The topic of your dissertation must be worthy of researching. But how can you know, that it is? These requirements help.

1. It is a real PhD topic, if it is a topic at all

You can recognize a topic by these characteristics:

• A topic contains more than 5 definable words.
• The subject has at least two nouns with a relationship between them.
• A problematization and thus question is recognizable in the topic.
• A research gap, research question, research objectives and expected results can be found
• Ensure that this criteria is met.

2. It is a real PhD topic, if I present new findings at the end, a new model.

New knowledge means knowledge that does not yet exist anywhere else in documented form. This is practically a new model.

The result of research is ALWAYS a model, i.e. a representation of reality. This also applies to descriptions in literature!

3. It is a real PhD topic if I can publish the findings first.

Obviously, you need to be the first to publish your findings. This is only possible if you can foresee at the beginning what kind of knowledge you will gain and how you can obtain it. If you can foresee that the topic is too complicated or rather a team topic, then look for another topic.

By the way, this is a very good incentive to finish quickly because then no one will beat you to it. Write an article-based PhD instead, then your chances increase of being the first to publish.

4. My topic is worthy of a doctorate if my model is based on existing models

You should use common terms so people will understand you. But that is not the most important thing!

You need a solid foundation for your arguments in the form of established knowledge. This knowledge is already tested which will save you time and help you gain new knowledge faster.

A completely new topic is not good at all. Then you can't build on any insights in the field.

5. My subject is worthy of a doctorate if I use scientific methods

Scientific methods are all those techniques, means and concepts that are suitable for obtaining knowledge because they reliably enable new insight to be gained.

This includes all possible methods of data collection and analysis, regardless of the source. The methods must allow for a targeted collection of data and ensure data quality.

The analysis must be possible without gaps. You have to be able to gain new insight based on what is known with the help of the acquired data and using specific methods.

The methods must be known and documented. You have to describe them so that others can test them the same way you did and thus repeat your procedure. This way your results can be checked and confirmed.

6. My topic is worthy of a doctorate if I work with empirical data

Processing existing knowledge from scientific sources is undoubtedly a scientific achievement. Such a so-called review, however, has its limits.

By evaluating say 100 existing studies, certain new insights can be gained. BUT: it is quite impossible that these new findings can be regarded as validated without empirical verification. These findings must be empirically verified. The review can and must be the starting point, but we still need empirical data.

Empirical data is diverse, as this list shows:

• Documents of agents such as minutes, interviews, mission statements,
• Opinions,
• Polls,
• Observations of all kinds,
• Measured values of certain quantities.

So once we complete the literature review, we need a research design to collect and analyze empirical data.

7. My topic is worthy of a doctorate if other researchers can repeat the procedure without gaps

Your actions must be describable. This is the only way someone can check whether your findings are correct. So test the topic at the beginning to see if you can explain your procedure to someone. Be on your guard if that sounds complicated.

Make sure that your topic is worthy of a doctorate from the beginning. This saves you a lot of revising and duplication of work.

Good luck writing your text!

Silvio and the Aristolo Team

PS: Check out the PhD Guide for writing a PhD in 200 days.

“Writing is fun,” thought the almost graduate while writing the first 20 pages of his bachelor's thesis. His conscience was serene and he was satisfied with himself. Unfortunately, his supervisor was anything but satisfied: far too much on topic AA, but topic DD is completely missing. Furthermore, real academic sources, studies, etc. are missing.

Uh oh! Now I have to revise again, go back to the library to find new sources, rewrite, delete sections...

How can writing academic texts be fun?

It's simple: success is fun no matter where you find it. Success can be measured in written pages. These pages may then be deemed acceptable according to your supervisor. Success is mostly a question of technique and of a skillful approach.

Learn a few simple techniques and you will fill the empty pages of your bachelor's or master's thesis very quickly with compelling content. Then your supervisor will be satisfied and maybe even enjoys reading it...

Writing technique 1: Make sure that the thesis is neatly structured.

Make sure that you have a workable outline following the standards for the outline of a scientific paper. The chapter headings structure your text so you no longer have blank sheets of paper to be afraid of. This will definitely give you orientation and motivation. You "only" have to fill the empty spaces between the headings. Just follow the chapter headings. The following steps will ensure even more progress on your text.

Writing Technique 2: Arrange the relevant sources in the chapters.

You can already enter the appropriate sources in the chapter using the headings. The building material is, so to speak, reserved for the right floor so it’s best to prepare for construction in advance. Let’s look at an example for chapter "2.3 Marketing Mix": Insert a reference such as Meffert, H. (2013) Marketing management: analysis-strategy implementation. Springer publishing house.

By the way, the best way to avoid plagiarism is by keeping your sources in order. The fear of producing plagiarism is one of the primary obstacles faced during writing.

Writing Technique 3: Copy definitions and illustrations into the chapters.

Search the definitions and illustrations of models for your chapter keywords but stick to reputable sources. This may not be possible for every chapter, but it is expected for the theory and the state of research chapters.

Use basic books on the subject for the definitions. Springer Publishing has a variety of textbooks that cover many topics and are mostly free of charge for students as an e-book.

Writing technique 4: Formulate chapter questions and use them to filter relevant content from sources.

Treat each chapter as a separate text on a specific topic. The chapter must always answer certain questions, according to the title of the chapter. Apply this logic to yourself  and first write the questions that will be answered in EACH chapter. Then answer the questions with the help of the sources, almost like you would do on an exam. Pay attention to the correct depreciation technique.

Writing Technique 5: Write with sample formulations.

Certain content is described in the individual chapters. For such content certain sample formulations exist, such as for a problem derivation, the discussion or the conclusion. You will find a unique collection of such sample formulations for EVERY chapter of your text in the Aristolo Thesis Guide. Simply search the Thesis Guide for the appropriate chapter, such as Procedure or Theory, and you will find the sample formulations.

The quickest way to produce compelling content is to formulate precise chapter headings, assign the sources, ask questions relevant to each chapter, find the answers in the sources then use the sample formulations to formulate the text in the chapter... When it’s put that way, it doesn't sound like magic or rocket science.

With these five techniques you will write a significantly better thesis in less time. Your storyline is visible from the beginning through a clean sample outline. Your formulations are exemplary and the contents are also state of the art. You even cited everything correctly. This is definitely fun!

Good luck writing your text!

Silvio and the Aristolo Team

PS: Check out the Thesis-ABC and the Thesis Guide for writing a bachelor or master thesis in 31 days.

One look at the outline will make your supervisor curious. Very good, he thinks, balanced, thoughtful. Although he wanted to take only a quick look, he continues turning the pages and starts to read... The clock says  it’s shortly before 10. His office hours start at 10. There are already some young people outside the door... Just read the introduction... a soft knocking on the door interrupts him.  Now the clock says way past 10:00. Come in, he calls.

