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How to Write A Thesis When You Can’t Even Look At It Anymore

February 6, 2023 by Dora Farkas, PhD 1 Comment

How to Write A PhD Thesis Even If You Feel Completely Stuck

If you are wondering about how to write a thesis when you feel completely overwhelmed, I understand your dilemma.

During my first five years in graduate school I envied senior students who were so close to the finish line.

I imagined that once you get approval to defend your thesis, everything gets soooo much easier.

All you have to do is to sit down and write everything up, right?

That’s…sort of true.

What no one tells you is that writer’s block doesn’t go away even when you have the green light to graduate.

In fact, writer’s block can get magnified ten times when you have a hard deadline.

All of a sudden it feels like you have a million things to do and not a lot of time.

Your committee finally gave you approval and if you miss it…you’re kind of doomed.

(You’re never really doomed, but let’s stay focused on how to make the deadline.)

Your initial feeling of relief (that you can finally defend) may quickly spiral into a vicious cycle of panic and overwhelm.

Now, you really don’t want to anyone asking you “So, how is the writing going?”

Maybe you can’t even look at your thesis anymore.

You would rather be doing anything else than write (don’t be surprised if you have a sudden urge to clean your bathroom).

Or, perhaps you are frantically writing and rewriting the same paragraphs

You may be flip-flopping back and forth between not wanting to look at your thesis anymore, and trying to get every detail perfect.

If you’re struggling to start or finish your thesis, you’re likely feeling some type of  fear .

Fear is often the underlying emotion behind procrastination , not “laziness” or lack of motivation.

The good news is that once you identify your fear (even if you don’t have a solution), your writer’s block will start to dissolve.

Common sources of fear are:

• How will others judge your work?
• What if your thesis isn’t good enough?
• What if you discover that you have more work to do than you thought?
• Will you disappoint your spouse/significant other if you don’t finish on time?
• What if it turns out that grad school was a complete waste of time?
• What will you do after graduation?

You may recognize one or more of these fears.

It is legitimate to be concerned about how to write a thesis under so much pressure, and how graduation will affect your future.

However, you don’t have to let fear or procrastination keep you stuck in grad school.

You can write despite feeling a little (or a lot) anxious about thesis writing.

Here are five steps to face that fear, and start the writing process, even if you’re feeling completely overwhelmed.

How to Write A Thesis When You’d Rather Do Anything Else:

5 tips to get unstuck .

Feeling stuck is more about your perception of how to write a thesis, not the thesis itself.

How many times have you gained an insight while taking a shower or walk?

When you set up a structure that you can easily maintain, it is more likely that you will experience creative insights that will help you get unstuck.

Keep in mind that it takes time to develop new habits.

It is best to implement one new habit at a time and stick with it for a few weeks before trying something new.

And if you fall off the wagon, just get back on track as quickly as you can.

After all no one is perfect, yet every year tens of thousands of graduate students get a PhD.

If they can do it, so can you!

Step #1: Set Bite-size Go als   (don’t bite off more than you can chew)

You might think that you need to allocate big chunks of time to writing your thesis in order to “get in the zone.”

In fact, giving yourself big goals and lots of hours to write, without any structure, is a recipe for disappointment.

How often have you resolved to spend a whole day writing, or to write ten pages in one sitting, and wound up with nothing to show for it?

This is because fear kicks in—the fear of failing at what you’ve set out to do. Soon you are failing to accomplish your goal, and you’ve created a vicious cycle.

Successfully accomplishing something, even something small, can put you back in control.

Break your work into small increments, tasks that can be completed in as little as 15 minutes.

This way, even on days when you “don’t have time” to work on your thesis, you can still find an opportunity to cross one or two of these writing tasks off your list.

This will boost your sense of accomplishment, and help you make the most of the small windows of free time you have.

Most often, you won’t have large blocks of free time for thesis writing.

Breaking your to-do list into small, achievable goals can help you seize the chances you do have to make progress.

Even if you have a whole day set aside for thesis work, stick with the strategy of setting small, measurable goals .

Organize the day into a few smaller blocks of time for writing, and keep your tasks specific.

Instead of marking your calendar with “work on thesis” try “finish drafts for three sections of chapter two,” for example.

Step #2: Remember: You’re Not Faking It (…and everyone else feels like an impostor too)

For many grad students, “impostor syndrome” is a major obstacle to starting a thesis.

You might feel like you still have so much to learn, and you’ll never possibly be ready to write an authoritative thesis on your topic.

The truth is, nearly everyone struggles with these feelings at some point.

Impostor syndrome is common in any competitive environment, especially among high achievers who hold themselves to a strict standard.

Most of your peers, and even your professors, probably have had the same feelings at some point.

The fact is, if you’ve gotten this far in grad school, you’re not faking it.

Simply being admitted to a PhD, or masters, program, puts you in an elite category, and sticking with your studies until it’s time to start your thesis is even more of an achievement.

If you’re feeling like an impostor, remind yourself that you’ve gotten this far on your hard work and talent, and that you do have what it takes to finish a thesis.

