#phd proofreader

The PhD Writing Template is a way to visualise every element of your PhD on one page. Once you have filled it in you will have an overview of each section of the thesis and an executive summary of the thesis as a whole. It'll show you how to write a PhD.

We're really proud of it and we've got great feedback from people who have used it.

It's the most useful guide to structuring a thesis there is.

In this post, I explain how to use the template. It doesn't matter whether you've just started your PhD or you're about to submitting, you'll find it useful.

What is the PhD Writing Template?

The PhD Writing Template is a way for your to visualise your PhD on one page. It guides you through creating a synopsis for each chapter and an overall outline of the thesis using simple questions to structure and guide your thinking.

Whilst no two PhDs are the same, they share a number of core sections.

Ten, in fact:

   Abstract    Acknowledgements,    Introduction    Literature review    Theoretical framework    Methodology    Empirical chapters    Discussion chapters    Conclusion    References

It’s true that some PhDs may place greater emphasis on each of these elements than others. The theoretical framework, for example, may or may not be a standalone chapter. The methods may just be one or two paragraphs. But however they’re presented, you'll find these ten sections in practically every PhD.

The PhD Thesis Template contains eleven elements: one for each of the nine sections above and one (at the very top) detailing the overarching aims and objectives of the thesis.

Within each element is a number of questions. By answering each of these questions in order, you will have a synopsis for each particular element. By combining all of these together, you will have an outline of the thesis as a whole.

The very top element - 'Aims and Objectives ' - is where you detail the headlines of the thesis. Think of these as the answer you give when people at parties ask what your research is on. They also form the thread that runs through the entire thesis. That’s why they're discussed first. By coming up with solid answers to the questions in this first section, you’ll have an anchor on which to rest at every stage in the thesis itself.

After that, each element corresponds to a particular section.

How do I write a PhD using the template?

It’s simple to use.

First, print it out.

Then, answer each of the questions in each section.

Answer on post-it notes. One for each box. That way you can change your answers over time. But aren’t post-it notes too small? No! Small is good here. It means you have to be clear and concise. If you can't fit your answers onto a post-it note, you need to refine them.

To save space, use bullet points, but make sure you carefully think about and respond to each point.

Why do you need the template?

The template will allow you to understand:

   All of the elements required in a thesis.    Where they fit and how they relate to one another.

Because the template is contained on one page, you can easily refer to it for an overview of a particular chapter and the thesis as a whole. Print it out, stick it to the wall above your writing desk and use it to clarify your thought process. The PhD writing process is messy and complex. It’s easy to lose track of where you are, what you are doing and why you are doing it.

You can use it at any stage in the PhD process.

If you’re just starting out, you can use it as a mind-map, jotting down answers and refining them over time as your knowledge and understanding develops. If that’s you, expect to go through a lot of post-it notes! If you’re writing up, you can use it to make sure you’re hitting the target in every chapter and not putting things in the wrong place.

Or, if you’ve just written your thesis (well done!) you can use it as a resource to help you edit and to help you prepare for your viva.

Conclusion

Writing a PhD is rarely a straightforward process. At times you’ll feel lost and you’ll be drowning in pages and words. You’ll struggle to see the wood through the trees. Having something as simple as this template pinned to your notice board can help you to remember what it is you are doing. It can anchor you, when otherwise you’d be drifting.

See it as a work in progress, you’ll re-write each of the post it notes again and again. That’s fine - that’s just how PhDs work.

Deciding whether or not to hire a proofreader for your PhD is a big commitment. Whichever way you look at it, it’s expensive.

Plus, you may think that your English language skills are good enough.

So why bother?

In this post we list ten reasons why you need a proofreader for your PhD.

By the end, you Will see that it’s about more than typos. It’s about the value of having a professional and independent writing expert comb your thesis to make sure you have presented your research in the most compelling manner possible.

The peace of mind that brings is priceless.

1 : It’s a cost effective solution to a critical requirement

Let’s be frank. By the time you’ve finished a PhD you’ve likely spent (or borrowed) thousands and dedicated years of your life. You need to hire a proofreader to make sure you don’t undermine that investment by submitting something that contains errors or that is badly written.

Not everyone is good at writing complex texts. That's fine and nothing to be ashamed about. You know from your literature review that most academics struggle to write in a compelling manner. We see it all the time; fantastic PhD research gets undermined by poor quality writing. In any other industry, if there is a skill you aren't fantastic at, you can get outside assistance. Your PhD is no different.

A proofreader will work with you to give your research the love it deserves.

2 : You will maximise your chances of passing first time

One of the things that PhD examiners are looking for is your ability to write clearly and coherently and that your writing is error-free. If your thesis contains grammatical or punctuation mistakes, or if it is poorly written in general, they’ll likely send it back to you for further work.

Sure, a proofreader may be expensive, but so will months of extra corrections.

3 : You will present your research in the best possible light

A proofreader will correct your grammatical and punctuation mistakes and suggest edits that will mean your arguments are as clear and well developed as possible. Their job is to present your research in the most compelling manner possible.

This means the examiner can focus on what you’ve written, not how you’ve written it. You’ll be surprised what a difference that makes.

4 : You will reach the required level of English

You may struggle to write to the required level of English, perhaps because you’re an international student. A proofreader will make sure your thesis reads fluently. When they’re finished, it’ll read as if a native speaker wrote it, because it would have been checked by one.

5 : You are paying for the expertise of a professional

You wouldn’t trust the health of your pet to someone who wasn’t a vet. So why trust your PhD to someone who hasn’t been down that road before you?

Proofreading your thesis is about more than just correcting typos; it’s about making sure that your writing is fluent and consistent and that you’re developing and presenting your arguments in the best possible way.

There’s an art to writing a PhD that you would only know if you have written one yourself. Make sure that your proofreader has a PhD themselves, so they know what's expected.

6 : You can delegate the workload

In the run up to submission - or indeed at any other time of the writing process - you’re going to be busy. Really busy.

Don’t underestimate how much there is to do. At The PhD Proofreaders we do things other proofreading companies don’t do (such as formatting your thesis, dealing with all the necessary paperwork, checking your references, and more). This frees you up to focus on other things.

7 : You need a fresh set of eyes

By the time you’ve finished your chapter or thesis, you are so familiar with it you are unable to spot your own mistakes.

There’s a scientific reason for this. As you write, your brain starts to generalise simple, component parts (such as the links between individual letters and words) so that it can focus on the more complicated tasks (such as linking entire sentences and paragraphs).

That means that, because our brain knows what we are trying to say in our own writing (we wrote it, after all), we expect the meaning to be there. What we see when we read our own work is competing with the version that already exists in our heads.

The means you need a fresh set of eyes to look over your work. A proofreader can provide them and easily spot mistakes that you would otherwise miss.

8: You'll get independent advice

A lot of people ask their friends of family to proofread their work. This presents two problems.

   They’re not experts, either in proofreading or your discipline.    They can’t be honest in their feedback because they aren’t independent.

A proofreader isn’t just a professional, but they’re independent and impartial. That means that they can be honest in their appraisal and assessment of your work, just like your examiner will.    

9 : You will get a human, not an algorithms

There are a number of free, online tools that claim to correct your language. These are fine for emails to your supervisor, but they’re useless as correcting complex texts like PhD theses or chapters. You need a professional, not a Silicon Valley algorithm.

10 : Proofreading is supported by universities across the world

Universities have recently begun publishing guidelines on proofreading. Almost all allow proofreading and many actively encourage it, particularly for international students and those for whom English is a second language. If in doubt, check with your supervisor.