Carefully a student sticks her head through the door and asks quietly if there are office hours today. Yes, yes, he said, a little testy, like someone who was interrupted in the middle of his favorite show...

The author of this bachelor’s thesis must have done quite a few things right... That she receives an A is clear. But how did she do it? Well, she's got "just" a great outline... Her thesis was a real story, with a storyline and a finale. No wonder the supervisor couldn't put it down...

YOU can do that too!

You don't have to start from scratch. You can work with an outline template. It shows you the appropriate content chapter by chapter and helps build all the chapters on each other. Takes only 10 minutes of your time and familiarise yourself with it.

If you include these chapter headings in your text, the storyline is immediately visible and your thesis will end up "on the supervisor's bedside table".

Chapter 1 of the Outline: The Introduction chapter

Your introduction is like an apéritif before dinner to stimulate the  appetite for the text. Your supervisor is curious, which puts him or her in a good mood.

Your first sentences draws him into the topic. Almost everyone understands it, can agree with it. Our patterns and examples in the Thesis Guide will help inspire you.

By the way, it is rumored that many supervisors only read the introduction and conclusion carefully then leaf through the rest. I can't really imagine that that’s true because they have to write a detailed report about it afterwards. But the rumor still persists.

Never mind how! Make sure that your introduction makes the best possible impression. Don't let it ruin your project. Stick to our examples, templates and formulations in the outline example. You will kill two birds with one stone: You have a plan for the entire thesis and you will have written the first pages, namely your introduction.

Chapter 2 of the outline: The theory chapter

The chapter that contains the theory is like the foundation of a house, everything depends on it. Describe all the important basics in the theory chapter. What should be in the theory chapter? All the important content for your text. It is best to follow the pattern for the theory chapter in our Thesis Guide.

By the way, with our guide, you will be finished with the theory chapter after ONE week, including all the reading. Simply adopt our five pages per day writing technique.

Chapter 3 of the outline: The state of research chapter

The chapter for the "State of research" incorporates the collection of previous knowledge about the topic. These sources are usually found in scientific studies rather than books. Write down which authors found out what and how they did so. If you assign a proper chapter to it, a very good grade is almost guaranteed.

You are inexperience in using scientific studies. Never mind. Simply fill out our review matrix from the Thesis Guide and follow our instructions. Then you'll be able to get a good grip on the chapter in a few days, even if your English isn't great.

Chapter 4 of the outline: The procedure or methodology chapter

Your supervisor wants to know how you proceeded, how you arrived at your results. That goes in this chapter. Describe the methods used and walk the reader through everything, step-by-step. Sounds simple... BUT: What is the method’s name? Where did you find it?

There is not only one method for the literature thesis but several that we have described in detail in our Thesis Guide. In addition, you will find examples and formulations so it’s easy to write the chapter in a few hours. It'll lift your spirits.

Chapter 5 of the Outline: The results chapter

Finally, it's getting exciting. So far you have only prayed for the best and copied from other sources. Finally, you are allowed to deliver your own findings. What kind of insight will this be? How will they make the world a better place?

If you have collected empirical data, the answer is clear.  But what is the result in a pure literature thesis? What are the findings? The answer to this question is less obvious.

Searching for weeks or even months in sources for new findings does not lead to your personal findings. Logically, your results must be findings that are NOT yet in the sources... Most of the old theses aren’t useful here because they are not YOUR findings.

What will help you immediately is a detailed guide to answer your research question and sub-questions, with examples and formulations. Get our Thesis Guide with enough time that you can follow it from the start.  Stick to our examples, instructions, techniques and formulations and your individual contribution will be a success.

Chapter 6 of the Outline: The Conclusion chapter

Finally, you’ve made it to the end! Your conclusion will complete the circle. Remember the rumor that supervisors only read the introduction and conclusion carefully... So they should go together very well. Do you want to look at an example of a great conclusion? You can find it in the Thesis Guide.

Of course, a great outline also requires writing a text without mistakes.

More tips for a great outline:

1. Do not write more than 6 subchapters for one chapter

Such a chapter is only a collection of short sentences, which can be safely summarized.

2. If there is a chapter 2.1, then chapter 2.2 is also necessary

Chapter 2.1 must always be followed by chapter 2.2. If you do not do so, the supervisor will see this mistake immediately and deduct points. But above all, it makes him or her doubt your seriousness and commitment because this beginner's mistake is evidence of negligence.

3. Do write more than 6 chapters with 60 pages

There is no fixed rule as to how many chapters may be included in a bachelor’s or master’s thesis, but the more chapters there are per fixed page number, the more unbalanced the chapters are likely to be. Five to six chapters of 60 pages are fine. For dissertations, there should also be no more than 10 chapters for 200 pages. The typical bachelor or master’s thesis is composed of the 6 chapters described above.

IMPORTANT: As soon as your supervisor gives you guidelines for the outline of your bachelor’s or master’s thesis, you must follow these instructions. Obviously the department’s requirements have priority!

These tips will help you captivate your supervisor with your work. And you have much less to do with your thesis.

Good luck writing your text!

Silvio and the Aristolo Team

PS: Check out the Thesis-ABC and the Thesis Guide for writing a bachelor or master thesis in 31 days.

These 11 programs will help you write scientific papers such as term papers or a bachelor's or master's thesis faster and better. These are not suggestions but necessities.

1. The automatic proposal check by Aristolo for Bachelor's Thesis, Master's Thesis and dissertation (ABF = Aristolo Bullsh*t Filter)

The proposal check can help you write a very good proposal. First look at an example then write your proposal following the Aristolo Guide section by section.

2. Keep track of academic writing with Evernote - Evernote.com

Evernote is advertised as your virtual memory. It is a software that helps you collect, organize and find notes, documents, links and photos. The program is extremely useful to collect researched articles, statistics or photos especially during the beginning stages of your thesis. The best part is that you can then access it from anywhere at any time with all your devices.

3. No need to panic when it comes to the references thanks to Citavi

Citavi can help you tremendously when you’re working on the bibliography. For example, you can simply highlight important passages in the text and Citavi will automatically insert the source references so you don't have to do anything else. The program is only available for Windows.

4. Everything at a glance for academic writing when you use Excel

If you are not so keen on adapting to new programs that take time to get used to, an "old" program like Excel can also be useful for your thesis. For example, you can create an Excel list with all the books that are not allowed to be borrowed from your library. So you always have everything at a glance. For example, you can also create a list of text passages so you can find everything again.

5. You can easily organize the "mountain" of academic writing with Basecamp - Basecamp.com

Basecamp is a browser-based project management tool. The program allows you to plan all kinds of projects, like the bachelor's or master's thesis, perfectly. It has to-do lists with deadlines, storage location for documents and time tracking - all this is possible with Basecamp. You’ll also have everything in one place so you won't need dozens of folders, e-mails or tally sheets. Basecamp is particularly suitable for teamwork.

Have the time of your life! Anyway, timer apps can help you to monitor your time more effectively.

