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How to Write a Thesis in 3 Days: A Step-by-Step Guide

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Write your thesis in 2 weeks: effective strategies for short-term thesis completion.

Embarking on the journey to write a thesis in just two weeks can be a daunting task, but with the right strategies and a solid plan, it is possible to complete this academic milestone successfully. This article provides a comprehensive guide to effective short-term thesis completion, offering practical advice on everything from laying the groundwork and managing time, to writing, revising, and preparing for submission. By following these strategies, students can navigate the intensive process with confidence and efficiency.

Key Takeaways

Develop a clear understanding of thesis expectations and requirements to ensure a focused approach to research and writing.

Create a detailed work plan and schedule, breaking down the thesis into manageable tasks with strict deadlines to maximize productivity.

Leverage time management tools and techniques to prioritize tasks effectively, and organize research materials for easy access and use.

Implement a robust drafting and revision process, incorporating feedback and peer review to enhance the quality of the thesis.

Understand the submission process, including formatting and defense preparation, to ensure a smooth completion and transition to post-submission stages.

Laying the Groundwork for Your Thesis

Understanding the expectations and requirements.

Before diving into the thesis writing process, it's crucial to grasp the full scope of expectations and requirements . This involves a comprehensive understanding of the academic standards and the specific guidelines set by your institution. Begin by reviewing the official requirements, which often include the expected structure, citation style, and the level of analysis or argumentation required.

To ensure you're on the right track, consider the following points:

The importance of integrating quantitative evidence and sophisticated arguments.

The necessity for information and technological literacy.

Familiarity with various formats for presenting your arguments, such as words, tables, or graphs.

Remember, a well-defined thesis is not just about the content; it's also about presenting it in a way that aligns with academic conventions and expectations.

Lastly, don't overlook the practical aspects of thesis preparation, such as understanding funding needs, proposal organization, and the timeline for completing each section of your work. These elements are just as critical as the intellectual components of your thesis.

Developing a Clear Thesis Statement

A clear thesis statement is the backbone of any compelling thesis. It should present your main argument straightforwardly , serving as a guide for both you and your readers. To ensure clarity and focus, your thesis statement should address a particular aspect of your topic, avoiding vagueness and over-generalization.

When crafting your thesis statement, consider the following steps:

Identify the core question your thesis aims to answer.

Reflect on the specific angle or perspective you bring to the topic.

Condense your argument into a single, concise sentence.

Test the specificity and clarity of your statement by asking for feedback.

Remember, a well-developed thesis statement not only provides direction for your research but also sets the stage for a persuasive and coherent argument.

Refining your thesis statement may require several iterations. Be prepared to revise it as your understanding of the topic deepens and as you receive input from advisors and peers.

Creating a Detailed Work Plan and Schedule

A well-structured work plan and schedule are crucial for the successful completion of your thesis within the ambitious timeframe of two weeks. Start by establishing a working schedule that includes daily goals and benchmarks to measure your progress. This will help you stay on track and adjust your plan as needed when you encounter obstacles.

Week 1-2 : Initial Research and Topic Refinement

Week 3-4 : Literature Review and Methodology Outline

Week 5-6 : Data Collection and Analysis

Week 7 : Drafting the Thesis Introduction

Week 8-9 : Writing the Main Body (Chapters/Sections)

Week 10-11 : Conclusion and Abstract

Week 12-13 : Revision and Peer Review

Week 14 : Final Edits and Formatting

Anticipate difficulties and be prepared to work with them. It's essential to remain flexible and adapt your schedule to the evolving nature of your research. Regularly assess your progress against the established benchmarks and adjust your plan accordingly.

Remember, the key to a successful short-term thesis completion is not just hard work, but also smart planning. By breaking down your tasks into manageable chunks and setting clear deadlines, you can maintain a steady pace and avoid last-minute panic.

Mastering Time Management and Organization

Prioritizing tasks and setting realistic deadlines.

To write your thesis in a mere two weeks, prioritizing tasks and setting realistic deadlines is crucial. Begin by identifying the most critical components of your thesis and allocate more time to these areas. Break down your thesis into smaller, manageable tasks and set deadlines for each. This approach ensures that you make consistent progress and don't become overwhelmed by the enormity of the project.

Week 1: Research and Outline

Week 2: Drafting and Revising

Remember, the key is to stay on track with the deadlines you set for yourself. Adjust your schedule as needed, but always aim to meet or beat your deadlines to maintain momentum.

By setting intermediate deadlines for each task, you create a sense of urgency and accountability, which can significantly enhance your focus and productivity.

Utilize the academic calendar to your advantage, as students are generally responsive to structured schedules. Incorporate weekly goals that align with your thesis milestones, ensuring that each week brings you closer to completion.

Utilizing Time Management Tools and Techniques

In the race against the clock to complete your thesis, embracing effective time management tools is crucial . One such technique is the Pomodoro Technique , which involves setting a timer for focused writing bursts followed by short breaks, enhancing your creativity and productivity.

To systematically apply time management strategies, consider the following steps:

Embrace the Pomodoro Technique: Set a timer for focused writing bursts, then take short breaks.

Align with the academic calendar: Utilize inherent planning tools and respond to assignment deadlines.

Break down your thesis into subtopics: Treat each as an individual assignment to make consistent progress.

Remember, the key to effective time management is not just the tools you use, but also the consistency with which you apply them.

While tools like the Pomodoro Technique can boost focus and efficiency, integrating these strategies into a structured schedule can compound their effectiveness. By aligning with the academic calendar and treating each section of your thesis as a separate milestone, you can maintain momentum and stay on track.

Organizing Research and Resources Efficiently

Efficient organization of research and resources is pivotal for the successful completion of your thesis within a tight timeframe. Develop a systematic approach to managing your information, ensuring that everything you need is easily accessible and logically structured. Start by categorizing your resources into relevant topics and subtopics.

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Cited by other articles

Links to NCBI Databases

Use tools like reference management software to keep track of your citations and bibliographies. For instance, EndNote 20 can streamline the process of organizing your literature review and managing your references. Additionally, consider using software like G*Power for statistical analysis planning, such as determining appropriate sample sizes.

By maintaining a clear and organized workspace, both physically and digitally, you can minimize distractions and enhance your focus, leading to more productive writing sessions.

Writing and Revising Your Thesis

Drafting your thesis with focus and efficiency.

When the time comes to draft your thesis , efficiency and focus are paramount. Begin by breaking down the thesis into manageable sections, each with a specific goal. This approach not only simplifies the writing process but also helps maintain a clear direction throughout your work.

Outline each chapter before writing.

Allocate time slots for each section.

Set daily goals for word count or pages.

Remember, the quality of your draft is as important as the pace at which you write. Aim for clarity and conciseness in your initial drafts to facilitate easier revisions later on.

Utilize the feedback from your advisors and peers to refine your draft. Incorporate their insights to strengthen your arguments and ensure that your thesis meets the required academic standards. By staying organized and adhering to your schedule, you can produce a comprehensive and well-argued thesis within the two-week timeframe.

Incorporating Feedback and Peer Review

Once you have a draft of your thesis, it's crucial to engage in the peer review process. Peer review acts as a critical checkpoint before finalizing your document. It's a time to receive constructive criticism and to view your work from a fresh perspective. To make the most of this phase, follow these steps:

Complete a second reading of your peer's draft to identify strengths and weaknesses.

