Most theses consist of two parts: the topic and the analysis, explanation, or assertion made about the subject matter. The type of thesis statement then greatly determines the style of the thesis. An analytical thesis describes an issue or idea and then dissects it, explaining the "what" and "why" of the topic. An argumentative thesis argues a specific position, supported by evidence from the research. Finally, an expository thesis's aim is to explain in great detail a particular phenomenon or subject.
The length of a thesis is determined by the level qualification associated, the depth of research and analysis required, the amount of data acquired and the official requirements of the educational institution. Generally, a thesis has on average 40 pages, but some may be much longer or shorter. If a thesis is outside of the norm and in a format other than written, the length is not a determining factor in the acceptance of the thesis.
Each college or university follows specific set of writing guidelines for all their research, papers and journal articles. Before formatting your thesis and editing it, make sure that you are following the correct guidelines. Popular writing guidelines include APA, MLA, Chicago Manual of Style and Harvard Style.
While most theses are in a written format, some degrees require the completion of a creative or performance theses. These can take the form of business plans, original literary essays, musical compositions, paintings, films, sculptures or photo essays. Most of these also require a research proposal to support their primary medium.