chapter of thesis writing

• Awards Season
• Big Stories
• Pop Culture
• Video Games
• Celebrities

Where Can I Get Help Writing My Thesis Online?

You’ve spent years preparing for your master’s degree or PhD. You’ve read, studied and spent hours of time and energy writing papers. Now you’ve arrived at the culmination of all this effort: writing your thesis. There are plenty of compelling stories about the time and energy that students have spent drafting their dissertations and theses.

The good news is that you’re not alone. While you certainly don’t want to hire someone to write your thesis for you, which goes against most institution policies and puts your academic integrity at risk, you can get plenty of help with certain aspects of your thesis online. Whether you’re looking for a little guidance or extensive assistance, various services can make writing or editing your thesis go smoothly.

Dissertation Editor

One of the greatest challenges of writing your thesis can be juggling your family or job responsibilities with your studies. The time that writing takes can add another layer of obligation to your already-packed schedule. Dissertation Editor is a company whose founder is a PhD-educated writer and professor, and it promises to help you complete your thesis or dissertation on time and in compliance with your university’s rules and regulations.

Dissertation Editor’s primary function is to guide you along in the writing process and provide a helping hand in understanding everything you need to take care of. It places you with a writer who specializes in your area of study, and this individual can help you organize and analyze your research while making sure that your thesis fits your writing style and personality. This company also specializes in helping with any statistical analysis that you use in your thesis.

Thesis Helpers

If you’re concerned about using a service to help you write your thesis because you think it’ll be obvious that you hired help, don’t worry. Thesis Helpers puts its team of experienced writers to work for you to help you craft a thesis that finishes your degree on a high note. No matter what level of help you need, from narrowing down a topic to advanced editing and proofreading, they’re available to help.

The writers have advanced degrees in their areas of expertise, and one of the best things about Thesis Helpers is that it gives you ultimate say in the final product of your thesis. This company can help you with revisions and additional research, and you can rest assured that your thesis will meet anti-plagiarism standards.

Best Dissertation

Sometimes when you’re writing a thesis or dissertation, you can get stuck on one section or chapter. You may not need assistance writing the whole thing, but getting some help with the exact portion you’re struggling with can come in handy. That’s one of the strengths of using Best Dissertation . You don’t have to rely on it for help with your entire thesis if it’s not what you need.

Like most of the top thesis-assistance services, Best Dissertation employs writers with advanced degrees who specialize in various fields of study. What truly sets this company apart is the live support that it offers any time of the day or night. It claims to take the stress and strain out of writing your dissertation or thesis.

While some companies place a premium on helping you get your thesis written, others emphasize the editing and proofreading process. If you don’t need help with writing but need a hand with proofreading and editing, Scribbr is a good option for you. Its editors can help you get a grasp on the grammar and tone that are appropriate for academic writing.

Scribbr doesn’t just provide boilerplate feedback that you can find anywhere. It offers personalized feedback aimed at helping you become a better writer in the long run. You can even see examples of how its editors work by looking at the company’s website.

My Assignment Help

Writing a thesis has its own challenges that other academic writing simply doesn’t, which is why the team at My Assignment Help offers its particular brand of expertise. If you need assistance with a dissertation or thesis at the PhD or master’s level, its writers have the level of education and experience to help you write an expertly crafted and edited thesis.

My Assignment Help prides itself on hiring subject matter experts, meaning you can pair up with a helper who already has an advanced degree in your field. They understand the nuances of academic writing that are specific to your area of study, and they can provide advice on everything from making your abstract more unique to crafting a thought-provoking conclusion.

MORE FROM ASK.COM

• Monash Online

Student Academic Success

• 1:1 Consultation 1:1 Consultation
• Study better Study better
• Build digital capabilities Build digital capabilities
• Understand assessments Understand assessments
• Excel at writing Excel at writing
• Enhance your thinking Enhance your thinking
• Present confidently Present confidently
• Collaborate with others Collaborate with others
• Improve your academic English Improve your academic English
• Maintain academic integrity Maintain academic integrity
• Advance your graduate studies Advance your graduate studies
• Workshops Workshops
• Feedback studio Feedback studio

It is the University’s expectation that only those who are well and not presenting with COVID-19 symptoms attend a Monash campus or location. View our latest updates .

• Skip to content
• Skip to navigation

Thesis chapter

Writing the thesis chapters.

A thesis is built up of a series of chapters that construct a substantiated and convincing response to the research question(s). Typically, a thesis contains the following chapters: an introduction; a literature review; a description of methodology; a report and discussion of results; and a conclusion. A thesis may have five to eight chapters depending on the nature of the study, the required word count and the requirements of the degree.

An introduction is crucial to setting the tone of your thesis – it is the first impression you’ll make on your readers (assessors). Briefly, it presents the purpose, context and scope of your research. Likewise, a conclusion is just as crucial – it is the lasting impression you’ll make on your readers (assessors). Not only does it give a summary of your thesis, but should provide a clear, convincing answer to your research question(s).

In the methods chapter, you describe and justify in detail how you undertook the research and why you chose such methods and/or theoretical position(s).

In the reporting and discussion chapter(s) , you outline the important findings and how they answer your research question(s). You might also make comparisons with previous studies and discuss the relevance of your findings to the field of study as a whole.