Remember, a thesis or dissertation is simply meant to show that you’ve contributed something to your field of expertise.

It doesn’t have to be an exhaustive, or particularly groundbreaking, study of your topic. And, it’s normal to have doubts about your work.

That makes you a scholar, not an imposter.

Step #3: Schedule Your Breaks—And Enjoy Them (otherwise, what’s the point of a break?)

Procrastination usually feels like the worst of both worlds: you distract yourself with chores or unimportant decisions, never tackling your work, but also feeling increasingly stressed by it.

While you’re not making progress, you’re also not allowing yourself breaks to rest and recharge.

The anxiety simply builds with no release, leading to exhaustion and burnout .

Taking breaks is just as important to your thesis-writing process as actually working.

Your brain—and your body—need to recharge if you want to stay focused and motivated.

The important thing is to make sure your breaks are real breaks: time away from your computer and away from your desk.

Do you find yourself browsing social media at the end of a long day of working, or checking your email during mealtimes?

It might seem relaxing to do these things, but you’re not giving your brain a real rest if your breaks are still in front of a computer.

Even if you feel “too behind” or “too busy,” you’ll be more productive in the long run if you prioritize regular break times.

Eat lunch away from your desk, and take short walks around the neighborhood once or twice a day.

If you have a hobby you love, like knitting or painting, spend a little time each day on it, without any goals or finished product in mind.

One of the best ways to get the most out of your breaks is to use them for physical exercise.

Aerobic exercise, in particular, can help you fight stress and anxiety .

Go for a jog, do some yoga, or even just do some stretches or sit-ups when you need a quick boost.

Step #4: Eliminate Choices That Make It Harder to Get Started (the hardest part of any task is to get started)

If the thought of simply getting started on your thesis is stressing you out, you might be suffering from decision fatigue.

We only have a finite amount of energy for decision-making each day.

Evidence shows that the most successful people save their energy for the important choices, by eliminating the unimportant ones.

If you’re wasting energy on decisions like what to eat for breakfast, or where to set up your laptop and work, you have less left over for the important stuff.

Even worse, you’re likely to get stuck on those decisions, and delay getting started on your work.

Set up a routine that makes it easy for you to get to work each day.

Write in the same place each day, for example.

This relates back to setting small, attainable goals as well.

Map out these micro-goals ahead of time, so when it’s time to get started, you only have to glance at your list to know what comes next.

Whenever you can, plan the next stage of your writing at the end of a work session, rather than the beginning.

That way, the next time you sit down to work, you don’t have to make any decisions about what to do first.

The key is to edit out the choices that are draining your energy, so you can focus on your thesis.

Step #5: Start Writing, Even If You Think You Have Nothing to Say (ideas are born with writing)

This is one of the most fear-inducing hurdles to getting started.

What do you do when it’s time to start writing, but you haven’t even settled on your thesis statement, or figured out what you’re really trying to say?

In fact, it’s perfectly fine to start out without a clear thesis in mind.

Even if you don’t know what you’re trying to say, just start writing .

Don’t worry too much about the quality or cohesiveness of your writing in the beginning, just put down what comes to mind.

It’s okay for your first draft to be messy and disorganized.

That’s what first drafts are for!

Usually, the writing process will help you organize your research and your thoughts.

You might notice patterns or conclusions that you hadn’t before.

Often, this early writing process is necessary for gathering your thoughts, and understanding what you ultimately want your thesis to communicate.

If you’re putting off starting your thesis, or feeling stuck, the biggest mistake you can make is to not write at all.

Like anything, getting started only gets easier with practice.

Remember, you can always revise and rewrite what you’ve already written.

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Writer’s block: nine tips to overcome it when you write your thesis

You know what you want to write, but you’re incapable to write? The page remains blank? Nothing to worry about. This is a writer’s block. Writer’s block is normal. It belongs to the writing process. Specially when you write such challenging text such as a paper or your thesis. This paper explains how to deal with it.

Actually, you know exactly what you want to write, but you just cannot start.

Perhaps you try a first sentence, but you delete it immediately…

And you try another one.

Again you delete it… and so on.

The screen remains blank.

The page, bare.

The situation seems insurmountable.

Nearly everybody has struggled with writer’s block at one time or another.

Nearly every writer has experienced how dreadful it is.

Even the most experienced authors.

“All writing problems are psychological problems. Blocks usually stem from the fear of being judged. If you imagine the world listening, you’ll never write a line. That’s why privacy is so important. You should write first drafts as if they will never be shown to anyone”. Erica Jong

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES FOR WRITER’S BLOCK?

The most common causes for writer’s block among PhD candidates are:

• Fear: e.g. fear of critique, of one’s own ideas, of the reader, of failing, of success.
• Perfectionism: the text is never good enough; it needs to be rewritten and improved again – and never gets finished.
• Delusions of grandeur:  My PHD will save the world!
• The environment:  e.g. financial problems, conflicts, uncomfortable working space.
• The targeted reader: e.g. a professor who intimidates you, the anonymous mass of readers.
• The topic:  e.g. it is  boring, makes you angry, or you feel so passionate about it that you cannot think calmly.
• The inner critic: an inner voice which denigrates what you do.
• Isolation: being alone in front of your blank screen, facing your fears and constantly hearing your inner critic only worsens the problem. It does not help.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IN CASE OF  WRITER’S BLOCK ?

