Writing a thesis for your MS / PhD can be a mess if you don’t have proper guidance about it. Don’t worry; you don’t need anyone for that guidance because we will help you write the first step, which is outlining your MS and PhD thesis. Let’s dive deep into the first part of it.

Diagram Credit Samina Amin
Here is a beginner’s guide to help you outline your thesis:

Diagrammatic presentation of what we will discuss in the coming lines. It summarizes how you can outline your MS and PhD thesis.

1. Introduction

This is the first step of writing MS and PhD thesis. Important things that you need to take care of while writing this portion are:

  • Start with an overview of your research topic and write a few lines about its significance.
  • Mention what research problem is that you want to focus on.
  • Talk about your objectives and scope of the study. Give a slight touch on past research on your topic and describe how your study will help the general population.
  • This part should not only cover your academic part but will also give information about present and future innovation in your field of study.

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2. Literature Review

  • This portion links your research to previous research and helps readers to make a connection.
  • You have to write about important concepts and theories in this portion to highlight your research among those that were previously conducted.
  • Highlight the gaps in previous research and tell readers how you are going to fill that gap with your research.
  • This portion of your research is there to find a connection between already present research and your research.

3. Methodology

  • This portion covers how you conducted your research. You have to describe every step that you took while conducting your research.
  • Explain in detail how data was collected, whether that was through a questionnaire or any other medium.
  • You have to explain how you analysed your data and what methodology was used while analysing it in detail.
  • There is a population that you have included in your study; you will describe them. This is called inclusive criteria and a population that you have excluded will also mentioned it is called exclusion criteria.
  • You have to mention if there were any ethical considerations like consent of the patient, confidentiality, and potential risk while conducting this study.

4. Results

  • After analysing your data, you will use this section to tell readers about the results of your research.
  • Here, you will present your findings in a clear and organised manner.
  • To keep readers interested in reading your research, make it more eye-friendly, and add more and more graphs, charts, and figures for easy understanding.
  • Every figure and picture of your data interpretation should be explained in detail.

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5. Discussion

  • This is the part where you have to compare your study data with studies that have been conducted in the recent past.
  • You will have to give a clear explanation about how this research is in alignment with your research question. You have to prove your data is in accord with your research question.
  • Explain how this research is helpful as compared to previous ones.
  • Before ending this section, you have to give details about the limitations of this study and how this limitation in the study affected your result.
  • You have to describe how this research can be improved in the future and mark areas that you want other researchers to take the lead on.
  • This comparison gives ideas about innovations in the field of research by comparing old and new research.

6. Conclusion

  • Here, you will conclude your thesis by summarising the findings of your study.
  • Give an idea about the implications of your study in your field.
  • A detailed paragraph should be added on how this study will help others and how it is contributing to the field.
  • The last few lines will be dedicated to properly concluding your study and suggesting further study in your field.

7. References

  • Here, you will mention what citations you have used in your study and mention them in a style that your journal will accept.
  • Make sure to ask your publishing journal to give you a list of things that should be done before sending the final copy to the editor for review.
  • It should be ensured that you have checked and listed every requirement before sending your copy. List all sources cited in your thesis according to the required citation style.

8. Appendices

This portion is normally not present in every thesis, but if you have any additional material regarding your thesis that supports your data, like raw data, interviews, surveys, etc, it can be added here. By providing raw data, you are allowing your reader to scrutinize your data, which will make your study more potent. By providing questionnaires and interview data, you can help your readers review your methodology, thus helping them understand your research in a better way.

This is how you write an outline for your MS and Ph.D. thesis. If you follow this guideline you will not only complete your thesis on time but will also ace it in exams.

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