Make comments on the margins, focusing on areas that can be improved.

Discuss potential problems and alternative strategies with your peers.

Incorporate changes into your draft based on the feedback received.

Remember, the goal of peer review is not to rewrite your thesis but to refine it. It's about polishing your work and ensuring clarity, coherence, and scholarly rigor.

After incorporating the initial round of feedback, consider seeking additional insights from faculty members or experts in your field. This can be done during later stages of the review process, where more specialized advice can be invaluable. Use the feedback to revise your grant proposals or thesis chapters, and prepare for subsequent discussions or presentations.

Strategies for Effective Revision and Editing

Effective revision and editing are crucial for refining your thesis and ensuring clarity and coherence. Develop a systematic approach to revising each section of your thesis to maintain a consistent quality throughout. Start by addressing the larger structural issues before focusing on sentence-level details.

Review the organization of your chapters and sections for logical flow.

Check for clarity in your arguments and the relevance of your data.

Ensure that your writing is concise and free of jargon.

Correct grammatical errors and check for proper citation formatting.

Remember, revision is not just about correcting mistakes, but also about enhancing the strength of your argument and the overall readability of your thesis.

Incorporate feedback from peers and advisors diligently. They can provide valuable insights that you might have missed. Use their comments to guide your revisions and consider creating a checklist to track changes.

Lastly, allow time for multiple rounds of editing. A rushed job can overlook subtle errors and weaken your thesis. Patience and attention to detail during this phase will pay off in the quality of your final submission.

Overcoming Common Obstacles

Addressing procrastination and motivation issues.

Procrastination and waning motivation are frequent challenges in the thesis writing process. Stay aware of your motivation levels and take proactive steps to rejuvenate them, ensuring you avoid burnout and maintain a steady workflow. To combat procrastination, consider the following strategies:

Break down your thesis into smaller, manageable tasks.

Set clear, achievable goals for each writing session.

Reward yourself for meeting targets to maintain motivation.

Use productivity tools to track progress and stay focused.

Remember, consistency is key. Regular short sessions are often more productive than irregular, lengthy ones.

It's also beneficial to understand that motivation fluctuates and it's normal to have periods of lower productivity. During these times, it's crucial to adjust your schedule and tasks to accommodate your current state, rather than forcing an unrealistic pace.

Managing Performance Anxiety and Stress

Completing a thesis in a short timeframe can often lead to heightened performance anxiety and stress . It's crucial to acknowledge these feelings and address them proactively. Here are some strategies to help manage stress during this intense period:

Recognize the signs of stress early and take action.

Break down tasks into manageable chunks to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Engage in regular physical activity to reduce tension.

Ensure adequate sleep and nutrition to maintain energy levels.

Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing or meditation.

Remember, managing stress is not about eliminating it completely but learning to cope with it effectively. By incorporating stress management techniques into your daily routine, you can maintain a healthier state of mind and improve your overall productivity.

Additionally, workshops and support groups, like those offered by Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), can provide valuable skills and community support. For instance, CAPS' weekly sessions on topics such as 'Managing Performance/Test Anxiety' and 'Confidence Boost' can be instrumental in building resilience.

Staying Consistent and Maintaining Confidence

Maintaining a consistent work ethic and keeping your confidence high are crucial for the successful completion of your thesis in a short timeframe. Developing a routine and sticking to it can help you stay on track and avoid the pitfalls of procrastination. Regularly review your progress and adjust your schedule as needed to ensure you are meeting your goals.

Week 6: Confidence Boost

Week 7: Creating Consistency

These steps, as part of a structured program, can significantly aid in building the confidence and consistency needed for your thesis journey. Qualitatively, participants in similar programs have reported a notable increase in confidence and motivation, which can be attributed to the structured guidance and mentorship provided.

Remember, the journey of thesis writing is not just about the end product but also about the personal growth and empowerment you experience along the way.

Finally, make the most of your thesis supervision . Manage feedback effectively, plan your meetings strategically, and navigate any challenges with resilience. This approach will not only help you maintain consistency but also bolster your confidence throughout the thesis writing process.

Final Preparations and Submission

Formatting and preparing your thesis for defense.

As you approach the final stages of your thesis journey, formatting and preparing your thesis for defense becomes crucial. The visual presentation of your work should not be underestimated; it reflects the quality and professionalism of your research. To ensure your thesis meets the required standards, consult the comprehensive guidelines provided on the 'Preparing to Graduate' page, and familiarize yourself with the submission timeline available on the GEPA Dissertation/Thesis Submission page.

Start by reviewing the formatting guidelines specific to your institution.

Gather all necessary co-author permission letters if applicable.

Attend webinars and workshops, like the 'SPRING GRAD DISSERTATION/THESIS SUBMISSION & FORMATTING WEBINAR', to gain insights into the submission process and formatting nuances.

Remember, the earlier you start preparing the formatting of your thesis, the smoother the process will be. Proactive preparation can prevent last-minute hurdles and ensure you meet all submission deadlines.

Incorporate the advice from the PhD Dissertation Defense Slides Design : show why your study is important, emphasize your contribution, connect your projects, and tell a compelling story. Keep your slides concise to maintain the attention and interest of your audience.

Understanding Submission Deadlines and Requirements

Meeting the submission deadlines for your thesis is crucial to ensure a smooth completion process. Different institutions have varying deadlines, often tied to the end of the academic semester or specific dates within the subsequent semester. For instance, the Cornell Graduate School policy requires the thesis to be submitted within 60 days of the final exam.

It's essential to familiarize yourself with the specific deadlines and requirements of your institution. Full details are typically available on the graduate school's website, along with resources such as webinars and FAQs to guide you through the process.

To avoid any last-minute hurdles, here's a checklist to keep in mind:

Confirm the final submission date and time for your thesis.

Ensure that you have completed all necessary forms and applications by the due date.

Attend any mandatory submission and formatting webinars offered by your institution.

Schedule preliminary and final review appointments if required.

Remember, adhering to these guidelines is not just about meeting a deadline; it's about respecting the process and giving your work the professional presentation it deserves.

Post-Submission: What to Expect and Next Steps

After the submission of your thesis , a period of waiting begins. It's essential to understand what comes next and how to navigate the post-submission phase. Here's what you can generally expect:

Review and Feedback : Your thesis will undergo a review process, which may involve peer feedback. This is a critical time to be receptive to constructive criticism and ready to make necessary revisions.

Timeline Awareness : Be aware of the timeline for responses from your committee or funding agencies. Deadlines for submission often coincide with the end of the semester, but responses may come in the subsequent semester.

Preparation for Defense : If your program requires it, begin preparing for your thesis defense. This includes understanding the format, anticipating questions, and rehearsing your presentation.

Remember, the submission is not the end of your journey. Use this time to reflect on your work, consider potential improvements, and prepare for the next steps in your academic or professional career.

Finally, stay informed about the formalities. Full information on submission and formatting is typically available on your institution's 'Preparing to Graduate' page. A detailed timeline for the process can also be found on the relevant submission page. Keep these resources handy to ensure you meet all post-submission requirements.

