Write a strong proposal for your thesis. The thesis proposal should explain why your research is needed and how your work will bring original ideas to the field of study. A good proposal will state what information is already available on the subject, explain the history of the problem and identify who or what will benefit from your research findings. You will show that your research can be completed within time frames and evidence that you have approval from your university's ethics committee.
Set out your thesis proposal in a standard format. You should include a title page, an abstract, table of contents and a statement of the problem addressed by your thesis. Include a historiography review, a theoretical framework and methodology. You should also draw up a schedule explaining the time management of your project and end your thesis proposal with a bibliography.
Carry out your research and analyses. Use a wide range of primary and secondary sources, including interviews, textbooks and academic journals. Keep a research journal so that you can keep track of sources you have used and plan out your research timetable. Try and keep a notebook with you at all times so you can jot ideas down if they come to you away from your working environment.
Write your thesis in the sequence that suits you best. You may feel more comfortable writing some of the later sections first and coming back to earlier paragraphs. Keep your writing style clear and concise and do not use different terminology to describe the same thing. Review theses written previously by others and use the best ones as a model for your work. Make sure that the body of your thesis is well-structured, include a table of contents and have clear introductions and conclusions. It is a good idea to review your introduction once you have completed your work and check that you have achieved what was set out at the beginning.
Prepare for your thesis defense. Try and attend defenses before yours to get an idea of how they work. Think about likely questions and have answers ready for them. Get friends to read your thesis and have them ask you questions. When you are at the defense, stay positive and welcome questions and input. Being overly defensive will create a poor impression.