How to write a good thesis and article

(This document is collected and complied from different sources.

The main source: Technical writing and professional communication : for non-
native speakers of English by Huckin and Olsen.)

1) Essentials in the Thesis/ Papers

 To demonstrate your understanding of the field/topic.

 Make an original contribution/ something new to the knowledge in your
field.
 To review the literature published in A grade journals in your area critically
and extensively.
 To identify the existing issues to be explored in the area of the gap of the
lieraure.
 To use a proper methodology to address the issues and provide a
justification of the methods used.
 To explain the models/methods used to achieve the results of the research
and hypothesis testing.
 To describe the results of the research and interpretation of these results.
 To discuss the implications of the results of the study rigorously and imply
the results in the light of major theories in your field.
 To suggest the limitations of your study and the areas for further research.
 -----------------------------

1. Abstract

 It should summarise briefly the research issue, methodology, main results

and the conclusion of the study.
 An abstract explains the main theme of the article.
 The substance of the abstract should be the centre of the article.
 It should also include the purpose statement.
 Furthermore:
 The first sentences give some background information, context, etc.
 The second sentences gives an idea about the specific topic, limitations of
the existing literature, objective of this study and methodology.
 The third sentences of the major findings of the study
 Finally, the fourth sentences should present and recommend some
conclusion.

2) Structure of the Thesis and Article

a) Introduction Of the Thesis/article
Introduction should have the following sections:
 Give of a problem statement.
 Summarise the previous research.
 Highlight the gap in the literature or the flaws in the previous
methodologies.
 Discuss the objectives/aims of the research.
Prepare for the present research. State the contributions of the
paper/thesis. State the importance of the findings and implications of the
research.
 Introduce present research – what did you do and what did you find.
 --------------------------
 The Introduction needs to be structured with sub-headings as follows.

1. Give the following sub headings:

2. Context: Raising the issues (theoretical, policy, etc.); Establishing the field of research,
context, etc – its significance
3. Existing literature and Limitations: Summarizing previous research; state its limitations;
critical review of existing literature or theories
4. Objective of this research: Preparing the present research – motivation and objective of
this research,
5. Present Research: Introducing present research; what is done in this article;
6. Contributions: contributions made by this research; what are benefits of reading this
paper to the readers.
7. Structure of the Paper:

b) Theoretical and Conceptual Framework

Give a conceptual and theoretical framework based on the theories and

models, issues, concepts, ideas, etc. of this research topic which provides the
basis, context, and foundation of this research. It can give the justifications
for the research question, theory and hypotheses development, etc.

c) Purpose Statement, Research Question and Hypothesis

Discuss the purpose of this research, what is the research question being
investigated and what are the hypotheses are being tested and established.

d) Methodology

 Shows methods and data used to do the hypothesis testing, etc.

 Explain the methods used in the study so that other researchers can
reproduce it.
 Show the criteria and justifications for the model, data collection method
and the best functional form of the variables used in the model, etc.
 Justify comprehensively the methodology used by referring it to the
methods used in previous studies.


e) Results and Discussion

 Prepare tables, graphs, etc. to report the results from your model
 Discuss the details of the results you found
 Findings in the areas of the research question and hypotheses.
 Clear explanation and generalization of the results found in the study.
 Reflection of the strength of the results in your study.
 How does your results compare with other results and findings in this area

f) Implications

 This section should explain the implication of the results of the study.
 The results of the study should be justified by relating it to the previous
research in the field.
 Importance and contribution of the research undertaken should be
highlighted.
 The discussion should be careful and thorough.
 Constructing alternate hypothesis to test the null hypothesis.
 Are the results expected and different from expectations and if different
why?
 Generalisation of the results.
 Are the results different from the literature or the results of the previous
studies?
 Discuss the need and possibility of doing the other research and study that
can be done to confirm the results.
 Do the results support or contradict the theory? Can you establish or
argue a new theory from your results?
 Do your research highlight the modification of an existence theory.
 Practical implications and application of the research of the study.

g) Conclusion

Conclusion about the research question and major findings of the research
undertaken, contributions, future work, your contribution in this paper. Make
some recommendation from your present research work. State the
importance of the findings and implications of the research.

 ---------------


3) Some General Topics

 A paper should follow the structure of a thesis discussed above, but it is in

a summary form.
 The title of the article and thesis should give an idea of the major issues
and findings.
 The headings and the sub headings should give some reflection of the
most of the information and the contents in each section.

4)Further Points
 To follow the guidelines about the paper set by the journal and by the
University for a thesis.
 Article should free of any typing, grammatical and other mistakes.
 Use of technical jargons in the paper.
 Receive the comments from the experts in the same field.
 Revise the paper following the suggestions form the referees of the paper.
 Include the suggestions form the referees and then resubmit for the
publication.
 Quality of the paper is extremely important, so publish only A grade
articles for your success and happiness.