There are nine parts to most thesis proposals: introduction, problem statement, research questions, project-specific objectives, approach/methods, expected results, timeline, publication plan and references. Laying out the thesis in such a manner helps the instructor easily see where the writer is going with his work. It also gives the instructor tangible marking points throughout the process to help the thesis writer stay on track.
This type of paper was introduced to streamline postgraduate education and turn out effective researchers. By coming up with a format consistent throughout the schools, students could conduct their research and advance to the next step with it. When experiments carried out did not produce the expected results, no one knew exactly why or how to reformulate the system. This type of proposal helped students think through their options prior to beginning labor-intensive work.
When laying out a proposal, the thesis writer thinks about project-specific objectives and how they might shift in the future. To make the thesis a useful tool, it is helpful to have someplace to go if the work does not proceed as expected. These objectives can lead to a new project or to a potential placement in the workforce once schooling is competed. By thinking a few steps in advance writers can open doors that might otherwise be closed.
Thesis publishing might not go exactly as planned, but having an idea makes for a better thesis attempt. The earlier the student begins contacting and working with publication outfits the more likely she is to have a positive result. When this section was added to proposals, it was due to many students not having an outlet for their work. This became a goal of professors, to help the students get published. By forcing the student to look at publication options objectively, success in publishing becomes easier.
Thinking outside the box a bit helps bring a thesis together. By reaching a little farther than he might have considered originally, a student's work could take on new levels, which will open up doors for further exploration down the road. The biggest fact of a thesis is thinking of it not only as a way to complete a degree but to launch a future career.