Difference between revisions of "Finalising your thesis"
From Sustainability Methods
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When you have arrived at this step, you can already be proud of yourself: you have written your thesis and now it only has to be revised, printed and submitted. Still, finalizing your text is an important last step that you should plan in enough time for. The following points will take you through everything you should keep in mind when revising your text and common problems to prepare for/avoid. | When you have arrived at this step, you can already be proud of yourself: you have written your thesis and now it only has to be revised, printed and submitted. Still, finalizing your text is an important last step that you should plan in enough time for. The following points will take you through everything you should keep in mind when revising your text and common problems to prepare for/avoid. | ||
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🎯 Setting focus points during text revision | 🎯 Setting focus points during text revision | ||
🎯 Solving the three common problems: technical, administrative and not letting go | 🎯 Solving the three common problems: technical, administrative and not letting go | ||
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🎯 How to check if there is a common thread and the work makes sense in itself | 🎯 How to check if there is a common thread and the work makes sense in itself | ||
🎯 Sharpening writing style and conscious use of terms | 🎯 Sharpening writing style and conscious use of terms | ||
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| + | ===TEXT REVISION=== | ||
Once the first draft of the bachelor thesis, or parts of the bachelor thesis, has been written. The next step is to revise the text. You can also revise individual parts for the first time, when you finished a chapter. In the end, however, the various parts should fit together and form a complete picture, which is why enough time should be planned for the revision. It is helpful to pay attention to three different categories: 1. '''content and structure''', 2. '''language''', 3. '''formalities'''. For some, it is helpful to go through the text several times and focus on one of the three categories at a time. However, you must decide for yourself how to work best. If you don't know exactly how you want to change certain parts of the text, it's a good idea to start by writing comments in the margin about what you want to change and revise them in a second step. Enclosed you will find questions for the different categories that will help you with the revision process. | Once the first draft of the bachelor thesis, or parts of the bachelor thesis, has been written. The next step is to revise the text. You can also revise individual parts for the first time, when you finished a chapter. In the end, however, the various parts should fit together and form a complete picture, which is why enough time should be planned for the revision. It is helpful to pay attention to three different categories: 1. '''content and structure''', 2. '''language''', 3. '''formalities'''. For some, it is helpful to go through the text several times and focus on one of the three categories at a time. However, you must decide for yourself how to work best. If you don't know exactly how you want to change certain parts of the text, it's a good idea to start by writing comments in the margin about what you want to change and revise them in a second step. Enclosed you will find questions for the different categories that will help you with the revision process. | ||
| − | + | ==1. Content and structure== | |
'''Rough structure | '''Rough structure | ||
| + | ''' | ||
| + | |||
• Overall structure: Are the structure and sequence logical in themselves? | • Overall structure: Are the structure and sequence logical in themselves? | ||
• Are the introduction and conclusion coordinated? | • Are the introduction and conclusion coordinated? | ||
• Does the paper adhere to what was announced in the introduction? | • Does the paper adhere to what was announced in the introduction? | ||
• Are the chapter headings self-explanatory? | • Are the chapter headings self-explanatory? | ||
| − | Fine structure | + | '''Fine structure''' |
• Are the major chapters, subchapters, and paragraphs logical and comprehensible in their own right? | • Are the major chapters, subchapters, and paragraphs logical and comprehensible in their own right? | ||
• Is the connection between intermediate results, results and question explicitly recognizable in each chapter? | • Is the connection between intermediate results, results and question explicitly recognizable in each chapter? | ||
Text as a system/reader guidance | Text as a system/reader guidance | ||
• Cross-references, back-references, and transitions available | • Cross-references, back-references, and transitions available | ||
| − | Relation research question | + | '''Relation research question''' |
• Do I answer my research question with the help of the paper? | • Do I answer my research question with the help of the paper? | ||
• Is the proportionality of the chapters and sections appropriate in relation to the research question? | • Is the proportionality of the chapters and sections appropriate in relation to the research question? | ||
• Is the research question clear? Is it recognizable in the entire text? | • Is the research question clear? Is it recognizable in the entire text? | ||
| − | Traceability and comprehensibility | + | '''Traceability and comprehensibility |
| + | ''' | ||
• Are there leaps of thought and what is contradictory? | • Are there leaps of thought and what is contradictory? | ||
• Where could descriptions, case studies or comparisons make the text clearer? | • Where could descriptions, case studies or comparisons make the text clearer? | ||
• Have key terms and abbreviations used in the text been defined? | • Have key terms and abbreviations used in the text been defined? | ||
| − | Completeness | + | '''Completeness''' |
• Current state of knowledge, research, state of the art considered? | • Current state of knowledge, research, state of the art considered? | ||
• Check scientificity: | • Check scientificity: | ||
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o Objectivity (different perspectives, documentation of contradictory positions, results) | o Objectivity (different perspectives, documentation of contradictory positions, results) | ||
o Relevance of the work described and substantiated | o Relevance of the work described and substantiated | ||
| − | + | ==2. Language== | |
• Reduce frequent nouns | • Reduce frequent nouns | ||
