(a.k.a "How Not to Write a Thesis")

📌 Overview

In today's interconnected and globalized world, English has become the dominant language of academia, research, and international communication. To maximize accessibility and reach, this guide is presented in English, while also incorporating key writing principles relevant to Italian. The goal is to help students avoid common mistakes when writing their thesis and to improve the clarity, structure, and credibility of their academic work.

A well-written thesis is not just about fulfilling an academic requirement—it is an opportunity to showcase critical thinking, methodological rigor, and communication skills. However, many students struggle with structuring their work, maintaining clarity, and ensuring their arguments are well-supported. This guide provides practical advice to address these challenges.

This guide is inspired by the absolute masterpiece that is Stefano Mizzaro's web page, which has inspired generations of students.

The following sections will focus on specific aspects of thesis writing, including structure, writing style, and best practices for presenting research effectively.

📑 Thesis Structure

A well-structured thesis improves readability and ensures that the research is presented clearly. Here is the recommended structure:

Abstract

• Provide a concise summary of the research.
• Highlight the problem, methodology, key findings, and conclusions.
• Keep it brief and clear, generally within 250-300 words.

1. Introduction

• Present the research problem and motivation.
• Define objectives and research questions.
• Summarize the structure of the thesis.

2. Beckground and Related Work

• Provide an overview of existing research.
• Highlight gaps in the literature and justify the study’s relevance.