1. Choose the research methods to use

Depending on the nature of your paper, you will need to apply various research methods to be productive in your research. You could adopt the use of interviews, experiments, field research, etc.

2. Have a timeline for each research method

Begin with the research methods that you can easily do around your vicinity.  Have a timeline for every technique in weeks, days, or even months, depending on the coverage of your project. You can begin reading as soon as you have your research topic. For experiments, allocate enough time and plan well. For an interview, reach out to your prospective interviewees and participant to align their schedule to yours.

3. Have a calendar with the set timelines

You can use Google calendar or a datebook, whichever works for you, and ensure you stick to it. Be looking at the calendar to measure your progress and determine the time left to set deadlines.

4. Schedule time every week for research

It is essential to balance your work and study time with your leisure time. Set aside a few hours each day of the week to concentrate on your research. Letting the people close to you know why you no longer spend much time with them will go a long way to provide you with the peace of mind and time to do your research.

5. Remain focused

Keep away from things that distract you when conducting your research. Choose a quiet workspace, and you can easily concentrate on getting your work done more efficiently and productively.

6. Be disciplined

Stick to the schedule you created obediently to avoid procrastination and failures to meet deadlines that cause you to work under duress. Reward yourself for your achieved tasks in the days you complete tasks scheduled for that particular day.

7. Communicate with your thesis supervisor

Even with the relevant data from research, you may have a hard time determining the structure of research methodology in dissertation to use. Your supervisor can help with that. Have regular meetings to report your progress and get feedback from the supervisor. Each meeting should end up accomplishing a particular set goal and with purpose. At the end of each meeting, create the new goals for your research process to be motivated to continue researching to achieve set goals before the next meeting. Either way, reach out to experts in the field that your research topic covers to expand your knowledge horizons further.

8. Organization of data

Learn to make great notes of the findings or essential aspects of your dissertation. Any data collected from your research needs to be well documented and stored.  Keep any data that you think may not be relevant to your study separately from your other data materials. You may need it at one point.

9. Preparation for writing

Once you have collected your data, it is time to write your thesis. Check your deadline to determine how much time you are left with to write. Use all relevant information to create an outline. Compare the outline contents to the research questions in your dissertation. Have the outline approved, then start writing your thesis.

Conclusion

Getting started with the writing of your thesis will require you to acquire the relevant data. Carrying out research can be time-consuming and cost-effective in some cases. However, with the correct data and information, you will get your thesis done fast and accurately. It takes motivation to get it all together quickly, productively, and efficiently.

Throughout the venture, numerous trades with your leader and different boards will include clarifying and guarding your thoughts and choice. The main point where you face the panel is the exposition defense which comes toward the finish of a long and challenging interaction and may have unfurled over various years. Defending your dissertation is a critical achievement flagging conclusion on your alumni understudy vocation.

You can divide the process of defending your dissertation into three unmistakable segments: the planning stage, the defending part, and follow-up. The following are a couple of brief remarks of the three essential assets from an intensive brainstorming of each of the three segments.

Defense preparation: 

• Organize your material for the introduction. Make an immaculate introduction of the material you will cover on the protection. At last, work on introducing the material and responding to questions.
• Maximize your chance in the pre-defense conference to point out any concerns or issues. On the other hand, pose your seats what you may raise inquiries and issues during the safeguard. Get ready to address them.
• Have your original copy explored before you go to defend your dissertation to be certain it is steady with arranging prerequisites. You need to introduce a cleaned report for the workforce to work within the anticipation of the safeguard.
• Begin right on time to timetable and organize the date, time, and spot for the main event. Board individuals and seats have occupied timetables.
• It is vital to hold fast to graduate school rules and cutoff times covering a defense booking.
• Attend some of your departmental associates’ defense or go-to defense in different offices.

Defense meeting: 

• The wanted result of this gathering is the chairperson’s or the committee members to salute you with the assertion “Congrats, Dr. _.”.The defense was effective, and the panel has approved your thesis.
• When all inquiries have been posed and replied to, they will approach you to exit the presentation room while the panel ponders. As of now, personnel will be voting to approve your dissertation defense.
• Two inquiries to expect incorporate recognizing the shortcomings of your investigation and post-thesis research plans.
• In the defense process, the staff may alternate asking you inquiries and talking about themselves focal points or conflict.
• Your introduction material ought to momentarily cover the examination question, writing survey as it identifies with your hypothesis, techniques, and investigation, significant discoveries, and suggestions for future exploration.
• Meetings may start with brief remarks by the seat followed by your remarks expressing gratitude toward counselors and panel individuals for their time and endeavors for your sake.

Post Defense: 

• You might need to give bound duplicates of your dissertation to your chairperson, board of trustees’ individuals, loved ones. They may likewise need you to give duplicates to your specialty and library.
• Next day, take care of the modifications the board requested you change on the dissertation.
• Organize a little gathering for the board, loved ones. Verify what the standards are in your area of expertise on post-defense festivities.

