Thesis plan and schedule
What, how and when - that’s the plan in a nutshell. Plan the schedule; you can use this template if you want to. The plan shall also be attached to the thesis agreement (OP07).
Get acquainted with the subject matter before you make the plan. Your work will be facilitated by having a sound basis. Find out what has been said about the topic, how it has been studied and how the intended method has been used before – if not in your field of study, perhaps in some other field. The essential question is: does your work have a clear objective which can be justified with common sense? Is the objective in line with the client’s wishes?
Put your mind to making the plan. According to a Finnish saying, “well planned is half done”. A clear definition and an adequately precise plan facilitate the progress of your work. You can even make an imaginary table of contents for your thesis report. This way you will start to piece the concrete output together and then better perceive what is missing from the report, what is redundant and what should be reworked. Writing also takes your thinking forward.
Do not rush to do a survey – or anything else. Getting acquainted with the matter always has a positive impact on what you do and how you do it. For example, if you do a survey straight away because you think it is fun and are excited to hear what people say about the subject matter, you may well realise that you would have asked different questions if you had been a bit more familiar with the matter.
A plan is always a plan. It can be amended. Sometimes it even has to be amended when the situation changes. Likewise, the product or work of art may transform from the original concept. If you revise your plan and particularly if you change the objective of the thesis, discuss it with both the supervisor and the client. Everyone should hear your grounds for the amendments and approve the amendments. In general, work should not begin on a thesis until the student, the supervisor and the client understand what they are doing.
A good plan helps you and also conveys your thoughts to others. When you are making the plan, think of yourself as a professional: make a credible plan. You do not need to be a fully-fledged professional, but do practice to become one and ask for help when necessary. Use every available learning opportunity. You are constantly developing your professional competence – this also applies to adult students who may have plenty of experience in working life and also in writing a thesis.