• Start with the easiest part of your text. You will progress quickly and get motivated to continue.
• Brainstorm your topic before writing your first draft: It is easier to structure your thoughts when you can see them in black and white.
• Change the tool: If you cannot write with the computer, try with a pencil or talk on a Dictaphone.
• Change the location: If you cannot work in the office, try in the kitchen, in a pub, or in a park.
• Address your text to a friend: by targeting this reader you will be able to forget the readers who are blocking you.
• Tell a friend what you want to write about: Sometimes talking is easier than writing.
• Be aware that a good text is the result of many revisions: Do not try to write it perfectly the first time.
• Seek help: Don’t spend too much time staring at your empty Talking with other people often helps  you recover self-confidence and overcome a block.
• Join a writing group: This is a group of PhD candidates sharing the same aim (to finish their thesis), same problems and solutions. In such a group you can ask for help, ask for feedback while helping others and giving feedback as well, which will surely empower you!

In any case, remember that writer’s block is normal. It  belongs to the writing process. It is nothing to worry about, and no reason to question your intelligence.

Enregistrer

Related Posts

The PhD defence – the right mindset

4 steps to design your outline, finish your thesis with an accountability partner, formulate achievable goals for your phd, the phd diary: one tool to improve your writing skills, 6 tricks to tame your inner critic while writing your thesis, leave a reply.

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I want to to thank you for your time and for your amizing course!

Thakn you for your Tips. They’re simple, yet effective. Outstanding Blog !

Thank you very much for your blog. This post particulartly helps me understand why my block…

I’m glaid it helped, Ali! Have a great continuation with your thesis 🙂 !

Thank you for your feedback, Ali! 🙂

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Thanks a lot for all those tipps 🙂

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Very good blog you have here but I was wanting to know if you knew of any community forums that cover the same topics discussed here? I’d really like to be a part of group where I can get suggestions from other experienced individuals that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Cheers!

“Do not try to write it perfectly the first time.” Great tips, thank you very much!

Very helpful! All writers experience writer’s block moments when one simply struggles to put ideas into words.

Please read my blog on How to Beat Writer’s Block

Thank you…

Tbanks a lot!

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Merci beaucoup pour cet article, Martha! C’est toujours un grand plaisir de vous lire!

Thanks for making me to achieve new strategies about personal writing. I also hold the belief that certain of the best ways to maintain your writing in primary condition is to write as regulartly. Routine helps to make writing less scaring. Once more, thanks for your recommendations. 🙂

Regularity helps, for sure! It is a matter of training. The more you train writing, the more self-confident you become, the easier writing becomes. Thank you for your comment, Bernadette :)!

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Thanks a lot for your nice words, Janessa:) !

Thanks a lot for your tips. It is so liberating to write faster than usually and white in white! 🙂

I agree 🙂 ! Thank you for your post, Charles!

I’m at the other end, suffering from writer’s diarrhea . . . or something like that. Words just keep coming. The peril is that I slide off topic and just keep plunging ahead. Happens every time I want to make an editorial submission. Always turns out to be more about me and less about the topic. Arrrgh.

Hi Jenny, The process you describe is quite usual. You have 2 options: – Write everything you can think of and then restructure your draft or – Write all this in your PhD Notebook. This will help you to get idesas clarified and structured. When you want to write a paper, proceed step by step: 1. Design a concept answering following questions: What is the goal of your paper? Who is the intended audience? What is the message your paper should convey? 2. Design an outline. I guess this article will help you : http://www.scriptoria.org/en/4-steps-to-design-your-outline/ . It helps you to stay focused on your goal. 3. Write a first draft, keeeping 1 & 2 before eyes, in order not forget what you want to focus on. 4. Revise your paper (first of all: delete all superfluous). I hope, it helps. Feel welcome to contact me if you have any comment! 🙂

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Hugh Kearns

Dr maria gardiner, november 16th, 2020, “but i’m not ready” common barriers to writing and how to overcome them.

1 comment | 222 shares

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

Writing a thesis can feel overwhelming. In this post, Hugh Kearns and Maria Gardiner are here to help. They detail the common reasons why PhD students tend to avoid writing and counter them with strategies to counter procrastination and perfectionism.

Your thesis is probably the biggest writing task you will ever undertake. It can feel overwhelming. It is overwhelming. Writing 80,000 or 90,000 words, coherent words, that hang together and tell a story is a huge challenge. And what makes it even more challenging is that most thesis writers have never developed good writing habits. Worse, they have developed a way of writing that may have been sufficient to get through high school and undergraduate courses but cause real problems when it comes to writing a large thesis. Habits such as leaving it all to the last minute. You might be able to write an undergrad assignment the night before you have to hand it in, but you can’t write 80,000 high quality words the night before you hand in your thesis. So, some different writing habits are needed.