Summary

The summary of your thesis should be made up of around 250-300 words. It should introduce information concerning the topic, the area of interest of your thesis, and the research questions covered. The methodology information concerning data collection, analysis, and the research design is provided in the summary section. Finally, have the conclusion and findings in the last paragraph.

Chapter 1: Introduction

The introduction section builds upon the context of your research questions. It should provide information of existing information related to your research topic and provided information on the delimitation of the study area. In the introduction section, you build on the research questions of your thesis.

Chapter 2: Theory

The theory chapter needs to present the theory you used to discuss your arguments and build on your thesis.  You generally present the theories that you will expound on in a later chapter dealing with discussions. Present enough relevant theories in the section that you will use in later chapters. The choice of theory is an indication of the method you will use to analyze data. Therefore, choose the theory that will best analyze the data you intend to use.

Chapter 3: Method

In the method section of your thesis, demonstrate the connection existing between the theory of science and knowledge production in your thesis. It means that you need to provide pertinent information concerning the findings of the data you used to develop your research question. Explain the choice of method used in developing your thesis question in the section.

In this chapter section:

• Provide a description of the procedures you used for data collection and production. Include the considerations you had to make to have the data.
• Give a description of how you have analyzed the data. If your study is quantitative, stick to statistical analyses. Adopting the qualitative study approach means that your analysis should adopt an analytical approach.
• Provide a description of the ethical considerations made, the deliberations, and any possible dilemmas you had to deal with.
• Show evaluation of your thesis based on reliability, validity, and credibility of the study

Chapter 4: Findings

Presentation of findings from the data you analyzed is presented in the finding chapter.  Choose the best findings to present in the chapter as they are the ones to be considered to emphasize and best suit the exploration of your research questions in your thesis.

Chapter 5: Discussion

The discussion chapter focuses on expounding the content of the findings chapter. It covers the presentation and discussion of findings in relation to past research done to ensure alignment to findings.

The chapter should present your arguments for the different ways you understood the finding of your research. It involves taking up the challenge to examine your interpretations of your findings.

Chapter 6: Summary &Implication

Strive to make the summary chapter brief, clear, and straightforward as it marks the ending of your thesis. A well-written summary should help you figure out how well you exhausted your points in your thesis.  It should provide an overview and implication of your thesis, offer recommendations for future research and provide a reflection of the strengths and weaknesses of your research.

Conclusion

You do not need to figure out how to start writing a thesis paper with the structure and tips provided in the article. However, if you need help writing a thesis due to other questions that the guidance given has not captured, consult your supervisor to help you figure out what to do. Do not shy away from seeking thesis writing help as it is a daunting task that you need all the assistance and motivation to see to completion.

Principles of writing a manuscript-style thesis

One must adhere to the CGPS policies and procedure if they wish to write a manuscript-style thesis. A dissertation needs approval from the academic unit after ensuring that the dissertation meets the scholarly requirements. Some of the requirements include:

1. Formatting

Although the formats may differ depending on the different departments, you should stick to the acceptable format identified by the academic unit. The manuscript-style thesis must also have consistency from the start to the end. Ensure that you stick to the same format all through to maintain coherence, cohesiveness, and clarity. Ensure you use appropriate punctuation, spelling, and grammar. You can refer to previously published manuscripts and borrow the formatting and numbering styles.

Ensure that your numbering is sequential with the equations, figures, tables, and subsections have the appropriate labels within each chapter. List your references either by chapter or at the end of your document. 

2. Contents

A thesis is a document that contains and describes everything concerning the research of a graduate student. If you got the manuscript-style thesis way, you should ensure that each manuscript fits into the body to accomplish the thesis’s objective. The thesis should naturally flow, and each section should connect and give it a unifying factor and make it one document. 

Start with an introduction and literature review to establish the student’s familiarity with the thesis’s scope, outline the aim and objectives of the research and provide a context to the manuscript. Then go ahead and discuss the methodology by describing the mode of research you will be using in its chapter. Similar to any other thesis chapters, the manuscript should also fit together. Make it easy for others to understand the relationship between the manuscripts and their relevance. Place each manuscript on its chapter for logical progression and to make it clear for the readers. 

The final chapter is the conclusion. It should highlight the research’s findings and the main contribution of the research to the main objective. After the conclusion, you should ensure that you include the supporting documentation and appendices. These are materials that are not part of the research but are references to some sections. 

