Writing a thesis is the mandatory but also most challenging part of your master’s and doctoral degrees. Students need extensive research, well-structured arguments, and a skilful writing style. If they are not experienced in research and writing, they may feel stuck on where to start. They may also have concerns about topic selection, logical argumentation, literature reviews, and citations.
Usually, the supervisors are quite busy and do not provide essential support to each student separately, which overburdens the research work for them. Most students prefer seeking assistance with thesis writing from professionals. In contrast, others explore the best books on thesis writing to master academic papers.
So, if you are also one of those students looking for the best books, this article is for you. Continue reading to learn in detail.
A List of 9 Best Books on Thesis Writing
The best books on thesis writing aim to guide students of all fields to excel in their academics. So, below are the top 9 sources which can help them learn how to craft a good document by themselves.
Now, let’s go through each book in detail and learn how these sources help you write your thesis.
1. How to Write a Thesis
In 1977, Umberto Eco presented a book in Italian translated as ‘How to Write a Thesis’ which is still considered a masterpiece. It is the most recommended book for PhD thesis writing and has been translated into 117 languages. It offers practical pieces of advice to students from topic selection to the final thesis crafting. So, even an entry-level student gets guidance from this book to write an outstanding thesis.
Some of the important suggestions for thesis or dissertation writing discussed in this book are:
- Writing long sentences is not a good thing. Try to break the sentences.
- Avoid too many pronouns and subordinate clauses.
- Do not hesitate to begin new paragraphs, however, where there is a logical necessity.
- Do not write everything on paper but articulate the sentences while focusing on the main topic.
- Before the deadline, you must ensure that your supervisor reads your paper. Otherwise, ask your friends for a peer review.
- Start with any chapter on which you have more documentation, so, not necessarily with the first.
2. Finish Your Dissertation, Don’t Let It Finish You!
Finish Your Dissertation is a little dramatic but all-inclusive research guidebook for students. Joanne Broder Sumerson is the writer of this book and is a research professor and psychologist. In 2013, she presented this book after 20 years of work as an academic writing assistant.
This book is all about tips for successful thesis completion to secure high grades. Also, a student finds help in choosing the right topic, conducting research, structuring a framework and writing and defending a thesis.
Key Highlights of this Book
J.B. Sumerson presents a user-friendly thesis manual with practical examples on the following points:
- Strategies to approve research proposals from the supervising committee.
- Selecting the research question and addressing the objectives of the research.
- Framing the five chapters of your thesis.
- In-depth data analysis.
- Rough draft of literature review.
- Presenting logical arguments in research.
- Selection of research methodology.
- Concluding the research work.
- Preparation for oral defence.
3. The Craft of Research
The Craft of Research written by Booth, Colomb, and Williams is considered one of the best books on thesis writing. Over 400,000 copies are evidence that this book helps students and researchers at all stages of research. The authors highlight the point that research is not only about creating new knowledge but it requires systematic research writing process.
Also, the book begins by evaluating the concept of a research question and determining how to formulate it. Additionally, in the fourth edition, the attention to detail in research problems fulfils the requirements of research of any grade.
So, the key points covered in this book are as follows:
- The way to turn a topic into a research problem or question.
- Guiding you step-by-step to do compelling research.
- Supporting your claim with logical reasoning.
- Critical analysis of your thesis as a reader.
4. How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing
Silvia’s ‘How to Write a Lot’, as the name implies, is a perfect practical guide for researchers. Being an academic researcher, he understands the real-time problem in academic writing is procrastination. With his personal experiences, he guides students about how to overcome the barriers in research projects.
Most importantly, empathy with students helps them understand challenges and the direction towards solutions. The primary goal of this one of the best books on thesis writing is to boost the writing productivity of the students by giving various hacks.
Barriers and their Solutions for Students
However, the most important barriers and their solutions given in this book are discussed below:
- Barrier: Having no time for writing.