In conclusion, writing your thesis in just two weeks is an ambitious endeavor that requires meticulous planning, unwavering dedication, and effective time management. By leveraging the strategies discussed in this article, such as setting clear goals, maintaining motivation, utilizing procrastination tools, and managing performance anxiety, you can navigate the intense period of thesis completion with confidence. Remember, consistency and well-being are crucial to sustaining focus and producing quality work under tight deadlines. While this guide provides a structured approach, it's important to tailor these strategies to your individual needs and circumstances. With the right mindset and tools, you can transform the daunting task of short-term thesis completion into a successful academic achievement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i attend thesis preparation workshops if i'm defending in a future quarter.

Yes, attending thesis preparation workshops earlier can be beneficial for understanding the formatting and organization of your thesis or dissertation.

Is it possible to incorporate peer review feedback into my thesis within the two-week timeframe?

Yes, allocating specific time for incorporating peer review feedback into your schedule is crucial and can be managed within two weeks with focused effort.

How can a course-based approach assist in meeting thesis submission deadlines?

A course-based approach provides structure, sets intermediate deadlines, and integrates time management tools that align with academic calendars, aiding in timely completion.

Can I schedule a preliminary appointment for my thesis defense early on?

It is not recommended to schedule a preliminary appointment too early. It is more beneficial to have a complete and formatted thesis/dissertation before the appointment.

What are the deadlines for submitting my dissertation or thesis?

Submission deadlines vary by institution, but it's essential to understand and adhere to these deadlines well in advance to ensure timely submission.

How can I manage time effectively while writing my thesis in such a short period?

Utilize time management tools, create a detailed work plan with daily goals, and prioritize tasks to focus on the most critical aspects of your thesis first.

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How to write a whole research paper in a week

Writing up a full research article in a single week? Maybe you think that’s impossible. Yet I have done it repeatedly, and so have students in my courses. This is an exceptionally joyful (even if demanding) experience: being so productive just feels great! You are not wasting any time, and a paper produced in one go is typically coherent and nice to read. Even if you are a slow writer, you can write a whole paper in a single week — if you follow my strategy. Read below about what you need to prepare and how to approach this project.

I wrote my first scientific research article in 7 days. It started as a desperate effort to stop my procrastination and “just do it”. But I was surprised what a positive experience it was: focused and efficient, I was making daily progress, feeling motivated and content. Finally, the fruits of my hard work were gaining shape — and they did it so quickly!

I realized it was highly effective to write up a paper like this: writing for the whole day, every day until the first draft was finished. My writing project was firmly present in my mind — I didn’t lose time catching up with what I have written in the last session. Since I was not doing anything else, my wandering mind settled in very fast, and I was getting into a routine. The daily progress was clearly visible and motivated me to continue. And the result was a coherent paper that was easy to revise.

Meanwhile, this paper-a-week approach is my favorite. That’s how I write my papers, and that’s what I teach to students. In on-site courses young scientists draft a whole paper in 5 days, writing one major section per day. At the beginning of the week, many participants have doubts. But at the end of the week, they are all excited to see how much they managed to write in just a single week.

If you would also like to try out this approach, then read on about the necessary preparations, the optimal setting, and a productive writing strategy.

If you would like to get support during the preparation, drafting and revising of your research article, check out my online course Write Up Your Paper .

Prepare well

• First, think about your audience and pick a suitable journal . This is an important step because the audience and journal determine the content & style of your paper. As a reference, pick two recent papers on a similar topic published in your target journal.
• Create a storyline for your paper. What is the main message you want to convey, and how are you going to present your results?
• Put together all the results that you need to present your story convincingly: collect the necessary data, finish analyses, and create figures and tables.
• Select and read the relevant background literature as well as studies you want to compare your work with. As you read, note down any point that comes to your mind as something to be mentioned in the Introduction or Discussion section.
• Draft a preliminary Abstract : it will help you keep the direction and not get distracted by secondary ideas as you write the individual sections.

Depending on how complete your results already are, you might need 2-4 weeks to finish all these preparations. To help you keep an overview, I created a checklist with detailed steps that you need to take before you attempt to write up your paper in a week. Subscribe to our Newsletter and get your copy of the checklist.

Reserve a whole week for writing

Now, writing a paper in a single week is a serious business. You can’t do it if you don’t focus solely on the writing and create good writing conditions. Therefore, I recommend the following settings:

• Find a place where you can write without distractions. I have written my first paper over the Easter holidays when there was nobody in the office. You might choose to write at home or in a library. Though if possible, the best is to go for a retreat: removing yourself from your everyday settings immensely helps focus on the writing.
• Cancel (all) social obligations for the week. While it’s crucial to relax in the evening, you want to avoid disturbances associated with social events. Anything that makes your thoughts drift away from your work because it requires planning, exchanging of messages with others, or simply because it’s too exciting is better left for some other week. On the other hand, a quiet meeting with a good friend over a glass of wine or beer might be just the perfect way to unwind and rest after a productive, yet exhausting day of writing.
• Get support from the partner, family or friends — if possible. It’s best when you don’t need to run errands, cook and clean during this week. If you live alone, you can probably easily arrange yourself for undisturbed work. If you live with other people, ask them for consideration and support.

What I described above are the *ideal* conditions for undisturbed writing. But don’t give up if you can’t create such conditions for yourself. Work with what is possible — maybe it will take you 7-8 instead of 5-6 days but that’s still a great result, right?

Do you need to revise & polish your manuscript or thesis but don’t know where to begin?

Get your Revision Checklist

Click here for an efficient step-by-step revision of your scientific texts.

Maybe you think that you can never ever draft a research article in a single week. Because you write so slowly, producing only few paragraphs per day. Well — I agree that if you don’t optimize your writing strategy, it would be hard to impossible to write up a whole paper in a week.

• Separate the processes of writing and revising. That’s the most important principle. Resist the urge to revise as you write the first draft. Moreover, don’t interrupt your writing to look up missing information. Work with placeholders instead. This allows you to get into the state of flow and proceed much faster than you can imagine.
• Start your writing day with 10 minutes of freewriting . Write without stopping about anything that comes to your mind. This helps you to warm up for writing, clear your head of any unrelated thoughts, and get into the mood of writing without editing.
• Take regular power breaks. I recommend to follow the Pomodoro technique : write for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break. After 3-4 such sessions take a longer break of 0.5-1 hour. During the breaks get up, walk a bit, stretch, look around, and breathe deeply. These breaks help you sustain high focus and productivity throughout the whole day.
• Eat and sleep well. What you are doing is similar to a professional athlete. So take care of your brain and body, and they will serve you well.
• Reward yourself. Every day celebrate the progress you have made. You have full right to be proud of you!

Write the individual sections in a reasonable order

If you have written a research paper before, you have probably realized that starting with the Introduction and finishing with the Discussion is not the ideal order in which to tackle the individual sections. Instead, I recommend the following procedure:

• Start with the Methods section. This is the easiest section to write, so it’s great as a warm-up, to get into writing without the need to think (and procrastinate ;)) too much. Look at your figures and tables: what methods did you use to create them? Then describe your methods, one after another.
• Results section: Writing the Methods section refreshes your memory about the research you have done. So writing the Results section next should not be too hard: Take one display object (figure or table) after another, and describe the results they contain. While you do so, you will come across points that need to be discussed in the Discussion section. Note them down so you don’t forget them.
• Introduction : When your results are fresh in your mind, you are in a great position to write the Introduction — because the Introduction should contain selected information that gives the reader context for your research project and allows them to understand your results and their implications.
• Discussion : When you have taken notes while writing the Results section, the Discussion section should be quite easy to draft. Don’t worry too early about the order in which you want to discuss the individual points. Write one paragraph for each point , and then see how you can logically arrange them.
• Abstract and title : On the last day, revise the preliminary Abstract or write a new one. You could also take a break of a few days before tackling the Abstract, to gain clarity and distance. Generate multiple titles (I recommend 6-10), so that you and your co-authors can choose the most appropriate one.