6. Timer apps for academic writing

Timer apps, like the Tomato Timer, help you to monitor work and relaxation phases. Many of the timers that you can find online or in the App Store and Google Play Store are based on the Pomodoro technology. The technique is based on the assumption that you work straight for 25 minutes then take a 5-minute break. The regular breaks allow you to hold out longer and are ultimately more effective.

7. Put it on paper - best with Google Docs

You can then use the online text editor Google Docs to put your thesis on paper. The beauty of Google Docs is that your files are stored online. This means you can access your documents from all your devices and work on them anytime, no matter where you are. You can also share it with as many people as you’d like (for example your proofreaders) and they can add notes in the margins. And it's free :-) Just log in and try it out!

The all-purpose weapon Google can facilitate your literature - with Google Scholar

8. Google Scholar - indispensable for academic writing

Google Scholar is practically the Google for literature research ;-) designed in the same way as Google, you will only find scientific documents on Scholar. Very helpful when writing your thesis!

9. Do you prefer to verbalize your ideas?

Dictation software like Dragon Naturally Speaking makes it possible!

10. Siri, Alexa & Co. - writing scientific papers in a flash... or dictate

Programs such as Siri, Alexa, Cortana, etc. allow you to dictate thoughts and ideas easily - the conversion to text is then automatic. You can save a lot of writing time this way, and of course you can also capture good ideas and brainstorm while on the road. The only disadvantage is that you have to go over it again.

11. Is your head almost bursting with ideas? Organize your thoughts with mind maps.

As the name suggests, the program can be used to create mind maps and thus visualize ideas, to-dos and concepts. This technique makes it easier for the writer to stay on track with the overview.

Gliffy.com / draw.io - academic writing sometimes needs graphics

Are you a fan of diagrams and beautiful flowcharts? Then try these programs. Similar to Mind map, services like Gliffy and Draw.io allow users to create diagrams and flowcharts. It is especially useful for empirical bachelor's or master's thesis that require you to transfer survey results into diagrams, for example.

Good luck writing your text!

Silvio and the Aristolo Team

PS: Check out the Thesis-ABC and the Thesis Guide for writing a Bachelor's or Master's Thesis in 31 days.

Friends and family can help you with the thesis, there’s no question about that! But there are tips and advice that you should ignore, so you don't get into trouble.

We do not want to tell you that you should not listen to your friends and family :-) But you should not follow any of the seven wise pieces of advice mentioned below. You can’t say you weren’t warned!

1. “Why don't you just write 10 pages for your thesis?”

You can easily write 10 pages of nonsense. Simply writing wildly rarely leads to success. Without research and without clarifying the topic and the terms, you are not enough of an expert to write a few pages easily. You probably won't be satisfied with the 10 pages you write. It’s better to start with the outline and the proposal then use the five pages per day writing technique.

2. "Just use a topic from an old bachelor’s or master’s thesis"

Sounds quite reasonable: Just take the topic of another thesis, change it a bit then write your own paper on it. That's a bad idea. It can be a plagiarism issue. Even if you don't copy parts of the older thesis sentence by sentence, your results will probably end up too similar to the old bachelor’s or master’s thesis...

You will have problems finding sources too because of course the previous texts used older sources. The demands of the supervisor matter as well.

3. "I finished my bachelor’s thesis in two weeks"

Of course, there are writers who have written their bachelor’s or even master’s thesis in two weeks. But saying you finished in two weeks sounds better than the truth, that they secretly spent weeks reading, organizing, writing and rewriting... In the end they pulled themselves together just in time to turn in the work.

We recommend writing your bachelor’s or master’s thesis in 31 (working) days, over about 6 weeks.

4. 
"Just combine a few outlines to make the outline for your text"

Not a good idea. Writing your bachelor’s or master’s thesis will be much easier if you create your own outline according to your topic. You can follow the Thesis Guide outline template.

The supervisor will notice an outline made up of several bachelor theses. A plagiarism analysis will also bring any used text to light.

In the end, you will also run the risk of having to change the whole outline again after you have completely understood your topic...

5. "Pick a broad topic for your thesis so you can write a lot"

This is the question everyone asks at the beginning: "How am I supposed to write 40, 60 or more pages on this topic? Therefore, a broad topic seems more appropriate, something not too concrete or restricting because there's more to write about...

Example: Chocolate and motivation to learn

You can write hundreds of pages on a subject like this... But the supervisor wants to see your personal contribution which only comes from a concrete question.

Formulating a topic in this way will help you.

Example: Effects of chocolate on the learning motivation of students in Dog City

Please take 10 minutes of your time and take the thesis topic trip.

6. "Find an old bachelor’s thesis and use it for your own from thesis"

We are back on the subject of plagiarism. Of course, you can be inspired by other bachelor’s or master’s theses, but it’s much better to rely on the original sources. Think of a feasible research question and collect the appropriate sources. Copying & pasting can go wrong these days...

7. "Don't submit your topic officially until you're done."

Yes, that's possible in many cases but it’s definitely not advisable. You probably already know that nothing is more motivating than a deadline! So submit your thesis project after you have chosen the topic and supervisor and create a proposal that your supervisor likes. Then get started on your 31-day thesis trip!

Good luck writing your text!

Silvio and the Aristolo Team

PS: Check out the Thesis-ABC and the Thesis Guide for writing a bachelor or master thesis in 31 days.

Do it like Albert Einstein did in 1905... The article-based dissertation is not new. Albert Einstein wrote it in the same way in 1905. He was in the Bernese Patent Office when he wrote 4 articles and published them. And there he was, a doctor... If he can do it, we can do it, right?

What is a normal, typical dissertation?

The normal variant of the dissertation is the so-called monograph, a text of 150 to 500 pages or even more. There is one big lead question that must be answered exhaustively.

In any case, writing such a monograph is exhaustive... It takes a long time, isn’t always fun and the results are often hidden in many long text passages. So reading the text is not really fun. To make matters worse, you have to publish an article or two on the topic so the science community will take notice of project...

What is an article-based dissertation?

A article-based dissertation is a doctoral degree awarded after a doctoral student has published one or more articles in peer-reviewed academic journals and has thus proven his or her competence. An article (or paper or study) is a scientifically sound text. The volume is about 30 pages.

The following features are typical:

• The article has a strictly standardized outline.
• ONE research gap is defined and researched.
• As a rule, empirical data is collected and evaluated with certain methods (meta-studies are an exception because these evaluate the findings of dozens of studies and generates new insights)
• An article is anonymously peer-reviewed and critically commented on by experts. This revision may take longer.
• Real academic journals are very picky. But there are also magazines that publish articles for a fee. Do not quote these so-called predatory journals! The professional audience is already familiar with them.

The article-based dissertation is practically an abbreviation of the normal PhD monograph. The paper is written and published. The ideal model is to write a breakthrough article that makes it into a so-called A-journal (there is even A+). This is roughly the Einstein way. However, three papers in a normal journal (C ranked) are fine.

