What is a good thesis outline and how should we approach it?
The previous steps (choosing a topic, inviting a consultant, developing a research question and hypothesis) were merely preparatory, the real work now comes. In order to assess and understand the structure of our final thesis, we need a topic outline. This is a rough, rough list of everything we plan to write in the thesis. In addition, we also indicate the literature we intend to use here.
When compiling a thesis outline, it is worth writing down everything that comes to mind regarding the topic or hypothesis in a kind of "brainstorming" manner.
Of course, your university/college notes and the internet can be a good help. It is worth browsing the literature, as this can give you additional ideas for the topic outline.
to narrow or expand.
The topic outline consists of two parts: one contains the outline points of the expected table of contents,
in another, we collect the elements of the expected bibliography.
Don't be discouraged if the topic outline doesn't come together right away. We need some time to get the idea, read a little more here and there. If we feel we're really stuck, it's worth asking our advisor for help. It's also worth browsing through the requirements for thesis of our faculty/department, because there are places where they also indicate requirements related to the structural structure of the final thesis, which are worth keeping in mind when preparing the topic outline.
If the topic outline has been prepared along the lines of the planned table of contents + planned bibliography, it is advisable to organize the previously written elements according to the logic appropriate to the chosen topic. There will probably be things we will leave out and places where we will insert new elements, but in the end we will find the correct structure.
It is true that every final thesis contains:
• introductory part
• literature review
• analysis
• the part defining the purpose and hypothesis of the thesis,
• the section presenting the research and its results,
• summary section
If you have all of these in place, then we can discuss it with the consultant and then continue the work.
If you have any further questions, we are happy to help:
Kristof Molnar
Mobile: +36 30 335 9094
Email: korrepcristof@gmail.com
Website: korrepkristof.hu
