writing a thesis in 30 days

8 Tips to Write a Thesis in 30 Days (Bonus Tip Included)

Every student wants to know how to write a thesis in a month . Before sharing the tips that I’ve used in my writing journey, we first need to ask: is it possible to write a thesis in one month, and actually finish it? The answer to this question is yes! You absolutely can write a thesis in 30 days. And you can write your thesis, from start to finish, without the emotional distress that often comes with such a monumental task. And, before you ask, no you’re not going to pay anybody to write a thesis for you. You’re going to write your thesis by yourself.

I’ve written two Masters’ theses, a PhD dissertation and a draft of a book. Here are the 8 tips that have helped me write my thesis as quickly as possible and get to the other side.

3.1 Use Grammarly: An Online Writing Assistant

My 8 tips on how to write a thesis or dissertation in a month.

Before we start, let me say that no one is born knowing how to write a thesis. My professors were not born knowing how to write a thesis and I wasn’t born knowing how to write a thesis either.

I learned how to write a thesis. It was not easy, and I struggled a lot in writing my first thesis. That’s until I discovered what I needed to do to push through and finish writing it.

I then used those lessons and applied them to my second thesis and every writing assignments since then. Writing became fun. 

In fact, I was having so much fun writing my second thesis that I took on extra writing assignments. Hence the birth of this blog.

1. Adjust Your Expectations

If you want to finish writing your thesis in a month, the first thing you need to recognize is that you don’t need to break new grounds in your thesis for your thesis to be acceptable.

If for some reason you think you need to break new grounds, then you need to quickly adjust your expectations. The point of a thesis is to demonstrate mastery of the literature and show that you’re able to competently synthesize  and present those works persuasively.

That’s all you need to do.

If you’re aiming for more, then consider these two points:

• You don’t have the advanced training or the experience yet to “contribute” to the field. It’s certainly not impossible, but that’s not what’s expected of you in your M.A thesis (and even in your PhD thesis). In fact, if you can just slightly “advance” the research, that’s considered a great accomplishment!
• You need much longer than 30 days or 3 months or even 3 years to come up with something new. Why? Because you need to read literally everything on your subject. And that’s what you’re expected to do when you’ve already finished writing your thesis, and decided to pursue an academic career.

For these two reasons, I think it’s best to view your thesis as something that reflects what you’ve been trained to do, which is to write a good thesis using the skills you already have. You are enough and you probably already have what it takes to write your thesis. So don’t be too hard on yourself. Think of this: Just like you can’t run a marathon if you’ve been training for a 5k, you also can’t “contribute to the field” when you’re still in the process of being trained on how to write a thesis. Most probably, this is your first time writing a masters degree thesis, so take it easy. (More on writing a PhD dissertation below).

So, adjust your expectations accordingly.

Now, if you are trying to write your PhD thesis in a month, let me first say that it’s almost impossible. But if you have certain circumstances (say like a serious illness), then talk to your advisor about it and see what he/she suggests.

2. Don’t Be a Perfectionist

A professor once told me, if you want to write a perfect thesis, “you will never finish writing.” And he was right. I can’t begin to tell you just how much time I wasted trying to write a flawless thesis (AHHH!). In the end, it was not worth it. I ended up procrastinating and wasting time. I wish I could have that time back. Please, don’t make the same mistake I made.

After that emotionally draining experience, I changed my approach. I strove to write something good (and not perfect). I then got feedback on my ideas from my professors and went back and made them better. Eventually, they were, in my eyes, perfect. I was happy.

If you still think you need to be a perfectionist, consider this: there’s always more you can say about your topic. There are more examples you can discuss, more evidence to support your arguments with, and there is an infinite number of ways to organize your ideas, paragraphs and chapters to eventually turn your thesis into a “masterpiece.” You literally can go on forever writing and re-writing your thesis.

If you’re tight on time and you want to finish writing your thesis in 30 days, then do yourself a favor and focus on being done . Write something that’s good enough and move on knowing that you will get back to it later. 

So stop fixing things day in and day out. The goal is to make linear progress every single day until you’re done.

Remember, a mediocre finished thesis is better than a perfect unfinished one.

3. Take the 80/20 Rule Seriously

Each writing assignment will take you as much time as you’re willing to give it.

So if you give yourself 10 hours to write what usually takes 2 hours, then you will spend 10 hours working on it.

And the opposite is true.

If you have an assignment that usually takes 10 hours to finish, and I give you 2 hours to work on it, you will probably finish it in 2 hours.

On this basis, if you want to write your thesis in 30 days, you have to decide that 30 days is all you have to finish writing it. Be firm about this deadline, and work with the aim of finishing.

To help speed up the writing process, you can benefit from using a powerful writing assistant like Grammarly . ( Disclosure : these are affiliate links which means I will receive a commission if you make a purchase using my referral links.) Please know that I only talk about services that I believe in and can stand behind. And this is one of those amazing products that can be of tremendous benefit to you if you are looking to get over writer’s block and avoid unnecessary slowdowns .

Okay, so quickly: what should you expect from Grammarly?

Grammarly can help save you a lot of time – especially when you are stuck looking for the right word, or the right way to phrase a sentence. Grammarly gives you a list of context-specific vocabulary suggestions/enhancements/corrections and allows you to make an informed decision about what’s best in your specific writing context. This makes your writing flow better and allow you to move forward at a faster rate.

Here are testimonies by students about how Grammarly has helped them with writing their thesis.

Just downloaded Grammarly for the first time and it has transformed my essays. I sound so smart! #Grammarly #Student — Lucy Jade ANutr (@lucyj_nutrition) March 2, 2019

#WhiteSmoke online editor combined with #Grammarly Chome extension..genius… Why didn't I discovered that earlier #Writing #Thesis #PhD — Quirina de Ruiter (@QuirinaDeRuiter) June 28, 2016

Here are some statistics on how Grammarly has helped students and writers get better results.

With Grammarly, you don’t have to worry about proofreading. It will do that for you. You don’t have to worry about manually checking for plagiarism , style, punctuation, and even wordiness. Grammarly can help you do all of that and will also offer explanations for the reasoning behind each correction.

You can also use Grammarly for better and more professional sounding emails – especially when you want to email your advisor and your committee. You can also use Grammarly across pretty much all of your social media platforms including twitter, facebook, linkedin and more.

In order to get access to all the tools that will help you write your thesis efficiently, I recommend their premium plan . The total cost comes out to 2 – 3 cups of cappuccinos… it’s worth it.

4. Don’t Reinvent the Wheel

Here’s a dose of realism.

As original as you would like to be in your thesis, someone has already written on your topic… and that’s a great thing!

Someone has read the same sources, summarized them and put them in their literature review. You can save yourself a whole lot of time by reading literature reviews. There, you will see exactly how they used those sources and how they might fit into your work. Consult the original sources briefly, but as much as necessary to get the main ideas out of them, and move on.

A literature review shouldn’t take you more than a week to complete if you plan to finish writing in 30 days, and that’s totally doable.

5. Complete a Quick First Draft

The fastest way to finish writing is to write quickly…duh.

What I mean by that is if you’re stuck and you can’t quite round up the paragraph or idea you’re working on, don’t dwell on it. Move on to other topics within your thesis and write them out. 

The most helpful tip that I can share with you is to force yourself to write a quick high school draft (first draft) of the entire thesis. Go all the way through until you have a completed first draft of your thesis in your hands.

This is going to be tremendously helpful for your progress because if you can see the conclusion of your thesis, you will a have better sense of which parts of your thesis need work, and which parts need to be completely cut out. 

In fact, that’s, in my opinion, the only way to know what your thesis really needs. I say this because imagine if you had spent tens of hours fixing a paragraph only to discover later on (or be told by your advisor) that you really don’t need it.

Let me tell you, it freakin sucks!

6. Journal Articles Are Your Best Friend

Journal articles are usually less than 25 pages in length and sometimes even less than 15 pages long. The best part about them: they’re succinct. You can pretty much read the abstract and you’ll know exactly what the main argument is and the strategy of the paper.

All you need to do then is to look for the evidence in the paper itself. It shouldn’t take you anything more than 3 hours to get this information out of the paper. And when you get good at this, it will take you even less than 3 hours.

Moreover, journal articles are a great way to help position your thesis within the literature on the topic, and you will have a much clearer destination when you do so.

See my post on  how to read faster .

7. Write (Your Thesis) Everywhere

If you’ve been following my blog, then you know that I champion using free time effectively.  

Plan to read or write everywhere : whether you’re waiting on a friend, waiting for the bus, or eating lunch. It will help you address what I’ve called elsewhere as the “familiarity deficit.” Read that post here . Don’t underestimate the value of that time. It will give you a much needed head-start when it’s time to sit down and work on the relevant chapter within your thesis.

The key to finishing your thesis in 30 days is to keep writing even when you don’t feel you’ve got much to say. It will come to you, just don’t give up too soon.

If you experience some mental roadblocks and you’re dealing with procrastination, then give this article a quick read to help you overcome procrastination and take action.

8. Bonus Tip – Join Online Writing Communities

Yes. Join online writing communities. They’re free and you will get a whole lot of support from people who are going through the same thing. Try Phinished . I’ve used it when I wrote my first thesis and it helped me a bunch. 

I need to caution that it is easy to spend a lot of time on Phinished reading what others have to say. You might find yourself reading page after page about the challenges others are going through: including what they’re doing to move through the process, and how far they are in their thesis writing. 

If you want to finish, then use it with the intention to finish  and not to waste more time or procrastinate.

Hope this will help you finish your thesis in 30 days!

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The 30-day thesis writing challenge: a daily plan to triumph.

Embarking on the journey of thesis writing can be a daunting task, but with the right plan and a touch of tenacity, it's a challenge that can be met with triumph. The '30-Day Thesis Writing Challenge' is designed to guide students through the process, providing daily activities and advice to ensure steady progress. From formulating a compelling thesis statement to navigating the maze of academic literature, and from mastering research methodologies to refining the final draft, this challenge offers a structured path to success. With the support of Research Rebels, students can transform anxiety into achievement, embracing the adventure of thesis writing with clarity and confidence.

Key Takeaways

• The '30-Day Thesis Writing Challenge' provides a structured daily plan to help students systematically approach their thesis writing process.
• Research Rebels offers a nurturing environment and accessible content, utilizing storytelling and real-life examples to make thesis writing engaging.
• Strategies for a strong start include identifying a research niche, crafting an engaging thesis statement, and developing a comprehensive research proposal.
• Effective literature review techniques, literature mapping tools, and synthesizing sources are essential for navigating academic literature.
• The challenge encompasses methodology mastery, writing with purpose, and preparing for submission and defense, culminating in a successful thesis journey.

