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Practical Guide to Dissertation and Thesis Writing
By Mark Stephan Felix and Ian Smith
Research is an essential component of graduate education. The thesis is often seen as the
culmination of graduate work, and it is the formal product. However, the process requires the
work of many people. The two crucial components of this work are the Major Advisor and
Advisory Committee. These two components, interacting with a Master’s student, create a
significant professional experience and shape the degree work and resulting thesis. One of the
most important aspects of graduate work is communication between the Major Advisor and the
student. Methods, circumstances, and personalities vary and can make sufficient
communication challenging. Ultimately it is the student’s responsibility for making adequate
progress toward completion of his or her thesis and for producing high quality work.
A Master’s Thesis provides opportunities for students to plan, complete, interpret, and report
research. Thesis projects must not have been published previously, and must be conducted and
written under the supervision of a Graduate Faculty Major Advisor member and a Graduate
Advisory Committee. The completion of a Master’s Thesis constitutes six semester hours of
credit.
Introduction – brief overview explaining the background and importance of the study.
Chapter One Introduction
Discussion of the genesis, context, goals, or creative pieces that form the thesis. May cover
areas suggested in proposal components as well as provide some explication of particular
works.
The key elements to include in your opening paragraph are:
1. Your Research Focus
State clearly what your research focus is. If your research focus in on gender issues, you may want to
begin by stating clearly that the research is about gender issues in a certain context or society.
“The objectification and sexualization of girls in the media are linked to violence against women and
girls worldwide. A report by the American Psychological Association (APA) on the sexualization of girls
in the media found that girls are depicted in a sexual manner more often than boys; dressed in revealing
clothing, and with bodily postures or facial expressions that imply sexual readiness” - Unicef USA
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A statement on the present situation of the topic you are researching
“ In a study of print media, researchers at Wesleyan University found that on average, across 58
different magazines, 51.8 percent of advertisements that featured women portrayed them as sex
objects. However, when women appeared in advertisements in men’s magazines, they were objectified
76 percent of the time.”
2.
1. Purpose of the Study
The first part of the introduction should clearly state the purpose of the study. There should be
a concise statement of purpose provided in this section.
Statement of the Hypothesis or Research Question
A clear statement(s) that identifies the precise research question should be included. Each
specific measurement to be conducted should be identified.
Significance of the Study
As part of the purpose of the study, there should be justification for conducting the project.
This section should exhibit a clear understanding of what makes your study significant and why
it should be conducted.
Definitions
A simple list of definitions of terms that directly pertain to this study should be provided. The
list should include definitions of terms that might be unclear to the reader.
Delimitations, Limitations, and Assumptions
A brief statement identifying the delimitations, limitations, and assumptions associated with
your study should be provided. Delimitations – factors that were controlled by the researcher
Limitations – factors that were not under the control of the researcher Assumptions – factors
that the researcher assumes were taken into consideration.
How to write a good thesis introduction
For many people, getting started with the thesis introduction is the most scary part.
Writing introductions can be intimidating. At this point, most of your research/prep
work should be done and you should be ready to start your introduction. But often, it
is not clear what needs to be included and how to make a good first impression to
your reader. If you feel stuck at this point not knowing how to start, this guide can
help.
First of all, make sure to really start with the introduction. If you are having trouble
putting together a good introduction, start with a placeholder. That placeholder does
not need to be as strong as you would like it to be, but you can always come back to
it and edit it. Having a brief introduction that sets the direction will help you a lot as
you write. Waiting to write the introduction until the end can leave you with a poorly
written setup to an otherwise well-written paper.
A good introduction draws readers in while providing the setup for the entire paper.
There is no single way to write an introduction that will always work for every topic,
but the points below can act as a guide. These points can help you write a good
thesis introduction:
1. Identify your readership
Before even starting with your first sentence, ask yourself the question who your
readers are. Your first and most important reader is your professor grading your work
and the people ultimately responsible for you getting your diploma. You should also
consider readers of your thesis who are not specialists in your field. Writing with them
in your mind will help you to be as clear as possible which will make your thesis better
understandable and more enjoyable overall.
2. Hook the reader and grab their attention
The first sentence of the paper is crucial. Looking back at your own research, how
many papers have you skipped just because reading the first few sentences they
couldn't grab your attention? It is common to start with a question or quotation, but
these types of hooks have become overused. The best way to start your introduction
is with a sentence that is broad and interesting and seamlessly transitions into your
argument. Also, starting with a broader statement will appeal to a wider audience.
Consider who the paper is aimed at informing and then think of something that would
grab their attention. Make a list of what is interesting about your topic. Are there any
current events it relates to or controversies associated with it that might be interesting
for your introduction? Start out broad and then narrow down to your specific topic and
thesis statement.
3. Provide relevant background
A good introduction also needs to contain enough background information to allow
the reader to understand the thesis statement and arguments. The amount of
background information required will depend on the topic. There should be enough
background information so you don't have to spend too much time with it in the body
of the thesis, but not so much that it becomes uninteresting.
4. Give the reader a general knowledge of what the paper is about
Let the reader know what the purpose of the study is. Make sure to include the
following points:
Briefly describe the motivation for your research (if you haven't already in the
first sentence)
Describe the topic and scope of your research
Explain the practical relevance of your research
Explain the scientific situation related to your topic - you can include the most
important scientific articles and briefly explain them and how they are related to
your research
5. Preview key points and lead into thesis statement
The introduction to your thesis should preview what is to come and interest the reader
with enough understanding of the key points, but still leave the best for the main part.
While the body of your thesis will explain the main argument, you might want to lead
into the thesis statement by briefly bringing up a few of your main supporting details.
Frequently Asked Questions about writing a good thesis introduction
What is the secret to writing a great thesis introduction?
A good introduction draws readers in while providing the setup for the entire paper.
There is no single way to write an introduction that will always work for every topic,
but these tips will help you write a great introduction:
1. Identify your readership
2. Grab the reader's attention
3. Provide relevant background
4. Preview key points and lead into the thesis statement
What information should I include in my thesis introduction?
A good introduction needs to contain enough background information, and let the
reader know what the purpose of the study is. Make sure to include the following
points:
Briefly describe the motivation for your research (if you haven't already in the
first sentence)
Describe the topic and scope of your research
Explain the practical relevance of your research
Explain the scientific situation related to your topic - you can include the most
important scientific articles and briefly explain them and how they are related to
your research
How long should my thesis introduction be?
The length of the introduction will depend on the length of the whole thesis. Usually,
an introduction makes up roughly 10 per cent of the total word count.
How do I write an interesting thesis introduction?
The best way to start your introduction is with a sentence that is broad and interesting
and seamlessly transitions into your argument. Also, starting with a broader
statement will appeal to a wider audience. Consider who the paper is aimed at
informing, and then think of something that would grab their attention.