These chapters fit and flow together to create a complete thesis document.

Content Container

Introduction and conclusion thesis chapters.

The introduction chapter tells the reader your research topic and why it needs to be researched. Importantly, this chapter sets out your research question(s) and/or hypothesis. Additionally, this chapter provides definitions of key terms and background information.

The conclusion chapter provides a clear answer to your research question(s) and summarises the key findings. In this chapter, you evaluate the limitations of your research, make recommendations for future research and link back to other research.

Methods thesis chapter

In the methods chapter, you inform your reader how you will undertake the research and why you’ll do the research in this way. This chapter provides specific details about the stages of your research – the processes, the sample framework, the theoretical basis, and how outcomes will be measured to address your research question(s) and/or hypothesis.

Reporting and discussion thesis chapters

The reporting and discussion chapters are where you tell your unique research story. These chapters form the bulk of your thesis where you describe, analyse and interpret your data and answer your research question(s). There are many modes of presenting your findings depending on the conventions of your discipline and methodology. While text is common, clearly labelled visuals may be appropriate. The discussion often incorporates links back to your research question(s), connections with previous research and the implications of your research.

Thesis structures

The structure of the thesis will be determined by the conventions and expectations of your discipline. However, the following questions form the basis of a sound structure:

• What was done?
• Why was it done?
• How was it done?
• What were the results?
• What do they mean?
• Why are they important?

An important aspect of thesis structure is signposting. Not only does this help you organise your content but it also helps the reader to follow your thesis. Some common forms of signposting include: headings and subheadings, reader direction, forecasting, recapitulating and giving a brief overview.

• Directories

Current students

• Strategic initiatives

• Academic Colleges
• University Executive
• Strategic planning
• Global engagement
• Nobel Laureates
• Translational Fellowship Scheme
• Previous years' recipients
• Distinguished educators
• Education Fellowship Scheme
• Roll of honour
• Frameworks & disclosures
• Dates & deadlines
• Legislation
• ANU Council Statements
• ATAR information
• Flexible degree options at ANU
• Professional development courses at ANU
• External scholarships
• Direct application scholarships
• Prestigious scholarships
• Applying to ANU - Application details
• Domestic undergraduate admission
• All programs and courses
• Domestic Applications - ANU Postgraduate Coursework
• Domestic landing page
• Future students vn
• Find an educational agent
• International students
• Subscribe for updates
• Short courses
• Accept your offer
• Fees & payments
• Student experience
• Student residences
• Compare residences
• Financial support
• Application advice
• Other accommodation options
• Support & resources
• Past events
• Undergraduate students
• Postgraduate students
• Postgrad research students
• Exchange and Study Abroad
• Prospective international students
• Parents & guardians
• Career advisors
• Agents representatives
• Our research
• Our Health in Our Hands
• Tech Policy Design Centre
• Partner with us
• Publications
• Current researchers
• Current research students
• Future research students
• Engaged ANU
• Search fundraising projects
• Impact stories
• Report to donors
• Philanthropy at ANU
• Support students
• Kambri scholars
• Benefits & services
• Prominent alumni
• Golden Graduate profiles
• ANU75 features
• Events & stories
• Indigenous student support
• Leadership & volunteering
• Student communities
• Student experience research
• Accommodation
• Scholarships
• Program management
• Assessments & exams
• Timetabling
• Academic integrity
• Appointments
• Research writing
• Study skills
• Writing & assessment
• Peer mentoring
• Access & inclusion
• Getting help at ANU
• Sexual Harassment & Sexual Assault
• Living well
• Feeling well
• Respectful relationships
• Spending well
• Living spiritually
• Living legally & safe
• Applications & interviews
• Career resources
• Finding a job
• Planning your career
• Understanding overseas study
• Short course options
• Other semester-length options
• Funding information
• Volunteering
• New students
• Current International students
• Students with a disability
• Higher Degree Research candidates
• Indigenous students
• For journalists
• Publications & social media
• News from the VC
• All podcasts
• University calendar
• Website directory
• Social channels

ANU is a world-leading university in Australia’s capital. Excellence is embedded in our approach to research and education.

• Campuses & facilities
• Awards & achievements
• Our history

Study with us

Choosing the right university is a defining decision. Discover why ANU is the right choice for you.

• Study options
• Apply to ANU

Information for

• Postgraduate research students
• Education agents

Research & innovation

ANU research priorities address the challenges facing Australia and the world.

• Research initiatives

Resources for

Your donation will make a real difference to our community of researchers and students.

• How to give
• First Nations Portfolio
• Leading in our region
• Transforming our world

ANU graduates become lifelong members of our community. See what's on offer.

• Get involved

ANU has a huge variety of support services, programs and activities to enhance your student experience.

• Student life
• Program admin
• Academic skills
• Health, safety & wellbeing
• Careers & opportunities
• Learning platforms
• Programs & courses

You are here

Chapter writing

  A chapter is a discrete unit of a research report or thesis, and it needs to be able to be read as such.

Your examiners may read your thesis abstract, introduction and conclusion first, but then they may come back weeks later and read a chapter at random, or select one that they are interested in (Mullins & Kiley, 2002). This means that each chapter needs to be easy to read, without the reader having to reread the thesis’ introduction to remember what it is about. At the same time, it needs to be clear how the chapter contributes to the development of your overall thesis argument. In the following pages you'll find advice on how to effectively plan and structure your chapters, commuicate and develop your argument with authority, and create clarity and cohesion within your chapters. 

