Richard de Neufville's TPP SM Thesis Manual - Title Page - MIT

superficial attributes of a thesis (length, etc.) will produce a satisfactory thesis.This is not the case, however. There are several classes of professionaldocuments – such as consulting reports – which can have the exterior aspects ofa thesis but not the substance. What then is a thesis?A dictionary definition of a thesis provides a good initial answer. According toWebster’s New Collegiate, for example: A thesis is “a proposition that a personadvances and offers to maintain by argument”.This definition has three key elements.1. A thesis is a proposition; it advances an idea, a hypothesis or arecommendation;2. A thesis offers an argument, it presents a rationale for accepting theproposition made rather than simply asserting a point of view; and3. The argument of the thesis should be maintained, should be madeconvincingly by appropriate logic and sufficient evidence.An alternate definition of a thesis is provided by suggesting what is not a thesis.A chronology or other description of a situation is not by itself a thesis (nor is itgood history). A straight analysis, for example a large statistical study, is also nota thesis. Nor is an essay expressing a point of view or an opinion. Each of thesematerials can, of course, be important parts of a thesis if properly used toadvance and defend an argument.In short, a good thesis makes a point. It suggests an answer to some issue orquestion. It attempts to validate that answer.Essential ElementsThe formulation of a research project, a thesis in particular, should thus addressfour issues:• What is the question or issue?• What method will be used to address this questions?• What evidence can be applied?• What logic integrates the above?A QuestionA thesis is helpfully framed as a question that defines the issue underconsideration. You may think of it as a hypothesis. For example, the propositionthat mediation is a better way to resolve disputes than litigation can be put as aquestion: “Is mediation a better way to resolve disputes than litigation?”The idea that a thesis revolves around a question – first put and then answered –must be stressed. Most thesis students do not understand this at first. TheirThesis Definition and Preparation -- Richard de Neufville 5