A dissertation or thesis is a structured paper that typically contains a number of distinct sections (or "chapters"). Scroll to the boxes below for resources on each section:
And the very bottom box provides ideas on using tables and figures in APA format.
(** Please note that the precise structure of a dissertation or thesis is normally provided by your school or department. The resources below should thus be considered as general advice or guidelines and do not supersede your department's requirements. In case of uncertainty, check with your school**)
The abstract is normally the first part of an academic paper. It is not the same as the Introduction section. The abstract is normally quite short (often a single paragraph), and is essentially a high-level overview of the paper and a 'hook' with which to interest the reader. Although it is the first section of an academic paper that the reader sees, the abstract is commonly written after the rest of the paper is completed.
The time you put into your introduction is well spent because the entire paper will reflect what you say in this section. If you are having trouble formulating a good introduction, it means you might not have a clear idea of what you are researching and why. The introduction is probably the most important part of your paper and time spent developing it is time well spent!
While different fields may have different approaches to the introduction, these resources provide a good overview of the content.
The literature review section represents the cornerstone on which your whole thesis is based. Here, you will explain to the reader 'how we got here': what previous research has been done, and what is the specific gap that you will fill with your work. A successful literature review pulls together the reading you have done, critically analyzes it, and presents it in an organized, logical fashion.
Douglas Buchanan MA
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