Chapter structures

When it comes to structuring a chapter, a chapter should:

• have an introduction that indicates the chapter’s argument / key message
• clearly address part of the thesis’ overall research question/s or aim/s
• use a structure that persuades the reader of the argument 
• have a conclusion that sums up the chapter’s contribution to the thesis and shows the link to the next chapter.

To make your chapter easy to read, an introduction, body and conclusion is needed. The introduction should give an overview of how the chapter contributes to your thesis. In a chapter introduction, it works well to explain how the chapter answers or contributes to the overall research question. That way, the reader is reminded of your thesis’ purpose and they can understand why this chapter is relevant to it. Before writing, make an outline and show it to a friend or supervisor to test the persuasiveness of the chapter’s structure.

The chapter’s body should develop the key message logically and persuasively. The sequence of sections and ideas is important to developing a persuasive and clear argument. When outlining your chapter, carefully consider the order in which you will present the information. Ask yourself these questions. 

• Would it make your analysis clearer and more convincing to organise your chapter by themes rather than chronologically?
• If you were demonstrating why a particular case study contradicts extant theoretical literature, would it be better to organise the chapter into themes toshow how the case study relates to the literature in respect to each theme, rather than having a dense literature review at the beginning of the chapter?
• Is a brief literature review at the beginning of the chapter necessary and sufficient to establish the key ideas that the chapter’s analysis develops?
• What is the best order to convince readers of your overall point? 

Our friend the Thesis Whisperer has written about writing  discussion chapters and discussion sections within chapters .

If used appropriately, subheadings can also be useful to help your reader to follow your line of argument, distinguish ideas and understand the key idea for each section. Subheadings should not be a substitute for flow or transitional sentences however. In general, substantive discussion should follow a subheading. Use your opening paragraph to a new section to introduce the key ideas that will be developed so that your readers do not get lost or are left wondering how the ideas build on what's already covered. How you connect the different sections of your paper is especially important in a long piece of writing like a chapter.

Paragraphing techniques are essential to develop a persuasive and coherent argument within your chapters. Each paragraph needs to present one main idea. Each paragraph needs to have a topic sentence and supporting evidence, and a final sentence that might summarise that idea, emphasise its significance, draw a conclusion or create a link to the next idea. Using language that shows the connections between ideas can be helpful for developing chapter  flow  and  cohesion .

As suggested in our  page on thesis structures , a good way to test out the persuasiveness and logic of your chapter is to talk it over with a friend or colleague. Try to explain the chapter’s purpose and argument, and give your key reasons for your argument. Ask them whether it makes sense, or whether there are any ideas that weren’t clear. If you find that you express your ideas differently and in a different order to how they’re written down, consider whether it would better to revise your argument and adjust the structure to persuasively and more logically make your case in writing.

In sum, when you plan, write and edit your chapter, think about your reader and what they need in order to understand your argument.

• Have you stated your chapter’s argument?
• Will a reader be able to identify how it contributes to the whole thesis’ research question/s or aim/s?
• Does your chapter flow logically from one idea to the next, and is it convincing?
• Finally, does it have a conclusion that pulls the chapter’s key points together and explains its connection to the next chapter?

These elements are central to helpfing your reader follow and be persuaded by your work.

• Mullins, G., & Kiley, M. (2002). 'It's a PhD, not a Nobel Prize': How experienced examiners assess research theses.  Studies in Higher Education ,  27 (4), 369-386. doi:10.1080/0307507022000011507

Reference documents

• Chapter diagram (PDF, 1.14 MB)
• Chapter template (DOCX, 66.58 KB)

Use contact details to request an alternative file format.

• Contact ANU
• Freedom of Information

+61 2 6125 5111 The Australian National University, Canberra TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) CRICOS Provider : 00120C ABN : 52 234 063 906

Graduate Research Hub

• Preparing my thesis
• Incorporating your published work in your thesis
• Examples of thesis and chapter formats when including publications

The following examples are acceptable ways of formatting your thesis and chapters when including one or more publications.

Essential requirements

All theses with publications must have the following:

• Declaration
• Preface – noting collaborations, and contributions to authorship
• Acknowledgements
• Table of contents
• List of tables, figures & illustrations
• Main text/chapters
• Bibliography or list of references

Main text examples

• Chapter 1: Introduction
• Chapter 2: Literature review
• Chapter 3: Methods
• Chapter 4: Paper 1 & general discussion
• Chapter 5: Paper 2
• Chapter 6: Regular thesis chapter – results
• Chapter 7 : Regular thesis chapter/general discussion tying in published and unpublished work
• Chapter 8: Conclusion
• Appendices - May include CD, DVD or other material, also reviews & methods papers
• Chapter 2: Methods
• Chapter 3: Paper 1
• Chapter 4: Regular thesis chapter
• Chapter 6: Regular thesis chapter, final preliminary study
• Chapter 7: General discussion
• Chapter 5: Regular thesis chapter
• Chapter 6: Regular thesis chapter
• Chapter 7: Regular thesis chapter, final preliminary study
• Chapter 8: General discussion
• Chapter 4: Paper 2 - e.g. data paper, including meta analyses
• Chapter 5: Paper 3
• Chapter 6: Paper 4
• Chapter 7: Paper 5
• Chapter 3: Major paper
• Chapter 4: Normal thesis chapter, final preliminary study
• Chapter 5: General discussion

