WASP (write a scientific paper) : how to write a scientific thesis

Abstract

The prospect of writing a thesis is considered daunting by many but the task is a requisite when embarking into reading for any academic degree. A thesis is a written document following personal research. It is performed to obtain an academic degree or qualification, both at undergraduate and postgraduate level. When writing a thesis, it is imperative that the student follows the universal well-acknowledged structure format known as “IMRAD”: i.e. Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion. A summary of the thesis, known as the ‘Abstract’ is placed at the beginning of the “IMRAD” while all references cited in the thesis are placed at the very end. The thesis format is similar to a research manuscript prepared for publication in scientific journal, but there are significant differences between the two types of academic works. For example, the liberal use of graphical aides in the form of figures and/or tables enhances the delivery of results. It is essential to ensure that all the literature referred to in the thesis is cited, while paying particular attention to potential plagiarism. When writing a thesis, the student needs to keep in mind three factors: [1] the structure, [2] the substance and [3] the style. Once the student has developed a good plan for thesis layout, then writing becomes greatly faciliated.