How to write a thesis

Petr Suchánek

The aim of this report is to help especially to young researchers and young post-graduate students with writing their thesis. Although it is not, and can not be, a detailet quidebook, it summarizes skills and observations. I am sure it can help these people to make a picture about the basis and the structure of a thesis.
The thesis is defined by two basic elements: the assignment and the aim. The assignment narrows the area and indicates the research´s direction. The aim specifies problems present in the research ang gives the thesis a sense. It is obvious that the aim has to correspond with the assignment has to correspond with the branch the reseacher works in.

For example: If I am interested in the area of economy and also my research is oriented toward this field, than my assignment can be: Economic efficiency of a company. The aim than can be: Detect economic efficiency of a conrete company.

When we have the setting and the aim, so that we know what wea are to study, we must decide how we are going to proceed to complete the thesis, that is, to implement the research. According to the specification of the research we can derive a hypothesis. Depending on this, we chose the research concept or research method. It is obvious that the hypothesis has to serve the purposes of the aim and has to be consistent with the aim and assignment of the thesis.

For example: Let me go on with the previous example – the main hypothesis can be: The economic efficiency of a concrete company can be detected due to a method of financial analysis.

Now we know what we will study and how are we going to do it. Next step is how to build a structure of the thesis. Generally, the structure can be based on this schema:
1.	Introduction
2.	Theoretical Analysis
3.	Practical Analysis
4.	Synthesis of Theoretical and Practical Knowledge
5.	Conclusion.
In introduction it is necessary to specify the reason, why the author chose these particular research problems, than the aim (or aims), the hypothesis (or hypothesises) and selected research method (or research concept). In the second step, it is necessary to analyse the theoretical information (acquired from stated literature), particularly its relation to the assignment and the aim of the thesis. The method of research than would than would appear as the resurt of this analysis. It is possible to construct a theoretical model that will be verified in practice using chosen method of research. In the fourth step we must put the theoretical and practical information or knowledge together. The result of fhis synthesis will be either acceptance of refusal of the hypothesis. It should also contribute to the knowledge of the specific research area. In the conlusion it is necessary to evaluate the fulfilling of the aim, to evaluate the research approach, used methods and the asset to the branch.
I hope that I managed to draft a concept of writing a thesis and that I helped with the building of the structure of a thesis. I know that this article is not exhaustive, but I thing it is enough for a brief imagine and it gives basic information about writing a thesis.

Bibliography:
1.	SUCHÁNEK, P.: Ekonomická efektivnost obchodní firmy. disertační práce, MU ESF: Brno, 2001, 134 s.
2.	Strecková, Y.: Metodologie vědecké práce: teze z vybraných kapitol: zpracováno pro potřeby postgraduálního studia na ESF MU Brno. MU ESF: Brno, 1995, 29 s.

Ing. Petr Suchánek, Ph.D.
Katedra Podnikového hospodářství
ESF MU Brno
Lipová 41a
659 79 Brno
e-mail: suchy@econ.muni.cz