Try to think about plagiarism and paraphrase whenever necessary. Quote accurately and then mention in italics the citation and references you used. This will allow you to avoid plagiarism unconsciously. 

7. The first few paragraphs count the most

Make sure the first ten pages have absolutely no errors in them. Your thesis is your chance for presenting your work in the best light possible. Be careful with your starting paragraphs. Make sure you entice the reader with your writeup and always be clear with your hypothesis and conclusion. Append your material where you feel it adds value and does not bulk out your writing. Make sure you keep your reader in your mind at all times. This is the one chance you get to showcase your research and academic knowledge.