1.The write-up period is a delusion

One of the big mistakes thesis writers make is to assume they will do all their reading, data gathering, analysis and then have a big writing period at the end. People often say “I’ve done all the other bits, I just have to write it up. Just have to write it up! Like it was just a minor task. Writing is probably the most intellectually challenging part of the whole process. It’s not an exercise in how fast you can type. Writing is where you do the deep thinking; making sense of all the reading you’ve done; interpreting the data you’ve collected; and trying to communicate what it all means. It’s hard work so you need to start writing as early as possible. Write as you go. Start writing now.

2.But I’m not ready

Oh yes you are. You are ready. Ready right now. You may not be ready to write the final words in your thesis but you are ready to write something. If you’ve read some articles (and who hasn’t!) then you’re ready to write about them. If you’ve run some experiments, you’re ready to write about them. If you’ve got some results you can write about them. Waiting to feel ready is a big trap. It’s based on the illusion that one day the clouds will part and you’ll realise that today is the day to write the thesis.  Bad news – that day will never come. Prolific writers don’t wait to feel ready. They write. The reality is you will never feel ready. But you are.

3.Write rubbish

However, when high achievers and perfectionists sit down to write what they think is that they will go from a blank page to the finished product in one attempt. More bad news – that is not going to happen. Expecting to write the final words in your thesis from scratch is a sure-fire way to kill your motivation to write. Many thesis writers spend hours obsessing over a word or looking for the killer opening sentence. This is the way to become a slow writer. The fast way is to write drafts, preferably quickly, and then rewrite and refine. Get the story clear first and then come back and add the polish. Pulitzer prize winner James Michener once said, “I’m not a very good writer, but I’m an excellent rewriter”. Theses aren’t written – they are rewritten, many times.

4.Finishing is an illusion

Thesis writers talk about working on their thesis until it is perfect or until it is finished. They want to write the final word on their topic. To capture all of their thinking, everything they’ve read and to develop an argument to rebut every possible criticism. The reality is your thesis will be bound but it will never be finished. There will always be another reference you could add, another approach, another interpretation. What do you think you will find the first day after you bind your thesis? A speling mistoke. Or too. So, stop thinking about getting it finished. Get it written. The best thesis is a submitted thesis.

5.Get your fingers dirty

People love talking about writing, attending workshops about writing, even reading blogs about writing. Anything other than actual writing. But you can’t dream your thesis. You can’t plug a USB cable into your brain and download your thoughts onto the paper. You have to sit in the chair and get your fingers dirty. You have to write. Reading is not writing. Organising your references is not writing. Writing emails is not writing. Housework is not writing. Writing means getting words down on the page or computer screen.

Writers write

So as the picture says, Theses don’t write themselves, you know. You can read as many books about writing as you like, but they will all tell you the same thing; writers write. And thesis writers have to write theses. So pencils sharpened .. let’s go.

This post is adapted from an article by the authors in the New Zealand Education Review, September 2011.

Note: This review gives the views of the author, and not the position of the LSE Impact blog, or of the London School of Economics.

Image credit: author’s own 

About the author

Hugh Kearns is recognised internationally as a public speaker, educator and researcher. He regularly lectures at universities across the world and has recently returned from lecture tours of the UK and the US which included lectures at Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Berkeley and Stanford. His areas of expertise include self-management, positive psychology, work-life balance, learning and creativity. Hugh lectures and researches at Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia. He has published ten books with co-author Maria Gardiner

Maria Gardiner leading practitioners and researcher in cognitive behavioural coaching. She is a research associate at Flinders University and the Co-Director of iThinkWell. Maria is a trained psychologist working with researchers to maximise their success. She has published 10 books with her co-author Hugh Kearns. @ithinkwell

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I am having trouble with my thesis.

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A great thesis often develops in stages; it is ever-evolving as your understanding of your topic deepens and shifts.

Let's briefly explore what a thesis is and then we can highlight what a thesis should do.

What is a thesis statement?

• It is a sentence, found somewhere around the end of your introduction , that states the primary argument of your paper and points to the kind of support you will use to make that claim.

What should a thesis do?

• Serve as a road-map: Your thesis shows your reader what route you are going to take through the various paragraphs of your paper. The thesis helps ensure that your readers are following your line of reasoning, and it works for you as the writer too-- keeping your paper on topic and reminding you of what you want to cover as you write.
• Articulate your primary argument: a good thesis is a statement that you have to support with evidence. Take a moment and ask yourself if the argument you are writing needs support or if it reflects generally accepted facts.

Start out with these steps . . .

• Read the Writing Center's detailed description of a good thesis sentence.
• Once you have written a thesis sentence, you may find that you adjust your ideas while writing the rest of your paper. That is ok; in fact, it is great. When this happens, return to your thesis and revise it so that it clearly names the new direction you take in your paper.
• After your paper is complete, you can return to your thesis for additional stylistic revisions. You may want to change a word or incorporate a new phrase into your thesis that you thought of while you continued writing. You may find that you are completely happy with your thesis and do not want to change any of it.