The article-based dissertation has many advantages.

• You can finish much faster than a monograph. These are the reasons for this:You have to write much less, only about 30 pages instead of 300 so obviously you can finish faster.
• The outline of your article is already determined. You don't have to structure so much.
• The previous papers can serve as a guide.
• You have a steep learning curve, since you follow the research process three times.
• Maybe you can actually create an A-paper. Then you will be finished even faster. Each of Einstein’s papers would have been enough on its own...
• You have much quicker interim successes. This increases your motivation and thus your speed.
• It’s attractive to supervisors who can act as co-authors.
• By the way, papers can also be written and submitted without a supervisor. To do so,  ask them for the doctorate. However, you have to study the regulations carefully.
• Papers are much more focused and in-depth on a topic.
• Writing a paper is more predictable. The work scope is lower.

However, the article-based dissertation also has disadvantages:

• You have to be really brief. You only have 30 pages.
• Writing in English is a MUST.
• There’s no transparency so you don’t have the opportunity to hide any weaknesses.
• The "placement" in journals can be an ordeal.
• The peer review process can take a long time, up to 2 years.
• All interested parties will see your paper IMMEDIATELY. You might even read it. So be prepared for criticism!

The stages of the article-based dissertation

The short version (Einstein’s version) looks like this: research, write, publish.

But nowadays, it probably takes a little longer. These are the normal stages:

1. Find topic
2. Create Proposal
3. State of research
4. Research design
5. Models
6. Gather data
7. Analyze data
8. Submit

Tips for the beginning of the article-based dissertation:

• Start with WHY! Why write a thesis?
• Create a keyword collection (a keyword cloud)
• Find three super papers for your keywords.
• Study the 3 papers as examples.
• Create the matrix for the three super papers.
• Study the research design template.
• Study the paper template.
• Your personal check: Did I want that outcome? Can I do it myself?

Think carefully about what kind of dissertation you want to write...

We wish you success with your dissertation!

Silvio and the Aristolo Team

PS: Check out the PhD Guide for writing a PhD in 200 days.

The supervisor reads the email carefully from start to finish. A student wanted to write her bachelor’s thesis with him, but he was busy with many thesis projects. But somehow the email was formulated differently and drew his attention.

The student justified the topic with her experiences and how she intends to proceed. She even mentioned appropriate sources... This will be a well done thesis, he thought and clicked on the reply button. He wrote back briefly suggesting a phone call...

That's the way it has to be!  Follow this procedure and your cover letter will convince the supervisor to accept your thesis project.

What does a supervisor want?

• A current, relevant, scientific and feasible topic.
• A good text at the end.
• An efficient supervision.
• Your goal is to get the green light for the topic and thus the acceptance of your official thesis start.

Let's go through the contents of the cover letter.

1. Subject in the cover letter

The email should make a good impression immediately and the subject must be visible. So, write a clear subject. There are some good formulations but a lot of bad ones so take a look at them BEFORE contacting your supervisor.

2. Salutation in the cover letter

Be polite and make sure to use the appropriate title, even with staff members! There are fixed formulas. Professors and PhDs have worked hard for their titles, so they take this very seriously. You should do the same and it’s better not make any mistakes so familiarize yourself with the right formulations.

Tip: Write the following greeting: "Dear Professor Sample" and not “Dear Prof. Dr. Sample”

3. Starting point for the cover letter

• History is important. Refer to a previous interview and thank them for their willingness to supervise you.
• If you still haven’t received a response from them, this is more difficult, but it works.
• Give a good reason why you chose her or him.
• Think about HIS / HER point of view. Everyone likes that. The goal is to get to the heart of the motive without "sucking up". Polished formulations bring success. Some phrases should be left out, so they don’t show you in a bad light! Better avoid them.

4. Topic found for the Bachelor’s thesis or Master’s Thesis

I have found an interesting topic in your research area Alpha.

The subject is:

Effects of chocolate consumption on the motivation of students during examination phases

5. My question for the bachelor’s or master’s thesis is...

The subject alone is not enough. Concretely show that you know what you will find out in the end. Write your research question in the cover letter. That's what supervisors like to see. It shows YOUR systematic approach and thus promises on the one hand a good job, and on the other hand a manageable amount of support. No one has time to waste.

Questions also make people curious and can be a good start to your relationship :-)

6. Your motivation for the topic of the thesis

For God's sake, don't tell your life story. Don't list all your short-term jobs for the Alpha magazine... Just briefly show your relation to the topic. Two sentences are enough, but they have to have an impact.

7. Your approach

Describe very briefly HOW you want to answer the question and which methods you will use to do so.

Anything is possible, even ONE expert interview in a non-empirical literature thesis. The own results of the analyses can be discussed with the expert. The knowledge gained from this will be incorporated into the text.

8. Main chapter of the thesis

List only briefly the main chapters, i.e. the initial chapters. You should not have more than 6 main chapters.

9. Confirmation

Please confirm that this topic is ok for your bachelor’s or master’s thesis

There are different approaches here.

A) if you have already had a previous conversation about the topic

B) if you still haven’t spoken about the topic

With the right formulations for both variants, you will ensure clarity right from the first contact. You will get the green light and will not have to talk about your approach again and again.

10. Registration procedure for the Bachelor’s thesis or Master’s thesis

NEVER ask for formal information that is already on his/her site or which can be obtained from the Examination Office. Be prepared and know the formalities.

According to information from XXXX (website or examination office or assistant ...), registration can be made by February XX. I would like to apply for this appointment.

By doing this, you signal your seriousness once again.

11. The end in the cover letter

Make it clear that you only want a short answer.

Example:

If you basically agree with the proposed topic, please send me a short message. I will then ... (prepare the registration, formulate the proposal, write the introduction, come to the office etc.)

Be sure to add the following contact information. You never know. Maybe he or she will give you a quick call...

• First name
• Last name
• Mobile number:
• Email:

Good luck writing your text!

Silvio and the Aristolo Team

PS: Check out the Thesis-ABC and the Thesis Guide for writing a bachelor or master thesis in 31 days.

Here's a true story about a second attempt... A fellow student of mine failed a final oral exam in economics and had to repeat it. He felt so defeated by failing that in two months he had absorbed the material so intensively that when he took the exam again,  he got an A. But that was not the end of the story.

He then worked as a private tutor for five years: He was busy with preparing 200 students each year for two courses of 50 hours each for the final oral examination with his old  professor. He was only paid 5 euros per person per hour... Do the math. Why only five years? Well, the professor retired then otherwise my classmate would probably still be tutoring today...

Apparently there's one good thing about defeat... Of course, a second attempt at the Bachelor’s or Master’s Thesis makes you feel like crap and badly defeated, something everyone wants to avoid. BUT: You got a second chance! You can now even do a good or very good grade. Like the first mishap never happened. Just do a better job this time.