Just do it!

Once you have written the whole draft, let it sit for a week or two, and then revise it. Follow my tips for efficient revising and get your revision checklist that will guide you step-by-step through the whole process.

Now I am curious about your experience: Have you ever written up an academic article quickly? How did you do it? Please, share with us your tips & strategies!

Do you need to revise & polish your manuscript or thesis but don’t know where to begin? Is your text a mess and you don't know how to improve it?

Click here for an efficient step-by-step revision of your scientific texts. You will be guided through each step with concrete tips for execution.

7 thoughts on “ How to write a whole research paper in a week ”

Thank for your guide and suggestion. It gives to me very precious ways how to write a article. Now I am writing a article related to Buddhist studies. Thank you so much.

You are welcome!

excellent! it helped me a lot! wish you all best

Hi Parham, I’m happy to hear that!

I have never written any paper before. As I am from very old school.

But my writing skill is actually very good. Your help is definitely going to help me as this has inspired me alot. Will let you know, once done. I really like the outline that you have given. Basically you have made it so easy for me .

Hope fully will be in touch with you soon.

Thanks and ki d Regards, Shehla

Dear Shehla, that sounds great! I’m looking forward to hearing about your paper!

Comments are closed.

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7-Day PhD Thesis Writing Mastery: Proven Tips from My Personal Journey.

“Coelho wrote The Alchemist in only  two weeks  in 1987. He explained that he was able to write at this pace because the story was “already written in [his] soul.” -Wikipedia

Can you imagine writing a literary masterpiece like The Alchemist in just two short weeks? It may sound impossible, but it is the truth! This iconic novel, with over 65 million copies sold and translated into 80 languages, was written from the soul of its author in just 14 days.

Now, from the perspective of a PhD thesis, while not all PhD students may have the ability to write their thesis straight from the soul, it is still possible to accomplish the daunting task of writing a thesis in a matter of days, if you have a clear understanding of the work you’ve done in the past. I, myself, was a bit sceptical when I set out to write my thesis in a week. The thought of condensing years of research into just ~120 pages seemed impossible. But, with a little push from my professor and the encouragement of friends, I took on the challenge and finally succeeded.

In this guide, I’ll share tips and tricks that I learned from my own experience to help you write your PhD thesis in a week. Get ready to roll up your sleeves and dive in, let’s get started!

This article is divided into four sections: 1. Assumptions, 2. Two bits of advice, 3. Day 0 to 7, 4. Writing Tips.

ASSUMPTIONS

Science PhDs, are you ready to conquer the thesis writing challenge?

• With moderate writing skills and a good understanding of your research, you’re off to a great start.
• Figures ready? Most PhD students have multiple figures from their published papers, any remaining figures can be plotted during the writing process or taken from other papers with proper citations.
• Essential tools at the ready? Laptop, writing software, and resources such as Grammarly Pro to rectify mistakes in real time.
• These tips are for preparing the 1st draft, additional time will be needed to polish and incorporate feedback from mentors and reviewers.

TWO BITS OF ADVICE:

1. Start early

Are you in the early stages of your PhD journey? Great news! It’s the perfect time to start honing your writing skills.

You don’t have to limit yourself to just keeping a hand-book of your progress, think outside the box and start a blog. Populate it with content, the more the better. It doesn’t matter what the content is about, just start writing. You don’t even have to publish it publicly. This habit of writing consistently will shape your writing muscles perfectly.

I can attest to this as I started my blog in 2015 with the sole purpose of developing my writing skills for my PhD thesis. My writing was terrible at first, and I received many disappointing comments. But, I couldn’t stop writing. Over time, I slowly learned how to write efficiently and quickly. I still have a lot to learn, but it all started with taking that first step.

So, if you haven’t started yet, it’s not too late. And for those of you who are finished with your PhD work and about to start writing your thesis, don’t worry about starting a blog now, focus on your thesis.

2. Overcome writer’s block

Feeling unmotivated to start writing? You’re not alone, many people experience the same thing, it’s called Writer’s Block. Even the most accomplished authors can feel it. But, don’t let it hold you back! Writer’s block is a mental barrier, that often comes from overthinking. The more you try to force yourself to write, the harder it becomes. The solution is simple, just start writing. Don’t wait for motivation, it will come once you begin. One trick to overcoming writer’s block is to set small goals for yourself. For example, tell yourself, “I will only write a paragraph today, the rest can wait till tomorrow.” Often, once you start writing, ideas will flow and you’ll naturally continue. But, if you still find yourself struggling, try a cup of coffee or a short walk, and try again. The key is to change the way your brain neurons are firing.

Don’t let writer’s block hold you back. Just start writing, and the rest will fall into place.

Day 0: Preparation

Today is the day of preparation, and it’s just as important as the actual writing.

Take out a pen and paper and make a list of everything you’ve accomplished throughout your PhD journey. No need for details, just jot down the main experiments, results, discussions, and concepts. It doesn’t have to be in any particular order, just write as you remember. You can also refer to your records, papers, and research logbooks for help. Each bullet point should be brief, two or three sentences long.

For example, “2D materials such as graphene and TMDs were optically characterized by two-photon microscopy using excitation wavelengths of a femtosecond laser, spanning from 1000 nm to 1500 nm.”

If you find yourself getting distracted, take a few deep breaths and refocus on the task at hand. This process may take anywhere from two to three hours or more, depending on the depth of your work.

Before starting day one of your writing, make sure that all your tools such as your laptop, writing software, hard disk or cloud storage are working properly.

NOTE: ALWAYS MAKE A BACKUP OF YOUR WRITING REGULARLY. DISASTERS CAN HAPPEN IF YOU DON’T DO.

Day 1: Storyline development

Rise and shine at 7 am, fueled by a strong cup of coffee, and tackle your writing with determination and focus.

[UPDATE: Coffee is not mandatory. I significantly reduced my coffee usage recently, and I still produce dopamines!]

Eliminate distractions such as desktop notifications and messaging apps to stay on track. Trust that the world will go on without you checking your phone every five minutes. Take a moment to review your list from the preparation stage and read it mindfully. Consider how to connect the sentences and make any necessary corrections. As you read and re-read, a story will begin to take shape. Don’t rush this process, as developing your storyline is the most crucial step of your thesis. Keep in mind that once you begin writing, it will be difficult to make major changes. Be clear and confident about your theme, and don’t hesitate to discuss it with colleagues.

After lunch, assign broad captions to the sentences in your list that have been reordered according to your story. For example, “Two-photon microscopy of 2D materials.” Don’t worry about using every caption, many of them can be used for your index with some minor changes once your thesis is complete. After captions, it’s time to fit your existing figures into your storyline. This task will be a breeze since you already know the content of each figure.

Enjoy an evening coffee and some chit-chat with friends before organizing your story into chapters such as Introduction, Experimental techniques, Theoretical models, and Conclusion. Take your time to create a cohesive structure for your thesis. Now, it’s time to start writing. Kick things off with something you feel confident about, such as your published papers. If self-plagiarism is allowed in your university, feel free to copy and paste your articles as a confidence booster. With three published papers, you’ll have several chapters completed on the first day alone. We’ll tackle connecting the chapters tomorrow.

