Writing a thesis is a process with well-defined steps
The details of each step will vary slightly depending on your field, but for most thesis writers the steps are first, gathering ideas, then second, data editing and analysis, and third, polishing.
Thesis vs. Thesis: United States
In the United States, the definition of thesis is almost the opposite of the European one. Since the dissertation is shorter than a thesis, it gradually came to mean a preliminary step on the path to a doctorate. Currently, a thesis is in process to obtain the master’s degree. In science fields, a master’s candidate takes advanced courses and gains hands-on experience in a research project, but does not lead the project to the same extent as they would in a doctoral program. In a master’s project, student ideas are welcome and expected, but the emphasis is on the acquisition of technical knowledge and not on original research. Engineering students typically earn master’s degrees and rarely earn a Ph.D. In other fields, such as chemistry, the opposite is true and a master’s degree is no longer required as the first step for a doctorate. Almost everyone I know who got a master’s in chemistry got it because they dropped out of graduate school and wrote their truncated research as a master’s project.
How long does it take to get a PhD when studying full time?
Full-time PhD students in the UK typically take 3-4 years to submit their PhD thesis. So there are a few months left before the defense (oral examination). PhDs in many other European countries and some Commonwealth countries like Australia take the same amount of time. For other countries like the United States, it’s usually another year or two, which can be a positive or negative depending on why you’re doing a PhD.
If you are considering applying for a PhD, here are some relevant articles you may find useful:
Five Essential Steps
If you turn your thesis into a book, you should, in some aspects, start from scratch. This includes the title, chapter headings, and even references. Your book will be much more readable and personal than your thesis, and essential information will be highlighted and expanded.
Step 1 – Titles: The title of your book is the first thing your audience will see. Similarly, chapter titles can tell the potential reader/buyer much more about the book’s content than even a well-written blurb. Think about book and chapter titles to help formulate your initial idea of how the book will be structured.
Duration: 2-4 weeks
At some point, you may need to put on your blinders and continue with your thesis. So the push was exhausting all the way. Now consider walking away from him for at least a month. If you can, find a tropical island or an anonymous town, turn off your smartphone and relax. Once the champagne bubbles start to settle, you’ve met up with some good friends you might have overlooked and brought all of his books to the library, take a deep breath and start over.
There are several criteria that will help you decide whether to go the journal article(s) route or the scholarly book route. (A less traveled route is to publish your work as a book for a general audience, but that tends to be a major mid-career accomplishment.)