Here are the 10 most important techniques, so that this time you will receive a top score.

Second attempt technique 1: Find a clear topic

The clearer the topic is formulated, the better the prospects. There are patterns for topics so check out our topic trip. We can also optimize existing topics, which is unfortunately often necessary.

Second attempt technique 2: Formulate a clear research question with a goal

Without this research question and a goal, nothing works properly. Where are you going without aim? The text is a target, clearly. But what is the objective in terms of content? Of course the first goal is to finish, the second goal is to pass and the third goal is, maybe, to get a good grade. These are good and just goals. But still the substantive goal is missing. You will find all patterns and examples for proper goal setting in the Thesis-Guide.

Second attempt technique 3: Formulate a perfect outline

There is a pattern for the outline! Stick to it. Then you will never have to change it again and can work through it chapter by chapter.

You can use our sample layout to calculate how many pages each chapter should have with just one click, depending on how many pages you are required to write. Enter your page number, select the type of text and download your sample layout in PDF, with just one click, free of charge.

Second attempt technique 4: Choose an appropriate methodology

HOW do I proceed? This is already very well-prepared by the topic, research question and goal. Now you can decide on either a literature evaluation (literature thesis) or an empirical thesis with surveys or interviews. Then follow the instructions in our thesis guide.

Second attempt technique 5: Write a real proposal and use it during your meeting with your supervisor

The proposal is your schedule, your work plan, your compass, your basis for discussion, your framework and your introduction. The proposal is like a sedative, it simply lets you work in peace. Moreover, the proposal makes all your excuses disappear. You have a clear beginning, sources, outline, the leading question, etc. The proposal is a real wonder... So you always know what to do. Check if you have succeeded and refine the thesis proposal.

Second attempt technique 6: Learn excellent writing techniques that will help you with your thesis and in life

Writing will always be important, even in times of dictation and speech recognition. Become familiar with our turbo writing technique and you will write five pages per day. FIVE PAGES A DAY!!!

Second attempt technique 8: Prepare a complete schedule with milestones and sprints to check off

Just stick to our plan in the Thesis Guide and your project will flow. Here's the complete schedule.

Second attempt technique 9: Gather a collection of effective techniques for motivation and for life

Of course, it's frustrating doing it all over again. But as they say, crisis is an opportunity... Now you feel that these are not empty words. You can learn how to motivate yourself during this difficult phase. Everybody's been through this and in such moments, the right techniques can save us. Here you will find the best techniques against procrastination. Use them to start working on your second attempt!

Second attempt technique 10: Install a sharp proofreader and corrector that won't let you get away with anything

Check the text thoroughly. Use an external proofreading and make a proof print. Of course, you need to give yourself a few days so you will have to finish the text even earlier.

Good luck writing your text!

Silvio and the Aristolo Team

PS: Check out the Thesis-ABC and the Thesis Guide for writing a bachelor or master thesis in 31 days.

An evolution analysis is the analysis and description of changes to or in an object (target object) over time. The process is also called development.

During an analysis in a research project or a bachelor’s or master’s thesis, a certain object is defined, actually or mentally dissected and its components (elements) and features (attributes) are described precisely and in detail. The evolution analysis compares the status at the beginning of the project to the status at further points in time.

An example topic can help us understand the abstract:

Evolution of chocolate addiction among students - a systematic analysis

How do I proceed with an evolution analysis?

The procedure for the evolution analysis is as follows:

• First define all terms. These are all important elements of the object or system.
• Describe, with the help of textbooks and studies, the object that develops, i.e. changes.
• Make a timeline. This is ultimately a model of the development of the object (changes in the students’ chocolate addiction).
• Define the characteristics necessary to detect and describe the changes (weight, health status, cholesterol, insulin level, chocolate eating habits, happiness level, etc.).
• Identify the possible data sources (literature or empirical sources).
• Evaluate the data sources and select the most appropriate ones.
• Design a procedure for obtaining the data.
• Collect the data from literature or empirically.
• Analyze the data and draw conclusions.
• Describe the observed changes.
• Make references to the still unknown changes.

Why do I need to know how an evolution analysis works? How can that help me?

It helps you with your bachelor’s or master’s thesis and even in life! You can use it to find an easy to work on topic instead of researching many topics then wasting time and patience and getting off to a rocky start.

• Formulate the research question and the goal clearly instead of just roughly.
• Build the model for the investigation instead of simply listing content from many sources in the text, without a storyline.
• Determine your research design with data, data sources, methods, etc. instead of starting at the beginning and then muddling through.
• Structure your entire research process following the approach of a development analysis instead of stumbling along.
• Quickly identify the sources for data collection.
• Perform your evaluation alongside the analysis model.
• Write your text clearly, alongside intelligent questions instead of puzzling ideas and hoping that the reader will somehow make the connection.

What is the research question and goal of development analysis?

In general, the research question of an evolution analysis is ….

What changes can be identified and described in different phases of the Alpha object?

Example: What are the characteristics of students’ with chocolate addictions at different stages?

The objective is to gain knowledge about the changes in the chocolate addiction on object Alpha. Right now, the WHY is not important.

Is such an evolution analysis a literature thesis or empirical thesis?

This type of analysis fits both types. You can gather knowledge scattered in literature sources, which would make it a simple literature thesis.

But you can also collect and evaluate the data yourself and close the gap, which would make it an empirical thesis. An empirical thesis is considered more valuable, of course. By the way, this does not have to be more difficult than a literature thesis. Collecting data can be less time-consuming than finding old literature.

What kinds of tools and materials do I need for an evolution analysis?

It depends on the nature of your work, whether it is theoretical or empirical.

• The literature thesis requires very good search methods to find the right sources and thus contents and arguments used to evaluate the sources. The methods of literature reviews is best suited for this purpose.
• You are looking for scientific studies according to a tried and tested scheme. These studies are your material and established knowledge becomes your text.
• You need an instrument of source evaluation for the collection of data sources. Our catalog of questions can reliably evaluate data and data sources by determining to what extent they help you in writing the paper. The rating works like a filter.
• The empirical thesis requires the methods of literature thesis mentioned above in addition to a few more methods and instruments.
• You need data sources and instruments to collect data such as questionnaires, surveys or interviews. There are standards for the contents, outline, type of data documentation etc.

But the most important part of academic writing are the questions! In all possible variations. There is one big research question, then there are detailed questions that break down the big research question. If you conduct interviews, there are interview questions. The questionnaire is full of questions with predefined answers. And don’t forget, there are still micro questions for the chapters.

By the way, you can write five pages of text per day with the right writing technique.

What are the biggest challenges in an evolution analysis for the bachelor’s thesis or master’s thesis?

• You must first locate the gap, the unknown or little known changes. Remember the chocolate example. You could also examine teachers or schoolchildren.
• You must find out what we know and what we don't know but WANT to know. Then you have to figure out if the information is obtainable at all.
• You must clearly define the topic of the investigation and thus define it. For example, it is not just THE STUDENTS, but those who study sports or business studies etc.
• You don't build a model every day either.

