If you’ve ever stared down the abyss of a PhD thesis, then you know it’s no joke. A million pages of research, endless footnotes, and let’s not even talk about the references. But here’s the thing—sometimes the hardest part isn’t doing the research, it’s writing about it. That’s where these cheat phrases come in handy. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel, just use these bad boys to sound like an academic genius without breaking a sweat.
Let’s break down these golden phrases into key sections and get you ready to write that killer thesis.
1. Establishing the Research Context: Don’t Just Drop into Your Thesis Like a Parachuter
You’ve got to ease your reader into your world. You’re not dropping them into the middle of a battlefield—you’re giving them a map. This is where you lay the groundwork, explain where your study fits in the big picture of your field, and hint at why it matters. And you don’t have to start from scratch.
Use these cheat phrases to make a smooth entrance:
- “This study is situated within the broader field of [your field], where [brief overview of the field].”
- “Recent developments in [your field/area] have highlighted the importance of [key concept/topic].”
- “Over the past few decades, there has been increasing interest in [topic], particularly in relation to [specific aspect].”
Translation: You’re basically saying, “Hey, this is what everyone’s been talking about, and here’s why you should pay attention to my piece of the conversation.”
2. Identifying the Research Gap: What’s Missing?
Alright, so you’ve set the stage, but why should anyone care about what you’re doing? Here’s where you point out what’s missing in the current research. This is your opportunity to go, “See this giant hole? I’m about to fill it.”
- “Despite the extensive research on [related topic], relatively little attention has been given to [your specific focus].”
- “While previous studies have explored [related area], there remains a lack of understanding about [your specific focus].”
- “Existing literature has predominantly focused on [topic], yet the question of [specific aspect] remains underexplored.”
In other words, you’re telling the academic world that they’ve dropped the ball on this one, and you’re the MVP ready to fix it.
3. Stating the Research Problem/Question: What’s the Big Question?
Now that you’ve established what’s missing, you need to make it clear what problem your research is going to tackle. This is the moment where you introduce your mission.
- “The primary aim of this research is to investigate [your research question].”
- “This study seeks to address the following research question(s): [list your research questions].”
- “The central question that this research aims to answer is: [your research question].”
You’re basically saying, “Here’s what’s been bugging me, and I’m about to dive into it headfirst.”
4. Outlining the Research Objectives: What Are You Hoping to Achieve?
Alright, so you’ve thrown your big question out there. Now, what exactly are you going to do about it? This is where you lay out your objectives—what you hope to accomplish with your research.
- “The objectives of this study are as follows: [list your objectives].”
- “This research aims to achieve the following goals: [list your goals].”
- “In order to answer the research questions, this study will pursue the following objectives: [list your objectives].”
In simple terms, you’re saying, “Here’s my game plan. Watch how I execute.”
5. Providing a Roadmap of the Thesis: Guiding Your Reader through the Madness
At this point, your reader might be thinking, “Cool, but how are you going to organize all of this?” Here’s where you offer a quick roadmap to explain how your thesis is structured. Think of it like a menu at a fancy restaurant—no surprises, just clear expectations.
- “This thesis is structured as follows: Chapter 1 [brief description], Chapter 2 [brief description], etc.”
- “The remainder of this thesis is organized as follows: [outline the structure and content of each chapter].”
- “Following this introduction, Chapter 2 will [briefly describe what each chapter will cover].”
This is the academic way of saying, “Strap in, here’s what’s coming, and you’re gonna love it.”
Final Thoughts: The Lip Gallagher Method to PhD Writing
Look, writing a PhD thesis is a marathon, not a sprint. But if you know how to structure your writing and use the right cheat phrases, you can make it through without losing your mind. These phrases aren’t shortcuts—they’re tools to help you stay clear, concise, and professional. And the best part? They make you sound like you’ve got everything under control (even when you might not feel that way).
So go forth, armed with these cheat phrases, and crush that thesis like the academic rockstar you are!