Tips for Writing Your PhD Thesis
Not sure where to begin with your PhD thesis? Have you begun but can’t seem to find an efficient way to write it? Hitting road blocks?
As a PhD student, you’ve spent the previous few years undertaking interesting and new research in a field that you’re passionate about, but writing out this work can be an intimidating task. After all, it’s the culmination of so much hard work and effort, and you want it to be perfect.
But, there’s tons of ways you can make your writing process easier. To help out, our experts team has put together a list of thesis writing tips to get you through your dissertation from their experiences.
1. Getting started is the hardest.
It can be daunting to stare at a blank page and imagine your final thesis. Don’t be intimated by the number of words you know you have to write – the idea is to simply start writing. Start with any part of your dissertation that is ready and fresh in your mind – you do not have to write your thesis in the same order that you will present it. Just get the words onto your screen and get started.
2. Plan the structure and format carefully beforehand.
Carefully planning the structure, aim and message of your thesis with your supervisor beforehand helps to add clarity when you begin writing. Also make sure you are following the doctoral thesis structure as dictated by your country and even your institution.
You can get a better sense of the format expected of you by reviewing and understanding theses written by other scholars in your department or institution, and by speaking with your supervisor or mentors.
3. Keep the broader picture in mind at all times.
It’s all too easy to become engrossed with your findings, obsessing over every last detail of your results, or for that matter, your grammar, or even the formatting. But, not only for your thesis, but also for your viva/debate preparation, keep the broad picture in mind. Remember the aim of your paper, and your PhD – and use that to focus on what’s important: that writing your thesis will open up new opportunities for you.
4. Save, save, and then some.
CTRL+S is your best friend. Unexpected crashes can happen anytime – so don’t risk your work. Save updated versions every few hours or every couple of chapters, so that even if you face an unexpected crash or issue, you’ll have a recently saved version that you can come back to.
5. Keep it clear and interesting.
It can be tempting to put all the information you know and have about your topic into the introduction or the discussion, but remember – you want to keep your dissertation engaging and interesting. Be clear in what you are trying to say, and be concise. If you think there is a point that you just have to add, go ahead and add it, but keep it short and make sure that information fits well with the rest of your thesis.
6. Don’t be afraid to take a break.
No matter how brief, taking a break will help clear your mind, and keep you focused without burning out. Take a bathroom break, a snack or meal break, a screen break where you don’t look at any screen (meaning no phones!), and thesis break! It’s perfectly understandable that you may feel guilty, or feel that you’re wasting time, but remember: there are hundreds of studies that show that taking small, short breaks at regular intervals keeps the mind from burning out. Take a step back to take a step ahead.
7. Print out the findings to analyse and piece them together.
When you’re trying to put together your results and discussion, there can be a lot of data and information to comb through. To make it easier, print out your results and tape them to the wall. Then, use the visual board to make connections, draw diagrams and arrows. This will help you write much easier, because you won’t be sifting through multiple tabs on your computer, or writing from your memory. It’s less stressful, and much faster to do it when the data is visually in front of you.
8. Don’t forget about your images and references.
Writing a thesis is frequently misunderstood as just that – writing! However, a picture can sometimes paint a thousand words, so don’t forget to add in your graphs and data images. They don’t have to be boring black and white, so find a look or colour scheme you like and stick with it.
The same is true for your references. Correctly adding and noting the references you used shows that you’ve put in considerable effort and research to understand your topic from multiple papers before writing your thesis. It’s also ensures that you give due credit to the researchers and their work that came before you. To make things easier, keep all your relevant information in a reference manager. When it comes to thesis corrections, you won’t have to go back through it all again.
9. Focus on your discussion session.
Discussion is the heart of scientific writing, and a particularly important part of your research argument. You need to explain the relevance of your thesis and results to relevant previous work, and the influence your research will have in that field. In the discussion, you should also be sure to aptly connect your results to your introduction. Be insightful when discussing the significance of your findings and write about future research that can follow your work. It is always helpful to get a second opinion about your discussion – speak to a peer or mentor.
10. Everybody gets writer’s block sometimes.
If you find yourself just unable to come up with any ideas on what to write, with your mind completely distracted and uncreative, don’t worry! It’s simply writer’s block, and even the best writers suffer from it. Simply write down anything that comes to mind in connection to your work to get back into your groove. PhD students can spend hours trying to perfect one sentence and then feel as if they are making no progress or have lost all of their ideas. Simply jot down whatever comes to mind in any order or wording. Put all of your ideas on paper so you can edit and refine them later. You won’t be able to do that if you don’t have any content to begin with.
11. Keep a notebook and a pen close by.
This one is related to tip number 12. While you’re typing up your thesis on your computer, keep a pen and paper nearby to jot down any ideas or errands you need to run. Especially when you’re feeling lost or confused. It provides you with a quick way to draw on something to help you write that sentence.
12. Never be afraid to seek assistance.
People keep telling you that your thesis is yours and yours alone. While they are not incorrect, this does not imply that no one is available to assist you. Reach out and ask for assistance from a peer, a fellow thesis writing group buddy, or your PhD supervisor – they will provide valuable insight and feedback on your work, giving you confidence and creative critiques.
13. Edit, edit, edit.
When you write a section, don’t immediately sit to edit it. Leave it aside for a couple of days, and then come back to edit it. This will help you to see mistakes and missed connections in your writing more easily and with fresh eyes. You can repeat this process several times until you can’t find any more mistakes. Once you’re sure you don’t see any more mistakes, edit it one more time.
14. Give your supervisor enough time.
Give your supervisor enough time to read your thesis. They are busy individuals, so if you rush them, they may not get a chance to be as thorough in their feedback as you both would like. Set up a timeline with your supervisor, and ensure you stick to it. The longer you give them to think about your dissertation, the better they will be able to support you.
16. When proofreading, read your thesis aloud.
Also, don’t underestimate the time required for proofreading. There are only so many times you can read what you’ve written on a screen without thinking you’ve misspelt the word ‘cancer’. Although everything is exactly correct, it just doesn’t look right and any flaws are just brushed aside. When you read aloud, your brain needs to compute the words, so any spelling errors, incorrect sentences or poor will be obvious.
17. Utilize the Hemingway editor.
This quick tip will help you with wording your paper better. Simply search for the Hemingway Editor online, and it will take you to a page where you can paste pieces of your thesis. The software will analyse it for sentence length and other grammatical factors. Then, you can revise your thesis to make it easier to read by changing language and so on, making your paper better. There will be times when you won’t be able to change a sentence, thus the editor will only serve as a point of reference, but it’s a helpful tool to get your sentence structures and grammar correct.
18. Review your thesis in a step wise manner before the final GO!
Your examiners will be looking for your work to ‘fit in’ with what has already been published in your field – and also impart new knowledge into the field. Gaining an understanding of the format and style utilised in successful field dissertations is thus a crucial activity. Review your entire di
ssertation in a step wise format, checking all sections for relevance, importance, and connections.
19. Have fun with it!
It may appear difficult today, but your dissertation is a celebration of all your hard work, dedication, and accomplishments over the past few years. Enjoy it to the fullest!
Finally, remember that your thesis is your chance to present your work in the best possible light. Consider your opening paragraphs, engage your reader with your writing and most importantly, be clear in your hypothesis and your conclusion. Remove any material that adds no value and only bulks out your work. Consider your reader at all times. This is your chance to showcase your hard work.
Do you have any other suggestions for creating a thesis? What were some of the things that helped you get through it? Tell us in the comments section below!
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