Write a provisional research question and the contribution the thesis may make. Build a section map and list existing evidence under each heading.
Start with a bounded source inventory: the program requirements, five to ten foundational sources, the main search terms, and a list of evidence gaps. Expand the search to answer those gaps rather than trying to read the entire field before drafting.
Choose one small section or analytic example for the first draft. Do not wait until all reading is complete; writing will reveal which sources are actually missing.
Schedule early feedback on direction, scope, or method. Keep citation capture consistent from the beginning: save the full reference and note which claim or section it supports.
Separate drafting, structural revision, evidence checking, and proofreading so the first paragraph does not carry the standard of the final submission.
Related reading
- Continue with starting an essay.
- Continue with breaking a goal into tasks.