John Nash PhD thesis: finding an unexplored subtopic

How to prepare to write one’s dissertation after selecting the thesis statement or thesis question?

The key to writing a good dissertation to receive one’s PhD is to ensure that one has selected a good topic.  Then, writing a good thesis statement or thesis question that addresses the topic.  The writer must take some time to prepare before writing their finalized dissertation for their PhD candidacy.

Here are the first important steps in writing one’s dissertation:

• Identify the topic for the dissertation.
• Write out the thesis statement or thesis question that addresses the topic.
• Ensure that one completes all the research on the topic before begin writing.
• Ensure that one does an outline to identify the topic, thesis statement, main points, and subtopics (sub-points that support the main points).

How to complete the outline for the dissertation:

• The outline should have the Introduction, Body, and Conclusion.
• The Introduction should state the topic and thesis statement or thesis question.
• The Body should state the main points and subtopics (support the main points of the topic) of the dissertation.
• The Conclusion should paraphrase the topic, thesis statement, and main points of the dissertation.

How to identify the subtopics of the thesis statement for the dissertation?

Once one has the topic and thesis statement for the dissertation, it is time to identify the subtopics of the thesis statement.  The subtopics of the thesis statement are the sub-points that support the main points of the writer’s argument on the topic for the dissertation.  The subtopics give the main points the support they need to prove the writer’s argument or viewpoint on the main topic of the dissertation.

Here are a few steps on identifying the subtopics of the main points on the topic in the dissertation:

• Must determine if the subtopic adds some value to the main points.  If it does not, it should be considered a new idea and main point on the topic.
• Must determine if the subtopic supports the main points of the topic.
• Must determine if the subtopic explains the main points of the topic.
• Each main point of the topic should have at least two subtopics to support it.
• The subtopics are sometimes considered the important issues of the topic.
• The subtopics of each main point should be organized as follows: the most important to the least important one.
• The subtopics of each main point should include supporting subcategories to make the main point stronger.