Embarking on the Thesis Journey: Strategies for a Strong Start

Identifying your research niche.

As you embark on the formidable task of thesis writing, the first step is to carve out a unique niche for your research. This niche should not only reflect your academic interests but also contribute something new to your field of study. Identify gaps in the existing literature and consider how your work can fill these voids or challenge prevailing assumptions.

To pinpoint your niche, begin by exploring the following steps:

• Conduct a preliminary review of recent publications and ongoing research in your area of interest.
• Engage with academic communities, including forums, conferences, and seminars, to gauge current trends and debates.
• Reflect on your personal academic journey and areas where you've found passion or unanswered questions.

Remember, a well-defined niche will not only guide your research direction but also help you maintain focus throughout the thesis-writing process. It's essential to balance originality with feasibility, ensuring that your chosen niche is both innovative and manageable within the scope of a thesis. Utilize tools and resources, such as those offered by websites dedicated to thesis writing and academic success, to refine your niche and develop a strong foundation for your research proposal.

Crafting an Engaging Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement is the compass of your research, guiding every argument and assertion you make. It encapsulates your central argument and sets the tone for your entire thesis. To craft an engaging thesis statement, start by analyzing the core of your research question. This involves a deep dive into the subject matter, identifying gaps in existing literature, and pinpointing the unique angle you wish to explore.

Consider the following steps to refine your thesis statement:

• Identify the main point of your research and articulate it clearly.
• Tailor your statement to your intended audience, ensuring it resonates and is accessible.
• Engage in critical thinking to evaluate different perspectives and arguments.
• Revise your statement multiple times, seeking precision and conciseness.

Remember, a compelling thesis statement not only reflects your research's purpose but also serves as a promise to your readers about the scope and direction of your work. Utilize tools and resources, such as those offered by Research Rebels , to overcome any anxiety and ensure your statement is both robust and captivating. By following these steps, you will lay a solid foundation for a persuasive and meaningful academic discourse.

Developing a Comprehensive Research Proposal

A comprehensive research proposal is your roadmap for the entire thesis process, laying out the itinerary of your academic journey. Your proposal should articulate the significance and objectives of your research , providing a clear direction for your study. Essential elements include your research topic, background, and the identification of gaps that your work aims to address.

To ensure quality and performance, follow these guidelines for a robust proposal:

• Define the research aim and objectives with precision.
• Outline the research methodology, detailing the methods for data collection and analysis.
• Highlight the research's significance, explaining how it contributes to the field.

Remember, a well-crafted proposal not only guides your research but also communicates its value to others, including potential funders or academic committees. Utilize resources like Research Rebels for expert guidance and time management strategies to enhance efficiency and reduce anxiety throughout your thesis writing.

Navigating the Maze of Academic Literature

Effective literature review techniques.

Embarking on a literature review can seem daunting, but with the right techniques, you can navigate this essential phase of your thesis with confidence. Begin by defining the scope of your research to ensure that you're not overwhelmed by the vast sea of literature available. A focused approach will help you identify the most relevant studies quickly and efficiently. According to Enago Academy, it often takes an average of 15 clicks to find a single article online, highlighting the importance of a systematic search strategy.

Employ a variety of methods to synthesize the information you gather. The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) suggests methods such as frequency analysis and meta-analysis for quantitative data, and grounded theory for qualitative insights. These techniques allow you to distill the essence of your findings and integrate them into a cohesive narrative. Remember, a literature review is more than a summary; it's a critical survey of the scholarly knowledge on your topic.

To streamline your literature review process, consider using tools and platforms that facilitate research integrity and organization. Websites like Research Rebels offer resources for guidance and support, ensuring that your review is not only thorough but also adheres to the highest standards of academic rigor. As you synthesize sources, create a framework that weaves together the various strands of research into a narrative that supports your thesis statement and research objectives.

Utilizing Literature Mapping Tools

As you delve into the vast sea of academic literature, the use of literature mapping tools becomes indispensable. These tools help you visualize the connections between different research studies, making it easier to identify gaps in the literature and potential areas for further investigation. Freemind is one such tool that has gained popularity among academics for its ability to outline complex research projects effectively.

To maximize the benefits of literature mapping tools, consider the following steps:

• Begin by defining the scope of your research area.
• Use the tool to categorize and link related studies.
• Identify key themes and trends within your field.
• Highlight discrepancies or contradictions in the existing research.

Remember, a well-organized literature map can serve as a foundation for your entire thesis, guiding you through the intricate web of scholarly work. By investing time in creating a comprehensive literature map, you not only save precious time but also enhance the quality of your research. Websites and platforms dedicated to thesis writing and academic success offer a plethora of resources, including worksheets, guides, and strategies, to support you in this endeavor.

Synthesizing Sources for a Cohesive Framework

As you delve into the vast sea of academic literature, the challenge lies not only in absorbing the information but in synthesizing sources to construct a cohesive framework for your thesis. Begin by identifying the key themes and patterns that emerge from your literature review. This will serve as the foundation for integrating various perspectives into a unified argument.

To ensure a structured synthesis, consider employing a framework synthesis approach , as suggested by Sage Journals . This method allows you to organize findings from primary qualitative research into a pre-existing framework, ensuring clarity and coherence. Here's a simple list to guide you through the synthesis process:

• Identify key themes and patterns in the literature.
• Select a suitable framework for synthesis.
• Map out the connections between different sources.
• Analyze the relationships and gaps in the existing research.
• Integrate the findings to form a comprehensive argument.

Remember, the goal is to weave together the strands of research into a tapestry that supports your thesis statement. Utilize tools and resources, such as those offered by websites like Research Rebels , which provide worksheets and guides to aid in this process. Their insights can help you navigate the complexities of academic success and research with greater ease.

Methodology Mastery: Laying the Groundwork for Solid Research

Choosing the right research methodologies.

Selecting the appropriate research methodology is a pivotal step in your thesis journey. It's the blueprint that guides how you will collect, analyze, and interpret your data. Begin by understanding the nature of your research question ; is it exploratory, aiming to generate new insights, or is it confirmatory, seeking to test a hypothesis? Your answer will steer you towards a qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods approach.

Consider the feasibility of each methodology within the constraints of your resources and time. For instance, qualitative methods like interviews and focus groups provide depth but can be time-consuming. Quantitative methods, such as surveys and experiments, offer breadth and the possibility of generalization but require careful design to ensure validity. Mixed methods combine the strengths of both, allowing for a more comprehensive understanding of the research problem.

To aid in your decision-making, here's a simple list to evaluate potential methodologies:

• Relevance to the research question
• Alignment with the theoretical framework
• Accessibility of data
• Ethical considerations
• Resource availability
• Time constraints

Remember, the choice of methodology should not only align with your research objectives but also with the scholarly traditions of your field. As you navigate through the maze of options, draw on the experiences of others. For example, a study titled Towards Developing a Framework for Conducting Management ... highlights the use of design research methodology in case study research. Similarly, Research Rebels emphasize the importance of structuring your dissertation with a clear outline for success. And when planning qualitative research, it's crucial to understand the key qualities of each approach to design a study that is both rigorous and relevant.

Ethical Considerations in Data Collection

As you delve into the data collection phase of your thesis, it is imperative to prioritize ethical considerations to ensure the integrity of your research. Ethical research practices are not just a formality; they are a cornerstone of scholarly work that respects the dignity of participants and the veracity of the scientific method.

You must ensure voluntary participation and obtain informed consent, guaranteeing that participants are fully aware of the research's nature and implications. Anonymity and confidentiality are crucial to protect personal information, while the potential for harm must be minimized at all costs. It is your responsibility to communicate results transparently, upholding the trust placed in you as a researcher.

Consider the following points to navigate the moral maze of your research ethically:

• Respect for human rights and the avoidance of misinformation are paramount.
• Adherence to digital ethics, especially when collecting data through online platforms.
• Implementation of safeguards against biases, such as survivorship bias, which can skew your data and conclusions.

Remember, ethical research is not only about compliance with regulations but also about maintaining a commitment to the highest standards of research integrity.

Innovative Approaches to Data Analysis

As you delve into the world of data analysis, embracing innovation can be the key to uncovering profound insights. Boldly integrating advanced analytical tools and methodologies can transform your raw data into compelling evidence that supports your thesis. Consider the generative AI technologies like ChatGPT, which offer groundbreaking ways to generate and analyze data, ensuring your research stands at the forefront of academic innovation.

To effectively harness these innovative approaches, it's essential to understand their strengths and limitations. For instance, thematic analysis and content analysis each offer unique perspectives on qualitative data. Here's a quick comparison to guide your choice:

Remember, the goal is not just to analyze, but to synthesize your findings into a cohesive narrative. Creative data visualization techniques can aid in this, making complex data more accessible and understandable. By staying informed about the latest research methods, such as those discussed in The Practice of Innovating Research Methods , you can ensure your analysis is not only current but also methodologically sound.

Lastly, don't overlook the wealth of resources available to you. Websites offering tools for thesis writing , including planners and templates, can streamline your analysis process. They also provide valuable insights into academic success and research ethics, which are crucial components of your thesis journey.

Writing with Purpose: Techniques to Maintain Momentum

Time management strategies for thesis writers.

As you embark on the thesis-writing journey, mastering time management is crucial to balance the demands on your time and achieve your goals. Effective time management techniques like the Pomodoro Technique and task prioritization are not just about working harder, but also working smarter. By allocating specific time blocks for focused work and regular breaks, you can enhance productivity and minimize distractions, leading to a less stressful and more efficient thesis-writing process.

To become a confident academic writer , it's essential to develop a daily writing habit and set realistic goals. Here's a simple plan to help you manage your time effectively:

• Set clear daily and weekly goals to provide direction and motivation.
• Allocate time for literature review, data collection, and writing.
• Use tools like calendars and to-do lists to stay organized.
• Prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance.
• Take regular breaks to avoid burnout and maintain mental clarity.

Remember, good study habits and strategies are vital for academic success. Incorporating these time management strategies will not only make the thesis-writing experience less daunting but will also improve your understanding of the academic material. Stay disciplined, and you'll find that the thesis-writing challenge becomes a rewarding journey of personal and academic growth.

