How to Write a Thesis

The first step in learning how to a write a thesis using outside the box writing skills is to focus on what originally inspired you to pursue the degree program. Do you remember what you told the admissions officer you wanted to achieve during your studies?

The next step is to find a relaxing and quiet spot and do some automatic writing. Let the topics that stimulate you most come to the forefront. Once you have a list of ten or fifteen topics, ask yourself:

1. Is the angle of the topic fresh?

2. Is it current and newsworthy?

3. If you were to publish the information in a book, would it be press release material?

4. Can it advance your field of study?

5. Who can benefit?

6. Can it make a difference or create a fairly significant shift in your program?

7. Is the topic easily researchable?

8. Are you stimulated by discovering more about this topic through research?

9. Would you be able to publish it in part in a scholarly journal fairly easily?

10. Is it a topic you feel comfortable supporting verbally and through written communication for years to come should the need arise?

FINDING THEMES AND SUB-THEMES

Once you have looked at your chosen topic from the larger perspective, it is time to write a theme. You may expand it as you complete your outside the box thesis and dissertation writing and your project takes on a life of its own. Nevertheless, you have to start with a preliminary theme to begin the process of writing.

Once you have your theme, take a moment in your quiet spot to add five to ten sub-themes. These sub-themes will make up the body of your thesis and should be related or connected to your theme.

Begin by researching and writing your first sub-theme. Go down the list of sub-themes you have chosen and write each one individually. Once you have completed writing all your sub-themes, begin to edit your project.

In connect-the-dot fashion begin creating a connection between all sub-themes. Find the most obvious, most shift-producing connection and use it for your introduction or your preliminary theme. Check and see how close you were to the first theme.

Write the introduction to your thesis or dissertation and use connective words or phrases to bring your project together into a stimulating cohesive whole. Remember, if your thesis or dissertation writing was stimulating for you, chances are that it will be stimulating for your reader.

For more information on how to write a thesis or dissertation, check Choosing Thesis or Dissertation Topics below.