1. What is exactly a thesis?

Ans. A thesis or dissertation is a research document which is to be submitted by a candidate during

an academic course or a degree or a professional qualification. It is a research work which is then
published with name of a candidate as an author. In thesis, the information regarding the topic is
gathered and then developed in the way of author’s thinking. We may say it represents a
candidate’s level of understandings.

In universities, thesis is very important part of Mtech and PhD. It is compulsory that without thesis
work the higher studies are not completed. Thus, it is compulsory contribution of a candidate to the
academic community. In this process, a candidate learns :” how to research and how to express his
understanding views towards the studies”.

A thesis must be well written and it must be very clear and concise, consists of scientific words in
order to avoid long sentences. The simple and common words must be used with correct use of
grammar and punctuations. Generally the thesis subject is chosen by a candidate as per his interest
guided by his advisory community. A thesis should tell the reader about the research and the efforts
put in by the candidate and thus it is a topic of argument.

The process of writing a thesis:

A thesis consists of many components as described below:

Thesis structure:

1. The most important part of thesis is its structure which consists of many sub-contents. The
first one is title page which describes the topic of the research. Here the basic description is
provided about research area, researchers, mentors, date of delivery, institution etc. The
second point is abstract which describes the questions like how, why, where, what all about
the research topic are explained here. It is about 1 to 2 paragraph and it is not cited but in
explicit form.
2. Then table of contents which consists of contents as given in any book of an author. Table of
contents is a page which shows the step by step topics which are required to understand by
a reader. It also helps the reader to search the topic about which he is eager to read. It
contains the list of topics or topics bulletin and their locations that on which page they
available.
3. Then the introduction about the thesis topic is discussed. Introduction is what a researcher
must compile after the whole research has been completed rather than before starting the
research. It is very important topic to attract the reader and excite him to read and study
whole. It must explain the last research that has been made by the researcher and how he is
inspired to make this research possible. It must explain the scope of the research also and
the old materials used in it to quantify the possible expenses has been made in this
research.
 4. Literature review refers to the reputed journals and previous researches which are
necessary to frame the next step. It also helps in initiating the research by making the
previous works as a basis.
5. Then the tables of figures and materials respectively are described. Here the useful figures
which are used by reader to understand the topic and the design of the apparatus used. It
may contain flow charts also.
6. Then the topic of methods and results. Methods explain that the analysis and
methodologies which are technically used in the thesis work. It also explains the
assumptions made during experiments which will lead to some errors or deviations from the
ideal result. It is totally an experiment by using theories and apparatus in labs of the
university. The results are the statements containing tables and observations which are
lastly obtained from the experiments.
7. Lastly a conclusion is made as per on the result obtained. The conclusion includes the
statements which are very important while investigation. It also includes the important
observations. Then a discussion is made on the topic of research where the important points
from the conclusion. Here the mechanisms used and the deviations and errors are specially
discussed. It’s a way of agreement and disagreement or we may say an argument between
the candidate and the members who are examining the thesis before its publication.
8. References: these are the books or the previous experiments which are used to gather the
information. References are the sources from where the whole data and the information are
collected. These give the way of expressing the texts, and justifying the concepts and the
procedures which are being used.
9. Appendices: Lastly, the data from the data book which are used in the research is compiled
as an appendix.

There are many differences between Mtech and PhD thesis as given below:

1. For mtech students, thesis research work is not necessarily going to be published. It is required
to get some scores in their academic degree. But for PhD students, thesis research work is very
necessary. Without qualifying this session, their candidature is not going to be completed.
2. In Mtech, the thesis work is examined by the professors of the same university. But in PhD, the
thesis work is real research work which must be very unique and examined by at least one
professor or an specialist in the field of thesis research topic. A big argument is done between
the members of the conference where the viva of the PhD candidate is taken.