Overcoming Writer's Block with Creative Solutions

Writer's block can be a formidable adversary in your thesis writing journey. It's essential to recognize that this is a common challenge faced by many academics. Setting realistic daily word count goals can be a powerful tactic to maintain momentum and motivation. Start with a manageable target and gradually increase it as you find your rhythm.

When you're stuck, consider engaging in freewriting exercises . This technique, highlighted in the inquiry 'How I Write: An Inquiry Into the Writing Practices of Academics' , emphasizes the importance of rewriting and the 'mulling over' process. It's not just about putting words on paper; it's about refining and evolving your ideas.

Balancing writing with other responsibilities requires a structured approach. Here's a simple plan to help you manage your time effectively:

• Morning : Dedicate the first hours to writing, when your mind is fresh.
• Afternoon : Allocate time for research, meetings, and administrative tasks.
• Evening : Review and plan for the next day; celebrate small victories.

Remember, every paragraph you write is a step closer to your goal. Celebrate these small victories—they are the milestones on your path to triumph.

Incorporating Feedback and Refining Your Draft

Once you have a complete draft of your thesis, it's time to incorporate adviser feedback and refine your work. This iterative process is crucial for enhancing the quality of your thesis and ensuring that it meets academic standards. Begin by carefully considering the feedback you've received. Look for common themes in the comments and prioritize the most significant changes first. Remember, your first draft will not be what you turn into the department, so don't hesitate to make substantial revisions .

Next, create a revision plan that outlines the steps you'll take to address the feedback. This might include reorganizing sections, clarifying arguments, or strengthening your evidence. Here's a simple list to guide you through this phase:

• Review feedback and identify key areas for improvement
• Prioritize revisions based on the impact on your thesis
• Set realistic deadlines for each revision task
• Seek clarification from your adviser if needed
• Revisit your draft and make the necessary changes

As you refine your draft, keep in mind the importance of staying true to your artistic vision and the core arguments of your thesis. While peer critiques and writing workshops can offer valuable insights, they can also lead to confusion if not carefully evaluated. It's essential to balance the subjective nature of reader response with your own scholarly judgement. Finally, consider the rhetorical elements of your text and ensure that your writing is not only grammatically correct but also stylistically coherent and engaging.

Crossing the Finish Line: Preparing for Submission and Defense

Finalizing your thesis for submission.

As you approach the culmination of your research, finalizing your thesis for submission is a critical step. Ensure that your document adheres to the formatting and submission guidelines of your institution or the journal you are targeting, such as the Journal of Travel Research . This may include specific requirements for the structure, citation style, and even the type of paper to be used for printing.

Before submission, meticulously review all comments and requirements provided by reviewers and editors. For instance, you should ' Submit paper

Cut and paste all comments by each reviewer, as well any requirements indicated by the Editor in the decision email.' Addressing each substantive comment is essential for a polished and refined thesis.

Additionally, take advantage of the various tools and resources available online for thesis writing. Websites offer templates, planners, and strategies for academic success that can greatly assist in organizing and presenting your research effectively. Remember, a well-organized thesis is a testament to the hard work and dedication you have invested in your academic journey.

Effective Strategies for a Successful Defense

As you approach the culmination of your thesis journey, the defense represents a pivotal moment where you must convincingly articulate your research findings and contributions. Prepare thoroughly by anticipating potential questions and rehearsing your responses. This not only boosts your confidence but also ensures you can engage with your committee effectively.

To excel in your defense, consider the following steps:

• Familiarize yourself with your committee members' research interests and publications to predict their inquiries and align your responses.
• Organize a mock defense with peers or mentors to simulate the actual experience and receive constructive feedback.
• Restate key points with clarity and conciseness when addressing questions, demonstrating your deep understanding of the subject matter.

Remember, the goal of your defense is not only to showcase your work but also to demonstrate your critical thinking and ability to contribute to the academic conversation. Utilize resources such as worksheets, guides, and strategies from reputable websites to refine your defense techniques. Embrace this opportunity to shine and leave a lasting impression on your academic peers.

Publishing Your Thesis: Transforming it into a Scholarly Book

After the arduous journey of completing your thesis, you may consider the prospect of publishing it as a scholarly book. This transformation is not merely a matter of copying and pasting your work; it requires a thoughtful revision to fit the broader audience and standards of book publishing. Your thesis must evolve from a specialized academic requirement to a work that engages and informs a wider readership.

Begin by identifying the core message of your thesis that holds the potential to contribute significantly to your field. Then, distill your research into key themes and findings that are accessible to non-specialists. Remember, a book demands a narrative flow, so restructure your content to tell a compelling story.

Here are some steps to guide you through the process:

• Assess the marketability of your research topic.
• Seek feedback from mentors and peers on the potential of your thesis as a book.
• Revise your thesis with a focus on readability and coherence.
• Approach publishers with a strong proposal that highlights the uniqueness of your work.
• Be prepared for further revisions as per the publisher's requirements.

By following these steps, you can navigate the transition from thesis to book with greater ease. Keep in mind that the goal is to produce a work that not only reflects your academic rigor but also resonates with a broader audience . Embrace the challenge, and you may find your research reaching corners of the world you never imagined.

As you approach the pivotal moment of completing your academic journey, 'Crossing the Finish Line: Preparing for Submission and Defense' becomes your essential guide. Ensure you're fully prepared for the final hurdles by visiting our website for comprehensive resources and expert advice . Don't let the last steps be the hardest—equip yourself with the knowledge and support you need to succeed. Click the link below to access our guide and take the leap towards your academic triumph!

Embarking on the 30-Day Thesis Writing Challenge is a testament to your commitment to academic excellence and a reflection of your courage to embrace a structured approach to a daunting task. The daily plan outlined in this article is designed to be your steadfast companion, guiding you through each phase of the thesis writing process. By following this plan, you will not only enhance your writing skills but also cultivate discipline, time management, and a deeper understanding of your research topic. Remember, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and by taking this challenge, you are setting the foundation for a successful and rewarding academic endeavor. Let the principles and strategies shared here be the catalyst for your transformation into a confident, efficient, and insightful researcher. As you conclude this 30-day journey, take pride in the progress you've made and carry forward the lessons learned to all your future scholarly pursuits.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can i identify a unique research niche for my thesis.

Start by exploring existing literature in your field of interest, identify gaps or under-researched areas, and consider how your skills and interests align with these opportunities. Consult with your advisor and utilize literature mapping tools to pinpoint a niche that offers both originality and significance.

What makes a thesis statement engaging?

An engaging thesis statement clearly presents your main argument or contribution, piques the reader's interest, and sets the stage for your research. It should be specific, debatable, and reflect the significance of your study.

What are some effective literature review techniques?

Effective literature review techniques include systematic searching of databases, critical evaluation of sources, thematic organization, and synthesizing information to highlight trends, debates, and gaps in the research.

How do I choose the right research methodology for my thesis?

Consider the research question, objectives, and the nature of your data when choosing a methodology. Quantitative methods are suitable for numerical data and testing hypotheses, while qualitative methods are ideal for exploring complex phenomena in depth. Mixed methods can provide a comprehensive understanding by combining both approaches.

What strategies can help maintain momentum during thesis writing?

To maintain momentum, set clear goals and deadlines, break down the writing process into manageable tasks, establish a consistent writing routine, and seek feedback regularly. Additionally, employ techniques such as the Pomodoro Technique or writing retreats to enhance focus and productivity.

How should I prepare for my thesis defense?

Prepare for your defense by thoroughly understanding your research, anticipating potential questions, and practicing your presentation skills. Familiarize yourself with the format of the defense, seek advice from peers or advisors who have gone through the process, and review your thesis to ensure mastery of the content.

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Support and tips for thesis students

How to Write a Thesis in 30 Days

If you’ve stumbled upon this article intrigued by the idea of completing your thesis within a tight 30-day time frame, it’s important to set realistic expectations from the start. While completing an entire thesis project at the Bachelor’s or Master’s level in just 30 days may be unattainable for most students, this post aims to provide valuable insights on tackling the writing process within this time frame. Writing often proves to be the most challenging and monotonous aspect of thesis work for many students. To help you overcome this daunting task as efficiently as possible, here are some essential tips and strategies.

Embrace Imperfection and Start Writing

The first step towards completing your thesis within 30 days is to let go of the pursuit of perfection and simply start writing. Don’t worry about the readability or correctness of your initial drafts. The key is to get your ideas on paper and establish a foundation to work from. Remember, you’ll have ample time for editing and refining later.

Create a Detailed Outline

Before diving into the actual writing, invest time in creating a comprehensive outline for your thesis. Outline each chapter, section, and subsection, and define the key points you aim to address. This structured approach will serve as a roadmap, ensuring that you stay focused and organized throughout the writing process. A well-structured outline will also facilitate smoother transitions between ideas, resulting in a more coherent and polished final document.

Edit in Iterative Rounds

Understand that the writing process involves iterative rounds of editing. Instead of obsessing over perfection during the first draft, focus on capturing your thoughts and ideas. Once you have a complete draft, go back and edit sections that require improvement. Repeat this process several times, gradually refining your content with each round. By breaking it down into manageable steps, you’ll make steady progress toward a polished final document.

Avoid Over-Editing

While editing is crucial, it’s important to avoid falling into the trap of over-editing. At a certain point, making small changes may not significantly enhance the quality of your text. Instead, trust in your initial ideas and focus on refining the overall structure, clarity, and coherence. Strive for a balance between achieving a high standard and recognizing when further editing may yield diminishing returns.

Use the Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique provides a straightforward method to increase productivity by acknowledging the brain’s limited attention span and its need for periodic rest. By breaking your work into shorter time-frames with regular breaks, you can maintain high energy levels and optimize your focus on tasks. In essence, you work for 25 minutes, followed by a 5-minute break, repeating this cycle 3 or 4 times. Subsequently, you can take a more extended 15-minute break. Additional information on implementing this technique can be found here , offering further guidance and insights.

Use Grammarly

When aiming to write a thesis within a 30-day time-frame, Grammarly can be a game-changer. Grammarly is an advanced online writing assistant that offers grammar, spelling, and punctuation checks, as well as suggestions for improving clarity, style, and conciseness. By integrating Grammarly into your writing process, you can ensure that your thesis is free from grammatical errors and typos, enhancing its overall quality. Grammarly’s real-time feedback helps you maintain a consistent writing style and effectively communicate your ideas. With its plagiarism detection feature, you can confidently produce original content for your thesis. Embrace Grammarly as your virtual writing companion and unleash its power to help you write a polished and error-free thesis within the given 30-day timeframe.