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How To Write A Dissertation Or Thesis

8 Straightforward Steps + Examples

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) Expert Reviewed By: Dr Eunice Rautenbach | June 2020

How To Write A Dissertation: 8 Steps

• Clearly understand what a dissertation (or thesis) is
• Find a unique and valuable research topic
• Craft a convincing research proposal
• Write up a strong introduction chapter
• Review the existing literature and compile a literature review
• Design a rigorous research strategy and undertake your own research
• Present the findings of your research
• Draw a conclusion and discuss the implications

Step 1: Understand exactly what a dissertation is

This probably sounds like a no-brainer, but all too often, students come to us for help with their research and the underlying issue is that they don’t fully understand what a dissertation (or thesis) actually is.

So, what is a dissertation?

At its simplest, a dissertation or thesis is a formal piece of research , reflecting the standard research process . But what is the standard research process, you ask? The research process involves 4 key steps:

• Ask a very specific, well-articulated question (s) (your research topic)
• See what other researchers have said about it (if they’ve already answered it)
• If they haven’t answered it adequately, undertake your own data collection and analysis in a scientifically rigorous fashion
• Answer your original question(s), based on your analysis findings

In short, the research process is simply about asking and answering questions in a systematic fashion . This probably sounds pretty obvious, but people often think they’ve done “research”, when in fact what they have done is:

• Started with a vague, poorly articulated question
• Not taken the time to see what research has already been done regarding the question
• Collected data and opinions that support their gut and undertaken a flimsy analysis
• Drawn a shaky conclusion, based on that analysis

If you want to see the perfect example of this in action, look out for the next Facebook post where someone claims they’ve done “research”… All too often, people consider reading a few blog posts to constitute research. Its no surprise then that what they end up with is an opinion piece, not research. Okay, okay – I’ll climb off my soapbox now.

The key takeaway here is that a dissertation (or thesis) is a formal piece of research, reflecting the research process. It’s not an opinion piece , nor a place to push your agenda or try to convince someone of your position. Writing a good dissertation involves asking a question and taking a systematic, rigorous approach to answering it.

If you understand this and are comfortable leaving your opinions or preconceived ideas at the door, you’re already off to a good start!

Step 2: Find a unique, valuable research topic

As we saw, the first step of the research process is to ask a specific, well-articulated question. In other words, you need to find a research topic that asks a specific question or set of questions (these are called research questions ). Sounds easy enough, right? All you’ve got to do is identify a question or two and you’ve got a winning research topic. Well, not quite…

A good dissertation or thesis topic has a few important attributes. Specifically, a solid research topic should be:

Let’s take a closer look at these:

Attribute #1: Clear

Your research topic needs to be crystal clear about what you’re planning to research, what you want to know, and within what context. There shouldn’t be any ambiguity or vagueness about what you’ll research.

Here’s an example of a clearly articulated research topic:

An analysis of consumer-based factors influencing organisational trust in British low-cost online equity brokerage firms.

As you can see in the example, its crystal clear what will be analysed (factors impacting organisational trust), amongst who (consumers) and in what context (British low-cost equity brokerage firms, based online).

Need a helping hand?

Attribute #2:   Unique

Your research should be asking a question(s) that hasn’t been asked before, or that hasn’t been asked in a specific context (for example, in a specific country or industry).

For example, sticking organisational trust topic above, it’s quite likely that organisational trust factors in the UK have been investigated before, but the context (online low-cost equity brokerages) could make this research unique. Therefore, the context makes this research original.

One caveat when using context as the basis for originality – you need to have a good reason to suspect that your findings in this context might be different from the existing research – otherwise, there’s no reason to warrant researching it.

Attribute #3: Important

Simply asking a unique or original question is not enough – the question needs to create value. In other words, successfully answering your research questions should provide some value to the field of research or the industry. You can’t research something just to satisfy your curiosity. It needs to make some form of contribution either to research or industry.

For example, researching the factors influencing consumer trust would create value by enabling businesses to tailor their operations and marketing to leverage factors that promote trust. In other words, it would have a clear benefit to industry.

So, how do you go about finding a unique and valuable research topic? We explain that in detail in this video post – How To Find A Research Topic . Yeah, we’ve got you covered 😊

Step 3: Write a convincing research proposal

Once you’ve pinned down a high-quality research topic, the next step is to convince your university to let you research it. No matter how awesome you think your topic is, it still needs to get the rubber stamp before you can move forward with your research. The research proposal is the tool you’ll use for this job.

So, what’s in a research proposal?

The main “job” of a research proposal is to convince your university, advisor or committee that your research topic is worthy of approval. But convince them of what? Well, this varies from university to university, but generally, they want to see that:

• You have a clearly articulated, unique and important topic (this might sound familiar…)
• You’ve done some initial reading of the existing literature relevant to your topic (i.e. a literature review)
• You have a provisional plan in terms of how you will collect data and analyse it (i.e. a methodology)

At the proposal stage, it’s (generally) not expected that you’ve extensively reviewed the existing literature , but you will need to show that you’ve done enough reading to identify a clear gap for original (unique) research. Similarly, they generally don’t expect that you have a rock-solid research methodology mapped out, but you should have an idea of whether you’ll be undertaking qualitative or quantitative analysis , and how you’ll collect your data (we’ll discuss this in more detail later).