Solution: Schedule your writing.
- Barrier: Need more readings to add to the literature review which resists writing.
Solution: Manage the time between reading and writing.
- Barrier: Feeling no inspiration for writing.
Solution: Just sit down and start writing
5. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches
Creswell’s book has a track record of helping 150,000 students create thesis proposals. This is one of the best books on thesis writing that explains the process of dealing with research methods. Whether one needs help with quantitative, qualitative or mixed research methods, this book proves helpful.
Additionally, in chapter 11, Creswell elaborates on the data collection and analysis in mixed method procedures.
The following points are added to its new edition:
- Every chapter of the book highlights a mixed-method design in research proposals.
- Identify the ethical issues in quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods designs.
- In the qualitative method, advocacy and emancipatory approaches are added.
6. Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day
Bolker, in Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day, gives practical strategies to students in their dissertation writing journey. She used fifteen minutes in the book’s title, which means you must regularly sit for 15 minutes to do research work. Being a clinical psychologist, she suggests that it is good to write for 15 minutes rather than not writing at all.
The daily habits improve writing productivity and win the battle against procrastination. Furthermore, she suggests methods to block internal and external distractions. She also focuses on editing the research paper by asking friends or colleagues for suggestions. It is the best book for beginners to understand how to start writing your thesis.
However, if you are confused and need guidance, you can employ services from British thesis writers. The team of experts not only crafts but also proofreads and edits your thesis through in-depth critical analysis.
7. The Dissertation Journey: A Practical and Comprehensive Guide to Planning, Writing, and Defending Your Dissertation
Hyatt and Roberts’s book The Dissertation Journey proves best for thesis writing in 2024-25. According to the author, writing a thesis is like summiting mountains. So, you can get assistance from the beginning of your thesis writing journey to ensure successful completion so that you can enjoy the view from the summit.
Moreover, research requires planning, framework, building arguments and critical analysis. This book addresses all the challenges that one researcher faces in crafting a high-quality thesis. Along with knowledge, a researcher requires strategies and techniques to meet academic standards.
Core Points of the Book
Following are the key points that are discussed in detail in this book:
- Procrastination challenges the writer
- Managing emotional and logical challenges
- Tips for planning, writing and defending a dissertation
- Mastering writing with arguments
- Conducting a literature review
8. The Elements of Style
The Elements of Style by Strunk Jr. and White is one of the best books on writing a thesis. It is a classical guide published in 1918, but it is always highly relevant and impressive in writing. The writers advise the readers on how to improve their communication skills and write effectively.
Additionally, this book is focused on writing in plain English style by giving fundamental rules of grammar and effective writing principles. For research work, this book plays an impressive role as it guides researchers in improving their writing style. Hence, mastering the writing style paves the path towards securing distinction in degree.
9. The Literature Review: A Step-by-Step Guide for Students
This book by Diana Ridley is one of the finest books in thesis writing. It provides a complete guide to the literature review with examples. The writer drew examples of literature review in the thesis for a wide range of disciplines.
Additionally, in the second edition of the book, Ridley highlights the copyrights and permission issues related to citing online sources. This helps students to collect authentic online resources and incorporate them effectively. Hence, whether you need help with a literature review in a master’s or PhD thesis, this book is highly recommended.
Conclusion
If you are beginning a thesis journey or feeling stuck at any stage, taking help from the best books on thesis writing proves helpful. These books cover every aspect of the research work to produce a worthwhile dissertation. Once you become used to reading self-help books, your approach to writing a good dissertation will change.
However, some students do not have enough time to read such books and write dissertations by themselves. If you are also one of them, then you can buy a thesis online from legitimate sources to ensure timely submission. The professional writing support delivers valuable master’s and doctoral dissertations with 100% originality.
In a nutshell, to submit a good paper, you need to change your approach to research and writing. The books mentioned in this guide are the best sources for changing your writing style and becoming successful in academics.