Take a deep breath and get some rest, you deserve it. Remember, even if your storyline appears disordered or unreadable at first, it will come together in the end. Trust in your ability to create a clear and polished thesis.

Take a look at the content of this blog, it’s a prime example of my pre-writing preparation. Don’t worry if your own storyline appears messy or disorganized at first, mine was too. But with time and effort, it all comes together. Trust in your ability to create a polished and clear thesis, even if it doesn’t look perfect at first glance. I have faith that your PhD storyline will be even more organized and presentable than mine.

Day 2 and 3: Preparing background Information

Good morning! You now have a clear idea of the flow of your thesis, making it easy to write the connecting paragraphs between your published works. Incorporate these paragraphs into the chapters you completed yesterday. Take some time to review and make any necessary corrections. You’ve made great progress and should feel proud of what you’ve accomplished.

After your lunch break, it’s time to tackle the “Experimental or Theoretical” chapter(s). Writing equations can be time-consuming, so be patient with yourself. To save time, it’s best to prepare all equations beforehand and then copy-paste them into the appropriate places in your chapter. The same goes for figures. By taking this approach, you’ll feel a sense of completion at every stage of the writing process. It’s likely that you’ll need one or two days to finish these chapters.

Note: Leave yourself a little reminder to add references by leaving a note in the sentences where you plan to include them. Each day, take some time to download and organize all your references in a folder, making sure to give each one a clear and descriptive name. By the 7th day, you’ll have a neat and organized folder ready to use as you complete your thesis.

Day 4 and 5: Introduction

This is the chapter where you’ll really want to shine and show the world how important and groundbreaking your research is. It’s crucial to clearly define any unfamiliar terms or concepts, give a comprehensive overview of current research in your field, and highlight the pros and cons of existing methods, techniques, or ideas. Make sure to highlight how your research stands out from the rest and include relevant figures and information from other papers with proper citations. Crafting the perfect narrative for this chapter will take time and effort, so take your time to brainstorm and create a compelling argument that truly showcases the significance of your research. By the end of this chapter, readers should be convinced of the value and originality of your contributions.

Day 6: Conclusion

Celebrate, you’ve made it to the home stretch! Your “conclusion and future directions” chapter is where you get to showcase the significance and future impact of your research. Gather all of your key takeaways and potential next steps and organize them into a compelling narrative. This is your chance to leave a lasting impression and inspire future work in your field. Now, take a step back and admire all of your hard work. The pages you’ve written, the notes you’ve taken, the tabs you’ve opened – it’s all evidence of the progress you’ve made. Give yourself a pat on the back, because tomorrow is all about fine-tuning and making those final revisions.

Day 7: References, style, revision and corrections

It’s time to add the final touches to your thesis! Organize your references with ease using tools like EndNote or Mendeley for a polished and professional look. Start with the references from your introduction, which you’ve been gathering over the last six days. Make sure to follow your university’s guidelines for formatting, including font type, size, line spacing, and placement of figures. Give your thesis one final review to catch any minor corrections before submitting it to your mentor for feedback. Congrats, the hard work is done!

A FEW TIPS:

• Write without fear of mistakes, focus on completing your thoughts first and come back later to edit.
• Keep your end goal in mind, and imagine the sense of accomplishment and pride you’ll feel once your thesis is finished.
• Have accountability partners who can push you to stay on track and meet deadlines.
• Take breaks and have fun to recharge and come back to writing with renewed energy.
• Remember, the more you push yourself to write, the more natural and effortless it will become.
• Stay organized by keeping track of your references and adding them to your document after all chapters are complete.

Caution: Don’t procrastinate on your writing by thinking you can power through it quickly. Start early and take your time. The goal isn’t to set a record for how quickly you can finish, but to create a high-quality thesis.

I hope these tips have provided valuable insights on how to approach your thesis writing in an efficient manner. I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please feel free to share your comments.

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4 thoughts on “ 7-Day PhD Thesis Writing Mastery: Proven Tips from My Personal Journey. ”

I am very interested in writing my PhD but very lazy and postponing. Please advise

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While Sandel argues that pursuing perfection through genetic engineering would decrease our sense of humility, he claims that the sense of solidarity we would lose is also important.

This thesis summarizes several points in Sandel’s argument, but it does not make a claim about how we should understand his argument. A reader who read Sandel’s argument would not also need to read an essay based on this descriptive thesis.  

Broad thesis (arguable, but difficult to support with evidence) 

Michael Sandel’s arguments about genetic engineering do not take into consideration all the relevant issues.

This is an arguable claim because it would be possible to argue against it by saying that Michael Sandel’s arguments do take all of the relevant issues into consideration. But the claim is too broad. Because the thesis does not specify which “issues” it is focused on—or why it matters if they are considered—readers won’t know what the rest of the essay will argue, and the writer won’t know what to focus on. If there is a particular issue that Sandel does not address, then a more specific version of the thesis would include that issue—hand an explanation of why it is important.  

Arguable thesis with analytical claim 

While Sandel argues persuasively that our instinct to “remake” (54) ourselves into something ever more perfect is a problem, his belief that we can always draw a line between what is medically necessary and what makes us simply “better than well” (51) is less convincing.

This is an arguable analytical claim. To argue for this claim, the essay writer will need to show how evidence from the article itself points to this interpretation. It’s also a reasonable scope for a thesis because it can be supported with evidence available in the text and is neither too broad nor too narrow.  

Arguable thesis with normative claim 

Given Sandel’s argument against genetic enhancement, we should not allow parents to decide on using Human Growth Hormone for their children.

This thesis tells us what we should do about a particular issue discussed in Sandel’s article, but it does not tell us how we should understand Sandel’s argument.  

Questions to ask about your thesis 

• Is the thesis truly arguable? Does it speak to a genuine dilemma in the source, or would most readers automatically agree with it?  
• Is the thesis too obvious? Again, would most or all readers agree with it without needing to see your argument?  
• Is the thesis complex enough to require a whole essay's worth of argument?  
• Is the thesis supportable with evidence from the text rather than with generalizations or outside research?  
• Would anyone want to read a paper in which this thesis was developed? That is, can you explain what this paper is adding to our understanding of a problem, question, or topic?
• picture_as_pdf Thesis

How to Write an Explanatory Essay

• Smodin Editorial Team
• Published: May 24, 2024

A study from the English Language Teaching Educational Journal found that students encounter difficulty in organizing thoughts, generating ideas, and understanding writing processes when writing essays [1]. These are all key components of putting together a good explanatory essay. If this sounds like you, then don’t worry.

With the right approach, you can seamlessly combine all these components. This guide will give you a simple step-by-step strategy for writing an explanatory essay. It’ll also give you handy writing tips and tool suggestions, like utilizing artificial intelligence.

With this guide, you’ll be able to write an explanatory essay with confidence.

