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.