Use a Reference Manager

When aiming to write a thesis in 30 days, using a reference manager becomes an invaluable asset. A reference manager empowers researchers and academics to efficiently organize, cite, and manage their references. With this tool, you can store, retrieve, and categorize bibliographic information and PDFs of articles or books in a centralized database. By automating the generation of citations and bibliographies in various styles, a reference manager streamlines the writing process. This time-saving solution allows you to focus on the core aspects of your thesis while ensuring accurate and consistent referencing. With its advanced features like keyword tagging, note-taking, and collaboration capabilities, a reference manager provides a seamless experience for organizing and collaborating with peers. Streamline your thesis writing journey and stay on track by harnessing the power of a reference manager. More information on using reference managers can be found in this post .

While the task of writing a complete thesis within 30 days may be a daunting task, by focusing and implementing efficient strategies you can make significant progress in limited time. Remember to embrace imperfection, create a detailed outline, prioritize writing over editing, and use tools that can boost your productivity. By following these tips, you’ll be well underway to produce a well-written thesis within 30 days.

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How To Write A Dissertation Or Thesis

8 straightforward steps to craft an a-grade dissertation.

By: Derek Jansen (MBA) Expert Reviewed By: Dr Eunice Rautenbach | June 2020

Writing a dissertation or thesis is not a simple task. It takes time, energy and a lot of will power to get you across the finish line. It’s not easy – but it doesn’t necessarily need to be a painful process. If you understand the big-picture process of how to write a dissertation or thesis, your research journey will be a lot smoother.  

In this post, I’m going to outline the big-picture process of how to write a high-quality dissertation or thesis, without losing your mind along the way. If you’re just starting your research, this post is perfect for you. Alternatively, if you’ve already submitted your proposal, this article which covers how to structure a dissertation might be more helpful.

How To Write A Dissertation: 8 Steps

• Clearly understand what a dissertation (or thesis) is
• Find a unique and valuable research topic
• Craft a convincing research proposal
• Write up a strong introduction chapter
• Review the existing literature and compile a literature review
• Design a rigorous research strategy and undertake your own research
• Present the findings of your research
• Draw a conclusion and discuss the implications

Step 1: Understand exactly what a dissertation is

This probably sounds like a no-brainer, but all too often, students come to us for help with their research and the underlying issue is that they don’t fully understand what a dissertation (or thesis) actually is.

So, what is a dissertation?

At its simplest, a dissertation or thesis is a formal piece of research , reflecting the standard research process . But what is the standard research process, you ask? The research process involves 4 key steps:

• Ask a very specific, well-articulated question (s) (your research topic)
• See what other researchers have said about it (if they’ve already answered it)
• If they haven’t answered it adequately, undertake your own data collection and analysis in a scientifically rigorous fashion
• Answer your original question(s), based on your analysis findings

In short, the research process is simply about asking and answering questions in a systematic fashion . This probably sounds pretty obvious, but people often think they’ve done “research”, when in fact what they have done is:

• Started with a vague, poorly articulated question
• Not taken the time to see what research has already been done regarding the question
• Collected data and opinions that support their gut and undertaken a flimsy analysis
• Drawn a shaky conclusion, based on that analysis

If you want to see the perfect example of this in action, look out for the next Facebook post where someone claims they’ve done “research”… All too often, people consider reading a few blog posts to constitute research. Its no surprise then that what they end up with is an opinion piece, not research. Okay, okay – I’ll climb off my soapbox now.

The key takeaway here is that a dissertation (or thesis) is a formal piece of research, reflecting the research process. It’s not an opinion piece , nor a place to push your agenda or try to convince someone of your position. Writing a good dissertation involves asking a question and taking a systematic, rigorous approach to answering it.

If you understand this and are comfortable leaving your opinions or preconceived ideas at the door, you’re already off to a good start!

Step 2: Find a unique, valuable research topic

As we saw, the first step of the research process is to ask a specific, well-articulated question. In other words, you need to find a research topic that asks a specific question or set of questions (these are called research questions ). Sounds easy enough, right? All you’ve got to do is identify a question or two and you’ve got a winning research topic. Well, not quite…

A good dissertation or thesis topic has a few important attributes. Specifically, a solid research topic should be:

Let’s take a closer look at these:

Attribute #1: Clear

Your research topic needs to be crystal clear about what you’re planning to research, what you want to know, and within what context. There shouldn’t be any ambiguity or vagueness about what you’ll research.

Here’s an example of a clearly articulated research topic:

An analysis of consumer-based factors influencing organisational trust in British low-cost online equity brokerage firms.

As you can see in the example, its crystal clear what will be analysed (factors impacting organisational trust), amongst who (consumers) and in what context (British low-cost equity brokerage firms, based online).

Need a helping hand?

Attribute #2:   Unique

Your research should be asking a question(s) that hasn’t been asked before, or that hasn’t been asked in a specific context (for example, in a specific country or industry).

For example, sticking organisational trust topic above, it’s quite likely that organisational trust factors in the UK have been investigated before, but the context (online low-cost equity brokerages) could make this research unique. Therefore, the context makes this research original.

One caveat when using context as the basis for originality – you need to have a good reason to suspect that your findings in this context might be different from the existing research – otherwise, there’s no reason to warrant researching it.

Attribute #3: Important

Simply asking a unique or original question is not enough – the question needs to create value. In other words, successfully answering your research questions should provide some value to the field of research or the industry. You can’t research something just to satisfy your curiosity. It needs to make some form of contribution either to research or industry.

For example, researching the factors influencing consumer trust would create value by enabling businesses to tailor their operations and marketing to leverage factors that promote trust. In other words, it would have a clear benefit to industry.

So, how do you go about finding a unique and valuable research topic? We explain that in detail in this video post – How To Find A Research Topic . Yeah, we’ve got you covered 😊

Step 3: Write a convincing research proposal

Once you’ve pinned down a high-quality research topic, the next step is to convince your university to let you research it. No matter how awesome you think your topic is, it still needs to get the rubber stamp before you can move forward with your research. The research proposal is the tool you’ll use for this job.

So, what’s in a research proposal?

The main “job” of a research proposal is to convince your university, advisor or committee that your research topic is worthy of approval. But convince them of what? Well, this varies from university to university, but generally, they want to see that:

• You have a clearly articulated, unique and important topic (this might sound familiar…)
• You’ve done some initial reading of the existing literature relevant to your topic (i.e. a literature review)
• You have a provisional plan in terms of how you will collect data and analyse it (i.e. a methodology)

At the proposal stage, it’s (generally) not expected that you’ve extensively reviewed the existing literature , but you will need to show that you’ve done enough reading to identify a clear gap for original (unique) research. Similarly, they generally don’t expect that you have a rock-solid research methodology mapped out, but you should have an idea of whether you’ll be undertaking qualitative or quantitative analysis , and how you’ll collect your data (we’ll discuss this in more detail later).

Long story short – don’t stress about having every detail of your research meticulously thought out at the proposal stage – this will develop as you progress through your research. However, you do need to show that you’ve “done your homework” and that your research is worthy of approval .

So, how do you go about crafting a high-quality, convincing proposal? We cover that in detail in this video post – How To Write A Top-Class Research Proposal . We’ve also got a video walkthrough of two proposal examples here .

Step 4: Craft a strong introduction chapter

Once your proposal’s been approved, its time to get writing your actual dissertation or thesis! The good news is that if you put the time into crafting a high-quality proposal, you’ve already got a head start on your first three chapters – introduction, literature review and methodology – as you can use your proposal as the basis for these.

Handy sidenote – our free dissertation & thesis template is a great way to speed up your dissertation writing journey.

What’s the introduction chapter all about?

The purpose of the introduction chapter is to set the scene for your research (dare I say, to introduce it…) so that the reader understands what you’ll be researching and why it’s important. In other words, it covers the same ground as the research proposal in that it justifies your research topic.

What goes into the introduction chapter?

This can vary slightly between universities and degrees, but generally, the introduction chapter will include the following:

• A brief background to the study, explaining the overall area of research
• A problem statement , explaining what the problem is with the current state of research (in other words, where the knowledge gap exists)
• Your research questions – in other words, the specific questions your study will seek to answer (based on the knowledge gap)
• The significance of your study – in other words, why it’s important and how its findings will be useful in the world

As you can see, this all about explaining the “what” and the “why” of your research (as opposed to the “how”). So, your introduction chapter is basically the salesman of your study, “selling” your research to the first-time reader and (hopefully) getting them interested to read more.

How do I write the introduction chapter, you ask? We cover that in detail in this post .

Step 5: Undertake an in-depth literature review

As I mentioned earlier, you’ll need to do some initial review of the literature in Steps 2 and 3 to find your research gap and craft a convincing research proposal – but that’s just scratching the surface. Once you reach the literature review stage of your dissertation or thesis, you need to dig a lot deeper into the existing research and write up a comprehensive literature review chapter.

What’s the literature review all about?

There are two main stages in the literature review process:

Literature Review Step 1: Reading up

The first stage is for you to deep dive into the existing literature (journal articles, textbook chapters, industry reports, etc) to gain an in-depth understanding of the current state of research regarding your topic. While you don’t need to read every single article, you do need to ensure that you cover all literature that is related to your core research questions, and create a comprehensive catalogue of that literature , which you’ll use in the next step.

Reading and digesting all the relevant literature is a time consuming and intellectually demanding process. Many students underestimate just how much work goes into this step, so make sure that you allocate a good amount of time for this when planning out your research. Thankfully, there are ways to fast track the process – be sure to check out this article covering how to read journal articles quickly .

Literature Review Step 2: Writing up

Once you’ve worked through the literature and digested it all, you’ll need to write up your literature review chapter. Many students make the mistake of thinking that the literature review chapter is simply a summary of what other researchers have said. While this is partly true, a literature review is much more than just a summary. To pull off a good literature review chapter, you’ll need to achieve at least 3 things:

• You need to synthesise the existing research , not just summarise it. In other words, you need to show how different pieces of theory fit together, what’s agreed on by researchers, what’s not.
• You need to highlight a research gap that your research is going to fill. In other words, you’ve got to outline the problem so that your research topic can provide a solution.
• You need to use the existing research to inform your methodology and approach to your own research design. For example, you might use questions or Likert scales from previous studies in your your own survey design .

As you can see, a good literature review is more than just a summary of the published research. It’s the foundation on which your own research is built, so it deserves a lot of love and attention. Take the time to craft a comprehensive literature review with a suitable structure .