1. Develop a strong thesis statement

Crafting a strong thesis statement is the cornerstone of any well-written explanatory essay. It sets the stage for what your essay will cover and clarifies the main point you’re going to explain. Here’s how to create a thesis:

• Find the main idea : Start by pinpointing the key concept or question you want to explain. Develop a clear purpose for the essay. This will guide your research and writing process for your explanatory paper. Use other reputable explanatory essay examples to guide your ideas. This may involve exploring other explanatory essay topics within the same field.
• Be specific : A vague thesis can confuse readers. So, make sure your statement is clear. If you’re explaining a complex process, break it down to its key points. After that, break it into a clear, concise statement that’s easy to understand.
• Reflect objectivity : Explanatory essays educate and inform. They do not argue a point. So, your thesis should take an unbiased stance on the topic. It should present the facts as they are, not as you interpret them.
• Use tools like the Smodin Writer : Smodin Writer does all the heavy lifting by leveraging the power of artificial intelligence. With it, you can generate an essay with a thesis statement. How, you ask? Through its dedicated thesis generator . It can create a statement that’s both strong and relevant. Plus, it can pull in all the most interesting information based on your topic to further enrich your thesis statement.

Make your thesis clear, informative, and neutral. This sets a strong foundation for an effective explanatory essay. Next, let’s look at how to gather the information you’ll need to support this thesis effectively.

2. Research and gather information

You need to conduct thorough research that will back your thesis with credible sources and relevant evidence. This will make your explanatory essay both informative and persuasive. Here’s a step-by-step guide to conducting effective research:

• Start with a plan: Put together an explanatory essay outline that includes the information you need to support your thesis. The plan should list the best sources, like academic journals, books, reputable websites, or scholarly articles.
• Use credible sources: They ensure the accuracy of your essay. Libraries, academic databases, and certified websites are excellent places to find trustworthy information.
• Seek detailed information: Look for the most current sources that explain your topic well and provide unique insights related to or opposing your thesis statement. This depth is crucial for explaining complex ideas clearly and thoroughly in your explanatory papers. Pay attention to the explanatory essay structure to guide your topic of choice (more on this later).
• Gather relevant evidence: Collect data, stats, and examples. They should directly support your main points. Make sure this evidence is directly related to your topic and enhances your narrative.
• Employ digital tools: Tools like Smodin’s Research Assistant can accelerate your research process. Smodin’s tools can help you find detailed information quickly, ensuring that the data you use is up-to-date and relevant.
• Document your sources: As you conduct research, keep a meticulous record of where your information comes from. This practice will help you make an accurate bibliography. It can save you time when you need to refer back to details or verify facts. Again, this is something that’s covered thanks to Smodin’s Citation Machine.
• Evaluate your findings: Critically assess the information you collect. Ensure it provides a balanced view and covers the necessary aspects of your topic to give a comprehensive overview of your essay.

By following these steps, you can gather a rich pool of information that provides a strong backbone for your explanatory essay. Now, you can start structuring your findings into well-organized body paragraphs.

3. Structure body paragraphs

Once you’ve gathered relevant evidence through thorough research, it’s time to organize it. You should put it into well-structured body paragraphs that follow a logical flow. Here’s how to structure each body paragraph for a strong explanatory essay:

• Decide how many paragraphs to use : It will depend on your topic’s complexity and the needed detail. Typically, three to five paragraphs are suitable, but longer essays may require more. An explanatory essay example on your topic of choice will be helpful.
• Start with a topic sentence : Each body paragraph should begin with a clear topic sentence that introduces the main idea of the paragraph. This sentence will act as a roadmap for the paragraph, giving the reader a sense of what to expect.
• Provide supporting evidence : After the topic sentence, share the evidence from your research. Ensure the evidence is relevant and directly supports the paragraph’s topic sentence.
• Give a detailed explanation : Follow the evidence with an analysis or explanation that ties it back to the thesis statement. This step is crucial for maintaining logical flow throughout your body paragraphs.
• Use linking words : They connect body paragraphs smoothly, ensuring the reader can follow your argument.
• End each body paragraph with a closing sentence : It should sum up the point and move to the next idea.

Following this structure will help your body paragraphs support your thesis. These paragraphs will also offer a clear, detailed explanation of your essay topic. Strong body paragraphs are essential to maintain objectivity in your writing.

4. Maintain objectivity

An explanatory essay aims to inform and educate, which makes maintaining objectivity crucial. Staying neutral lets readers form their own opinions based on facts. This ensures the writing is both reliable and informative. Here’s how to maintain objectivity:

• Avoid personal opinions: Your goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the topic. Refrain from injecting your personal opinion or biases. Instead, stick to presenting factual information that supports the thesis.
• Use relevant evidence: As mentioned, ground your arguments with relevant evidence from credible sources. Back up your main points with data and use research findings and verified details. This will make the explanatory article trustworthy.
• Provide a balanced view: In cases with multiple perspectives, offer a balanced view. Cover each side fairly. Even if one view prevails in consensus, acknowledging others gives readers a broader understanding.
• Adopt neutral language: Be careful with word choice and tone. Neutral language implies words that don’t encourage or illustrate bias. This helps avoid emotionally charged phrases and keeps the writing objective.
• Cite sources accurately: Proper citation of sources provides accountability for the evidence presented. This transparency builds credibility and shows you’ve conducted research thoroughly. It’s also worth noting that different intuitions have different citation styles like APA and Chicago, which is important to note before starting your essay.
• Review for biases: After drafting your essay, review it with an eye for biases. Ensure no part leans too much on one viewpoint. And, don’t dismiss an opposing perspective without cause.

Maintaining objectivity enhances the clarity and reliability of explanatory writing. Let’s now focus on crafting an introduction and conclusion that bookend your work effectively.

5. Craft an effective introduction and conclusion

A good introduction and a strong conclusion frame your explanatory essay. They give context at the start and reinforce the main points at the end. Here’s how to craft an effective introduction and conclusion.

In the introduction:

• Hook your reader in the introduction : Use an interesting fact, a compelling quote, or a surprising statistic.
• Provide background information : Be brief and offer only the essential context the reader needs to fully understand the topic. This should give the audience a foundational understanding before diving deeper into your main points.
• Include the thesis statement : Clearly state your thesis near the end of the introduction. This statement will outline the essay’s direction and give readers a preview of the body paragraphs.

In the conclusion:

• Summarize the key points : Start your explanatory essay conclusion with a summary. It should cover the main points from the body paragraphs. This summary should help readers recall and reinforce the information they’ve just read.
• Restate the thesis : Repeat your thesis again but in a new way. Explain how the evidence from the body paragraphs supported or clarified it.
• Provide a conclusion : End the essay with a statement that wraps up the argument. This statement should resonate with the reader. It should leave them with an impression that stresses the topic’s importance.

An effective introduction and conclusion give the essay structure and coherence. They guide readers from start to finish. The next step is revising and editing your entire essay for clarity and precision.

6. Revise and check clarity

Revising and editing are key in writing. They make sure your essay is clear, joined, and polished. Here’s how to refine your writing using an explanatory essay checklist and proven academic writing techniques:

• Take a break: Before diving into revisions, step away from your essay for a few hours or even a day. This break will help you return with fresh eyes, making it easier to spot errors or inconsistencies.
• Follow an essay checklist: Create or use a checklist to ensure your essay has all the needed parts. It needs a strong intro with a clear thesis, well-structured body paragraphs, good sources, and a short conclusion. Check that your arguments follow a logical flow and that all relevant evidence is directly linked to your thesis statement.
• Check for clarity and conciseness: Academic writing needs clarity. So, make sure each paragraph and sentence conveys your point. Don’t use unnecessary jargon or overly complex language. Keep sentences concise while maintaining detailed explanations of your main points.
• Verify facts and citations: Make sure all facts, data, and quotes in the essay are accurate. Also, check that they are cited in the required academic style (e.g. MLA, APA). Improper citations can undermine the credibility of your writing.
• Review the grammar and style: Look for common grammar mistakes, punctuation errors, and awkward phrasing. Reading the essay aloud can help catch odd sentence structures or confusing wording.
• Seek feedback: Share your essay with a peer or use online tools to get constructive criticism. A second perspective can highlight issues you might have missed.

