Thesis writing
Writing a thesis is a process during which you refine your text so that the final version is as polished as possible for publication.
Thesis template
The prepared thesis template facilitates writing, because it has already taken into account issues related to, among other things, the layout (for example, the logo) and accessibility.
In the degree programmes conducted in Finnish Bachelor’s theses are written in Finnish and in the degree programmes conducted in English Bachelor’s theses are written in English. You are able to apply change the language of your Bachelor’s thesis
If you have reasons to deviate from this rule, you are able to apply the change of language in Pulmu. The decision will be made by the director of school on the recommendation of the head of studies.
Visual Illustration and Formatting of the Text
The thesis template contains instructions for visual illustrating and formatting the text.
Thesis Writing and Academic Style
You can receive guidance for your process from language teachers in the Language Centre’s text workshops, whose timetables and other information can be found on the page Language and communication studies – Text workshops
Follow these general guidelines to create a well-structured formal text:
- Organize the text into coherent chapters by dividing the chapters into a two or three-level hierarchy (i.e. headings and sub-headings), if needed.
- Divide the text into paragraphs so that there is one topic per paragraph. A paragraph has a topic sentence which is further described and explained by several supporting sentences and a concluding sentence. Write reasonably long paragraphs and clear sentences. A paragraph is longer than one sentence.
- Link the paragraphs together with a phrase or an adverb to maintain continuity of argument. Remember also to link the individual sentences within a paragraph.
- Write both main clauses and subordinate clauses and link them with appropriate linking words. Vary sentence length; if you want to make a point, keep the sentence length short. If you want to focus on specific actions or events, use verbs. On the other hand, if you discuss general concepts and want to achieve a higher degree of abstraction, use noun forms.
- Pay attention to the overall academic style and choice of words. Aim for precise and unambiguous expression. Avoid using unnecessary foreign words and phrases as well as clichés, figures of speech, fashionable expressions, or colloquial expressions. Instead of using phrasal verbs or prepositional verbs, use single verbs with Latinate origins (e.g. carry out -> conduct, go down -> decrease, look into -> investigate).
- Due to the nature of academic writing, use cautious language for argumentation such as modal adverbs (e.g. may, can) and modal adverbs and adjectives (e.g. perhaps, probably; probable, possible).
- Illustrate your text with images, tables, graphs, and formulas.
- Follow grammar standards such as guidelines related to punctuation.
You can find more writing tips on the following websites:
Regardless of the reporting format, the author follows the academic writing guidelines. When writing, the author should pay attention to the following general recommendations:
- Thesis language is formal and it conforms to academic style conventions; the author has limited possibilities of breaking the established ways of presentation.
- Academic style entails high abstraction level which is why concepts always need to be defined and explained.
- It is important to distinguish between facts and opinions; the author’s own subjective statements are based on beliefs and attitudes.
- Maintaining objectivity, explicitness and neutrality in your writing is essential.
- What really matters is explorative research approach and meaningful content.
- Managing formal style and standard language increases credibility.
The three most used tenses in academic writing are present simple, past simple and present perfect. These tenses can be used both in active and passive voice.
Past simple tense is used to
- describe the progress of one’s work, i.e., what and how the study was conducted
- describe the goals, stages, and results of the work in the chapter of discussion
- write the abstract
Present simple tense is used to
- define the goals and purpose of the thesis in the introduction
- refer to literary sources in the theoretical background
- refer to nonverbal illustrations such as tables, graphs and figures
- draw conclusions and to propose a topic for a follow-up study in the chapter of conclusions
Present perfect tense is used to
- introduce a new topic
- point out a research gap
- bridge previous research related to your research
There are no explicit guidelines on the use of active and passive voice; this may vary depending on field specific practices or the actual reporting format. For example, in the fields of technology, it is common to use passive voice in reports whereas in the fields of culture and business active voice is often recommended. This is especially the case if the text deals with the author’s personal choices, conclusions or interpretations.
- active and passive voice can both be used
- avoid using I and we (introduction ok)
- avoid addressing the reader as you
- use passive voice in process descriptions
- use impersonal pronouns (it, there, one)
The thesis is organized into main chapters and corresponding subsections. Create descriptive and self-explanatory headings and sub-headings that are structured in a parallel manner. For example, headings such as Theory and General convey very little information for the reader. A concise, easy-to-read table of contents gives the reader a clear overview of the work at a glance and also helps focus on specific areas of interest.
The most recommended and common way to cite a source is paraphrasing. Paraphrasing refers to changing the wording of a text so that it is significantly different from the original source without changing the meaning. Effective paraphrasing is a key academic skill needed to avoid the risk of plagiarism and your understanding of a source.
A direct quotation, which follows the original text verbatim, needs to be used with consideration. Choose a direct quotation in case you want to give extra weight to a particular piece of information by emphasizing the authority of the source. Direct quotations are short and to the point and possible omissions are marked by two dashes (– –). Direct quotations are always linked to the rest of the text.
In each way of quoting, it is mandatory to mark the sources as in-text references in the text and in the list of references.
An abstract is a self-contained one-page text that provides the reader with a summary of a larger work. The abstract is written in complete sentences and it is organised into paragraphs. The abstract briefly describes the background, goals, theory, methods and materials used, key results, conclusions, and development proposals and/or topics for follow-up studies.
Linguistic features of an abstract: complete sentences, simple past tense, impersonal passive voice, absence of negatives, avoidance of abbreviations.