A good thesis must follow an outline. The outline will ensure that instead of random arguments for the proposed theory, the reader will be able to follow a clear road map that takes them step-by-step through the writer’s reasoning. Summing up the paper is a paragraph known as the “summarization” or a concluding statement. This restates the initial thesis with the added benefit of having already “proved” or made a strong argument for its veracity. It is essential that all sources used in thesis writing be documented in a bibliography that is attached as an addendum to the work. Direct quotes and other “word-for-word” data inserted in any paragraph should be duly footnoted so that the reader can access the material and verify the facts.

Thesis writing is non-fiction, but can be presented in an informative manner that engages the reader, eliminating their having to endure a string of stale, dry factual data. Good thesis writing involves planning, outlining, researching and meticulous preparation.

The dissertation, be it on the ethics of premarital agreements written by an aspiring legal genius, or a medical treatise on types of treatment beneficial for a disease written by an aspiring doctor, must follow the same basic guidelines as any good research paper. By necessity, dissertation writing will take longer and require a thesis or hypothesis that warrants extensive research. Researching on this scale may often involve changes in the thesis. The dissertation’s outline will be extensive, with plenty of room for subheadings and allowing space for changes in presentation order.

Documentation of facts, footnoting and bibliography are essential. If research is involved, details conclusions of that research must be presented with documentation, as well. No single written work will affect the life of the writer as much as their dissertation. It is the mark of a person who has reached the pinnacle in an area of study.

There is a Statistical chance that the words used by some author in the past in connection with the subject matter discussed in our paper may exactly tally with a sentence or two written by us. There is no need to panic. This can happen due to limited vocabulary available to express the exact idea. It may even happen that our own previous writing on the subject may be cited by the software as pre-existing work and highlighted as duplication. In either case, the problem can be solved by citing the earlier work and giving due credit to the first author. There is also the easier option of rephrasing the sentences, clearly indicating the source of the first work.

How are we to provide the citations? There used to be a lot of confusion and unnecessary disputes on this issue. In general it is an agreed practice now that the writer will indicate or at an appropriate page, the reference convention adopted in the work. The most common practice followed is to mention the AUTHOR (by Surname), Title of the work, Name of Publisher and edition, .if there are more than one, and the year of publication. If the work cited is a collection of articles by different authors, mention the Editor(s), or the first two authors and say it all. Some real complications arise in citing information downloaded from the internet. Here, mention not only the source Web site, but also the date when down- loaded. This is because many web sites may wind up, re-name or even disappear after some time. The rest of the details, as for printed matter, will need to be given. When we cite an article that appeared in a particular issue of a regularly published Journal, the Name of the Journal, its Book Volume Number, Issue number and pages in which the quoted text appears, should follow the name of the author(s).

Even though a full fledged Annexure of references made is given with the article, it is a normal courtesy to give a footnote on the relevant page itself to avoid inconvenience to the reader.

How to write a Research Paper: Begin with the collection of existing knowledge on the topic. Read these carefully and arrive at tentative ideas for your Paper Look for gaps in information or weakness in argument. Read further or re-read what is already read. At this stage it would be helpful to access information from the Internet and check books in specialized libraries. The National Library, the Library of National Parliament (Congress in the U.S.) or of major technical Associations, Trade bodies etc. can help. Prepare your first draft.

Document all the sources of information to be relied upon. List them in an alphabetical order, and collect them in an annexure. Now give a second look at your draft. Let your senior colleague or Mentor examine it for cohesion and originality of thought. Revise, if need be. Now, hand it over to a Publisher’s Editor to proof read for grammatical errors, bad grammar, syntax etc. It is time now for the final version to be made.