These editing steps will help you produce a polished essay that clearly explains your main points and holds up to academic scrutiny.

Explanatory Essay Format

Understanding the explanatory essay format is key to a well-structured and logical paper. Here’s a basic breakdown of the format for an explanatory essay:

Introduction paragraph

• Begin with an interesting sentence to capture the reader’s attention.
• Give a short intro. It should set the topic and outline the essay’s purpose.
• Present a clear thesis statement summarizing the main idea of the entire essay.

Body paragraphs

• Organize the body paragraphs around logical subtopics related to the essay topic.
• Start each body paragraph with a topic sentence that aligns with the thesis.
• Show evidence from good sources. Also, give key details for each main point.
• Incorporate a robust concluding statement per paragraph that drives home your point and links to the ideas in the next paragraph/section.
• Summarize the key points.
• Provide a final statement that reinforces the main idea without introducing new information.
• Craft a concluding statement that leaves your teacher or professor with a lasting impression.

Following this essay outline ensures that your paper has a clear flow. This makes it easy for readers to understand and follow your argument.

Write Better Explanatory Essays With Smodin

Explanatory essays can be overwhelming. Presenting a solid argument, keeping your professor or teacher interested, and remembering conventions like citations can be a real headache.

But, a strong thesis and thorough research make them easier. Well-structured body paragraphs also help deliver a clear, insightful essay that maintains objectivity. Just remember to revise and check for accuracy!

AI-powered platforms like Smodin simplify and enhance the process of writing explanatory essays.

Smodin’s tools help craft clear and well-structured essays that meet any of your academic standards. With Smodin’s advanced research capabilities, you can gather detailed and relevant information quickly. This will save you time and improve your work.

• Plagiarism Checker : Ensure your essay maintains originality with Smodin’s plagiarism detection tool. This feature helps maintain academic integrity by checking your work against vast databases.
• Auto Citation : Cite your sources accurately without the hassle. Smodin’s auto-citation tool ensures your references are in the right format and meet your academic institution’s rules.
• Text Shortener : If your explanatory essay is too long, use Smodin’s AI writer as an essay shortener. It will help you cut your content without losing key details. This helps keep your essay clear and relevant.
• Text Rewriter : Helps paraphrase existing content, ensuring uniqueness and a fresh perspective.
• Summarizer : The Summarizer boils down long articles into short summaries. They are perfect for making an efficient outline or conclusion.

Cramming for an exam isn’t the best way to learn – but if you have to do it, here’s how

Senior Teaching Fellow in Education, University of Strathclyde

Disclosure statement

Jonathan Firth does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

University of Strathclyde provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK.

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Around the country, school and university students are hitting the books in preparation for exams. If you are in this position, you may find yourself trying to memorise information that you first learned a long time ago and have completely forgotten – or that you didn’t actually learn effectively in the first place.

Unfortunately, cramming is a very inefficient way to properly learn. But sometimes it’s necessary to pass an exam. And you can incorporate what we know about how learning works into your revision to make it more effective.

Read more: Exams: seven tips for coping with revision stress

A great deal of research evidence on how memory works over time shows that we forget new information very quickly at first, after which the process of forgetting slows down.

In practice, this means that very compressed study schedules lead to a catastrophic amount of forgetting.

A better option is to space out learning a particular topic more gradually and over a longer period. This is called the “spacing effect” and it leads to skills and knowledge being retained better, and for longer.

Research has found that we remember information better when we leave a gap of time between first studying something and revisiting it, rather than doing so straight away. This even works for short timescales – a delay of a few seconds when trying to learn a small piece of information, such as a pair of words, for instance. And it also works when the delay between study sessions is much longer .

In the classroom , spacing out practice could mean reviewing and practising material the next day, or delaying homework by a couple of weeks, rather than revisiting it as soon as possible. As a rule, psychologists have suggested that the best time to re-study material is when it is on the verge of being forgotten – not before, but also not after.

But this isn’t how things are learned across the school year. When students get to exam time, they have forgotten much of what was previously studied.

Better cramming

When it comes to actually learning – being able to remember information over the long term and apply it to new situations – cramming doesn’t work. We can hardly call it “learning” if information is forgotten a month later. But if you need to pass an exam, cramming can lead to a boost in temporary performance. What’s more, you can incorporate the spacing effect into your cramming to make it more efficient.

It’s better to space practising knowledge of a particular topic out over weeks, so if you have that long before a key exam, plan your revision schedule so you cover topics more than once. Rather than allocating one block of two hours for a particular topic, study it for one hour this week and then for another hour in a week or so’s time.

If you don’t have that much time, it’s still worth incorporating smaller gaps between practice sessions. If your exam is tomorrow, practice key topics in the morning today and then again in the evening.

Learning is also more effective if you actively retrieve information from your memory, rather than re-reading or underlining your notes. A good way to do this, incorporating the spacing effect, is to take practice tests. Revise a topic from your notes or textbook, take a half-hour break, and then take a practice test without help from your books.

An even simpler technique is a “brain dump” . After studying and taking a break, write down everything you can remember about the topic on a blank sheet of paper without checking your notes.

Change the way we teach

A shift in teaching practices may be needed to avoid students having to cram material they only half-remember before exams.

But my research suggests that teachers tend to agree with the idea that consolidation of a topic should happen as soon as possible, rather than spacing out practice in ways that would actually be more effective.

Teachers are overburdened and make heroic efforts with the time they have. But incorporating the spacing effect into teaching needn’t require radical changes to how teachers operate. Often, it’s as simple as doing the same thing on a different schedule .

Research has shown the most effective way to combine practice testing and the spacing effect is to engage in practice testing in the initial class, followed by at least three practice opportunities at widely spaced intervals. This is quite possible within the typical pattern of the school year.

For example, after the initial class, further practice could come via a homework task after a few days’ delay, then some kind of test or mock exam after a further gap of time. The revision period before exams would then be the third opportunity for consolidation.

Building effective self-testing and delayed practice into education would spell less stress and less ineffective cramming. Exam time would be for consolidation, rather than re-learning things that have been forgotten. The outcome would be better long-term retention of important knowledge and skills. As a bonus, school students would also gain a better insight into how to study effectively.

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Senior Lecturer (ED) Ballarat

Senior Research Fellow - Women's Health Services

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Opinion: Harrison Butker’s very American traditionalism

No less than any progressive form of catholicism, butker and his movement are the fruits of a weakened hierarchy, a disillusioned-but-empowered laity and a democratic age..