And then there is the seemingly hard task of finding and evaluating the data and drawing the right conclusions. This sounds harder than it is. But with a large excavator, you can remove a significant pile of earth in one day! The same idea applies to the appropriate methods and tools of analysis.

What's the best place to start?

Start with clean definitions of your terms and use only scientific sources, i.e. no online sources, no lexicons.

Example: Sustainable tourism should be defined by a reference book on the subject not by an online source. You will find much more on the keyword in the textbook.

You should also find descriptions and representations of the objects. For chocolate, you would find a description of the ingredients, the different specialities and product variations like pralines etc.

This is followed by the formulation of the research gap and research question, the aim of the work, the selection of methods, the source evaluation, the acquisition and analysis of data and then writing of the text. It's all fun when you see the end clearly in front of you.

How does the Aristolo Thesis Guide help with a development analysis for the bachelor’s or master’s thesis?

The Aristolo Thesis Guide provides detailed instructions for the development analysis and includes all the steps, plus instructions, checklists, tools and examples. This will save you a lot of time, your results will be much better, your findings will be real and you will receive an awesome grade!

Good luck writing your text!

Silvio and the Aristolo Team

PS: Check out the Thesis-ABC and the Thesis Guide for writing a bachelor or master thesis in 31 days.

A data analysis is an evaluation of formal data to gain knowledge for the bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral thesis. The aim is to identify patterns in the data, i.e. regularities, irregularities or at least anomalies.

Data can come in many forms, from numbers to the extensive descriptions of objects. As a rule, this data is always in numerical form such as time series or numerical sequences or statistics of all kinds. However, statistics are already processed data.

Data analysis requires some creativity because the solution is usually not obvious. After all, no one has conducted an analysis like this before, or at least you haven't found anything about it in the literature.

The results of a data analysis are answers to initial questions and detailed questions. The answers are numbers and graphics and the interpretation of these numbers and graphics.

What are the advantages of data analysis compared to other methods?

• Numbers are universal
• The data is tangible.
• There are algorithms for calculations and it is easier than a text evaluation.
• The addressees quickly understand the results.
• You can really do magic and impress the addressees.
• It’s easier to visualize the results.

What are the disadvantages of data analysis?

• Garbage in, garbage out. If the quality of the data is poor, it’s impossible to obtain reliable results.
• The dependency in data retrieval can be quite annoying. Here are some tips for attracting participants for a survey.
• You have to know or learn methods or find someone who can help you.
• Mistakes can be devastating.
• Missing substance can be detected quickly.
• Pictures say more than a thousand words. Therefore, if you can’t fill the pages with words, at least throw in graphics. However, usually only the words count.

Under what conditions can or should I conduct a data analysis?

• If I have to.
• You must be able to get the right data.
• If I can perform the calculations myself or at least understand, explain and repeat the calculated evaluations of others.
• You want a clear personal contribution right from the start.

How do I create the evaluation design for the data analysis?

The most important thing is to ask the right questions, enough questions and also clearly formulated questions. Here are some techniques for asking the right questions:

Good formulation: What is the relationship between Alpha and Beta?

Poor formulation: How are Alpha and Beta related?

Now it’s time for the methods for the calculation. There are dozens of statistical methods, but as always, most calculations can be done with only a handful of statistical methods.

• Which detailed questions can be formulated as the research question?
• What data is available? In what format? How is the data prepared?
• Which key figures allow statements?
• What methods are available to calculate such indicators? Do my details match? By type (scales), by size (number of records).
• Do I not need to have a lot of data for a data analysis?

It depends on the media, the questions and the methods I want to use.

A fixed rule is that I need at least 30 data sets for a statistical analysis in order to be able to make representative statements about the population. So statistically it doesn't matter if I have 30 or 30 million records. That's why statistics were invented...

What mistakes do I need to watch out for?

• Don't do the analysis at the last minute.
• Formulate questions and hypotheses for evaluation BEFORE data collection!
• Stay persistent, keep going.
• Leave the results for a while then revise them.
• You have to combine theory and the state of research with your results.
• You must have the time under control

Which tools can I use?

You can use programs of all kinds for calculations. But asking questions is your most powerful aide.

Who can legally help me with a data analysis?

The great intellectual challenge is to develop the research design, to obtain the data and to interpret the results in the end.

Am I allowed to let others perform the calculations?

That's a thing. In the end, every program is useful. If someone else is operating a program, then they can simply be seen as an extension of the program. But this is a comfortable view... Of course, it’s better if you do your own calculations.

A good compromise is to find some help, do a practical calculation then follow the calculation steps meticulously so next time you can do the math yourself. Basically, this functions as a permitted training. One can then justify each step of the calculation in the defense.

What's the best place to start?

Clearly with the detailed questions and hypotheses. These two guide the entire data analysis. So formulate as many detailed questions as possible to answer your main question or research question. You can find detailed instructions and examples for the formulation of these so-called detailed questions in the Thesis Guide.

How does the Aristolo Guide help with data evaluation for the bachelor’s or master’s thesis or dissertation?

The Thesis Guide or Dissertation Guide has instructions for data collection, data preparation, data analysis and interpretation. The guide can also teach you how to formulate questions and answer them with data to create your own experiment. We also have many templates for questionnaires and analyses of all kinds.

Good luck writing your text!

Silvio and the Aristolo Team

PS: Check out the Thesis-ABC and the Thesis Guide for writing a bachelor or master thesis in 31 days.

You have finally gathered all the information for your dissertation so you want to start writing. But suddenly you have doubts: the results are so banal, so trivial...

Why is that?

The answer is simple: YOU have deduced everything logically, have delved deep into the subject and understand everything perfectly. Therefore, it is easy for YOU to understand but not for others!

So come down (or better up :-) ) and answer the following 5 questions:

Question 1: Have I achieved the original goals of my dissertation and gained the desired insight?

Measure your findings against the original goals! When you first started, you wrote a proposal with your goals, the current state of research and your approach. Dig out this document again. Look at your destination at that time. Compare it with the current results. If your results are mostly in line with the goals you set at the time, you should be satisfied with the results and finish writing the text. If you need to change the target formulation on the way, this will serve as your benchmark.

Question 2: Did my supervisor approve the goal of my dissertation when I started my PhD?

You discussed your concept or proposal with your supervisor in the beginning phases of your thesis. Therefore, it only makes sense that the formulation of objectives also has to be approved. If your current results are largely consistent with the goals you set at the time, and if these results are accepted by your supervisor, then stop brooding and get on with it.

Question 3: Did I proceed as planned with the proposal for my dissertation?

When you first started, you defined your goals, your approach and your methods. Have you followed these steps closely? Have you applied the methods largely without any compromises? Have you been able to obtain and evaluate the data? Then your results should be acceptable and you should accept them.