But, how do I actually write the literature review chapter, you ask? We cover that in detail in this video post .

Step 6: Carry out your own research

Once you’ve completed your literature review and have a sound understanding of the existing research, its time to develop your own research (finally!). You’ll design this research specifically so that you can find the answers to your unique research question.

There are two steps here – designing your research strategy and executing on it:

1 – Design your research strategy

The first step is to design your research strategy and craft a methodology chapter . I won’t get into the technicalities of the methodology chapter here, but in simple terms, this chapter is about explaining the “how” of your research. If you recall, the introduction and literature review chapters discussed the “what” and the “why”, so it makes sense that the next point to cover is the “how” –that’s what the methodology chapter is all about.

In this section, you’ll need to make firm decisions about your research design. This includes things like:

• Your research philosophy (e.g. positivism or interpretivism )
• Your overall methodology (e.g. qualitative , quantitative or mixed methods)
• Your data collection strategy (e.g. interviews , focus groups, surveys)
• Your data analysis strategy (e.g. content analysis , correlation analysis, regression)

If these words have got your head spinning, don’t worry! We’ll explain these in plain language in other posts. It’s not essential that you understand the intricacies of research design (yet!). The key takeaway here is that you’ll need to make decisions about how you’ll design your own research, and you’ll need to describe (and justify) your decisions in your methodology chapter.

2 – Execute: Collect and analyse your data

Once you’ve worked out your research design, you’ll put it into action and start collecting your data. This might mean undertaking interviews, hosting an online survey or any other data collection method. Data collection can take quite a bit of time (especially if you host in-person interviews), so be sure to factor sufficient time into your project plan for this. Oftentimes, things don’t go 100% to plan (for example, you don’t get as many survey responses as you hoped for), so bake a little extra time into your budget here.

Once you’ve collected your data, you’ll need to do some data preparation before you can sink your teeth into the analysis. For example:

• If you carry out interviews or focus groups, you’ll need to transcribe your audio data to text (i.e. a Word document).
• If you collect quantitative survey data, you’ll need to clean up your data and get it into the right format for whichever analysis software you use (for example, SPSS, R or STATA).

Once you’ve completed your data prep, you’ll undertake your analysis, using the techniques that you described in your methodology. Depending on what you find in your analysis, you might also do some additional forms of analysis that you hadn’t planned for. For example, you might see something in the data that raises new questions or that requires clarification with further analysis.

The type(s) of analysis that you’ll use depend entirely on the nature of your research and your research questions. For example:

• If your research if exploratory in nature, you’ll often use qualitative analysis techniques .
• If your research is confirmatory in nature, you’ll often use quantitative analysis techniques
• If your research involves a mix of both, you might use a mixed methods approach

Again, if these words have got your head spinning, don’t worry! We’ll explain these concepts and techniques in other posts. The key takeaway is simply that there’s no “one size fits all” for research design and methodology – it all depends on your topic, your research questions and your data. So, don’t be surprised if your study colleagues take a completely different approach to yours.

Step 7: Present your findings

Once you’ve completed your analysis, it’s time to present your findings (finally!). In a dissertation or thesis, you’ll typically present your findings in two chapters – the results chapter and the discussion chapter .

What’s the difference between the results chapter and the discussion chapter?

While these two chapters are similar, the results chapter generally just presents the processed data neatly and clearly without interpretation, while the discussion chapter explains the story the data are telling  – in other words, it provides your interpretation of the results.

For example, if you were researching the factors that influence consumer trust, you might have used a quantitative approach to identify the relationship between potential factors (e.g. perceived integrity and competence of the organisation) and consumer trust. In this case:

• Your results chapter would just present the results of the statistical tests. For example, correlation results or differences between groups. In other words, the processed numbers.
• Your discussion chapter would explain what the numbers mean in relation to your research question(s). For example, Factor 1 has a weak relationship with consumer trust, while Factor 2 has a strong relationship.

Depending on the university and degree, these two chapters (results and discussion) are sometimes merged into one , so be sure to check with your institution what their preference is. Regardless of the chapter structure, this section is about presenting the findings of your research in a clear, easy to understand fashion.

Importantly, your discussion here needs to link back to your research questions (which you outlined in the introduction or literature review chapter). In other words, it needs to answer the key questions you asked (or at least attempt to answer them).

For example, if we look at the sample research topic:

In this case, the discussion section would clearly outline which factors seem to have a noteworthy influence on organisational trust. By doing so, they are answering the overarching question and fulfilling the purpose of the research .

For more information about the results chapter , check out this post for qualitative studies and this post for quantitative studies .

Step 8: The Final Step Draw a conclusion and discuss the implications

Last but not least, you’ll need to wrap up your research with the conclusion chapter . In this chapter, you’ll bring your research full circle by highlighting the key findings of your study and explaining what the implications of these findings are.

What exactly are key findings? The key findings are those findings which directly relate to your original research questions and overall research objectives (which you discussed in your introduction chapter). The implications, on the other hand, explain what your findings mean for industry, or for research in your area.

Sticking with the consumer trust topic example, the conclusion might look something like this:

Key findings

This study set out to identify which factors influence consumer-based trust in British low-cost online equity brokerage firms. The results suggest that the following factors have a large impact on consumer trust:

While the following factors have a very limited impact on consumer trust:

Notably, within the 25-30 age groups, Factors E had a noticeably larger impact, which may be explained by…

Implications

The findings having noteworthy implications for British low-cost online equity brokers. Specifically:

The large impact of Factors X and Y implies that brokers need to consider….

The limited impact of Factor E implies that brokers need to…

As you can see, the conclusion chapter is basically explaining the “what” (what your study found) and the “so what?” (what the findings mean for the industry or research). This brings the study full circle and closes off the document.

Let’s recap – how to write a dissertation or thesis

You’re still with me? Impressive! I know that this post was a long one, but hopefully you’ve learnt a thing or two about how to write a dissertation or thesis, and are now better equipped to start your own research.

To recap, the 8 steps to writing a quality dissertation (or thesis) are as follows:

• Understand what a dissertation (or thesis) is – a research project that follows the research process.
• Find a unique (original) and important research topic
• Craft a convincing dissertation or thesis research proposal
• Write a clear, compelling introduction chapter
• Undertake a thorough review of the existing research and write up a literature review
• Undertake your own research
• Present and interpret your findings

Once you’ve wrapped up the core chapters, all that’s typically left is the abstract , reference list and appendices. As always, be sure to check with your university if they have any additional requirements in terms of structure or content.  

Psst... there’s more!

This post was based on one of our popular Research Bootcamps . If you're working on a research project, you'll definitely want to check this out ...

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20 Comments

thankfull >>>this is very useful

Thank you, it was really helpful

unquestionably, this amazing simplified way of teaching. Really , I couldn’t find in the literature words that fully explicit my great thanks to you. However, I could only say thanks a-lot.

Great to hear that – thanks for the feedback. Good luck writing your dissertation/thesis.

This is the most comprehensive explanation of how to write a dissertation. Many thanks for sharing it free of charge.

Very rich presentation. Thank you

Thanks Derek Jansen|GRADCOACH, I find it very useful guide to arrange my activities and proceed to research!

Thank you so much for such a marvelous teaching .I am so convinced that am going to write a comprehensive and a distinct masters dissertation

It is an amazing comprehensive explanation

This was straightforward. Thank you!

I can say that your explanations are simple and enlightening – understanding what you have done here is easy for me. Could you write more about the different types of research methods specific to the three methodologies: quan, qual and MM. I look forward to interacting with this website more in the future.

Thanks for the feedback and suggestions 🙂

Hello, your write ups is quite educative. However, l have challenges in going about my research questions which is below; *Building the enablers of organisational growth through effective governance and purposeful leadership.*

Very educating.

Just listening to the name of the dissertation makes the student nervous. As writing a top-quality dissertation is a difficult task as it is a lengthy topic, requires a lot of research and understanding and is usually around 10,000 to 15000 words. Sometimes due to studies, unbalanced workload or lack of research and writing skill students look for dissertation submission from professional writers.

Thank you 💕😊 very much. I was confused but your comprehensive explanation has cleared my doubts of ever presenting a good thesis. Thank you.

thank you so much, that was so useful

Hi. Where is the excel spread sheet ark?

could you please help me look at your thesis paper to enable me to do the portion that has to do with the specification

my topic is “the impact of domestic revenue mobilization.

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While Sandel argues that pursuing perfection through genetic engineering would decrease our sense of humility, he claims that the sense of solidarity we would lose is also important.

This thesis summarizes several points in Sandel’s argument, but it does not make a claim about how we should understand his argument. A reader who read Sandel’s argument would not also need to read an essay based on this descriptive thesis.  

Broad thesis (arguable, but difficult to support with evidence) 

Michael Sandel’s arguments about genetic engineering do not take into consideration all the relevant issues.

This is an arguable claim because it would be possible to argue against it by saying that Michael Sandel’s arguments do take all of the relevant issues into consideration. But the claim is too broad. Because the thesis does not specify which “issues” it is focused on—or why it matters if they are considered—readers won’t know what the rest of the essay will argue, and the writer won’t know what to focus on. If there is a particular issue that Sandel does not address, then a more specific version of the thesis would include that issue—hand an explanation of why it is important.  

Arguable thesis with analytical claim 

While Sandel argues persuasively that our instinct to “remake” (54) ourselves into something ever more perfect is a problem, his belief that we can always draw a line between what is medically necessary and what makes us simply “better than well” (51) is less convincing.

This is an arguable analytical claim. To argue for this claim, the essay writer will need to show how evidence from the article itself points to this interpretation. It’s also a reasonable scope for a thesis because it can be supported with evidence available in the text and is neither too broad nor too narrow.  

Arguable thesis with normative claim 

Given Sandel’s argument against genetic enhancement, we should not allow parents to decide on using Human Growth Hormone for their children.

This thesis tells us what we should do about a particular issue discussed in Sandel’s article, but it does not tell us how we should understand Sandel’s argument.  

Questions to ask about your thesis 

• Is the thesis truly arguable? Does it speak to a genuine dilemma in the source, or would most readers automatically agree with it?  
• Is the thesis too obvious? Again, would most or all readers agree with it without needing to see your argument?  
• Is the thesis complex enough to require a whole essay's worth of argument?  
• Is the thesis supportable with evidence from the text rather than with generalizations or outside research?  
• Would anyone want to read a paper in which this thesis was developed? That is, can you explain what this paper is adding to our understanding of a problem, question, or topic?
• picture_as_pdf Thesis

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How to Write a Strong Thesis Statement: 4 Steps + Examples

What’s Covered:

What is the purpose of a thesis statement, writing a good thesis statement: 4 steps, common pitfalls to avoid, where to get your essay edited for free.