Chapter examples

• Introduction – including specific aims and hypotheses
• Introduction – including specific aims, hypotheses
• Methods – results (including validation, preliminary) not included in the paper
• Results (including validation, preliminary) not included in paper
• Discussion – expansion of paper discussion, further method development
• Resources for candidates
• Orientation and induction
• Mapping my degree
• Principles for infrastructure support
• Peer activities
• Change my commencement date
• Meeting expectations
• Working with my supervisors
• Responsible Research & Research Integrity
• Guidelines for external supervisors
• Pre-confirmation
• Confirmation
• At risk of unsatisfactory progress
• Unsatisfactory progress
• Add or drop coursework subjects
• Apply for leave
• Return from leave
• Apply for Study Away
• Return from Study Away
• Change my study rate
• Check my candidature status
• Change my current supervisors
• Request an evidence of enrolment or evidence of qualification statement
• Change my project details
• Change department
• Transfer to another graduate research degree
• Late submission
• Withdraw from my research degree
• Check the status of a request
• Re-enrolment
• Advice on requesting changes
• Extension of candidature
• Lapse candidature
• How to cancel a form in my.unimelb
• Resolving issues
• Taking leave
• About Study Away
• Finishing on time
• Accepting an offer for a joint PhD online
• Tenured Study Spaces (TSS) Usage Guidelines
• Tenured Study Spaces Procedures
• Research skills
• Academic writing and communication skills
• Building professional and academic networks
• Research internships
• Commercialising my research
• Writing my thesis
• Thesis with creative works
• Research Integrity in my Thesis
• Graduate researchers and digital assistance tools
• TES Statuses
• Submitting my thesis
• Depositing multiple components for your final thesis record
• The Chancellor's Prize
• TES Graduate Researcher FAQs
• TES Examiner FAQs
• Career planning
• Publishing my research
• Getting support
• Key graduate research contacts
• Graduate research advice for returning to campus
• Melbourne Research Experience Survey
• Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT)
• International Student Barometer (ISB) and Student Barometer (SB)
• Current Students

• Leeds University Business School
• Research and innovation
• Research and innovation blog

How to write an introduction chapter for a thesis

Louisa Hill is a Senior Teaching Fellow and delivers workshops for Postgraduate Researchers who want to teach.

When writing a thesis, you will need to write an introductory chapter. This chapter is critical as it is the first thing that the examiner will read and it is therefore important to make a good first impression. 

A good introduction chapter should incite the reader to read the rest of the thesis by establishing the context of your topic, the motivation for undertaking your work and the importance of your research.

As a lecturer and supervisor, I have read many introductory chapters for research projects such as theses. Here is my advice to those undertaking a research project and writing a thesis.

Capture the reader’s interest

Initially you need to capture the reader’s attention with a discussion of a broader theme relating to your research. To add impact draw on research, data and quotations from international or national professional bodies, governmental organisations or key authors on the topic of study.

Give an overview of your research topic

Your discussion should then begin by detailing the broader aspects of the topic more, before focussing on the specific topic of your research. It is a good idea when you do this to assume that the reader knows nothing about your topic. Therefore definitions, drawing on key research, need to be clarified and explained. Alternatively, if having read key literature for the literature review chapter, you are not satisfied with existing definitions, then draw on these, to devise your own (but make it clear you have done this).

Detail how your research is going to make a contribution

You must then sell your idea for undertaking the research topic, demonstrating the main reasons why the research will make a significant contribution to the current body of research. This can be achieved by demonstrating a gap or limitation with existing research, then showing how your research will resolve this. There are different types of contribution (see  Constructing Research Questions: Doing Interesting Research ).

Explain what your interest is in the topic

Next you need to demonstrate your personal reasons for choosing the topic. These could relate to your previous research, work or experiences.

List your research objectives

You need to include your three or four overarching research objectives. Also include corresponding research questions if it is a qualitative piece of research or hypotheses if it is quantitative-based. The former are usually derivatives of the research objectives. Note though that these objectives and questions or hypotheses are fluid in nature and can be tweaked as you undertake the research.

Give a forthcoming chapter overview

The final part of the introduction is an overview of the rest of the chapters in the thesis. The other sections can go in any order, providing it is a logical sequence.

Learn from others

Look at other theses for example from  White Rose etheses  or your university library’s website. The majority of journal articles that you will read in the content of your topic will also provide useful insights.

Speak with your supervisor

Remember to always speak with your supervisor and have regular catch-ups. They will be able to offer guidance and encouragement, and steer you in the right direction.

Related content

• Writing a research PhD proposal
• Presenting with impact
• The benefits of undertaking a placement alongside your PhD

If you would like to get in touch regarding any of these blog entries, or are interested in contributing to the blog, please contact:

Email: [email protected] Phone: +44 (0)113 343 8754

Click here to view our privacy statement. You can repost this blog article, following the terms listed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International licence .

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect the views of Leeds University Business School or the University of Leeds.

