Here is a short summary of some tips on how to construct and write a thesis that is worth reading. At the end of this page are some links to on-line resources for thesis writing.
Getting Started
It is a good idea to produce an outline that covers the key elements of the topic and puts them in a logical order. The outline can take different forms: a list, a graphical concept map, etc. The advantage of the list is that it helps to break the daunting task of writing into manageable parts.
Once you have an outline, then you can take excerpts from any writing that you have already done and start to fill in some subsections.
The Value of the Discipline of Note Taking and Ongoing Writing to Capture Your Understanding As You Go
A thesis takes a long time to create. You will learn a lot of knowledge that is new to you. You will read a lot of material. You will create your own knowledge. If you do not take careful notes and transcribe them into electronic format at the time when you gain the understanding, you will either have trouble writing the ideas down from memory later, or you may even lose the idea altogether. I recommend a sturdy, bound notebook for notes and diagrams, and a laptop computer to write in regularly – preferably at least daily.
Creating an Outline for the Thesis
Here is a general framework for constructing a thesis. It is not the only way, but it seems to work for most people writing in engineering fields and the natural sciences. It is also a fairly chronological order for how you will do the work. Of course, a number of specific activities go in parallel, and your literature review will be updated on an ongoing basis until you defend the thesis. It is a good idea to treat your thesis like a project, and to make a general plan for key milestones (artificial deadlines with deliverables, such as an experimental plan or a completed journal article) to encourage regular progress (and to have a reason to celebrate sometimes).
Situation
The thesis should start with a general description of the situation of interest, which gives context for defining the problem. Sometimes this is called the motivation of the thesis.
Problem Definition
Once the reader understands the context of the problem, the thesis should provide a fairly general description of the specific problem that the thesis focuses on understanding or solving. This section gives the motivation for the work that has been done. Often the situation and problem definition comprise the first chapter of the thesis.
Literature Review
The literature provides additional context, by providing a summary of the state of the art of understanding of the relevant theory and knowledge that is relevant to the problem. The literature review highlights limitations of the current understanding, that is, the gaps in knowledge that need to be filled in order to solve the problem.
The importance of the literature review cannot be overstated.
A review of the relevant literature review is critical, as this shows the state of knowledge beyond which the new work has progressed. It is not necessary to put all of the literature review into a single segment of the dissertation. Some authors prefer to introduce the relevant background knowledge to a subtopic when it is introduced in the dissertation, rather than having a dedicated literature review chapter. In most cases, however, it is more appropriate to have a single chapter dedicated to the literature review, as it reveals the limitations of the state of the art and leads naturally to the specific problem definition.
Objectives of the Thesis
Once the gaps in knowledge are identified, the thesis gives a very specific problem statement using the terminology explained in the literature review. The objectives may include any or all of the following:
- theory development to explain a discrepancy between current theory and experimental evidence, or to extend existing theory to describe new physical situations;
- experimentation to test an hypothesis;
- design methodology development related to new technologies; and
- application of theory or design in a case study to support the validity of the work.
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Where possible, the objective should be a falsible hypothesis, which you will test in some way. Following the problem statement, there should be a description of the solution methodology, which outlines the key approaches that will be taken to tackle the problem.
Chapters Describing How Objectives Were Met
It is not necessary to have all of these types of objectives, but whichever are chosen need to link to the problem, and to each other.
If there are multiple objectives, then each objective is the subject of a chapter of the thesis. If there is only one objective, then there may be elements of the objective that are substantial enough for a chapter. For instance, an experimental thesis may have chapters for experimental design (describing the apparatus and any new equipment, and the test plan with both controlled and measured variables, and the measurement methods), testing results, error analysis, and interpretations.
The problem has been properly addressed when all hypotheses have been either supported or refuted in a verifiable way. That means that there should be enough detail in the thesis that a knowledgeable person could reproduce your work.
Conclusions and Recommendations for Future Work
The results are discussed in the context of the problem definition. Negative results need to be explained, and may provide insights into limitations of theory, experimental methods, or experimental execution. The author’s contributions to knowledge are clearly stated and supported.
Recommendations are made for extending the work, and a final summary paragraph closes the work.
References
The thesis must include a complete set of references to all material used in preparing the document and supporting the statements made in the thesis. The references need to be given in a consistent format. Archival references are always preferred to on-line references. If the only source available is on-line, then the complete URL must be provided, and the date when the site was accessed.
A bibliography is different than a list of references. You should record which works you have read (and ideally make a brief summary of the salient points in each. This is a bibliography. You may construct a review of previous work in the area, and summarize your understanding in a structured way. This summary can be extremely useful. In fact, an annotated bibliography can be a contribution to the literature all on its own
Nomenclature (Optional)
The nomenclature section is a listing of symbols used in equations. Symbols should be consistent throughout the thesis.
Glossary of Terms (Optional)
If there are many terms used, then a listing of definitions of terms is necessary. A glossary is an alternative to defining terms when they first appear in the main text. Clear definitions of terms are particularly important in a multidisciplinary thesis.