When you set out to write an essay, there has to be some kind of point to it, right? Otherwise, your essay would just be a big jumble of word salad that makes absolutely no sense. An essay needs a central point that ties into everything else. That main point is called a thesis statement, and it’s the core of any essay or research paper.

You may hear about Master degree candidates writing a thesis, and that is an entire paper–not to be confused with the thesis statement, which is typically one sentence that contains your paper’s focus. 

Read on to learn more about thesis statements and how to write them. We’ve also included some solid examples for you to reference.

Typically the last sentence of your introductory paragraph, the thesis statement serves as the roadmap for your essay. When your reader gets to the thesis statement, they should have a clear outline of your main point, as well as the information you’ll be presenting in order to either prove or support your point. 

The thesis statement should not be confused for a topic sentence , which is the first sentence of every paragraph in your essay. If you need help writing topic sentences, numerous resources are available. Topic sentences should go along with your thesis statement, though.

Since the thesis statement is the most important sentence of your entire essay or paper, it’s imperative that you get this part right. Otherwise, your paper will not have a good flow and will seem disjointed. That’s why it’s vital not to rush through developing one. It’s a methodical process with steps that you need to follow in order to create the best thesis statement possible.

Step 1: Decide what kind of paper you’re writing

When you’re assigned an essay, there are several different types you may get. Argumentative essays are designed to get the reader to agree with you on a topic. Informative or expository essays present information to the reader. Analytical essays offer up a point and then expand on it by analyzing relevant information. Thesis statements can look and sound different based on the type of paper you’re writing. For example:

• Argumentative: The United States needs a viable third political party to decrease bipartisanship, increase options, and help reduce corruption in government.
• Informative: The Libertarian party has thrown off elections before by gaining enough support in states to get on the ballot and by taking away crucial votes from candidates.
• Analytical: An analysis of past presidential elections shows that while third party votes may have been the minority, they did affect the outcome of the elections in 2020, 2016, and beyond.

Step 2: Figure out what point you want to make

Once you know what type of paper you’re writing, you then need to figure out the point you want to make with your thesis statement, and subsequently, your paper. In other words, you need to decide to answer a question about something, such as:

• What impact did reality TV have on American society?
• How has the musical Hamilton affected perception of American history?
• Why do I want to major in [chosen major here]?

If you have an argumentative essay, then you will be writing about an opinion. To make it easier, you may want to choose an opinion that you feel passionate about so that you’re writing about something that interests you. For example, if you have an interest in preserving the environment, you may want to choose a topic that relates to that. 

If you’re writing your college essay and they ask why you want to attend that school, you may want to have a main point and back it up with information, something along the lines of:

“Attending Harvard University would benefit me both academically and professionally, as it would give me a strong knowledge base upon which to build my career, develop my network, and hopefully give me an advantage in my chosen field.”

Step 3: Determine what information you’ll use to back up your point

Once you have the point you want to make, you need to figure out how you plan to back it up throughout the rest of your essay. Without this information, it will be hard to either prove or argue the main point of your thesis statement. If you decide to write about the Hamilton example, you may decide to address any falsehoods that the writer put into the musical, such as:

“The musical Hamilton, while accurate in many ways, leaves out key parts of American history, presents a nationalist view of founding fathers, and downplays the racism of the times.”

Once you’ve written your initial working thesis statement, you’ll then need to get information to back that up. For example, the musical completely leaves out Benjamin Franklin, portrays the founding fathers in a nationalist way that is too complimentary, and shows Hamilton as a staunch abolitionist despite the fact that his family likely did own slaves. 

Step 4: Revise and refine your thesis statement before you start writing

Read through your thesis statement several times before you begin to compose your full essay. You need to make sure the statement is ironclad, since it is the foundation of the entire paper. Edit it or have a peer review it for you to make sure everything makes sense and that you feel like you can truly write a paper on the topic. Once you’ve done that, you can then begin writing your paper.

When writing a thesis statement, there are some common pitfalls you should avoid so that your paper can be as solid as possible. Make sure you always edit the thesis statement before you do anything else. You also want to ensure that the thesis statement is clear and concise. Don’t make your reader hunt for your point. Finally, put your thesis statement at the end of the first paragraph and have your introduction flow toward that statement. Your reader will expect to find your statement in its traditional spot.

If you’re having trouble getting started, or need some guidance on your essay, there are tools available that can help you. CollegeVine offers a free peer essay review tool where one of your peers can read through your essay and provide you with valuable feedback. Getting essay feedback from a peer can help you wow your instructor or college admissions officer with an impactful essay that effectively illustrates your point.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Thesis Statements

What this handout is about.

This handout describes what a thesis statement is, how thesis statements work in your writing, and how you can craft or refine one for your draft.

Introduction

Writing in college often takes the form of persuasion—convincing others that you have an interesting, logical point of view on the subject you are studying. Persuasion is a skill you practice regularly in your daily life. You persuade your roommate to clean up, your parents to let you borrow the car, your friend to vote for your favorite candidate or policy. In college, course assignments often ask you to make a persuasive case in writing. You are asked to convince your reader of your point of view. This form of persuasion, often called academic argument, follows a predictable pattern in writing. After a brief introduction of your topic, you state your point of view on the topic directly and often in one sentence. This sentence is the thesis statement, and it serves as a summary of the argument you’ll make in the rest of your paper.

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement:

• tells the reader how you will interpret the significance of the subject matter under discussion.
• is a road map for the paper; in other words, it tells the reader what to expect from the rest of the paper.
• directly answers the question asked of you. A thesis is an interpretation of a question or subject, not the subject itself. The subject, or topic, of an essay might be World War II or Moby Dick; a thesis must then offer a way to understand the war or the novel.
• makes a claim that others might dispute.
• is usually a single sentence near the beginning of your paper (most often, at the end of the first paragraph) that presents your argument to the reader. The rest of the paper, the body of the essay, gathers and organizes evidence that will persuade the reader of the logic of your interpretation.

If your assignment asks you to take a position or develop a claim about a subject, you may need to convey that position or claim in a thesis statement near the beginning of your draft. The assignment may not explicitly state that you need a thesis statement because your instructor may assume you will include one. When in doubt, ask your instructor if the assignment requires a thesis statement. When an assignment asks you to analyze, to interpret, to compare and contrast, to demonstrate cause and effect, or to take a stand on an issue, it is likely that you are being asked to develop a thesis and to support it persuasively. (Check out our handout on understanding assignments for more information.)

How do I create a thesis?

A thesis is the result of a lengthy thinking process. Formulating a thesis is not the first thing you do after reading an essay assignment. Before you develop an argument on any topic, you have to collect and organize evidence, look for possible relationships between known facts (such as surprising contrasts or similarities), and think about the significance of these relationships. Once you do this thinking, you will probably have a “working thesis” that presents a basic or main idea and an argument that you think you can support with evidence. Both the argument and your thesis are likely to need adjustment along the way.

Writers use all kinds of techniques to stimulate their thinking and to help them clarify relationships or comprehend the broader significance of a topic and arrive at a thesis statement. For more ideas on how to get started, see our handout on brainstorming .

How do I know if my thesis is strong?

If there’s time, run it by your instructor or make an appointment at the Writing Center to get some feedback. Even if you do not have time to get advice elsewhere, you can do some thesis evaluation of your own. When reviewing your first draft and its working thesis, ask yourself the following :

• Do I answer the question? Re-reading the question prompt after constructing a working thesis can help you fix an argument that misses the focus of the question. If the prompt isn’t phrased as a question, try to rephrase it. For example, “Discuss the effect of X on Y” can be rephrased as “What is the effect of X on Y?”
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? If your thesis simply states facts that no one would, or even could, disagree with, it’s possible that you are simply providing a summary, rather than making an argument.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? Thesis statements that are too vague often do not have a strong argument. If your thesis contains words like “good” or “successful,” see if you could be more specific: why is something “good”; what specifically makes something “successful”?
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? If a reader’s first response is likely to  be “So what?” then you need to clarify, to forge a relationship, or to connect to a larger issue.
• Does my essay support my thesis specifically and without wandering? If your thesis and the body of your essay do not seem to go together, one of them has to change. It’s okay to change your working thesis to reflect things you have figured out in the course of writing your paper. Remember, always reassess and revise your writing as necessary.
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? If a reader’s first response is “how?” or “why?” your thesis may be too open-ended and lack guidance for the reader. See what you can add to give the reader a better take on your position right from the beginning.

Suppose you are taking a course on contemporary communication, and the instructor hands out the following essay assignment: “Discuss the impact of social media on public awareness.” Looking back at your notes, you might start with this working thesis:

Social media impacts public awareness in both positive and negative ways.

You can use the questions above to help you revise this general statement into a stronger thesis.

• Do I answer the question? You can analyze this if you rephrase “discuss the impact” as “what is the impact?” This way, you can see that you’ve answered the question only very generally with the vague “positive and negative ways.”
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Not likely. Only people who maintain that social media has a solely positive or solely negative impact could disagree.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? No. What are the positive effects? What are the negative effects?
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? No. Why are they positive? How are they positive? What are their causes? Why are they negative? How are they negative? What are their causes?
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? No. Why should anyone care about the positive and/or negative impact of social media?

After thinking about your answers to these questions, you decide to focus on the one impact you feel strongly about and have strong evidence for:

Because not every voice on social media is reliable, people have become much more critical consumers of information, and thus, more informed voters.

This version is a much stronger thesis! It answers the question, takes a specific position that others can challenge, and it gives a sense of why it matters.

Let’s try another. Suppose your literature professor hands out the following assignment in a class on the American novel: Write an analysis of some aspect of Mark Twain’s novel Huckleberry Finn. “This will be easy,” you think. “I loved Huckleberry Finn!” You grab a pad of paper and write:

Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn is a great American novel.

You begin to analyze your thesis:

• Do I answer the question? No. The prompt asks you to analyze some aspect of the novel. Your working thesis is a statement of general appreciation for the entire novel.

Think about aspects of the novel that are important to its structure or meaning—for example, the role of storytelling, the contrasting scenes between the shore and the river, or the relationships between adults and children. Now you write:

In Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain develops a contrast between life on the river and life on the shore.