• Link to facebook
• Link to linkedin
• Link to twitter
• Link to youtube
• Writing Tips

How to Write a Thesis Chapter Outline

4-minute read

• 30th April 2023

Are you writing a thesis ? That’s amazing! Give yourself a pat on the back, because reaching that point in your academic career takes a lot of hard work.

When you begin to write, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure of where to start. That’s where outlines come in handy. In this article, we’ll break down an effective outline for a thesis chapter – one that you can follow for each section of your paper.

What Is a Thesis Chapter?

Your thesis will be broken up into several sections . Usually, there’s an introduction, some background information, the methodology, the results and discussion, and a conclusion – or something along those lines.

Your institution will have more specific guidelines on the chapters you need to include and in what order, so make sure you familiarize yourself with those requirements first. To help you organize the content of each chapter, an outline breaks it down into smaller chunks.

The Outline

While the content and length of each chapter will vary, you can follow a similar pattern to organize your information. Each chapter should include:

1.   An Introduction

At the start of your chapter, spend some time introducing what you’re about to discuss. This will give readers the chance to quickly get an idea of what you’ll be covering and decide if they want to keep reading.

You could begin with a link to the previous chapter, which will help keep your audience from getting lost if they’re not reading it from start to finish in one sitting. You should then explain the purpose of the chapter and briefly describe how you will achieve it.

Every chapter should have an intro like this, even the introduction ! Of course, the length of this part will vary depending on the length of the chapter itself.

2.   The Main Body

After introducing the chapter, you can dive into the meat of it. As with the introduction, the content can be as brief or as lengthy as it needs to be.

While piecing together your outline, jot down which points are most important to include and then decide how much space you can devote to fleshing out each one. Let’s consider what this might look like, depending on the chapter .

If your thesis is broken up into an introduction, a background/literature review section, a methodology chapter, a discussion of the results, and a conclusion, here’s what the main body could include for each:

●  Introduction : A brief summary of the problem or topic and its background, the purpose of the thesis, the research questions that will be addressed, the terminology you’ll be using, and any limitations or unique circumstances.

Find this useful?

Subscribe to our newsletter and get writing tips from our editors straight to your inbox.

●  Background/literature review : A more thorough explanation of the problem, relevant studies and literature, and current knowledge and gaps in knowledge.

●  Methodology : A detailed explanation of the research design, participants and how they were chosen, and how the data was collected and analyzed.

●  Results/discussion : A thorough description of the results of the study and a discussion of what they could mean.

●  Conclusion : A summary of everything that’s been covered, an explanation of the answers that were (or weren’t) found to the research questions, and suggestions for future research.

This is a rough plan of what the main body of each chapter might look like. Your thesis will likely have more chapters, and some of these topics may be broken down into multiple paragraphs, but this offers an idea of where to start.

3.   A Conclusion

Once you’ve detailed everything the chapter needs to include, you should summarize what’s been covered and tie it all together. Explain what the chapter accomplished, and once again, you can link back to the previous chapter to point out what questions have been answered at this point in the thesis.

If you’re just getting started on writing your thesis, putting together an outline will help you to get your thoughts organized and give you a place to start. Each chapter should have its own introduction, main body, and conclusion.

And once you have your draft written, be sure to send it our way! Our editors will be happy to check it for grammar, punctuation, spelling, references, formatting, and more. Try out our service for free today!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you outline a thesis chapter.

Each chapter of your thesis should have its own introduction, the main content or body of the chapter, and a conclusion summarizing what was covered and linking it to the rest of the thesis.

How do you write a thesis statement?

A thesis statement should briefly summarize the topic you’re looking into and state your assumption about it.

Share this article:

Post A New Comment

Get help from a language expert. Try our proofreading services for free.

3-minute read

Its vs. It’s: Punctuation Explained

In the vast landscape of the English language, certain words seem almost designed to trip...

Sympathy vs. Empathy | Explained

Are you sympathetic to someone’s feelings…or are you empathetic? Or do they mean the same...

Spelling Tips: Spelt or Spelled

English spellings are nearly always the same wherever English is the first language, but there...

What Is an Oxford Comma?

The Oxford comma, otherwise known as the serial comma, may be one of the most...

How to Write a Conclusion for a Research Paper

If you’re writing a research paper, the conclusion is your opportunity to summarize your findings...

How to Write a Research Paper Outline

Embarking on the journey of writing a research paper can be both exciting and overwhelming....

Make sure your writing is the best it can be with our expert English proofreading and editing.

• Writers King LTD offers custom writing services for all academic research drafting, rewriting, proofreading, editing, data collection and analysis, and plagiarism checking on Proposals, Research Papers, Thesis, Dissertation, and other research writing needs.
• Study Research Online
• Freelance Marketplace
• Ask Research Questions
• Hire Proposal Writers
• Hire Essay Writers
• Hire Blog Writers
• Data Collection/Analysis
• Hire Paper Writers
• Proofreading Services
• Thesis/Dissertation Writers
• Virtual Supervisor
• Turnitin Checker
• Book Chapter Writer
• User Account
• Writers King TV
• Proposal Sample
• Chapter 1-3 Sample
• Term Paper Sample
• Report Assignment Sample
• Course work Sample
• Payment Options
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service/Use
• Academic Statement of Purpose
• Research News
• Blog Writing Guide
• Resume Guide
• Proposal Writing Guide
• Essay Writing Guide
• Paper Writing Guide

Introducing Research project chapters – How to write chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 introductions in a thesis and dissertation

• October 28, 2022
• Posted by: UGABI IGBAJI
• Category: Thesis Dissertation Guide

Every research project, thesis or dissertation is organised in chapters. Research project chapters range from 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, 6 or 7 depending on the school, department and study level.