3. Co-authored manuscripts

Following the academic unit’s approval and the student’s advisory committee, you can include these manuscripts in the thesis. You can add as many co-authors as possible. There is no limit. The lead author should be an active participant by having at least one manuscript in the thesis. For each manuscript, include complete citations and page numbers. To avoid conflict of intellectual property and other related issues, ensure you iron out all the obligations and legal requirements (authorship, copyright, and data confidentiality) in advance. Print a statement outlining the status of any unpublished paper in contemplated dealing or dealing with copyright issues. In a case where there is a disparity between published manuscripts, you should describe it in an addendum. The comments should detail the type of changes and simple explanations for the changes. 

4. Thesis review

After you are done with your thesis, it has to go through review. It is where the process of defending your thesis comes is and the examining committee takes control of judging and approving your work. You should be prepared for your thesis to undergo serious criticisms and review, and even revision. 

Regardless of the hustle and the student’s hard work, the thesis needs to be acceptable to the examining committee and external examiners for one to successfully graduate.

5. Copyright

It is your obligation as a student or co-author to seek permission from copyright holders for material, documents, and information that does not belong to you. You also hold the financial burden’s responsibility if there will be financial obligations to using copyrighted material. You should also clearly indicate and print sections containing co-authored or copyrighted material under license or with permission. The license of permission letters should be readily available on request. 

1. Title Page

It should come first before fail because it introduces your paper. There is no way you can put the title page in the middle or at the back. Ensure that it comes first if you want to be on the right track.

2. Committee Page

It has to come second and should have the names of examining and supervisory members. There should be no signatures. Be careful not to include it in the contents because it is not supposed to be there.

3. Abstract

The abstract is majorly a summary of your work. It is a part where most readers focus, so you have to ensure that you do your best. It brings out the problem, the conclusions, and many more. It is a small section that will not affect if you include any form of graphs or tables. You have to ensure that your words do not exceed 350. If you want to write it correctly, ensure that you include relevant points only and leave out the irrelevant ones.

4. Lay Summary

It is a simplified part that tells more about the goals and essence of your paper. There is no need to include technical terms in this part. You have to ensure that your words do not pass 150. If you make the mistake of writing more stories, you will be ruining your chances of having a standard paper.

5. Preface

It must show your contribution to certain things;

• The identity and design of the paper
• Performance of individual sections of the piece
• Analysis of the data.

6. Table of Contents

There is no way you can submit your work without this part. It shows how you have arranged your work and gives the reader an easy time checking any part without wasting time.

7. List of Tables

You have to include all the tables in your work here.

8. List of Figures

If, in any case, your work has figures, you have to include all of them here. If there are no figures, then there is no need.

9. List of Illustrations

If, in any case, you do away with copyright tables, figures, and many more, you have to ensure that you include the following in those particular spots;

• A statement that shows that you have removed the material due to the copyright restrictions
• You have to show a description of that material and all the information it had
• You have to cite the place where the info can get accessed

10. Acknowledgments

You can include this part if you want. If you feel it is right to acknowledge everyone that contributed to your work, then you have a chance. If you have nothing to write here, do not stress yourself.

Guideline to Visually Determine the Length of Word Counts

So you have these niggling questions eating your mind up concerning word counts and the approximate length such word counts can equate to visually. It becomes necessary to learn the art of making estimates. For instance, a 300-word document represents about 2/3rds of your page when double-spaced and viewed visually.  

The Period it takes to Write and Read Specific Word Counts

300 Words

• Writing a 300-worded article. Three hundred words take approximately twenty to a hundred and twenty minutes of writing based on the ability level, quickness, and comprehension of the subject in question.
• Averagely, reading a 300-worded document takes an average of forty-five seconds or one minute to read based on the reader’s speed and ability.

600 Words

• Visually, a 600-worded document represents about one 1/3rds of your page. It comes about when it utilizes single spacing. However, when you use double spacing, it will represent about two 2/3rds of your page.
• Writing of a 600-worded text will require a period spanning forty minutes to around two-hundred and forty minutes based on the writer’s speed and consciousness.
• Similarly, a 600-worded text will take an approximate reading period of one to two minutes based on the reader’s speed.

1000-Worded Text

• Visually, a 1000-worded text approximates two 1/3rds of your page. It comes about when you factor in the use of single spacing. However, when using double spacing, the pages can translate to four in total.
• The 1000-worded Text will take you from about seventy to four-hundred minutes of writing to complete based on your writing speed and research capacity.
• The same 1000 words will take you about one minute, seven seconds, to about three minutes, five seconds to read based on your reading speed.

1200-Worded Text

• A 1200-worded text visually represents two 2/3^rd of your page when using single spacing and about five 1/3^rd pages when using double spacing.
• Writing a 1200-worded text will take you about ninety to four-hundred and eighty minutes based on how you write. Writing can come as a conscious stream or writing while doing extra research.
• Reading a similar volume of 1200 words will take you about two minutes to around four minutes twenty-five seconds based on your reading speed.

