Until you do not know how to create a perfect thesis statement and outline for your dissertation, you will certainly make some huge mistakes in it. Most researchers find it difficult to craft a good statement for their thesis. As you are here reading this post, it means you also do not know how to write a good statement and outline. Well, there is no need to worry. In today’s article, we will look at some common mistakes to avoid that will automatically make your statement and outline well. However, let’s define both terms first.
What is a Thesis Statement?
Before discussing the mistakes to avoid, let’s take review what this statement is. A thesis statement, as defined by many researchers, “is a short statement that summarises the main claim of your thesis and is developed with the help of some evidence.” This statement includes the main idea of your thesis. The main purpose of this statement is to help the readers to know:
- What topic is going to be discussed in the thesis or dissertation
- To whom does the topic concern?
- What conclusion does the topic point to?
What is a Thesis Outline?
A thesis outline is one of the first and critical phases of a thesis. Generally, an outline contains information on different sections that you intend to discuss in your thesis or dissertation. It helps to lay out the overall dissertation structure and streamline your ideas. The main purpose that it serves is that it acts as a roadmap when you start writing the thesis in actuality. Hence, this is what an outline is.
Common Mistakes to Avoid when Developing a Thesis Statement
It can take a long to master the skill of creating a good thesis statement. However, there is no need to worry because we are here for you. We will describe the common mistakes to avoid in your statement. Hence, a brief description of those is as follows:
Developing a Too-Broad Statement
Focus and precision are two essential things in the development of this statement. This is why it is unacceptable that you develop a thesis statement of several pages. Instead, keep it short and to the point. You may think that broad statements cover a large scope of the research problem. This is the biggest mistake that students make. There is no such thing. Just keep the statement focused and narrowed to one point.
Developing a Vague Statement
Clarity is the most important thing when developing a thesis statement. The reader of your statement must be able to understand what your thesis is about after looking at the statement for the first time. If the statement is vague or unclear, know that your audience is not going to read the thesis further. Hence, do not develop a vague statement. However, if you do not know what a clear statement looks like, find the best PhD dissertation help from some best writers.
The Statement is too Complicated
In order to look good, many students craft statements that are too complicated or too wordy. Developing such a statement generally confuses the readers. It also weakens the argument or claim that you are trying to make in the statement. Therefore, do not use jargon or complicated words in your thesis statement. Be simple and direct in your voice so that the reader understands what you are trying to convey.
Common Mistakes to Avoid While Developing a Thesis Outline
After reading the information above, you now know what a thesis statement is and what mistakes you need to avoid in it. Now, it is time to discuss the most common mistakes to avoid when creating a thesis outline. Hence, a brief description of the mistakes to avoid is as follows:
- Going Off Track. Do not go off track and add irrelevant things to your outline. This happens when you go deep into the research phase and include things that are totally irrelevant to the thesis statement. So, do not go off track.
- Order Of the Contents. Many students create a list that is vague and unclear. It is a huge mistake, and you realize this when you start writing the thesis. Therefore, arrange all the contents or sections in a logical order.
- Not Seeing a Template. Lastly, you must not develop the thesis statement without seeing a template. Many students make the mistake of not seeing a template and paying a heavy price. So, see a template and craft the outline accordingly.
Conclusion
To sum up, creating a thesis statement and outline is a challenging thing. However, you can overcome this challenge by learning the mistakes to avoid in their development. Some of the major mistakes to avoid are discussed above. Hence, go through them and craft both sections in the appropriate manner.