Long story short – don’t stress about having every detail of your research meticulously thought out at the proposal stage – this will develop as you progress through your research. However, you do need to show that you’ve “done your homework” and that your research is worthy of approval .

So, how do you go about crafting a high-quality, convincing proposal? We cover that in detail in this video post – How To Write A Top-Class Research Proposal . We’ve also got a video walkthrough of two proposal examples here .

Step 4: Craft a strong introduction chapter

Once your proposal’s been approved, its time to get writing your actual dissertation or thesis! The good news is that if you put the time into crafting a high-quality proposal, you’ve already got a head start on your first three chapters – introduction, literature review and methodology – as you can use your proposal as the basis for these.

Handy sidenote – our free dissertation & thesis template is a great way to speed up your dissertation writing journey.

What’s the introduction chapter all about?

The purpose of the introduction chapter is to set the scene for your research (dare I say, to introduce it…) so that the reader understands what you’ll be researching and why it’s important. In other words, it covers the same ground as the research proposal in that it justifies your research topic.

What goes into the introduction chapter?

This can vary slightly between universities and degrees, but generally, the introduction chapter will include the following:

• A brief background to the study, explaining the overall area of research
• A problem statement , explaining what the problem is with the current state of research (in other words, where the knowledge gap exists)
• Your research questions – in other words, the specific questions your study will seek to answer (based on the knowledge gap)
• The significance of your study – in other words, why it’s important and how its findings will be useful in the world

As you can see, this all about explaining the “what” and the “why” of your research (as opposed to the “how”). So, your introduction chapter is basically the salesman of your study, “selling” your research to the first-time reader and (hopefully) getting them interested to read more.

Step 5: Undertake an in-depth literature review

As I mentioned earlier, you’ll need to do some initial review of the literature in Steps 2 and 3 to find your research gap and craft a convincing research proposal – but that’s just scratching the surface. Once you reach the literature review stage of your dissertation or thesis, you need to dig a lot deeper into the existing research and write up a comprehensive literature review chapter.

What’s the literature review all about?

There are two main stages in the literature review process:

Literature Review Step 1: Reading up

The first stage is for you to deep dive into the existing literature (journal articles, textbook chapters, industry reports, etc) to gain an in-depth understanding of the current state of research regarding your topic. While you don’t need to read every single article, you do need to ensure that you cover all literature that is related to your core research questions, and create a comprehensive catalogue of that literature , which you’ll use in the next step.

Reading and digesting all the relevant literature is a time consuming and intellectually demanding process. Many students underestimate just how much work goes into this step, so make sure that you allocate a good amount of time for this when planning out your research. Thankfully, there are ways to fast track the process – be sure to check out this article covering how to read journal articles quickly .

Literature Review Step 2: Writing up

Once you’ve worked through the literature and digested it all, you’ll need to write up your literature review chapter. Many students make the mistake of thinking that the literature review chapter is simply a summary of what other researchers have said. While this is partly true, a literature review is much more than just a summary. To pull off a good literature review chapter, you’ll need to achieve at least 3 things:

• You need to synthesise the existing research , not just summarise it. In other words, you need to show how different pieces of theory fit together, what’s agreed on by researchers, what’s not.
• You need to highlight a research gap that your research is going to fill. In other words, you’ve got to outline the problem so that your research topic can provide a solution.
• You need to use the existing research to inform your methodology and approach to your own research design. For example, you might use questions or Likert scales from previous studies in your your own survey design .

As you can see, a good literature review is more than just a summary of the published research. It’s the foundation on which your own research is built, so it deserves a lot of love and attention. Take the time to craft a comprehensive literature review with a suitable structure .

But, how do I actually write the literature review chapter, you ask? We cover that in detail in this video post .

Step 6: Carry out your own research

Once you’ve completed your literature review and have a sound understanding of the existing research, its time to develop your own research (finally!). You’ll design this research specifically so that you can find the answers to your unique research question.

There are two steps here – designing your research strategy and executing on it:

1 – Design your research strategy

The first step is to design your research strategy and craft a methodology chapter . I won’t get into the technicalities of the methodology chapter here, but in simple terms, this chapter is about explaining the “how” of your research. If you recall, the introduction and literature review chapters discussed the “what” and the “why”, so it makes sense that the next point to cover is the “how” –that’s what the methodology chapter is all about.

In this section, you’ll need to make firm decisions about your research design. This includes things like:

• Your research philosophy (e.g. positivism or interpretivism )
• Your overall methodology (e.g. qualitative , quantitative or mixed methods)
• Your data collection strategy (e.g. interviews , focus groups, surveys)
• Your data analysis strategy (e.g. content analysis , correlation analysis, regression)

If these words have got your head spinning, don’t worry! We’ll explain these in plain language in other posts. It’s not essential that you understand the intricacies of research design (yet!). The key takeaway here is that you’ll need to make decisions about how you’ll design your own research, and you’ll need to describe (and justify) your decisions in your methodology chapter.

