The best thesis guide is one that is prepared specifically for the program in which the graduate student is enrolled. There are a number of guides on the market that can be useful, but the best thesis guide is the one that is put out by the institution that is granting the degree. This is because the material in the guide and the instructions have been created by and approved by the professors and administrators who oversee the program. Some of the information in the thesis guide may regard specific formatting instructions that are unique to the institution, information that might not be available in any other thesis guides on the market.
In addition to the thesis guide that is put out by the college or university awarding the degree, there may be other useful thesis guides on the market. There are two ways to go about choosing between these guides and they can be used at the same time. The first way to choose between thesis guides is to research guides that pertain specifically to one's kind of thesis. For example, a student working toward a PhD in sociology may choose a thesis guide that is created and formatted specifically for people writing sociology theses.
The second way to choose between one thesis guide and another is to get recommendations from people in the program, specifically people who have already begun work on a thesis and have completed a significant portion of the work. It is also wise to consult one's thesis adviser. After all, this is the person who will be reviewing the thesis and the work that goes into the writing of the thesis in a scrutinizing manner. It is best to make sure that the thesis adviser approves of the guides that are being used when developing and creating the thesis.
Be sure to choose a thesis guide that includes any steps that the graduate program requires of students working on their theses. For example, many graduate programs require students to complete an annotated bibliography before they begin writing their theses. As such, it is important for students facing this requirement to use a thesis guide that includes instructions on how to prepare for and compile a successful annotated bibliography. Also, the guide should include information on how the annotated bibliography can be used when the student begins the work of actually writing the thesis.
