Having to write a thesis during your final year in school can be pretty daunting. Dissertations follow a particular structure, use of grammar and language, among many other rules that govern thesis writing. It is unlike any other kind of writing and thus may raise dread among both experienced and inexperienced writers.
Also, it requires planning, good organizational and time management skills that many of us struggle with while studying. For one to write a professional thesis review, you have to be able to incorporate what you have learned during the tenure of the program and be also willing to learn something new, each passing day.
Though it may seem like a nerve-racking ordeal, being armed with the ideal tips on thesis review writing, will make your workload lighter. Below are tips to help you get started:
1. Choose your Topic wisely
When you opt for a thesis review service over doing the work yourself, it is not uncommon to be asked to choose a topic for your thesis. It may be the hardest part of writing a research paper. Your choice of topic will either provide you with enough fuel to carry on with the research or get you stranded.
It will also determine whether other people will want to read through your paper or it will just be another addition to the rest of the dissertations that are collecting dust in your school. Choose your topic wisely and mostly one that intrigues your interest. It should define an issue that you are going to tackle and identify the audience you are targeting.
2. Conduct research on the topic
When it comes to writing a thesis, there’s nothing like excessive researching. Do extensive and thorough research on the scope of your paper. If possible, use unique sources of information, e.g., interviews and even lectures.
Don’t forget to look into the previous reviews in your area of interest. Find the areas that were not adequately covered in the past reviews and incorporate new material in your paper. Remember, originality is essential in a thesis.
3. Define the outline
An outline is critical in a thesis review. It is a summary of what the audience should expect to find after going through all the pages of your thesis. It is also one of the key areas of a research paper that may appeal to the audience to read more of what you have written.
Having a good outline will help you identify the relevant areas of your research. It thus helps you save time by focusing on what is important to your thesis review. It should be clear and able to express your position about the research topic.
Our brains work differently. Some people can internalize and remember all the contents of a page just by looking at the page once. However, most of us need regular reminders and thus as you do your research, take note of every relevant detail that you would like to incorporate in your dissertation.
You don’t have to have a journal with you as there are apps that make note-taking a breeze, e.g., the Evernote app. The notes will give you a rough impression of what the review will be.
5. Write a Draft
Your notes and outline come in handy at this stage. Follow the outline and come up with a draft. Don’t be keen on perfection. A draft is what it is; you can always make changes on it, improve and subtract details from it.
It is a starting point on how your final presentation will be. If you are going to include direct quotes from your sources, remember to put them in quotes. If possible try and rephrase the quotes in your own words.
6. Keep your eye on the goal
Most successful reviews are focused on dealing with a particular issue. Your paper shouldn’t be a conglomeration of different materials that cover various issues. Unless you have to, then, stick to the topic or area of interest.
At the same time, your thesis review should be able to appeal to a variety of audiences. Well, all the time and effort invested in the research shouldn’t go to waste. Ensure that your arguments have a logical flow and are not just a jumble of various words.
7. Be Critical
Your thesis review is not merely a summary of the literature. You should be able to identify problems as specified in your topic. Point out any gaps in research in the field that you are targeting.
The reader should be able to identify the achievements made in that field after going through your research paper, and also understand the research questions. You should also be consistent throughout the paper, even if it regards your use of tenses.
8. Take some time off
If you can do research, write a draft, review, all at once, then, you are one lucky person. The process of writing a thesis is lengthy, and since you can’t finish everything at a go, it calls for taking one step at a time. Divide your work into portions or stages.
After accomplishing a milestone, take a break. Have coffee, go out or take a quick nap. Your body needs to rejuvenate and be ready for the next stage.
9. Proofread and Submit
Proofreading takes place at different stages of the thesis writing process; as you write the draft and even after you are through with the paper. Print out the pages and use a pen to make changes on areas that need rectification.
Give your supervisor, friends a copy to review and make corrections where necessary. Then, you can confidently submit the final paper.
Conclusion
Arm yourself with the necessary tips for writing a thesis review that will make your work easy.
References:
http://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003149
https://www.kibin.com/essay-writing-blog/how-to-write-a-thesis-statement/
https://blog.cengage.com/writing-a-research-paper-nine-tips-for-student-success/