2 – Execute: Collect and analyse your data

Once you’ve worked out your research design, you’ll put it into action and start collecting your data. This might mean undertaking interviews, hosting an online survey or any other data collection method. Data collection can take quite a bit of time (especially if you host in-person interviews), so be sure to factor sufficient time into your project plan for this. Oftentimes, things don’t go 100% to plan (for example, you don’t get as many survey responses as you hoped for), so bake a little extra time into your budget here.

Once you’ve collected your data, you’ll need to do some data preparation before you can sink your teeth into the analysis. For example:

• If you carry out interviews or focus groups, you’ll need to transcribe your audio data to text (i.e. a Word document).
• If you collect quantitative survey data, you’ll need to clean up your data and get it into the right format for whichever analysis software you use (for example, SPSS, R or STATA).

Once you’ve completed your data prep, you’ll undertake your analysis, using the techniques that you described in your methodology. Depending on what you find in your analysis, you might also do some additional forms of analysis that you hadn’t planned for. For example, you might see something in the data that raises new questions or that requires clarification with further analysis.

The type(s) of analysis that you’ll use depend entirely on the nature of your research and your research questions. For example:

• If your research if exploratory in nature, you’ll often use qualitative analysis techniques .
• If your research is confirmatory in nature, you’ll often use quantitative analysis techniques
• If your research involves a mix of both, you might use a mixed methods approach

Again, if these words have got your head spinning, don’t worry! We’ll explain these concepts and techniques in other posts. The key takeaway is simply that there’s no “one size fits all” for research design and methodology – it all depends on your topic, your research questions and your data. So, don’t be surprised if your study colleagues take a completely different approach to yours.

Step 7: Present your findings

Once you’ve completed your analysis, it’s time to present your findings (finally!). In a dissertation or thesis, you’ll typically present your findings in two chapters – the results chapter and the discussion chapter .

What’s the difference between the results chapter and the discussion chapter?

While these two chapters are similar, the results chapter generally just presents the processed data neatly and clearly without interpretation, while the discussion chapter explains the story the data are telling  – in other words, it provides your interpretation of the results.

For example, if you were researching the factors that influence consumer trust, you might have used a quantitative approach to identify the relationship between potential factors (e.g. perceived integrity and competence of the organisation) and consumer trust. In this case:

• Your results chapter would just present the results of the statistical tests. For example, correlation results or differences between groups. In other words, the processed numbers.
• Your discussion chapter would explain what the numbers mean in relation to your research question(s). For example, Factor 1 has a weak relationship with consumer trust, while Factor 2 has a strong relationship.

Depending on the university and degree, these two chapters (results and discussion) are sometimes merged into one , so be sure to check with your institution what their preference is. Regardless of the chapter structure, this section is about presenting the findings of your research in a clear, easy to understand fashion.

Importantly, your discussion here needs to link back to your research questions (which you outlined in the introduction or literature review chapter). In other words, it needs to answer the key questions you asked (or at least attempt to answer them).

For example, if we look at the sample research topic:

In this case, the discussion section would clearly outline which factors seem to have a noteworthy influence on organisational trust. By doing so, they are answering the overarching question and fulfilling the purpose of the research .

Step 8: The Final Step Draw a conclusion and discuss the implications

Last but not least, you’ll need to wrap up your research with the conclusion chapter . In this chapter, you’ll bring your research full circle by highlighting the key findings of your study and explaining what the implications of these findings are.

What exactly are key findings? The key findings are those findings which directly relate to your original research questions and overall research objectives (which you discussed in your introduction chapter). The implications, on the other hand, explain what your findings mean for industry, or for research in your area.

Sticking with the consumer trust topic example, the conclusion might look something like this:

Key findings

This study set out to identify which factors influence consumer-based trust in British low-cost online equity brokerage firms. The results suggest that the following factors have a large impact on consumer trust:

While the following factors have a very limited impact on consumer trust:

Notably, within the 25-30 age groups, Factors E had a noticeably larger impact, which may be explained by…

Implications

The findings having noteworthy implications for British low-cost online equity brokers. Specifically:

The large impact of Factors X and Y implies that brokers need to consider….

The limited impact of Factor E implies that brokers need to…

As you can see, the conclusion chapter is basically explaining the “what” (what your study found) and the “so what?” (what the findings mean for the industry or research). This brings the study full circle and closes off the document.

Let’s recap – how to write a dissertation or thesis

You’re still with me? Impressive! I know that this post was a long one, but hopefully you’ve learnt a thing or two about how to write a dissertation or thesis, and are now better equipped to start your own research.

To recap, the 8 steps to writing a quality dissertation (or thesis) are as follows:

• Understand what a dissertation (or thesis) is – a research project that follows the research process.
• Find a unique (original) and important research topic
• Craft a convincing dissertation or thesis research proposal
• Write a clear, compelling introduction chapter
• Undertake a thorough review of the existing research and write up a literature review
• Undertake your own research
• Present and interpret your findings

Once you’ve wrapped up the core chapters, all that’s typically left is the abstract , reference list and appendices. As always, be sure to check with your university if they have any additional requirements in terms of structure or content.

