Thesis Tips
1. Think about your advisor, and speak with your advisor constantly.
Choose an advisor thoughtfully. Will your advisor have valuable input for your topic? Will the committee challenge you and help you to grow?
Develop a relationship with your advisor. Communicate and meet regularly.
2. Set deadlines, and develop discipline.
Create research and drafting schedules with your advisor.
Stick to the schedule you create by developing healthy writing habits.
3. Find a writing space.
Find a comfortable space on campus or at home where you can be productive.
4. Brainstorm research and methods, and find research in multiple places.
Think intentionally about how you will research your topic and what questions you are asking.
With your advisor's help, look for research in books, articles, websites, and other databases.
5. Structure the thesis.
Include an introduction, a literature review (if necessary), a methods section (if necessary), the content, and a conclusion.
6. Get as much feedback as possible, and ask specific feedback questions.
Look at examples, submit drafts to your advisor, and use the Writing Center.
Ask readers to give feedback on specific areas that you know need growth.
7. Revise, revise, revise!
Revise as many times as you are able!
Change is essential. If you change the thesis, a chapter, or the sources, know that it means your paper is developing.
8. Reward yourself, schedule free time, and remind yourself why you are doing this.
Schedule time where you are not working and reward yourself for reaching a goal. Maintain your mental health.
Whether you are looking forward to your degree, your career, or something else entirely, keep it in mind.
9. Be honest and confident in the conversation.
Believe in your paper, and be honest when asked questions. Sometimes you do not know about something. These questions are to help your paper grow.
10. Format, edit, and proofread.
Make sure you properly format the paper, revise it regularly, and proofread it more than once.