A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical early steps in your writing process. It helps you to lay out and organize your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding the specifics of your dissertation topic and showcasing its relevance to your field. Generally, an outline contains information on the different sections included in your thesis or dissertation, such as:

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• Your anticipated title

• Your abstract

• Your chapters (sometimes subdivided into further topics like literature review, research methods, avenues for future research, etc.)

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In the final product, you can also provide a chapter outline for your readers. This is a short paragraph at the end of your introduction to inform readers about the organizational structure of your thesis or dissertation. This chapter outline is also known as a reading guide or summary outline.

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Tip

You can find a thesis and dissertation outline template below, as well as a chapter outline example, and example sentences and words.

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How to outline your thesis or dissertation

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While there are some inter-institutional differences, many outlines proceed in a fairly similar fashion.

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I. Working Title

II. Abstract

• “Elevator pitch” of your work (often written last).

III. Introduction

• Introduce your area of study, sharing details about your research question, problem statement, and hypotheses. Situate your research within an existing paradigm or conceptual or theoretical framework.

IV.Literature Review

• Subdivide as you see fit into main topics and sub-topics.

V. Methodology (can differ between quantitative and qualitative research)

• Describe your research methods (e.g., your scope, population, and data collection).

VI.Results

• Present your research findings and share about your data analysis methods.

VII. Conclusion

• Answer the research question in a concise way.

VIII. Discussion

• Interpret your findings, discuss potential limitations of your own research and speculate about future implications or related opportunities.

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Tip

For a more detailed overview of chapters and other elements, be sure to check out our article on the structure of a dissertation or download our template.

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Dissertation and thesis outline templates

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To help you get started, we’ve created a full thesis or dissertation template in Word or Google Docs format. It’s easy adapt it to your own requirements

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Tip

Remember that it’s usually considered best practice to use Roman numerals in your formatting (e.g., I, II, III rather than 1, 2, 3), but each citation style has its own best practices for using numerals. APA Style doesn’t allow for numerals in headings at all.

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Sample sentences for your chapter outline

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It can be easy to fall into a pattern of overusing the same words or sentence constructions, which can make your work monotonous and repetitive for your readers. Consider utilizing some of the alternative constructions presented below.

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Example 1: Passive construction

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The passive voice is a common choice for outlines and overviews because the context makes it clear who is carrying out the action (e.g., you are conducting the research). However, overuse of the passive voice can make your text vague and imprecise.

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Example: Passive construction

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An introduction to the problem is presented in Chapter 1 and the relevant literature is discussed in Chapter 2.

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Example 2: IS-AV construction

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You can also present your information using the “IS-AV” (inanimate subject with an active verb) construction. A chapter is an inanimate object, so it is not capable of taking an action itself (e.g., presenting or discussing). However, the meaning of the sentence is still easily understandable, so the IS-AV construction can be a good way to add variety to your text.

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Example: IS-AV construction

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Chapter 1 presents an introduction to the problem and Chapter 2 discusses the relevant literature.

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Example 3: The “I” construction

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Another option is to use the “I” construction, which is often recommended by style manuals (e.g., APA Style and Chicago style). However, depending on your field of study, this construction is not always considered professional or academic. Ask your supervisor if you’re not sure.

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Example: “I” construction

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In Chapter 1, I discuss the cause of the problem. In Chapter 2, I then discuss the literature. In Chapter 3, I discuss the methods.

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Example 4: Mix-and-match

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To truly make the most of these options, consider mixing and matching the passive voice, IS-AV construction, and “I” construction.This can help the flow of your argument and improve the readability of your text.

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Example: Mix of different constructions

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Chapter 2 contains a review of the relevant literature that I used for the purposes of this paper. The methods used in the study are then described in Chapter 3, after which the results are presented and discussed in Chapter 4.

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Sample verbs for variation in your chapter outline

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As you draft the chapter outline, you may also find yourself frequently repeating the same words, such as “discuss,” “present,” “prove,” or “show.” Consider branching out to add richness and nuance to your writing.