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21 Comments

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unquestionably, this amazing simplified way of teaching. Really , I couldn’t find in the literature words that fully explicit my great thanks to you. However, I could only say thanks a-lot.

Great to hear that – thanks for the feedback. Good luck writing your dissertation/thesis.

This is the most comprehensive explanation of how to write a dissertation. Many thanks for sharing it free of charge.

Very rich presentation. Thank you

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Thanks for the feedback and suggestions 🙂

Hello, your write ups is quite educative. However, l have challenges in going about my research questions which is below; *Building the enablers of organisational growth through effective governance and purposeful leadership.*

Very educating.

Just listening to the name of the dissertation makes the student nervous. As writing a top-quality dissertation is a difficult task as it is a lengthy topic, requires a lot of research and understanding and is usually around 10,000 to 15000 words. Sometimes due to studies, unbalanced workload or lack of research and writing skill students look for dissertation submission from professional writers.

Thank you 💕😊 very much. I was confused but your comprehensive explanation has cleared my doubts of ever presenting a good thesis. Thank you.

thank you so much, that was so useful

Hi. Where is the excel spread sheet ark?

could you please help me look at your thesis paper to enable me to do the portion that has to do with the specification

my topic is “the impact of domestic revenue mobilization.

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8 Most Effective Ways to Increase Motivation for Thesis Writing 

Writing a master’s or doctoral thesis is a tough job, and many students struggle with writer’s block and putting off work. The journey requires not just skill and knowledge but a sustained motivation for thesis writing. Here are eight essential strategies to help you find and maintain your motivation to write your thesis throughout the thesis writing process.

Know why you lack motivation

It’s important to understand whether you’re just avoiding writing (procrastination) or if you genuinely don’t feel interested in it (lack of motivation). Procrastination is when you delay writing even though you want to finish it, while a lack of motivation for thesis writing is when you have no interest in writing at all. Knowing the difference helps you find the right solution. Remember, not feeling motivated doesn’t mean you can’t write; it just might be less enjoyable.

Recognize external vs. internal motivation

In the early stages of your academic journey, things like job prospects or recognition may motivate you to write your thesis. These are external motivators. Over time, they might become less effective. That’s why it’s important to develop internal motivators, like a real passion for your topic, curiosity, or wanting to make a difference in your field. Shifting to these internal motivators can keep you energized about your thesis writing for a longer period.

Develop a writing plan

As you regularly spend time on your thesis, you’ll start to overcome any initial resistance. Planning and thinking about your work will make the next steps easier. You might find yourself working more than 20 minutes some days. As you progress, plan for longer thesis writing periods and set goals for completing each chapter.

Don’t overwhelm yourself

Getting stuck is normal in thesis or dissertation writing. Don’t view these challenges as impossible obstacles. If you’re frustrated or unsure, take a break for a few days. Then, consult your advisor or a mentor to discuss your challenges and find ways to move forward effectively.

Work on your thesis daily

Try to spend 15-20 minutes daily on tasks related to your thesis or dissertation. This includes reading, researching, outlining, and other preparatory activities. You can fit these tasks into short breaks throughout your day, like waiting for appointments, during commutes, or even while cooking.

Understand that thesis writing motivation changes

Realize that thesis writing motivation isn’t always the same; it changes over time. Your drive to write will vary with different stages of your research and life changes. Knowing that motivation can go up and down helps you adapt. When you feel less motivated, focus on small, doable parts of your work instead of big, intimidating goals.

Recharge your motivation regularly

Just like you need to rest and eat well to keep your body energized, your motivation for thesis writing needs to be refreshed too. Do things that boost your mental and creative energy. This could be talking with colleagues, attending workshops, or engaging in hobbies that relax you. Stay aware of your motivation levels and take action to rejuvenate them. This way, you can avoid burnout and keep a consistent pace in your thesis work.

Keep encouraging yourself

Repeating encouraging phrases like “I will finish my thesis by year’s end” or “I’ll complete a lot of work this week” can really help. Saying these affirmations regularly can focus your energy and keep you on track with your thesis writing motivation .

Remember, the amount you write can vary each day. Some days you might write a lot, and other days less. The key is to keep writing, even if it’s just rough ideas or jumbled thoughts. Don’t let the need for perfection stop you. Listening to podcasts where researchers talk about their writing experiences can also be inspiring and motivate you in your writing journey.

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Try it for free or upgrade to  Paperpal Prime , which unlocks unlimited access to premium features like academic translation, paraphrasing, contextual synonyms, consistency checks and more. It’s like always having a professional academic editor by your side! Go beyond limitations and experience the future of academic writing.  Get Paperpal Prime now at just US$19 a month!

Related Reads:

How to make your thesis supervision work for you.

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• Presenting Research Data Effectively Through Tables and Figures

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