An introduction is the first section of a research project , an essay, or a book. It is a section that set the tone for the entire project as it gives a reader an insight into the essence of the project. Every research paper requires context, which is the foundation on which the research is based so that readers can comprehend why it was created.

Thus, it introduces the reader to what the research is about. A research project generically consists of five chapters. Thus, here you will discover how to compose an introduction of the various chapters that make up a research project.

A chapter is a separate section of a research report or thesis that must be read as such. Chapter introductions serve a similar orienting purpose as they expose the reader to the chapter’s foci, goals, technique, and argument, as well as any other pertinent reader information.

You will need to compose an introduction chapter while writing a thesis . The introduction of every research thesis or dissertation is crucial since it is the first part the supervisor or examiner will read, thus making a strong first impression is crucial.

How to write chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 introductions in a thesis and dissertation

Introducing chapter one (1) research project, thesis or dissertation.

Chapter one is the first chapter of a research project . It is often titled “Introduction” because it introduces the entire project and the scope of the project. In addition to providing a foundation for other chapters, it provides a framework for their construction.

When writing the introduction of your research project, you should ensure giving a broad overview of the topic you are writing on and then narrow it down to a particular context or aspects of the topic that your research will focus on.

You should also make effort at providing a brief clarification of the key terms of the project while eliciting an understanding of why your research is worthwhile. However, the following tips can help you introduce your chapter appropriately:

• Provide background information on the title of your project
• Make reference to vital findings of previous studies
• Specify your study objectives and questions
• State the rationale for your study
• State the scope of your study

Although the introduction of your chapter does not have a word limit unless specified, it must be written in a clear and concise manner. However, it is quite tricky writing the introduction of your project, thus, it is mostly recommended that you write your introduction last to ensure that all the necessary information is captured.

Introducing Chapter Two (2) Research Project, Thesis or Dissertation

Chapter two of a research project is often tagged literature review”. The chapter basically provides a review of scholarly studies related to the topic you are researching on. The essence of this chapter is to identify a gap in the literature on your topic of research .

However, introducing this chapter in research projects has not been a common practice among scholars. But this does not take away the necessity of doing so. Generically, chapter two of a research project contains three major sections. These are conceptual literature, theoretical literature, and empirical literature. Thus, when introducing this chapter, is necessary you highlight the various sections as contained in the main body of the review.

Chapter two (2) Introduction Sample:

This is the second chapter of this study. The goal of this chapter is to provide of review of conceptual, theoretical, and empirical literature in the topic area in order to identify gaps in the existing literature. The chapter concludes by providing a summary of the literature review and with a clear statement of the study gap and how the present study intends to occupy the gap .

Introducing Chapter three (3) Research Project, Thesis or Dissertation

The Third chapter of a research project, thesis, or dissertation is often tagged research methodology . It is a chapter where a researcher offers a description of the various methods he intends to adopt in ensuring that the research questions are addressed and the research objectives met.

Although there is no generic way of writing this chapter, there are some sections which are very important to include in your research methodology. These are sections that describe your research design, the population of the study, your sample and sample selection technique, the method of data collection , and the method of data analysis .

Thus, when introducing this chapter you have to give the reader a rundown of the content of the chapter and why it is necessary. A typical example of how to do this is presented below.

Chapter three (3) Introduction Sample:

This is the third chapter of this study. It contains a description of the different methods adopted by the researcher in order to address the research question and achieve the research objectives. The chapter provides a detailed description of the research design, research population, sample and sampling technique, method of data collection, and method of data analysis.

By doing this, a reader will be able to know what the chapter is all about and the scope of the chapter.

Introducing Chapter Four (4) Research Project, Thesis or Dissertation

This is the fourth chapter of a research project. Although the title of this chapter varies greatly, is a chapter that is generically used to present the study analysis. Thus, it is often tagged as “data presentation, analysis, and discussions” or “analysis and result”.

Whichever way, the goal of this chapter is to present and discuss the result of the various analyses carried out in the study. Thus, when introducing this chapter you should try to ensure that you tell the reader what the chapter is meant for.

Chapter four (4) Introduction Sample:

This is the fourth chapter of this study. The chapter presents the results and findings of the various methods of analysis adopted in ensuring that the study data are properly analyzed in order to ensure that the objectives of the study are achieved. The presentation of the study findings is done according to the study objectives stated in the first chapter of the study. The chapter also presents a discussion of the study findings in relation to similar past studies in the topic area.

By doing this you have the research and insight into the content of the chapter. Thus, whetting his/her appetite to delve in fully to see what you have done and how they have been able to address the research question and objectives.

Introducing Chapter Five (5) Research Project, Thesis or Dissertation

This is the final chapter of your research project. It is often tagged “summary of findings or study, conclusion and recommendation”. This is the chapter where you summarize your study by giving s rundown of what you did in prior chapters.

