A thesis is an extensive paper that often marks the culmination of a class or course of study. Many college programs, as well as some high schools, require students to write a thesis as a graduation requirement. There are many different ways to write a thesis, depending on the interests of the student, the requirements of the program or class, and the time allotted to work on the paper.
Before a student can start to write a thesis, there is considerable preparatory work to be done. Since a thesis is generally written about a subject or issue in the student's field of study, he or she will often already have an idea for a topic. Generally, students do a lot of research before beginning to write a thesis, in order to nail down the exact premise, also called the thesis statement, that will be explored in the paper. Topics are generally a premise that relates to the known field of study, but raises questions, issues, or theories that have not yet been proven. The purpose of the paper for those evaluating it is to determine the amount of critical and creative thinking the student has put for, as well as to examine the methods used and the conclusions drawn.
Depending on the program, some people trying to write a thesis will be assigned a mentor or guide. This is usually a professor in the field, but may sometimes be an outside professional with considerable knowledge. A thesis mentor can be of great assistance throughout every step of the process, from deciding on a thesis statement to conducting research and reading drafts of the paper. The help and knowledge of an adviser may turn out to be one of the most useful assets when writing a thesis.
Once a thesis statement is chosen, the student then commences a period of study, research, and discovery. In scientific fields, this time may be spent running lab tests, experimenting with improvements to technology, and carefully maintaining records of all findings. In other fields, the process generally involves extensive research such as reading books, conducting interviews, performing fieldwork, and scrupulously checking all facts and sources of information. When this study period is completed and results are analyzed, a person can then begin to write a thesis.
One question that comes up a lot when discussing how to write a thesis is formatting options. There are many types of formatting, such as American Psychological Association or Modern Language Association (APA or MLA) and most courses of study will generally outline what is permitted. These formats are ways to organize and present a thesis paper, and must usually be scrupulously maintained. Fortunately, it is easy to find examples of almost any common formatting style online, and most companies in charge of formatting styles publish a style handbook that can guide students through the correct assembly of a thesis.
The body of a thesis paper generally consists of the initial thesis statement, research results, conclusions, and reflections on the process. Depending on the program, it may be written in an entirely scientific and impersonal style or have a narrative feel to it. Ideally, a thesis should display the efforts and abilities of the student while making a contribution to his or her professional field.
