10 tips on how to write the perfect thesis

We asked Machteld van der Lecq (22) from the UvA’s writing centre for ten of her best tips. 

1. Just start somewhere. ‘Knowing your thesis needs to be big will stress you out. Don’t think too much of it. Just start!’

2. Put things into perspective. ‘It’s a thesis, not your life’s work. It’s not the end of the world if it has imperfections.’

3. Have a clear research question. ‘Always have this research question in mind or you’ll end up with thousands of useless words.’

4. Write an introduction and sub-conclusion for each chapter. ‘This will help you to keep things clear for yourself and your readers.’

5. If stuck, write down your key points. ‘Write them on a piece of paper. Often this will help you to find a logical way to connect the dots.’

6. Plan as if it’s a class. ‘Put three hours of “thesis work” a day in your agenda.’

7. Find a workspace without distractions. ‘A boring place is ideal. That way once you start procrastinating, you’ll want to get back to work quicker.’

8. Be honest with your supervisor. ‘Admit to your supervisor if you’re stuck so they can help you. If you always pretend to be fine, you won’t progress.’

9. Don’t stop living life. ‘Keep doing what you usually do. Like sports, your social life, work.’

10. Prioritise your thesis. ‘Don’t go out on a Tuesday night “just because” if it's going to clash with your thesis writing schedule.’