• Do I answer the question? Yes!
• Have I taken a position that others might challenge or oppose? Not really. This contrast is well-known and accepted.
• Is my thesis statement specific enough? It’s getting there–you have highlighted an important aspect of the novel for investigation. However, it’s still not clear what your analysis will reveal.
• Does my thesis pass the “how and why?” test? Not yet. Compare scenes from the book and see what you discover. Free write, make lists, jot down Huck’s actions and reactions and anything else that seems interesting.
• Does my thesis pass the “So what?” test? What’s the point of this contrast? What does it signify?”

After examining the evidence and considering your own insights, you write:

Through its contrasting river and shore scenes, Twain’s Huckleberry Finn suggests that to find the true expression of American democratic ideals, one must leave “civilized” society and go back to nature.

This final thesis statement presents an interpretation of a literary work based on an analysis of its content. Of course, for the essay itself to be successful, you must now present evidence from the novel that will convince the reader of your interpretation.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Anson, Chris M., and Robert A. Schwegler. 2010. The Longman Handbook for Writers and Readers , 6th ed. New York: Longman.

Lunsford, Andrea A. 2015. The St. Martin’s Handbook , 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St Martin’s.

Ramage, John D., John C. Bean, and June Johnson. 2018. The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing , 8th ed. New York: Pearson.

Ruszkiewicz, John J., Christy Friend, Daniel Seward, and Maxine Hairston. 2010. The Scott, Foresman Handbook for Writers , 9th ed. Boston: Pearson Education.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Library Research 101: Start Your Research

• Articles--what are they and where are they?
• Books--what are they and where are they?
• How do I choose a topic?
• How do I write a research question?

The thesis statement

• How do I cite?
• Glossary: Library terms

What is a thesis statement ?

• A thesis statement comes at the beginning of your paper. 
• It is a statement that answers your research question.
• The statement is supported throughout your paper with examples and evidence.

What makes a good thesis statement?

• It takes a position, or advances an opinion.
• It is specific, not too broad, but not too narrow.
• It is an arguable statement; there is room for discussion or disagreement.
• It provides focus and generates interest in the reader.
• << Previous: How do I write a research question?
• Next: How do I cite? >>
• Last Updated: Feb 8, 2024 9:04 AM
• URL: https://libguides.library.umaine.edu/libraryresearch101

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UMGC Effective Writing Center Designing an Effective Thesis

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Key Concepts

• A thesis is a simple sentence that combines your topic and your position on the topic.
• A thesis provides a roadmap to what follows in the paper.
• A thesis is like a wheel's hub--everything revolves around it and is attached to it.

After your prewriting activities-- such as assignment analysis and outlining--you should be ready to take the next step: writing a thesis statement. Although some of your assignments will provide a focus for you, it is still important for your college career and especially for your professional career to be able to state a satisfactory controlling idea or thesis that unifies your thoughts and materials for the reader.

Characteristics of an Effective Thesis

A thesis consists of two main parts: your overall topic and your position on that topic. Here are some example thesis statements that combine topic and position:

Sample Thesis Statements

Importance of tone.

Tone is established in the wording of your thesis, which should match the characteristics of your audience. For example, if you are a concerned citizen proposing a new law to your city's board of supervisors about drunk driving, you would not want to write this:

“It’s time to get the filthy drunks off the street and from behind the wheel: I demand that you pass a mandatory five-year license suspension for every drunk who gets caught driving. Do unto them before they do unto us!”

However, if you’re speaking at a concerned citizen’s meeting and you’re trying to rally voter support, such emotional language could help motivate your audience.

Using Your Thesis to Map Your Paper for the Reader

In academic writing, the thesis statement is often used to signal the paper's overall structure to the reader. An effective thesis allows the reader to predict what will be encountered in the support paragraphs. Here are some examples:

Use the Thesis to Map

Three potential problems to avoid.

Because your thesis is the hub of your essay, it has to be strong and effective. Here are three common pitfalls to avoid:

1. Don’t confuse an announcement with a thesis.

In an announcement, the writer declares personal intentions about the paper instead stating a thesis with clear point of view or position:

Write a Thesis, Not an Announcement

 2. a statement of fact does not provide a point of view and is not a thesis..

An introduction needs a strong, clear position statement. Without one, it will be hard for you to develop your paper with relevant arguments and evidence.

Don't Confuse a Fact with a Thesis

3. avoid overly broad thesis statements.

Broad statements contain vague, general terms that do not provide a clear focus for the essay.

Use the Thesis to Provide Focus

Practice writing an effective thesis.

OK. Time to write a thesis for your paper. What is your topic? What is your position on that topic? State both clearly in a thesis sentence that helps to map your response for the reader.

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Think Before You Write!

Posted on May 3, 2024 by mbenysh

First, I would recommend taking the time to think through your question and your data collection method. This may seem obvious at first, but topics can morph and change over time to end up being something you never expected to do. Before you decide on one specific research question, just because it is something you are interested in, really think about what it might take to answer that one question. To put it simply, research the research! If you decide to do a qualitative study, read an article or two about qualitative data collection, qualitative analysis, qualitative visualizations – whatever it might be. I ended up collecting my own data and conducting interviews, which sounds simple but became the opposite – quickly. It often put me behind on some due dates because I had to rely on other people to not only respond to my emails, but schedule an hour to talk to me, before I could begin my data analysis. This analysis was then much more extensive than I realized it was going to be, and I put a lot more time into it than I expected to do when I originally designed my study. 

Something else that helped me was not planning large blocks of time to write. I find in general this leads to burnout, and especially with a project you have been working on for so long. It may be easier to plan to do just one thing for half an hour, rather than having a whole list of things to do over a three hour time block (or, having a mix of these two methods!). You may be asked to create a writing plan, and I think really utilizing your shorter blocks of time can be beneficial in the long run. By balancing all of the different smaller tasks that come up through the day when you have the time, it can help you focus during those longer time periods when you just need to write. 

Finally, make sure you like what you are researching. It may feel like you are just going through the motions, trying to get a proposal done, and you are not really thinking too hard about the next steps. However, those next steps will come, and you will be spending incredible amounts of time on this. If you are not passionate about your topic, it will feel burdensome and unrewarding by the end. This may mean you have to change your topic in the middle, and that is okay, because as long as you are interested in it, it will ultimately be easier (even if you end up pressed for time!). 

Maya Benysh is a senior at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs studying Law and Public Policy, with minors in Spanish and International Economics. 

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How to Write a Non-Fiction Book in 30 Days

Jennifer Xue

Imagine if you could write a book in 30 days. Even if you haven't written a book before, publishing a non-fiction book is possible, as most people have specific skills and wish to share their knowledge with the world. The passion for sharing is the most crucial element for completing a book.

Let's discuss what you need to have beforehand and how to actually approach the writing process to ensure that the milestone is achieved within the timeframe.

First things first, let's clarify what "30 days" means. It means 30 days flat; it doesn't mean 20 workdays in a month. Thus, if you're taking weekends off, it would take more than a month to cover 30 full writing days. However, after you've been successful with 30 days, you can choose to write a book within 20 days or even faster. Many writers write a short book within a week or two.

The Preparation: What You Need to Have

The execution: how to write the book in 30 days, 1. entrepreneurial mindset.

It's not about having a keen business sense. Having an entrepreneurial mindset is more about internalizing the notion of being your own boss with the objective of making things happen. After all, after you've written the book, you'll need to have it published and promoted, regardless of the publishing path chosen. Whether you have the book self-published or published by a conventional publisher, you'll still need to promote it the best you can.

2. Decent language skills

To be a writer of books, you must have decent language skills, especially written skills. You must know how to write proper sentences that make sense to readers. But let's not be too caught up about this, because you'll be using help from an editor later down the road.

3. Decent logic

Good logical thinking distinguishes a great book from the mediocre ones. For instance, you can't just create statements out of thin air in a non-fiction book. (You might be able to do so in a fiction book, but that's another story!) You've got to have it backed up with facts and opinions that genuinely make sense. And by "making sense," it must follow universal logic principles. There are at least 15 logical fallacies that you should know before convincing anyone of anything.

4. Dedicated hours

It goes without saying that to write a book in 30 days, you'll need actually to have those 30 days. Begin with calculating how fast you write per hour and per day. For instance, if the book requires a lot of ongoing research and verification, you'll probably need at least 4 hours per day reviewing materials and another 4 hours actually to write them down. Depending on the topic and thesis statement, you can spend 2 to 4 hours on research and 4 to 6 hours on actual writing.

5. Accountability tools

How can you be accountable for the writing project and sticking to your hours? There are many online tools to use, including Pomodoro timers and other productivity apps. Approach it as if it's a project done by a team and you're the project leader. As a team member, you're accountable to your leader (you) and the stakeholders (the publisher or yourself and future readers).

1. Create a calendar

Use a calendar to mark down your writing plan based on the outline and required research. Take notes whenever needed, so you can better manage your time efficiently.

2. Decide on the total word count

A good length for an e-book is anywhere from 10,000 to 25,000 words, while a trade paperback usually starts from 30,000 to 75,000 words. Decide early and then stick to the target.

3. Write the thesis statement

Be clear about the thesis statement . It's basically a statement stating what the book will cover and discuss. Since most, if not all, non-fiction books provide solutions to problems, ideally this statement will include the underlying problem and a high-level view of the solution provided.

4. Write the outline

Once you have your thesis statement, an outline can be created quickly. In journalism, the most popular framework to use is what-who-when-where-why-how (or 5W and 1H). Use this when developing the outline. Have at least these 6 elements covered. Most likely, the "why" and the "how" are much longer than the other 4 elements.

5. Write the first draft freely

Write the first draft freely without feeling forced to write perfectly, because nobody can. Not even the most professional writers out there. Let your mind flow within the framework of the outline. This way, you won't ramble about unrelated information.

6. Review, edit, and rewrite

Every writer is a re-writer. You're not writing something that hasn't been written before, especially when it comes to favorite topics in non-fiction publications. If you write about how to be productive, most likely there are tens or even hundreds of people who have written about it. All you need is finding a different angle and introduce new things.

7. Collaborate with an editor or editors

There are several types of book editors to consider, such as developmental editor, line-editor, copy-editor, and proofreader. Each of them has distinctive roles, so familiarize yourself with them.

If you're a new author, you'll definitely need a human developmental editor. However, you can also use the ProWritingAid app to help you redraft. Decide on which editor(s) to hire and utilize early in the writing game so the overall process can flow smoothly.