Question 4: What does my supervisor think about my findings?

Present the results to your supervisor and ask him/her directly how he/she assesses these findings.

• Discuss the depth and scope of your individual findings and insight.
• Defend your findings.
• Take notes.
• Then revise your results again, one last time!

Question 5: Has the state of research developed further in the meantime? Are there new findings from other authors?

Did someone discover the same results as you already? What a nightmare to read about your findings in another author's article... On the positive side, it is another incentive to finish the dissertation quickly so something like this doesn't happen. As long as you keep an eye on the current state of research, you can be sure that your results are unique. So make sure that the world finally sees your findings and stop brooding about the quality of your results.

Now finish your text and have it printed.

Good luck writing your text!

Silvio and the Aristolo Team

PS: Check out the PhD Guide for writing a PhD in 200 days.

Keeping things in order during thesis writing is relative. People who keep things in order are only too lazy to search... Only a genius can control the chaos...

You can tell yourself a lot of things about controlled chaos but organization also has advantages: a better overview, a clear conscience, less potential for distraction, fewer arguments with fellow peers and don’t forget hygiene. So, clean up once in a while, even your thesis. Here are some tips to avoid excuses.

1. Empty your email inbox three times per week

The best case scenario would be receiving emails from your supervisor saying everything is great while you’re working on your thesis... All other emails are just a distraction. Why not set up a filter that moves all other emails to the trash...

A more sensible approach, however, is to empty your inbox three times a week down to the last email, on Tuesday, Thursday and in any case on Saturday morning.

2. Sort reference files for the thesis

Many of the findings from online searches are of course positive. But if dozens of articles with cryptic file names are lying around on your computer, you can get lost in them. Articles must be assigned to chapters. Chapter folders help sort the articles. The article names should start with the author and the year. Then you can also sort the articles according to the list of references.

3. Assign article copies to chapters or trash them

You copy everything that seems useful, especially at the beginning of the thesis.  At the end you’re stuck with piles of articles, which can cause a guilty conscience if they are not processed.

Therefore, it is a good idea to clean from time to time. Tidying up means either assigning the articles to chapters or putting them aside and thus out of sight. After all, the most important filing storage is the garbage bin. Keep this wisdom for life...

4. Keep your writing files in order

Writing the thesis is a huge challenge. One is happy about every new page and does not pay attention to formalities. Each chapter gets its own file... However, it is better to write in a pre-formatted writing template from the beginning according to the formal requirements of the university. This means that the file you start with will also be the file you print.

5. Empty your desk three times a week

A good sign that you have your thesis project under control is an empty desk. Basically, the desk should be empty every evening and the books and folders should be filed properly. But it’s easier said than done. Clean up the open books and notes lying around everywhere.

If you break your project down into individual tasks following the chapters of the outline, you can clean up after each completion. This is also a way of celebrating the milestone.

6. Clean the kitchen, bathroom and rooms

It’s also a good idea to clean the kitchen and room(s) because the intensive occupation with the thesis makes you forget pretty much everything else around you. Of course, as a civilized person, you know that disorder is not productive and can also be unhygienic.

On the other hand, cleaning serves as a distraction from the thesis. The best thing is to clean the surrounding area every two days and build this task into the thesis project as a break. Then you’re also getting some physical exercise and you’re left with a feeling of satisfaction.

7. Turn in books to the library

Once a week, you need to check which books need to be turned in to the library. We recommend copying the relevant pages immediately and then returning the books. This avoids mess, the possibility of forgetting the deadline and is nice for the fellow students, who also need the books.

8. Sort notes for the thesis

Paperwork is typical for studying. Sheets are lying around. This quickly leads to chaos and muddled thoughts if you’re working on your thesis.

Sorting notes can be combined with tidying your desk. Twice a week, all your notes should be where they belong.

Good luck keeping things in order while writing a great thesis!

Silvio and the Aristolo Team

PS: Check out the Thesis-ABC and the Thesis Guide for writing a bachelor or master thesis in 31 days.

A storyline makes the final text more compelling. Your supervisor won't be able to stop reading. The bachelor’s or master’s thesis will become night reading for your supervisor... What a picture...

Let's get straight to the point. A storyline also depends on the type of thesis you are constructing.

A storyline in a simple literature thesis looks like this:

• Introduction
• Theory
• State of research
• Analysis and findings
• Conclusion

While a storyline in a practical thesis with a company looks like this:

• Introduction
• Theory
• As-is analysis
• TARGET concept
• Conclusion

This is the storyline for an empirical thesis:

• Introduction
• Theory
• State of research
• Research design, methodology
• Analysis and findings
• Conclusion

How is the storyline spun?

Formulate a clear and interesting question as the leading question in the introduction. Describe a tangible goal. Then follow our outline template for academic texts.

What do supervisors look for in the storyline?

• You want comprehensible transitions between chapters.
• Meaningful bullet points and chapter headings are very important. This helps with orientation.
• Include a very brief explanation of the information in the next chapter at the beginning of the chapter.
• Supervisors pay attention to the contents of the last chapters because they explain your findings. These must refer to content from previous chapters.
• Anything that is not leading to the findings should not be described in detail in the theory chapter. This is otherwise perceived as "inflating the pages".

How to spin your storyline in the thesis - practical tips:

At the beginning of the thesis:

• Take your time when formulating the research question and the goal, so they are as precise as possible.
• Create the outline carefully, following the sample outline.
• Write a proposal and explain the contents of each chapter.
• Explain the topic and the outline to your supervisor in a conversation.
• Perhaps give a presentation on your topic and outline, even if it is not required.

While writing the thesis:

• Avoid changing the basic structure of the outline. The first and second chapters should remain stable, as in the outline example.
• Add details to the outline to the third or fourth chapters. Always formulate meaningful headlines.
• Learn and use the turbo writing technique to write five pages per day.
• You need professionals for an error-free text.

At the end of the bachelor’s or master’s thesis:

• Check the transitions between paragraphs and chapters again and refine them.
• Use our sample formulations for these transitions.
• Check your chapter headings and refine them.

What does a storyline in the bachelor's or master's thesis need?

• A storyline works best with a clear research question, detailed questions and a tangible goal.
• The storyline is beneficial when accompanied by a differentiated outline with a comprehensible logic.
• Thematically relevant sources are good for the storyline.
• Follow our tips and the Thesis Guide to spin your storyline.

Good luck writing your text!

Silvio and the Aristolo Team

PS: Check out the Thesis-ABC and the Thesis Guide for writing a bachelor or master thesis in 31 days.

Time management is a whole new world. It's the opposite of "being ready at the last minute". Time management means choosing one's own activities in such a way that one's own quality of life is as high as possible.

The least possible suffering is the underlying goal, no matter in which area. With time management as an attitude towards life, life becomes better.

