How to write a thesis

"Give special attention to the introduction in your thesis for two reasons. First, for your own benefit, you need to clarify what problem you attacked, how and why you chose that problem, how you attacked it, and what you learned during your studies. The rest of the thesis should then flow easily and logically from the introduction. Second, first impressions are important, and you would not want to lose your readers in a cloud of obfuscation right at the outset." (p. 229)

"Be prepared to need more time than expected to put you thesis in final form. Both in terms of the quality of the product and in terms of learning obtained that can aid in your future writing, the time is likely to be well spent... Prepare your thesis carefully, and use the experience as a chance to refine your writing skills. The resulting document and abilities will then serve you well." (p. 231)

I am trying to write a journal article from part of my Masters thesis. And found it extremely difficult. I had to drop much of the multifaceted structure to make it become directed and focused in a single direction. And also to try to find things that interest readers. It was not sufficient that I found it interesting myself. :(

"People sometimes speak of "publishing a thesis." However, theses themselves are rarely, if ever, publishable. One reason is that theses commonly are intended partly to show that the graduate student has amassed considerable knowledge and so tend to contain much material that helps demonstrate scholarship but would not interest readers. Extracting one or more publications from a thesis generally entails considerable trimming and condensation. More specifically, writing one or more scientific papers based on a thesis requires determining what in a thesis is new and of interest to others and then presenting it in appropriate format an at an appropriate level of detail... making the manuscript more readable, cohesive, and engaging." (p. 231-232)

No wonder I enjoy reading journal articles so much more than thesis. And even then I struggle to read journal articles. I sometimes do wonder whether I want to continue for long in this path of scholarship and whether it's the right one for me.

Day, R. A. & Gastel, B. How to write and publish a scientific paper. 7th ed. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood

Gratitude

God has gifted some people extraordinarily - not just with talents, but with kindness and humility.

I have been struggling to write a journal article. I am firstly confused conceptually and secondly confused methodologically.

My friend kindly went through my article with me and helped water those seeds of ideas within my vague sentences.

My gratitude to him for his kind service unto me.

For light has entered my darkness and understanding overcame my confusion.