PhD thesis prompts: do the soul-searching

Writing a PhD thesis is a massive undertaking and can be overwhelming. With the time, energy, and thought it takes, it is a wonder that so many people complete them each year. When you get into a slump, it is time to dig deep, seach your soul, and find the power to move on and complete the task. The rewards at the end of the thesis is worth the struggle.

When it comes time to decide on a prompt for the thesis, many students are challenged with finding something meaningful and worth researching. In many cases, the meaningful topics are impossible to research because it is nearly impossible to quantify and qualify intangibles like love, hope, peace, and freedom. This is where the soul searching really begins to come into play - when you have to take an intangible topic and make it something that can be researched while maintaining some meaningful aspects.

Of course, the topic that you choose will need to fit with your course of study, so it will automatically have some meaning; but, the challenge arises in the fact that you could be spending years working on the thesis. You have to be able to live with the topic as it will be come like a child to you. The prompt you choose will need to be researched, outlined, written, edited, and revised so many times that you could get to a point where you might not ever want to look at the paper again.

Here are some tips to keep you motivated to completed the prompt and write the paper:

  • Take a short break. This could be five minutes, five days, or five weeks (or more) depending on the timeline you have established and how far you are in the process. Stepping away when your mind is unable to focus will help you return with a fresh view.
  • Exercise. When you spend so much time reading and writing, your body can stiffen and become used to sitting. You will feel energized and refreshed after some time exercising. Even if you spend 15 minutes walking, your heart will get pumping and the oxygen flowing which will increase your ability to focus.
  • Do something you love. If the progress on your thesis is keeping you from doing something you love, set the thesis off to the side and take time to enjoy your life. It might seem like the world revolves around the thesis, but it does not. Take care of yourself and you will be able to take care of your projects.

Thesis Writing Process

  • Thinking and brainstorming
  • Preparing a proposal
  • Doing a research
  • Writing a thesis paper
  • Proofreading the document
  • Revising the thesis
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