Based on this, you draw the conclusion (s) regarding what you discovered in the study and then make recommendations. Thus, when introducing this chapter you should try and ensure that you give the reader an insight into what the chapter is all about.

Chapter five (5) Introduction Sample

This is the final chapter of the study. The chapter provides a summary of the study, a conclusion, and a recommendation based on the study findings presented in the fourth chapter of the study.

However, while summarizing the study, you have to clearly restate the title of your research, your objective, the method you adopted, and your findings. Also, your conclusion and recommendation should be strictly based on your study findings.

Things to note while introducing chapters in a Research Project, thesis and dissertation

Capture the reader’s interest -introducing research project chapters.

When writing a chapter opening, you must first grab the reader’s interest with a discussion of a larger subject related to your study. Use research, statistics, and quotations from worldwide or national professional groups, governmental organizations, or prominent writers on the study’s issue to enhance impact.

The employment of a hook is another approach to pique the reader’s attention. A hook is a sentence or combination of lines that grab the reader’s attention and piques their interest in the essay’s substance. A fascinating hook may be used in any type of writing.

Furthermore, there are a number of techniques to pique a reader’s interest, ranging from making a bold, aggressive declaration to offering a provocative inquiry.

Give an overview of your research topic -Introducing Research project chapters

Your talk should then begin by delving further into the issue’s larger features before focusing on your research’s specific topic. When doing this, it’s a good idea to pretend the reader has no prior knowledge of the subject. As a result, terminology must be defined and explained, based on significant studies.

Alternatively, if you are dissatisfied with current definitions after reading relevant material for the literature review chapter, draw on these to create your own (but make sure this has been done).

Detail how your research is going to make a contribution -Introducing Research project chapters

You must sell your study subject suggestion by outlining the major reasons why the research will contribute significantly to the present body of knowledge. This may be done by presenting a gap or restriction in existing research and then illustrating how your study will fill that gap or constraint.

Explain what your interest is in the topic -Introducing Research project chapters

After that, you must explain why you choose the issue for yourself. These might be related to prior studies, employment, or experiences. Make a list of the broad research questions and issues that pique your attention.

Make a list of your passions that you may use as a starting point. Following that, you should be able to summarize your interests in a sentence, or at most a paragraph. What contribution will your study make to the field?

List your research objectives -Introducing Research project chapters

In each chapter of your academic writing , you must state the goal you want to attain. What do you hope to accomplish at the conclusion of each chapter? This will let readers get a head start on the chapter’s topic. The precise definition of each chapter’s aims and objectives is one of the most crucial components of a thesis, dissertation, or research paper .

This is because the breadth, depth, and direction of the chapter will ultimately be determined by your goals and objectives. With your aims stating what is to be accomplished and your objectives suggesting how it will be accomplished, a successful set of aims and objectives will provide your study emphasis and clarity to your reader.

Give a forthcoming chapter overview -Introducing Research project chapters

The introduction concludes with a summary of the remaining chapters of the thesis. The remaining sections can be placed in any order as long as they are in a logical order. Discuss the other chapters briefly. Make your writing enjoyable to read.

Make connections between the current chapter and the next chapters you will be working on. This will give the readers a foreknowledge of what your research intends to achieve.

Chapter writing discusses many sorts of hooks and how the writer should choose the one that best meets the paper’s aim. The chapter illustrates how a background section may be a beneficial supplement to the introduction, but it also warns that its content, focus, and length are all dependent on the writer’s assessment of its contribution to the paper’s persuasiveness.

It illustrates how the Reader’s Introduction should have all of the parts in the Writer’s Introduction, as well as a hook and a background section. The chapter discusses many sorts of hooks and how the writer should choose the one that best meets the paper’s aim.

Conclusion -Introducing Research project chapters

Introducing the various chapters of a research project is similar to the generic way of writing an introduction because they all perform the same function which is to give a reader an insight into what the chapter is all about. Although, in some cases, the content structure of research projects of most institutions or as prescribed by the project supervisor may or not permit the inclusion of an introduction of each chapter of the project.

But when not clearly specified by the content structure or project guideline you can make effort at introducing each chapter of your research project as you proceed. Also, try ensuring that you introduce each chapter in a precise and brief manner as a long or bulky introduction may discourage readers from reading your project.

Related Articles

Drop your comment, question or suggestion for the post improvement cancel reply.

We use cookies on this site to enhance your experience

By clicking any link on this page you are giving your consent for us to set cookies.

A link to reset your password has been sent to your email.

Back to login

We need additional information from you. Please complete your profile first before placing your order.

Thank you. payment completed., you will receive an email from us to confirm your registration, please click the link in the email to activate your account., there was error during payment, orcid profile found in public registry, download history, phd writing 3: how to write the introduction chapter of a thesis.

• Charlesworth Author Services
• 11 November, 2021

If you find it tricky to write the introduction chapter of a PhD thesis, rest assured that you’re not alone. The introduction can be one of the hardest sections to write for any piece of research writing. However, the introduction is also one of the most important sections as it lays the groundwork for the following chapters and offers a first impression of the rest of the research that you are about to share. This article discusses some of the key things to consider as you write your introduction.

