Writing Your Bachelor's Thesis: Step-by-Step Approach and Checklist

In this article, we want to go deeper into the topic of the bachelor's thesis and explore what concrete approach will make writing your thesis easier. Using our checklist, you can also verify before submission that your work meets the academic standards that should ideally be maintained for a good grade.

If you're not yet familiar with the basic requirements for a bachelor's thesis, we recommend starting your research with our article "Bachelor's Thesis: Guide and Examples" We show you how to successfully master both the content and formal aspects of your thesis – and also what you can do if time is running out!

 

In 4 Steps to Your Perfect Bachelor's Thesis: How to Proceed!

A successful bachelor's thesis requires first and foremost good planning. Your timely completion depends not only on your time management but also on the basic workflow of your research.

Every academic work consists of four typical phases from the start of an investigation to its final review:

1. Topic selection
2. Basic concept of the thesis
3. Thematic and analytical development
4. Final version

 

Practical Tip:

• Our long years of practice show that you'll also make the fastest and most effective progress when writing your bachelor's thesis if you carry out these phases step-by-step one after another.
• To work through these phases effectively, you should also break them down into further smaller tasks and create a work schedule.
• Are you still looking for the right software for your bachelor's thesis? Then you'll find an overview of the best tools and apps for your studies here.

 

Literature Tip: Berger-Grabner, Doris (2016). Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten in der Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften. Hilfreiche Tipps und praktische Beispiele. 3. Auflage. Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien
➔ especially Ch. 1.4.: 'How do you best approach things?', pp. 16–32.

 

 

Possible Approach to Your Bachelor's Thesis: Our Step-by-Step Guide

In our recommended work plan, we assume you have a total processing time of approximately 3 months (= 12 weeks) after registering with the exam office and need to write approximately 30 pages. If your university has different guidelines for writing your bachelor's thesis, you'll need to adapt this guide accordingly.

 

1. Starting Your Investigation: Topic Selection

Every thesis begins with the search for a suitable topic. In this step of your work, it's important to determine through an initial literature overview and in consultation with your chosen first supervisor whether the selected topic is even suitable for a bachelor's thesis.

Tip: Are you searching for the right topic? Then use the comprehensive topic search from GoThesis. In the database you'll find many examples for inspiration and exciting theses from companies. Discover Topic Suggestions Now.

Time Schedule:
Approximately 1 to 2 weeks (possibly a little longer, but definitely before registering with the exam office!)

Your Tasks:

• Think about your topic
• Review and evaluate possible literature
• Initial considerations about your research question
• Find a suitable first supervisor or advisor
• Discuss the topic with your advisor
• Revise the topic if necessary
• Formulate the (preliminary) title of your thesis
• Register with the exam office

 

2. Research Preparation: Basic Concept of Your Thesis

In this phase, you'll begin creating an initial concept for your research. Ideally, you should discuss this basic concept with your advisor. Often, you'll need to prepare an official proposal at this stage, in which you must outline your approach.
 

Time Schedule:
Approximately 1 to 2 weeks
 

Your Tasks:

• Comprehensive literature research
• Selection of the most important sources and theories
• Determine research type
  (empirical vs. theoretical, explanatory or descriptive research)
• Based on the research type, formulate a research question
• Create a proposal for your advisor
• Consider feedback on your proposal in your further planning

 

3. Methodological Implementation: Thematic and Analytical Development

Now comes the actual working phase of your thesis, which usually consists of the theoretical framework, the analytical development (e.g., an empirical study), and the first draft. It's important that you write as you work methodologically – otherwise you might run out of time!
 

Time Schedule:
Approximately 4 to 6 weeks

   
Your Tasks:

• Establish the theoretical framework or state of research
• If applicable, form one or more hypotheses (for empirical development)
• Design the investigation, determining individual units of research (e.g., theoretical concepts, research method, population, sample, etc.)
• Conduct the investigation
• Analyze data
• Complete the draft version

4. Completion: Written Final Version

In the final phase of your bachelor's thesis, it's all about the final editing rounds of your text. This includes both the content and grammatical correction of your draft and adhering to the formal requirements of your university.

Time Schedule:
Approximately 3 to 4 weeks (possibly shorter)
 

Your Tasks:

• Go through the first draft multiple times and revise
• Complete formal formatting of the thesis
• Check page count, citations, and other references in the text
• Spelling, style, and grammar check by another person
• Create print version
• Meet the submission deadline (ideally don't submit on the last day!)
   

 

Our Recommendation:
Of course, you can adapt our suggested approach to your personal work style. However, we know from experience that it usually doesn't make sense to prioritize certain work areas.

For example, if you start with the empirical section such as an online survey without first conducting thorough literature research, you'll likely have to repeat your survey because the results won't match the theoretical framework of your thesis.

The exception is the written draft, which you must approach iteratively and which will continue throughout the working phase. This means you should document the completed subtasks as quickly as possible and in parallel while working.

 

Our Checklist: Quality Criteria for Your Thesis

Your bachelor's thesis is evaluated based on various content, formal, and stylistic aspects. Not only the specific evaluation criteria of your supervisor or university play a role, but also the so-called academic quality criteria are crucial:

• Objectivity:
  Is your work written as objectively as possible? Are your statements supported by data? Are evaluative statements or passages clearly marked as your subjective opinion?
   
• Comprehensibility: Is your argument logically and clearly structured (= argument chains)? Do you deal honestly and transparently with your own research errors? Are your statements supported by sources and citations?
   
• Clarity:
  Do you use academic language (= do you write factually rather than verbosely)? Are your formulations understandable and as precise as possible?
   
• Relevance:
  Is your work at least somewhat unique compared to other research on this topic? Does your research have a defined objective that you can name immediately?
   
• Current State of Knowledge:
  Does your research approach close a currently existing academic gap? Why is your research even necessary? Does it solve an existing problem?
   
• Clarity and Organization:
  Do you have a logical structure that improves the understandability of your research findings? Do you use lists, highlights, and enumerations to better organize your text? Is your text overall reader-friendly (= enough paragraphs, meaningful chapter headings, not overly complex sentence structure)?
   
• Formal Correctness:
  Are all formal guidelines (formatting, font, citation style, declaration of authorship, etc.) of your university met? Have you had a spelling and grammar check done by another person? Have you thoroughly checked the printed version to avoid possible printing errors?

 

Generally speaking, you'll probably not be able to meet all the criteria listed. For example, no one expects a bachelor's thesis to have a high degree of relevance or to consider the current state of knowledge.

However, keep the points mentioned here in mind while writing your bachelor's thesis – they will all contribute to a good overall grade!

 

 

Further Reading:

Balzert, Helmut et al. (2011). Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten. 2 Auflage. Berlin/Dortmund: Springer Campus.

Berger-Grabner, Doris (2016). Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten in der Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften. Hilfreiche Tipps und praktische Beispiele. 3. Auflage. Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien.

Hessen, Bernd (2014). Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten. Methodenwissen für das Bachelor-, Master- und Promotionsstudium. 3. überarbeit. Auflage. Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer Gabler.

Hunziker, Alexander W. (2013). Spass am wissenschaftlichen Arbeiten. So schreiben Sie eine gute Semester-, Bachelor- und Masterarbeit. 5. Auflage. Zürich: SKV. 

 

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