1800-Worded Text

• Visually, the 1800-worded Text takes about four pages when using single spacing, while it takes eight pages when using double spacing.
• Writing a similar Text volume will take you about a hundred and twenty to six-hundred minutes based on your writing mechanism.
• Reading an 1800-worded text will take you about three to five minutes based on your reading speed.

Important facts about estimates include the following

Visual estimates. You can use a combination of 8.5 inches by 11inch paper besides Gotham font in guessing the visual estimate.

Length of writing. You can use a combination of your experience besides the estimates of the fine people at Mid-term.io.

Length of reading. Try and use a synthesis derived from the diverse estimates in Nelson Brett’s article.

Conclusion

Estimating the different word count length parameters can prove pivotal in gauging your efficiency, primarily when you work on dissertations and scientific papers or have a job in the writing and editing field. So in case you experience difficulties estimating your writing and reading speeds besides the visual lengths of diverse word counts, consider the discussed.

Introduction to writing dissertations

If you are planning to start your dissertation-writing project, there are a couple of factors to consider. It will make your dissertation-writing journey convenient and lower the levels of stress, which is usually high during the research process. Ph.D. and masters students know the struggle of writing a dissertation. Transferring one’s thoughts onto a paper is not a mean feat; you must put a lot of effort and devote quality time. In this article, we divide the process into three groups that we think is a worthy mention.

The time: Writing a dissertation takes a lot of your time. Do not get discouraged if you feel that it takes a long time to get that much-needed response or if your supervisor dots your paper with many negative comments. Writing a dissertation is a journey, no one gets it correct the first time, and this would not be an exception to you, take a deep breath, and be patient. A thorough revision can take up to three months. So if this happens to you, do not panic, it is normal. Always begin your dissertation writing with a lot of time.

The research: Actual research starts here. First, consider the topic that will drive your research. You might get a topic list to choose from or required to come up with. Whichever the option chose a topic that will give you a close sense of what you will investigate, remember that an investigation of this magnitude will be tedious and lengthy. Besides, you will not avoid a lot of reading. In case you are stuck, seek help, an online community can be handy but incorporate assistance from reputable websites or platforms.

The draft: Document writing is also a time-consuming and challenging task. A minimum of 3 to 4 months to finish the final draft will be sufficient before you finally submit. Do not hurry less you submit substandard work. Comb through the entire document to unearth mistakes such as grammar or spelling. Remember to acknowledge the contribution of other scholars in the reference section, using the prescribed reference format. Failure to reference or cite your work source will lead to plagiarism, which is a serious offense in the process of dissertation writing.

Choose an interesting topic

The dissertation topic you select will take weeks or months to finish, so settle for something interesting to you. We emphasize again that you choose a subject that is exciting that will keep you inspired for those weeks or months. Probably you would want to focus on a topic that comes from your field of knowledge or a subject in a different module in your course inspires you. Irrespective of your dissertation topic’s enthusiasm, it will be a journey full of fun if you are passionate about the issue. We also recommend selecting a subject area that will assist you in your future career aspirations. It will grand you a more in-depth mastering of your area of expertise while giving you extra strength when authoring your future job applications.

Choose a unique topic

It is essential to select a distinct topic for your dissertation or project to ensure that you have a chance to conduct your investigation and arrive at conclusions. However, getting a unique subject area to investigate is rarely possible, but you can approach a studied area from a different perspective. Alternatively, you can develop a distinct idea from a narrow topic that much research has not gone into.

Do not be too ambiguous

A research or dissertation project is an intelligently written scholarly piece of work. Every sentence ought to donate to the building of research or opinions, and the entire job should conform to the prescribed structure. Choosing a broad subject area would be a tall order to investigate, given the word count restrictions, and it becomes hard to make concise conclusions.

Do not be too focused

Whereas your supervisor will advise you to be concise, your paper will need to satisfy the prescribed word count. Concentrating on a narrow question or topic will make you tussle to enlarge your opinions and come up with sound and logical conclusions, in your proposal, to pause questions that require no or yes answer because it will limit you.

Research

Investigating your topic is the surest way to make sure that you are selecting the correct subject matter. Consider the available time at your disposal before you make the final submission. It will enable you to know whether you have adequate resources to finish within the remaining time and enlarge your ideas to bolster your position.

Be objective

Loving an entertaining subject area or topic early in your research is secure, and this might hinder you from seeing its disadvantages. It is essential to be truthful about the scope of your subject area. Think about your topic and examine it from the outsider’s point of view to ensure that pushing a weak idea. If you are well organized, you will have a lot of time to discuss another topic.

Seek help from your supervisor

Your supervisor is your guide and mentor in your dissertation writing. They will help you address all your fears, whether small or big. Your supervisor probably has experience in helping other students on how to choose a topic. You can also get an informal supervisor online at Thesis Helpers, who will guide you through writing or provide you with high-quality proofreading services after you finish the dissertation.