The first thing to hurdle when writing a thesis paper is choosing a topic. Next thing to do is to learn thesis format for writing. It constitutes the first rounds of discussions with a class, which can be composed of even only one student. The adviser can recommend a topic, or the student can decide for himself a topic he can handle comfortably. There will be other practical considerations in the choice of the topic – availability of sources and resources and research methods.

Considerable amount of time is spent on the selection of a topic. It is normal for a topic to be revised several times before it takes on the right tenor in the context that the professor deems appropriate, correct and relevant vis-à-vis the course or degree that the student aspires to finish or graduate from. Revisions of the topic will also be affected by the direction and results of the research.

Thesis writing format is the next concern that is tackled by the class. The style is normally preset but may change from time to time according to various factors and may be different from one college or university to another. The adviser places emphasis on the uniformity and consistency of the document. As a corollary to the formatting, the outline is also given equal importance during the discussion.

Discussions on the subject of the writing style focus particularly on margins which have to be consistent all throughout the document. The margins will only slightly differ in the title page, section separators or other similar pages. Other details that have to be observed with the thesis form are:

• • Type and size of the paper
  • Quality of printing
  • Line spacing,
  • The proper use of bold or italic fonts
  • Contents of the title page are to be followed
  • Pagination
  • Footnotes
  • Number of words in the Abstract
  • Use of photographs

It pays to follow the standards set by the college or university but the student must also be very keen about the individual personal preferences of the instructors and/or professors, as far as a paper writing style is concerned. The cover page is also a very important part of the paper, which the instructors and/or professors pay very particular attention to. They like to see their names printed on it – boldly and correctly!

In summary, although a thesis format is more on “form” than on “content”, it would be wrong to say that it is less important than the other aspects of thesis writing. Each aspect of thesis writing, from title selection to the final draft and as packaged in its final bound form, should be treated with equal importance. The same attention should be given to formatting, as it may be a crucial factor in determining the fate of one’s career. After all is researched, and catalogued, serious writing of the dissertation content begins. As the writing progresses from chapter to chapter, there will be serious editing, reviews and revisions along the way. The draft will soon find its way to the printers.

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