When you’re working on the thesis, time management means: YOU decide when you want to tackle which task for the text and when you want to finish it. Also, the date you plan on finishing should be well before the deadline or the submission date. YOU don't wait to finish until time is up because then you don’t have time to check your work and do anything extra (like in exams...)  This is not being in control but forced.

How do you manage to be temporally in control?

You know the deadline, you know how much or little time you have left but you don't want to push the envelope. In the end, it's the same pattern: rushed, insatisfactory work and night shifts with consequences such as tiredness, irritability or errors in the text, in the references, in the conclusion and in the formatting ... But never mind, as long as it's done! The final grade? Not as good as it could and should be.

Why is that? What are the reasons for this unreasonable behavior?

Excuses not to write the thesis:

1. Other things are more important right now.

Obviously that's an excuse. If other things were more important, then you would be doing the other things full-time rather than the thesis…

2. I have my thesis under control and I don't have to do anything yet.

Why would you think that when you have NEVER written a thesis before? Term papers are a maximum of 30 pages, the thesis at least 40, and the term paper basically consists of compiling some ideas from literature. However, the thesis requires a real personal contribution.

3. I've always been able to do it...

Self-confidence is important. Especially when it comes from such achievements as: I wrote my last paper in one night, 15 pages in one night... And? How proud were you with the result? That night lasted way longer than 10 hours, the reading and collecting required beforehand was already a lot of work and copying from existing texts was certainly not such a challenge. And in the end, what grade did you get...

4. The extra clever excuse

"If I start it at the last minute, I’ll save a lot of time. Then I won't have to work on my thesis for three months, I'll just work three weeks." Ha-ha-ha. Ask yourself honestly if you have completed another meaningful project in the previous 9 weeks. You probably looked for sources from time to time, read, took notes, talked to others about the thesis, etc. You would have saved a lot of time if you had started when you were supposed to, finished it days later and earned money with a student job...

The solution: time management in the thesis

Management of time means: I am the ruler of my time. That sounds trivial because I always am. But, if I let time pass me by, I am passive and do NOT decide how to spend my time.

Time management means that I determine what happens and when, on a certain day, of a certain week. But as long as I put the project off that was assigned to me, I am not a mistress or master of my time. This is proven by the fact that I am always annoyed because I don’t have the time to do other things. I cancel on friends, cannot participate in interesting events or maybe neglect my body because I have to finish this project first.

Gain time management during the thesis

The following tips will help you to handle your time more confidently.

1. Check and re-check decisions

Review your decision to make sure that you really want to do what you have to do. The decision is quite simple: if I finish the thesis, I’ll graduate with a degree. If I don’t finish the thesis, I won't get a degree. So I have to want this. And if I have to want it anyway, I might as well want it without being forced to do it. It's worth solving this apparent conundrum!

2. Tools and techniques for the thesis

I will acquire the necessary techniques and methods. I will procure the proper tools, so I can manage my project faster and better. You are already familiar with many of the techniques for academic writing, by the way, and have been using them for a long time. This saves a lot of time. The Thesis Guide shares these methods, techniques, tools, templates and examples. That will save you from procrastination.

3. Work on another project besides the thesis

I am looking for another parallel project that I really enjoy. This is serious. Nothing speeds up progress in one project than working on a second project. Because then you are pressed for time and you automatically have to do more in less time so you won’t have any time for excuses.

4. A follow-up project for the thesis

While we are working on projects, a follow-up project can be a wonderful motivation. This can be a trip or a seminar, an event like a wedding or even an internship.

These decisions and activities will help you be more confident with how you manage your own time. Then it's just a matter of focus and full speed ahead.

Good luck writing your text!

Silvio and the Aristolo Team

PS: Check out the Thesis-ABC and the Thesis Guide for writing a bachelor or master thesis in 31 days.

The state of research is very important in a dissertation. You can only find the research gap if you already know what you want to know. Without this gap, you will not receive a doctorate. But how do I find out what we already know? With a proven scheme.

What is the state of research, anyway?

This is a systematic overview of previous findings on a specific topic, question or object of investigation. The overview is either a table, a full text or both.

Why input do I need for the research status?

You will need the information from the state of research for these phases of the thesis:

• for the introduction (short study overview),
• to deduce the research gap,
• for consultation on the subject and the procedure,
• in the colloquium, to describe the research gap,
• for defending your findings at the end of the thesis.
• to define your own research design with methods, samples and procedures.

What exactly should I look for when I determine the state of research?

You are looking for scientific studies (papers) on your topic. The aim is to provide an overview of the following contents in these studies:

• they examine models and factors,
• the data basis (the so-called sample),
• the respective methodology of the investigation,
• the results of the analyses and their interpretation,
• the outstanding issues.

When, where and how do I start compiling the state of research?

You start with it on your first day of work! You need related studies quickly.

• Define your most important keywords. Look at the terms of the first studies.
• Familiarize yourself with the criteria for evaluating scientific sources.
• Search for the best articles and papers in the best catalogs for scientific studies.
• Limit the time you give yourself to search to 2 hours at a time, otherwise you will lose days
• Find the studies that best match your search terms.
• Don't read into the articles, just read the abstracts first.
• You need a list of relevant articles as soon as possible.
• Be selective and evaluate fewer studies at the beginning. That sounds paradoxical but when you include studies on less relevant issues, you carry these less important questions around with you for far too long. They only end up taking up your time.

How can I recognize that my research status is "complete"?

Complete means that you will not find any other scientific sources on a specific topic. You can see this from the fact that well-known papers are repeatedly quoted in later studies.

By the way, you will also notice it very quickly based on the source list of the article that is closest to your topic and most current (because such an article will list all the important sources).

How do I present the state of research in the text and at what point?

This is a separate longer main chapter in the monograph. This chapter follows a certain structure.

A table is also welcome. This will make previous research on the topic transparent. This so-called Review Matrix follows a certain structure and can be downloaded in the Dissertation Guide.

In the case of article-based dissertations, the state of research is presented only very briefly. Actually only the authors and their questions are listed. The interested reader must then find the details himself.

How do I work with the research status?

• I define and operationalize the research gap in my own thesis.
• With the state of research I classify my own project into the research area and make my supervisors happy.
• I use the same terms as the authors of the studies and build on the appropriate models of the evaluated studies.
• The methods and data samples of the studies give me orientation for my own choice of methods and samples.
• In the end, I classify my own findings into the state of research chapter. Discussion and Conclusion.

How long will it take to determine the state of research?

At the beginning of the dissertation, this will take about 3-4 weeks but then you have the most important 20-30 studies on the topic. After that you will always find new studies to add to the chapter with the state of research.

Compile the state of research according to the plan using the instructions and templates in the PhD-Guide. A thorough survey of previous findings will make the path to the finished dissertation much easier. You will finish faster and receive a better grade.

We wish you success with your dissertation!

Silvio and the Aristolo Team

PS: Check out the PhD Guide for writing a PhD in 200 days.