Write your introduction last

It is very common practice for most researchers to write the introduction chapter last. You might be wondering why that is, since it is the first chapter of the thesis. However, think of it in this way: you cannot introduce something until you know exactly what you are introducing .

You will have a complete overview and understanding of the entire project only when you have largely completed it and written all the other constituent parts. By writing the introduction at the end of your project, you’ll be able to look back over your initial research questions , the way you conducted the research, the results you generated and the conclusions you formed. You will then be in a better position to present and introduce the research as a whole, coherent piece of work. 

Provide an overview 

The introduction should offer the reader an overview of the research that you have conducted. You are setting the scene for your reader and giving them a broad idea of what they can expect throughout the rest of the thesis. As such, you don’t need to go into too much depth at this stage – the details can come later in the following chapters. In particular, you need to talk about what you are studying and why.

What are you studying?

The introduction is the best place to outline your working hypothesis and/or research questions . After all, this is what the rest of your thesis will entail.

Make it very clear for your reader exactly what you are setting out to investigate.

What are you trying to find out? What are you testing? What answers or results are you hoping to obtain by doing this study?

You might find it easier and clearer to outline your research questions as distinct bullet points . Then, you can follow this list with a more detailed discussion of each of the questions or hypotheses – for example, why you are asking each question, what you hope to find out from each question and what methods you will use to answer those questions. 

Why are you doing this research? 

Apart from giving your reader an idea of what your thesis is about, it is important to explain in the introduction why you are doing this research. Start by highlighting exactly what issue(s) you are addressing in this research, then outline why this research is important and why there is a need for this study to be conducted.

Although you shouldn’t give everything away and reveal all your findings and conclusions at the beginning of the thesis, you can begin to hint at the potential impact and implications that such a study could create, either for your specific field, or for society more generally. This will again emphasise the significance and relevance of this research. 

Offer some background

In order to effectively set the scene, you can also begin to introduce some of the most prominent work that has already been done on the subject. This chapter is a good place to contextualise your research within the broader, existing body of work. Again, you don’t need to go into great detail – that will be covered in the literature review – but it can be helpful to briefly mention some of the existing relevant work that has informed and motivated your unique study.

For example, perhaps your research responds directly to a recent scientific discovery. You can use the introduction to refer to this previous study and explain how you are addressing the limitations and problems of that study or exploring the effects of using an alternative method.

How are you conducting this research?

When you’ve introduced the reasons informing your study and explained what you will be investigating, you will then want to offer a brief explanation of how you have designed and conducted this research. Again, as you are only giving an overview at this stage, you don’t need to go into too much detail – further explanations will come later in your methods /methodology chapter.

Remember that you want to offer your reader a broad idea of what the overall research project entails. Naturally, this includes some discussion of the main approaches and directions you took in your research to adequately answer the questions that you set out to investigate.

Offer a clear chapter outline

It is a good idea to include a section within your introduction that clearly outlines what each of the proceeding chapters will include. As you write these chapter outlines, think of them as small summaries, or mini abstracts, of each chapter .

Your reader will then have a much firmer and focused idea of what is to come next, and how each chapter will connect with and links to each other. Think of the chapter outline as something like a recipe or a roadmap laying out the steps that the reader will follow. 

In conclusion

Although it can feel a bit overwhelming to have to summarise all your research into a single introductory chapter, it might help to place yourself in the position of your ideal reader or examiner .

What would you like them to know as they start reading your thesis? What important pieces of information would they need here in order to fully appreciate and understand the rest of your paper?

Think about what you would like to see and what details you appreciate when you read introductory chapters, and try to recreate that same clarity for your reader.

Read next (final) in series:  PhD Writing 4: How to write the conclusion chapter of your thesis

Read previous in series: PhD Writing 2: How to improve your writing skills in preparation for writing your thesis

Charlesworth Author Services , a trusted brand supporting the world’s leading academic publishers, institutions and authors since 1928. 

To know more about our services, visit: Our Services

Visit our new Researcher Education Portal that offers articles and webinars covering all aspects of your research to publication journey! And sign up for our newsletter on the Portal to stay updated on all essential researcher knowledge and information!

Register now: Researcher Education Portal

Maximise your publication success with Charlesworth Author Services.

Share with your colleagues

Related articles.

Tips for designing your Research Question

Charlesworth Author Services 01/08/2017 00:00:00

The best way to write the Study Background

Charlesworth Author Services 25/10/2021 00:00:00

PhD Writing 1: Things you should do in preparation for writing your thesis

Charlesworth Author Services 28/10/2021 00:00:00

Related webinars

Bitesize Webinar: Effective paper writing for early career researchers: Module 1: Writing an effective PhD thesis

Charlesworth Author Services 02/03/2021 00:00:00

Bitesize webinar: Effective paper writing for early career researchers: Module 2: Writing an effective masters' dissertation

Bitesize webinar: Effective paper writing for early career researchers: Module 3: The right mindset for academic paper writing

Bitesize Webinar: Effective paper writing for early career researchers: Module 4: How to sell yourself as a researcher

How to start writing from Day One of your PhD

Charlesworth Author Services 15/01/2020 00:00:00

A simple guide to begin Publishing during Your PhD

Charlesworth Author Services 03/01/2020 00:00:00

How can I reach the level of academic writing needed for a PhD?

Charlesworth Author Services 22/04/2021 00:00:00