Appendices (Optional)
Appendices comprise relevant material that does not appear in the main text, but which would be necessary to duplicate the results of the thesis. Examples include details about apparatus, software pseudocode, measurement methods, and descriptions of industrial or field data. In some cases, there may be an on-line archive of data from the thesis made available, which can help future researchers. The main thesis should be understandable without having to refer to an appendix.
Dedication and Acknowledgments (Optional)
The dissertation may also include a dedication page and a section of acknowledgments to family and friends who have helped you in some way during your work.
Abstract
The abstract is a brief summary of the entire work, including contributions. It is usually a single paragraph of about 200 to 300 words, which can be read all by itself. It contains no references or unexplained acronyms. It is generally the last thing that is written for the thesis.
What Word Processor to Use: LaTeX or Word or Google Docs?
Which word processing package should you use: LaTeX, Word, or something else? It depends.
If you are describing a lot of mathematics in your thesis, or if you have a lot of figures and references that may have to be moved around and formatted, then it may be worth considering using LaTeX. This typesetting package is highly versatile, and can give beautiful results. It is also free, However, it does have a learning curve. Word, and other packages that allow you to see the formatting as you compose, is simple to learn, but it can be difficult to customize the formatting. GoogleDocs offers the same versatility – and limitations – but with the benefit of allowing multiple authors to edit at the same time, which is excellent when collaborating.
I use both LaTeX and Word, for different reasons. LyX is a new (free) word processing package that attempts to combine the best of both.
If you are looking for style files, I have a style file for my own PhD thesis document, and I can provide examples of theses done in Word.
Figures, Formulae, and Tables
A picture is worth a thousand words, and a good figure can provide a lot of information in a different way within a document. Any figure must be referred to in the text of the report. Use the number of the figure when referring to it. For example, “The graph in Figure 1 shows the direct relationship between hours spent working on a report and the final mark.” The figure is an object that should have all the necessary information within it for understanding, which means it requires a title, and it may require labels, a legend, etc. Avoid spurious figures, and do not use figures as decorations, as rhetorical devices, or for emotional effect. Remember that a copyrighted figure cannot be reproduced directly from another source without permission, even if you make a reference to the source.
A formula is like a figure: you use it when it is a more appropriate way to show information than to use words. Use equation numbers, and explain what each term in the equation is after the equation has been presented, or in a nomenclature section.
A table is used to show the multi-dimensional relationships amongst items expressed as words or numbers rather than graphically. Sometimes a table is much more effective for showing relationships than a graph. Use the organization of the table to highlight relationships amongst variables of interest. The table number and its title goes ahead of the table itself.
If at all possible, try to make sure that figures and tables do not become separated by a page break.
Edward Tufte has an impressive set of guidelines for creating effective graphical representations of multidimensional quantitative information.
What Writing Style to Use for a Thesis
There is a range of acceptable styles for theses. Most people are fairly traditional in their technical writing style, preferring to avoid the use of the first-person while employing the active voice wherever possible. In some cases, an author will write in the first-person plural; but it is very unusual to see a technical article or thesis written in first-person singular.
You should write in Standard English. Avoid unusual phrasing and slang. Use consistent style to format headings, write captions for figures, give equations, provide engineering units, list a series of items (like this series), and so on.
Always do a thorough spell check and grammar check before submitting something for editing and review; but do not rely only on an algorithmic checking program. Read the document – out loud preferably – to ensure that it is clear. Ask others to read it as well. A well written document will be understandable to the non-expert.
There is no excuse for inconsistency or sloppiness. It is the job of the writer, not the supervisor, to read through material and have a consistent and suitable style.
Logical Flow
The foundation of your thesis is the development of a idea. Explaining this idea to your audience requires a logical structure and a flow for the narrative. No reader will be able to follow a jumble of individual thoughts, sentence by sentence, with no or little logical connection. On the other hand, a good writer will be able to convey a difficult set of concepts with clear explanations that link naturally to a conclusion.
Logical flow is critical in any language. A good writer provides links between every section, every paragraph, and every sentence. The paragraph is the key segment for providing information. For each paragraph, you are conveying particular information, using a several sentences. The idea of each paragraph needs to be introduced, developed, and completed, using clear, concise language.
Your writing should reflect the care and discipline that you have shown in the rest of your work.
Your thesis is your work.
Resources:
University of Alberta Requirements:
FGSR Guide to Preparing Your Thesis
Writing a Thesis:
How to Organize Your Thesis (Carleton)
How To Write A Dissertation or Bedtime Reading For People Who Do Not Have Time To Sleep (Purdue)
How to Write Your Thesis, Detailed (Columbia)
How Theses Get Written, Some Cool Tips (Toronto)
Defending a Thesis:
What is a Thesis Defense? (Chris Riesbeck)
Mastering Your Ph.D: Defending Your Thesis with Flair (Patricia Gosling)
How to Survive a Thesis Defense (UNSW)