Students who are learning how to write a thesis for a master's degree will first find that there is one main question that must be asked and answered afterwards. A thesis for a master's degree is your most prominent work in postgraduate studies. One question relevant to your thesis can form the backbone of your thesis and your writing will develop from that question.
Step
Method 1 of 5: Selecting a Topic
Step 1. Determine the purpose of writing the thesis
You will spend so much time working on the thesis. So you have to choose the topic wisely. The purpose of writing a thesis is usually (in order from those generally considered most important):
- Get a degree. Choose a topic that is quite difficult, but still possible to solve.
- Enjoy research. Choose a topic that you are really passionate about and won't bore you after a while.
- Get a job. If you already know what you want to do after completing your education and/or which company you will work for, it's a good idea to choose a thesis topic that will support this goal.
- Give benefits. The thesis you are working on may actually be of value and help create a better world.
Step 2. Find the idea
Start by thinking about your field of science as a whole. Are there gaps in the literature? What new analytics can you offer? then find out what you are passionate about in that field and what you have learned in your previous education. Try to link the two together to create a thesis that is both interesting and relevant to your field of study.
- Find out what areas you are most passionate about. It may have something to do with a certain author, theory, or time span, etc. Imagine what you can contribute to deepen your understanding in that area.
- Try skimming through all the scientific papers you've written before to see if there's a particular topic you're more likely to enjoy.
- Consult with a supervisor or lecturer you admire. They may have good thesis topic suggestions. Generally, you should consult with your thesis supervisor at least once before starting your research.
- Consider consulting an industry partner. The company you like may have a specific project to work on as a thesis topic. That way, you'll also have a better chance of working for the company after graduation and maybe even getting funding for thesis research.
- If you want to contribute to creating a better world, you may want to consult with nonprofits and charitable foundations, or research possible thesis topics online.
Step 3. Decide on the right topic
From the potentially workable topics you discovered from the previous step, choose the one that best fits the goals that are most important to you in the first step. Make sure you have a clear, specific, and organized thesis plan so that it can be defended later.
Step 4. Define the thesis question
Think carefully about your thesis question so that it creates research and answers that matter to the scientific community and its users. You must be able to answer this question clearly and unequivocally in writing in the thesis to present it to the examiner and supervisor.
- Make sure your answers and thesis questions can contribute genuine information to existing research. A good thesis question will also help keep your research focused, organized, and interesting.
- After determining the topic and direction of the research, try to arrange 5-10 different questions within the scope of the research. These questions will force you to think more flexibly while helping you estimate the impact of changing words on the direction of your research.
Step 5. Do your research
To answer the main question of the thesis, you must do some research. Read a journal, do research, or whatever else you have to do to answer a thesis question. That way, you'll know if the research is worth continuing, or if there are certain issues that need to be addressed first. This will also help you gather the information needed in the next step.
Step 6. Choose a thesis supervisor
Typically, a thesis supervisor is made up of three professors: a primary supervisor, and two supervisors who read your thesis. Choose a mentor who will work with you, has time to mentor and whose expertise is on the topic of your thesis.
- Usually, a thesis supervisor team will be determined before you officially start thesis research. This team will assist you as well as advise on your research. So, it would be better if you can get their approval early.
- Nothing is more frustrating than a mentor who is too busy not to be able to see you.
Method 2 of 5: Selecting Readings
Step 1. Complete a reading review
Review literature and research related to the thesis you are working on. This reading review must be done in depth to ensure that the thesis you are working on does not repeat other theses. It should be noted that it is important that your thesis idea is original and relevant. To make sure of this, pay attention to the context of your research, other people's existing opinions on the topic, and general opinion on the topic you are working on. Record basic information about the topics and who is involved in them.
Step 2. Choose the primary source
Primary sources are sources written by the person who created the idea/story/theory/experiment/etc.. These sources are an important basis that you will use for your thesis, especially if you are going to write an analytical thesis.
For example, novels written by Ernest Hemingway or scientific journal articles publishing results that have just been documented for the first time are major sources
Step 3. Choose a second source
The second sources are sources that write or discuss the first sources. An important second source is covered in a master's thesis because you need to demonstrate that you have a solid knowledge of the critical context of your topic. In addition, it is important that you understand what other academics have said about the topic you will be working on.
For example, books that discuss the writings of Ernest Hemingway or scientific journal articles that examine the experimental findings of others would be categorized as secondary sources
Step 4. Manage your referrals
Depending on your field of study, you can manage the references you used at the beginning of your thesis, or you can also name and manage references throughout your document. In both ways, you still need to pay attention to the references used. You are better off paying attention and taking notes of your references at the beginning of writing rather than adding them after you have finished writing your writing.
- Use a reference format in writing that is appropriate to your discipline. The most commonly used formats are MLA, APA, and Chicago.
- Make a coordinating reference for each source you cite in the text or in footnotes.
- Consider using referral management software such as Endnote, Mendeley or Zotero. The software will help you to insert and move references in the word processing program and will automatically add references for you.
Method 3 of 5: Planning the Framework
Step 1. Find out the requirements for your field of study/major
A thesis for a master's in English literature has different requirements and uses a different format to a master's thesis in chemistry. There are two types of theses for a master's degree:
- Qualitative. This type of thesis is to complete a project that is exploratory, analytical, or creative in some way. This type of thesis is usually done by students in the humanities field.
- Quantitative. This type of thesis is conducting experiments, calculating data, and recording results. This type of thesis is usually done by students in the field of science.
