As you conduct your research and analyse the data you collected, perhaps there are ideas or results that don’t quite fit the scope of your research topic. Or, maybe your results suggest that there are further implications of your results or the causal relationships between previously-studied variables than covered in extant research.
NoteRecommendations are generally included both in your conclusion (briefly) and in your discussion section. However, if your research is more business-oriented or practical in nature, you can also present them in a separate chapter or advisory report.
Published on
15 September 2022
by
Tegan George.
Revised on
5 December 2023.
A thesis is a type of research paper based on your original research. It is usually submitted as the final step of a PhD program in the UK.
Writing a thesis can be a daunting experience. Indeed, alongside a dissertation, it is the longest piece of writing students typically complete. It relies on your ability to conduct research from start to finish: designing your research, collecting data, developing a robust analysis, drawing strong conclusions, and writing concisely.
Thesis template
You can also download our full thesis template in the format of your choice below. Our template includes a ready-made table of contents, as well as guidance for what each chapter should include. It’s easy to make it your own, and can help you get started.
Published on
9 September 2022
by
Tegan George.
Revised on
6 April 2023.
It can be difficult to know where to start when writing your thesis or dissertation. One way to come up with some ideas or maybe even combat writer’s block is to check out previous work done by other students.
This article collects a list of undergraduate, master’s, and PhD theses and dissertations that have won prizes for their high-quality research.
NoteAs you read the examples below, bear in mind that all universities have their own guidelines for writing theses and dissertations. The requirements for length, format, and structure often vary by faculty and department. Different disciplines have different research conventions and use different citation styles.
We highly recommend that you review your own university’s policies, and discuss any questions with your supervisor.
Published on
9 September 2022
by
Tegan George.
Revised on
18 April 2024.
During the process of writing your thesis or dissertation, it can be helpful to read those submitted by other students.
Luckily, many universities have databases where you can find out who has written about your topic previously and how they approached it. While some databases are only accessible via your university library, more and more universities are making these databases public.
Published on
9 September 2022
by
Tegan George
Revised on
10 October 2022.
The conclusion is the very last part of your thesis or dissertation. It should be concise and engaging, leaving your reader with a clear understanding of your main findings, as well as the answer to your research question.
The introduction is the first section of your thesis or dissertation, appearing right after the table of contents. Your introduction draws your reader in, setting the stage for your research with a clear focus, purpose, and direction.
Your introduction should include:
Your topic, in context: what does your reader need to know to understand your thesis dissertation?
A preface is your opportunity to inform your audience about your experiences during the writing of your thesis or dissertation.
A preface is much more personal than other types of academic writing. It is written mainly in the first person and is one of the few places where using first-person is considered acceptable. Your preface is typically written upon completion of your thesis or dissertation, as a final step.
Published on
21 July 2022
by
Tegan George.
Revised on
15 May 2023.
Plagiarism can be a tricky subject to teach. Students may think of plagiarism as a deliberate action – e.g., copy-pasting something from Wikipedia or turning in a paper they didn’t write – but it’s important to communicate that plagiarism often occurs accidentally.
We have compiled a variety of resources targeted at educators and professionals seeking to teach high school or college students about plagiarism. These include sample lecture slides, videos, in-depth examples, quizzes, and downloadable worksheets.
A plagiarism checker uses advanced database software to scan for matches between your text and existing texts. They are used by universities to scan student assignments. There are also commercial plagiarism checkers you can use to check your own work before submitting.
Behind the scenes, plagiarism checkers crawl web content and index it, scanning your text for similarities against a database of existing content on the internet. Exact matches are highlighted using keyword analysis. Some checkers can also identify non-exact matches (paraphrasing plagiarism).
On the user end, the checker typically provides you with a plagiarism percentage, highlights the plagiarism, and lists the sources. You can get an interactive look at the Scribbr Plagiarism Checker below.