8. Decide on the publishing path

If you want to have your book published immediately after editing, Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) is a good choice, as it gives you the flexibility and control over the manuscript file. Make sure you have a good marketing plan in place before you launch, though.

9. Publish and promote

When you have your book self-published, uploading the final manuscript to the system itself deserves a happy dance. Promoting it is another matter, however. And since many writers are introverts, they find promoting themselves is a much bigger task than writing the book.

Regardless of the publisher, be it yourself or a conventional one, as the author you'll need to be ready to appear online and face-to-face. Be active on social media networks, do some readings, and give away free copies. Of course, if you have the budget, you can hire book publicists and social media managers to work on your behalf. However, when it comes to a face-to-face book signing and reading, you must do it yourself.

Writing and publishing a non-fiction book in 30 days is definitely do-able. You'll need, however, to carefully plan your calendar, thesis, project execution, and the publishing and promotion side in advance. Take good note of each task as this will determine the level of success of the book. Best of luck!

Be confident about grammar

Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.

Jennifer Xue is an award-winning e-book author with 2,500+ articles and 100+ e-books/reports published under her belt. She also taught 50+ college-level essay and paper writing classes. Her byline has appeared in Forbes, Fortune, Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Business.com, Business2Community, Addicted2Success, Good Men Project, and others. Her blog is JenniferXue.com. Follow her on Twitter @jenxuewrites].

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This Mother's Day, share a heartfelt message with these 30 quotes about mothers

Celebrating mothers and motherhood has been a tradition for centuries, even before Mother's Day was officially created. It dates back to  the ancient Greeks and Romans who held festivals for Rhea and Cybele, the mother goddesses, the History Channel reports. Today, the holiday continues to honor mothers and mother figures.

While you might think that you show your mother love for everything she does throughout the year, the second Sunday in May serves as another chance to do so. And how you display your gratitude could vary depending on your love language .

If you're a fan of words of affirmation, here are some quotes to share – or write on a card – this Mother's Day.

Making a bouquet? Here are what flowers are safe v. toxic for cats.

Mother's Day, motherhood quotes

• "I realized when you look at your mother, you are looking at the purest love you will ever know." – Mitch Albom , "For One More Day"
• "Mama was my greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness. If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love." – Stevie Wonder
• "A mother is your first friend, your best friend, your forever friend." – Amit Kalantri , "Wealth of Words"
• "Mother's love is peace. It need not be acquired, it need not be deserved." – Erich Fromm
• "Mother is a verb. It's something you do. Not just who you are." – Cheryl Lacey Donovan , "The Ministry of Motherhood"
• "Acceptance, tolerance, bravery, compassion. These are the things my mom taught me." – Lady Gaga
• "A mother's love is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking, it never fails or falters, even though the heart is breaking." – Helen Rice
• "A mother's love is more beautiful than any fresh flower." – Debasish Mridha
• "When your mother asks, 'Do you want a piece of advice?' it's a mere formality. It doesn't matter if you answer yes or no. You're going to get it anyway." – Erma Bombeck
• "All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother." – President Abraham Lincoln
• "I wondered if my smile was as big as hers. Maybe as big. But not as beautiful." – Benjamin Alire Sáenz , "Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe"
• "Sometimes the strength of motherhood is greater than natural laws." – Barbara Kingsolver , "Homeland and Other Stories"
• "A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take." – Gaspard Mermillod
• "I can imagine no heroism greater than motherhood." –   Lance Conrad , "The Price of Creation"
• "To describe my mother would be to write about a hurricane in its perfect power. Or the climbing, falling colors of a rainbow." – Maya Angelou
• "A mother's arms are more comforting than anyone else's." – Princess Diana
• "My mother is my root, my foundation. She planted the seed that I base my life on, and that is the belief that the ability to achieve starts in your mind." – Michael Jordan
• "There's no way to be a perfect mother and a million ways to be a good one." – Jill Churchill
• "Being a mother is an attitude, not a biological relation." – Robert A. Heinlein , "Have Space Suit—Will Travel"
• "Mothers and their children are in a category all their own. There's no bond so strong in the entire world. No love so instantaneous and forgiving." – Gail Tsukiyama , "Dreaming Water"
• "When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. You are connected to your child and to all those who touch your lives. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child." – Sophia Loren
• "Once you’re a mom, you’re always a mom. It’s like riding a bike, you never forget." – Taraji P. Henson
• "The world, we'd discovered, doesn't love you like your family loves you." – Louis Zamperini
• "The woman who is my best friend, my teacher, my everything: Mom." – Sandra Vischer , "Unliving the Dream"
• "Mothers possess a power beyond that of a king on his throne." – Mabel Hale
• "The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation." – James E. Faust
• "But behind all your stories is always your mother's story, because hers is where yours begins." – Mitch Albom , "For One More Day"
• "My mother sacrificed her dreams so I could dream." – Rupi Kaur
• "Mother's arms are made of tenderness, and sweet sleep blesses the child who lies within." – Victor Hugo
• "No language can express the power and beauty and heroism of a mother’s love." – Edwin Hubbel Chapin

Looking for inspiration? 50 positive quotes for peak motivation

Just Curious for more? We've got you covered

USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From " Who was the oldest Golden Girl? " to " What is the smallest country? " to " What's May's birthstone? " − we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our  Just Curious section  to see what else we can answer.

Checks, not sex, and other takeaways from Trump’s New York hush money trial

Key takeaways from Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial.

The two-day tempest in a Manhattan courtroom raged through Thursday morning and quieted by the afternoon, when adult-film actress Stormy Daniels finished testifying against Donald Trump . The presumptive Republican presidential nominee is on trial for allegedly falsifying business records to keep secret a $130,000 hush money payment made to Daniels in 2016. A day that began with testimony about pornography, strip clubs and a disturbing sexual encounter that Daniels says she had with Trump gave way to … a junior bookkeeper describing checks being signed and put in the mail, and Trump’s former White House assistant crying as she professed her deep admiration for him.

Here are key takeaways from Day 14 of the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president.

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Stormy Daniels can be just as combative as Trump’s attorneys

After bruising testimony Tuesday, in which Daniels depicted Trump as a man who used his age and stature to intimidate her into having sex in 2006, Trump’s attorneys were in charge of the questioning Thursday morning. They went all out in attacking Daniels’s credibility, seeking to portray her as an opportunistic woman chasing money and clout.

In the face of accusatory questions, Daniels fired back with barbs, denials and banter.

At one point, Trump attorney Susan Necheles said Daniels is a woman who has a “lot of experience making phony stories about sex appear to be real.” The attorney cited Daniels’s experience writing adult films and working on a reality show that purports to talk to dead people’s relatives — suggesting that since those are made-up scenarios, Daniels also lied about her alleged sexual encounter with Trump.

“Wow,” Daniels said in response. “If that story were untrue, I would have written it to be a lot better.”

Trump’s role in the hush money payment is key to the case. But Daniels doesn’t know about it.

In the final questions of the combative cross-examination, Necheles got to the crux of the charges laid out in the indictment: Did Daniels have any knowledge of whether Trump was personally involved in paying her $130,000 to keep their alleged affair quiet in 2016.

Daniels responded no — and said she also knew nothing about Trump’s paperwork.

“I know nothing about his business records,” Daniels said. “No, why would I?”

While much of the more salacious testimony in this trial has involved Daniels’s vivid retelling of her alleged sexual encounter with Trump, this questioning was key for the defense attorneys. It was a chance for them to remind jurors that while Daniels’s testimony about the alleged sexual encounter may have made Trump look bad, none of that will be on the verdict sheet.

Judge says trial is running slightly ahead of schedule

We don’t know exactly how long a trial will last or how many witnesses will be called, but at the onset, legal experts estimated that this trial could take anywhere from six to eight weeks. Since jury selection started April 15, we have been looking for hints from New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan to determine this trial’s timetable.

Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass said this week that the prosecution expected to finish calling and questioning their witnesses around May 21. After that, the defense will call whatever witnesses they want to testify.

On Thursday, Merchan told the jury that the trial was running on schedule, or even slightly ahead of schedule.

Trump attorney: ‘This is not a case about sex.’

By the end of the day, Trump’s lawyers were mad at the judge, and the judge was mad at Trump’s lawyers.

Trump attorney Todd Blanche tried for a mistrial and made a separate request for Merchan to ease the conditions of Trump’s gag order. Both failed.

Defense lawyers said now that Daniels is off the witness stand and her testimony has been widely reported around the world, it’s only fair that Trump should be able to publicly respond. They also wanted a mistrial over their belief that the court allowed Daniels to reveal too many details on the stand about her alleged sexual encounter with Trump.

Blanche’s focus was on the portion of Daniels’s testimony that suggested she had unwanted intercourse with Trump. The attorney repeated his argument that her narrative is unfounded and irrelevant to the charges against Trump — and is grounds for a mistrial because it could unfairly prejudice the jury against him.

He called her words “a dog whistle for rape.”

“It almost defies belief that we are here for a records case,” Blanche told the judge. “This is not a case about sex.”

He didn’t seem to come close to convincing Merchan, who blamed Trump’s attorneys for not making more objections during the testimony.

Question time

Q. Who hires courtroom sketch artists? How many attend trials?

In general, news outlets hire sketch artists so they can publish illustrations with their articles. For high-profile trials where photography isn’t allowed during the proceedings — such as the Trump trial — there are multiple artists in attendance each day. Many states allow cameras in their courtrooms, however, and sketches aren’t as valuable in those situations.

Cedric Hohnstadt — a Minnesota-based illustrator who has sketched high-profile trials — said he typically works out his own arrangement with local and national media. He often has to reach out to courthouse employees to ensure that he can get a seat in court when there is a high-profile trial. Hohnstadt said he prefers to draw his sketches on an iPad, which means he must contact staff at courthouses that prohibit electronics to get an exception. If he can’t, he will lug his big drawing board and bag of supplies and take a photo of his completed sketches to email them to the media.

“I only do a handful of trials each year, because many states allow cameras in the courtroom, and in the states that don’t, there just aren’t that many trials that warrant the expense of paying for a sketch artist,” Hohnstadt said in an email.

Have more questions on this or other Trump trials? Email us at [email protected] and [email protected] and check for answers in future editions.

Thanks for reading this midweek Trump Trials update. You can find past issues of The Trump Trials here . We’ve also started posting searchable PDFs of the daily transcripts from the New York trial. You can view those here .

Suggested reads

Live updates from Thursday’s cross-examination of Stormy Daniels