• No colloquialisms, empty phrases or filler words (e.g. of course, however...) | • No colloquialisms, empty phrases or filler words (e.g. of course, however...) | ||
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• We, I: use consciously or delete consciously | • We, I: use consciously or delete consciously | ||
• Does the style of language fit the target group? | • Does the style of language fit the target group? | ||
| − | + | ==3. Formalities== | |
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We recommend that you use the Word template from chapter 4.2. It already contains many important formal requirements, such as information on the cover page, lists of tables and figures, and the declaration of independence. Find out whether the institute where you are writing the Bachelor thesis or your supervisor has its own guidelines and adapt the template. | We recommend that you use the Word template from chapter 4.2. It already contains many important formal requirements, such as information on the cover page, lists of tables and figures, and the declaration of independence. Find out whether the institute where you are writing the Bachelor thesis or your supervisor has its own guidelines and adapt the template. | ||
| − | + | ||
| + | == COMMON PROBLEMS == | ||
When you are done and all you need to do is print and submit your work, there are some things you should consider as they can easily go wrong and some additional time should be planned in to avoid them getting in the way of meeting your deadline: | When you are done and all you need to do is print and submit your work, there are some things you should consider as they can easily go wrong and some additional time should be planned in to avoid them getting in the way of meeting your deadline: | ||
Technological Problems | Technological Problems | ||
Problems with the formatting or printing of your thesis can always occur, so plan in enough time to spend on the formatting as it can be quite tricky in Word. Ideally, spend some time researching how to format in Word before starting. You will need to convert your thesis into a pdf to print it and share it, so make sure this version is without mistakes as best as you can. Schedule the print of your thesis early enough to have some time if anything goes wrong. | Problems with the formatting or printing of your thesis can always occur, so plan in enough time to spend on the formatting as it can be quite tricky in Word. Ideally, spend some time researching how to format in Word before starting. You will need to convert your thesis into a pdf to print it and share it, so make sure this version is without mistakes as best as you can. Schedule the print of your thesis early enough to have some time if anything goes wrong. | ||
| − | Not being able to let go | + | |
| + | ===Not being able to let go=== | ||
After having spent weeks and months on your thesis, letting it go and accepting that it will never be perfect can be really hard. If you keep revising your work again and again, nothing good will come out of it, in fact it might make things worse. Try to fix any mistakes you and others find, but do not obsessively aim for perfection. This can also become a problem if you keep revising until you do not have enough time left to deal with any other problems that may come up (see above and below). Know what things are important to your supervisor and focus on those. | After having spent weeks and months on your thesis, letting it go and accepting that it will never be perfect can be really hard. If you keep revising your work again and again, nothing good will come out of it, in fact it might make things worse. Try to fix any mistakes you and others find, but do not obsessively aim for perfection. This can also become a problem if you keep revising until you do not have enough time left to deal with any other problems that may come up (see above and below). Know what things are important to your supervisor and focus on those. | ||
| − | Administrative Problems | + | |
| + | ===Administrative Problems=== | ||
Make sure that you know early on how to hand in, considering where to give paper versions. Who needs a digital version, and which other administrative steps are necessary to bring the whole thing finally to an end? Regarding administration, it is best to ask people who went through the whole process what to do when. Also, make sure the supervisors know when you hand in, and already book a defense date early with them. Ask them whether the time in between is enough for them to read your thesis. Also, make sure how you can end so that you do not need to pay tuition fees for the next semester. Planning ahead helps you also with letting go, because then you really have to let go, since your defense date is set. | Make sure that you know early on how to hand in, considering where to give paper versions. Who needs a digital version, and which other administrative steps are necessary to bring the whole thing finally to an end? Regarding administration, it is best to ask people who went through the whole process what to do when. Also, make sure the supervisors know when you hand in, and already book a defense date early with them. Ask them whether the time in between is enough for them to read your thesis. Also, make sure how you can end so that you do not need to pay tuition fees for the next semester. Planning ahead helps you also with letting go, because then you really have to let go, since your defense date is set. | ||
Never look at your thesis again after it is printed | Never look at your thesis again after it is printed | ||
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Latest revision as of 16:04, 21 April 2024
| Type | Team Size | ||||||
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| Me, Myself and I | Group Collaboration | The Academic System | Software | 1 | 2-10 | 11-30 | 30+ |
Contents
Finalising your thesis
When you have arrived at this step, you can already be proud of yourself: you have written your thesis and now it only has to be revised, printed and submitted. Still, finalizing your text is an important last step that you should plan in enough time for. The following points will take you through everything you should keep in mind when revising your text and common problems to prepare for/avoid.
🎯 Setting focus points during text revision
🎯 Solving the three common problems: technical, administrative and not letting go
🎯 How to check if there is a common thread and the work makes sense in itself
🎯 Sharpening writing style and conscious use of terms
Links & Further reading
Videos
Books
Tools
Papers
According to Chicago Style conventions
The author of this entry is Max Mustermann.
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