Step 2. Define your thesis idea
Prepare a clear statement of the answer to the main question of your thesis. It is important to note that you state your thesis openly and clearly. If you're struggling to come up with answers to the questions you've prepared, you may need to rethink your project.
Step 3. Prepare the outline
Outlines are important so you know where your writing is headed. In addition, the outline tells the supervisor what you want to achieve and how you will achieve that goal.
Step 4. Know what to cover
Ask about the requirements for a thesis at your university, but usually the thesis for a master's degree includes the following:
- Title page
- Signature page (with the signature of the supervisor, usually obtained when you are tested, or when your thesis is considered complete)
- Abstract - this is a short section (one paragraph or a short paragraph) that outlines or summarizes your thesis
- Table of contents (with page numbers)
- preliminary
- body of writing
- Conclusion
- Reference or bibliography
- Attachments or endnotes as needed
Method 4 of 5: Writing Process
Step 1. Create a schedule
One approach to writing is to use a countdown day plan. Plan by scheduling a deadline in advance. If you know how long it will take you to complete the project and break it down into multiple deadlines (for yourself or for your supervisor), you won't feel overwhelmed while working on your thesis.
Step 2. Write little by little every day
Writing 30 pages in two weeks is challenging work, but if you write 500 words daily, you can complete the task easily. Try not to get frustrated and put off your work because the work will pile up and become unmanageable.
Step 3. Try the Pomodoro Technique
This technique is usually useful for people who have difficulty motivating themselves and being productive. The basic idea of this technique is to work for 25 minutes and rest for five minutes. Using this technique, you can manage your work into smaller parts and not overwhelm you when working on a large project.
Step 4. Rest
When writing a big project, give your brain a break every now and then. By taking a break, you can spot mistakes you didn't notice before and come up with new answers you didn't think of before.
Step 5. Find the right writing time for you
For some people, they can write in the morning, while others write more effectively at night. If you're not sure when you're productive, try a different approach and find a time that's right for you.
Step 6. Write an introduction to your thesis
You may find that your thesis proposal is a useful jumping-off point for your introduction. You can copy parts of the proposal you've worked on, but keep in mind that ideas can evolve and change as you work on your thesis. You may want to revise your introduction several times as you work through the writing process, even each time you complete a large piece of writing or chapter.
Step 7. Enter your reading review
If you have written a reading review before starting your thesis, you have actually written an entire chapter! But again, you can shape and revise the work and you can also add reviews as you work on your thesis.
If you haven't written a reading review yet, it's time to do some research. A reading review is a summary of all the writing related to your topic with lots of direct quotes from the primary and secondary sources you refer to
Step 8. Associate the references with your thesis
After reviewing the literature, you should explain how your thesis contributed to the writing or reading relevant to the topic.
Step 9. Write your thesis
The remainder of your thesis depends on the field of study you are studying. a science thesis will involve some secondary sources while the rest of your writing will outline and present the results of a study. However, the literary thesis will continue to include references from secondary sources as they build on your thesis analysis.
Step 10. Write a strong conclusion
Your conclusion should detail the importance of your thesis to the community in question and be able to provide suggestions for future researchers who wish to research the topic.
Step 11. Provide additional information
Add proper tables, graphs and figures. You can also add an appendix at the end of your work that relates to the writing and relates to the main question of your thesis. Make sure that all of your writing is in a format that conforms to the writing guidelines for your university field of study.
Method 5 of 5: Completing Thesis
Step 1. Compare your outline with your university's requirements
The format requirements for theses and dissertations are usually complex and laborious. Make sure that your writing fully complies with the requirements set by the department and supervisors.
Many sample documents for theses and dissertations. If you have one of these, it will be easy to use the pattern in your writing
Step 2. Reread the entire thesis
Take a week's break after working on your thesis. Then, go back to your thesis so that you have a new perspective on spotting mistakes, such as grammar or typing errors. This process is important so that you can reassess your writing.
You can also ask colleagues to read the thesis to find grammatical/spelling/punctuation/typing errors
Step 3. Follow the printing guidelines according to the department's policy
It will be at your own expense to print one or more copies of the thesis. Make sure that you have followed these guidelines to avoid any unwanted things at this final level.
Step 4. Prepare your thesis trial
After you have finished writing, you may have to participate in a trial to present your thesis ideas to your supervisors and examiners. This is a great opportunity to demonstrate what you have learned. Supervisors and examiners can also ask questions they want to ask. Usually, this process is more of a conversation, not a trial or judgment, as the meaning that comes from the word "trial".
Step 5. Submit your thesis
Your institution usually has certain guidelines for submitting a thesis. Some universities require you to upload to an electronic publication such as Pro Quest or at least through their thesis and dissertation archives. Double-check that you have followed all the guidelines.
- Some institutions require you to submit a thesis for a format check before uploading documents to Pro Quest. Make sure to follow the instructions again.
- Pay attention to the deadline for submitting a thesis. Usually, this submission deadline is earlier than your graduation date. Late submissions will delay your graduation date, which could affect your chances of getting a job or pursuing further studies.
Tips
- An in-depth review of the literature and research on related topics will save you from revising the article before it is presented.
- Keep in mind why you are writing your master's thesis and who will be reading and using the material. You write the thesis for the community associated with your study, and note that they already have in-depth knowledge and experience prior to reading your thesis. Don't bore them with unimportant discussion.
- Selecting important questions before doing your research will shorten your time and save you from frustration. Finding the right questions is the most important task when writing a thesis for a master's degree.
- Consult people who already have a master's degree and complete a thesis. This process will be long and tedious, but if supported and advised by the people who have done it, it will make your work worth it.