You can see in Harrison Butker’s judgmental zeal the obvious ways in which traditionalism can be self-limiting. But the idea that it simply represents a kind of atavism, a medieval relic unaccountably preserved, misunderstands the nature of its strength, Ross Douthat writes. (Alain Pilon/The New York Times)

Across almost two weeks of controversy over the commencement speech that Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker gave at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, one of the most useful pieces of commentary came from Kevin Tierney, writing in Catholic World Report. Tierney neither defended nor attacked Butker’s condemnation of modern secular culture and lukewarm forms of Catholic faith. Instead, he identified the kicker’s worldview as part of a distinctive tendency that Tierney calls “DIY traditionalism” — a form of Catholic piety that offers a “radical emphasis on personal accountability, is inherently populist, and has little direct connection to Church authorities.”

A little context: Butker is a Latin Mass Catholic as well as Travis Kelce’s teammate. Benedictine College is a conservative Catholic college that featured prominently in a recent Associated Press report on the rightward turn in American Catholic piety and practice. The most controversial portion of the kicker’s graduation speech, the part that zipped from social media to “The View,” urged the college’s female graduates to ignore the “diabolical lies” that emphasize “promotions and titles” over “your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.”

But the speech did more than just champion “one of the most important titles of all: homemaker” while denouncing “degenerate cultural values” in society at large. Butker also delivered a condemnation of the church’s bishops, whom he cast as weak-kneed bureaucrats and denounced especially for suspending Masses and disappearing from the lives of the faithful during the pandemic. He criticized priests for being “overly familiar” with their parishioners — “because, as my teammate’s girlfriend says, familiarity breeds contempt.”

He appeared to throw some shade, not just on the use of artificial contraception, but on the use of Natural Family Planning, the church’s approved method of fertility regulation. (“No matter how you spin it, there is nothing natural about Catholic birth control.”) He urged Catholics to prioritize the traditional Latin Mass over other aspects of Catholic life — “even if the parish isn’t beautiful, the priest isn’t great, or the community isn’t amazing.” And he argued that while ordinary Catholics shouldn’t all be amateur theologians, they also shouldn’t hesitate to go in search of teachings they aren’t getting from the current hierarchy: “We have so many great resources at our fingertips that it doesn’t take long to find traditional and timeless teachings that haven’t been ambiguously reworded for our times.”

Just a couple of weeks ago, writing about the future of the Catholic Church and that Associated Press story, I mentioned a journalistic tendency to collapse different kinds of right-leaning Catholicism together instead of recognizing the ways in which a conservative American Catholic who prays the rosary, votes anti-abortion and admires Pope John Paul II differs from the typical adherent of the traditional Latin Mass.

When discerning national trends, that collapse of categories is somewhat forgivable; I do it myself in imagining a broad “neo-traditionalism” in American religion. But Butker’s speech is a good example of what the difference looks like and why it matters.

When you think about conservative Catholics, even in the present age of disillusionment, you are thinking about a category of believers that’s comfortable with hierarchy and authority, that wants to trust its priests and bishops, that may have doubts about the current pope but still probably views him favorably (as nearly two-thirds of Republican-voting American Catholics do), that maybe parish-shops a bit but does so within the local options, that gives generously to the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal.

You’re thinking about a population that embraces old-school Catholic devotions like Eucharistic adoration but in a way that’s largely integrated into post-Second Vatican Council liturgical life, with the Mass in English and just a few Latin flourishes here and there. And you’re thinking about a population that includes a lot of full-time mothers and home-schoolers but also takes for granted the work-and-family juggle — with a figure like Amy Coney Barrett as much a model as any stay-at-home mom.

Traditionalism, by contrast, starts from a basic, primal form of alienation: a belief that in the 1960s, the institutional church suppressed the “essential” form (Butker’s word) of the church’s liturgy, the form that represents how God himself wishes to be worshipped. This creates a relationship of mistrust that doesn’t exist for the conservative. After such knowledge, what forgiveness? How can you ever trust the pope or bishops fully if they made that kind of error?

As Tierney writes in his essay, the alienation from the institution also yields a practical difference in how this kind of Catholic culture works. Traditional Latin Mass adherents often cannot operate through the usual channels of Catholic life. They can’t just show up at a parish, participate in its programs, work with but also defer to the vision of its priest. Instead, the traditionalist laity often has to create a subculture that operates much more independently. Here’s Tierney’s description of a version of that process:

“A TLM community takes root within a diocese, and it wants to spread the news about the TLM. Rather than just promote their own community, one individual takes a trip to a neighborhood parish and asks the priest if a single TLM could be celebrated there, as an act of solicitude for the flock. That priest does not even need to say the TLM, but it would be nice if they came to the social afterward. If the priest agrees, that individual then calls up a few local priests he knows who can come say the Mass. If someone needs to learn how, that individual is put in touch with lay associations/groups that train priests in saying the TLM. They then either provide the priest YouTube videos or do a private training session, many times absorbing the costs themselves.

“To advertise that Mass, a few key individuals in the location are contacted, and they send out an email or post on social media. They spread the word in their own communities. In addition to individuals in the area attending, those communities send “delegations” from their community to be present in order to answer questions and show people what they have found to work best at their community. Maybe, by this point, the parish priest has advertised it in his parish bulletin, yet that bulletin is likely not to be read widely, and most of the people in that community who are attending aren’t from that parish. Once that Mass takes place, this cycle is set up for another parish, and people who want to help out are identified, and the cycle begins anew.”

Two points are worth making about this description. First, this kind of church-within-a church dynamic is exactly the justification offered by church authorities for their attempts to suppress or limit access to the traditional liturgy (attempts that include restrictions on advertising in parish bulletins). The fear is that the traditional Mass creates a sect of believers that operates without normal ecclesiastical supervision, which then recruits from among the much larger population of conservative Catholics — through, say, a traditionalist commencement speech at a conservative college — and draws them into its alienated ranks.

Even Tierney, broadly sympathetic to the traditionalists, describes their movement as “dynamic but also chaotic,” with the potential to “go off the rails without a lot of corrective mechanisms in place.” If you don’t sympathize at all with the desire to maintain the old liturgy, if you regard traditionalism as entirely retrograde, you’ll see it the way many of Pope Francis’ allies do: as a dangerously divisive force within the church.

But then here is the second point and the great irony: The kind of lay-led organizing described above, in which ordinary Catholics get together and create culture and community without priestly leadership or hierarchical direction, is exactly what Vatican II was supposed to usher in. And if you just gave a general description of the TLM movement, it could easily code as “progressive” — with the assumption being that if a bunch of lay Catholics are getting together to do something that cuts across the lines of parishes and dioceses and that the hierarchy regards with disapproval, they must be seeking a more liberalized and modern church.

In reality, traditionalism itself has turned out to be one of the most successful movements of the entire post-Vatican II era, using one manifestation of the spirit of the age (disputatious, populist, anti-authority) to organize against a different manifestation (the renovation of the liturgy). It’s thrived with the advance of the internet, which has made community-building easier and enabled immediate documentary access to the pre-1960s Catholic patrimony traditionalists are eager to restore. And it’s proved to be a very American movement — coming to you in this case from the place where the heartland meets the celebrity culture of the NFL. (Nor is it a coincidence that the other center of traditionalism is France, another revolutionary nation where the national Catholic Church has always had a complex relationship with Rome.)

I think you can see in Butker’s judgmental zeal the obvious ways in which traditionalism can be self-limiting. But the idea that it simply represents a kind of atavism, a medieval relic unaccountably preserved, misunderstands the nature of its strength. No less than any progressive form of Catholicism, Butker and his movement are the fruits of a weakened hierarchy, a disillusioned-but-empowered laity and a democratic age.

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