How to write a thesis

1.1. Preliminary steps

Once the thesis topic has been agreed upon and the stages of the writing process have been established with the advisor, it is advisable to follow a few preliminary steps before starting to draft the paper:

• conduct an initial literature search using the catalogs, databases, and specialized journals provided by the Library;
• plan the organization and development of the thesis by drafting a provisional table of contents. This, along with brief outlines for each chapter, will clarify the work plan for both the advisor and the candidate.

1.2. Objectives

The main objectives of a paper like a thesis are:

• clarity: it is essential that arguments are expressed in sentences with a linear structure, without redundancy, and articulated in sentences that are as short as possible;
• completeness: all information relevant to understanding the ideas expressed must be presented accurately.

The thesis must be structured with a series of parts arranged in a logical sequence.

2.1. The title page

The title page is the page that precedes the text and contains information identifying the thesis, such as:

• the institution
• the department
• the subject of the thesis
• the title of the thesis
• the candidate's name
• the name of the advisor (and co-advisor, if applicable)
• the academic year

The Student Office has prepared sample title page templates for Luiss degree theses :

• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Single-cycle master's degree
• Four-year degree

2.2. The table of contents

The table of contents lists the titles and starting page numbers of the sections that make up the thesis text (chapters, paragraphs, subparagraphs, bibliography, etc.), providing an overview of the paper’s content and organization. It serves as a plan for the work ahead and is likely to be modified as the research evolves and expands during the writing process.

2.3. The introduction

The introduction, which should be written at the end of the thesis, outlines the topic selection, the hypotheses the candidate aims to demonstrate, and the tools employed.

2.4. Chapters, paragraphs, and subparagraphs

The text of the paper should be divided into chapters, paragraphs, and subparagraphs with sequential numbering that also facilitates internal cross-references.

2.5. Conclusions

The final chapter of the thesis addresses the hypotheses put forward in the introduction and provides commentary on the research results.

2.6. Notes

Notes can serve several purposes:

• cite the sources of the topics covered;
• include in-depth analyses or digressions;
• refer to other sections of the text.

They should be placed at the bottom of the page, using a smaller font size than the main text.
Footnote markers come before punctuation marks, except for quotation marks.

2.7. The bibliography

The bibliography lists and organizes the documents actually consulted during the paper’s preparation, and its citations provide the necessary information to identify and locate the indicated documents.
Since there is no single citation style, various options can be used, provided the chosen style is then consistently maintained throughout the paper.

It is essential to distinguish the type of document:

• monographs;
• chapters in monographs;
• journal articles;
• gray literature (documents produced by an organization but not published by a publisher);
• online documents.

Indeed, each type of source requires a different citation format. For example, while it's essential to include the place of publication and the publisher for monographs, these details may not be necessary for periodicals, as the journal title is usually sufficient.

For more detailed guidance on preparing bibliographic citations and the features offered by bibliographic management systems, consult the dedicated guide: “How to prepare a bibliography.” 

3.1. Graphic criteria

To reduce unnecessary paper and ink usage, if printing (which is not required), please follow the Guidelines for Sustainable Printing of Theses and Documents.

The same guidelines can be used, though not mandatorily, for formatting the PDF file digitally uploaded to the Office of Student Affairs.
For administrative inquiries, please contact the Student Office. 

3.2. Foreign words and highlighting

The rules stipulate that foreign words commonly used in the Italian language should be written in roman type; in other cases, italics are required, except for proper names and official designations of institutions or laws, which are not considered foreign words.
Latin terms are considered foreign and should be italicized.
Italics can be used to emphasize specific words or passages in the text, while double quotation marks should be used for idioms or similar expressions.

3.3. Figures and tables

When including graphs and tables, you must always cite the source and specify the date the data was last updated.

3.4. Abbreviations

Abbreviations can be used in the text, in the notes, and in the bibliography.

Abbreviations can be stylistic:

• Year y.
• Articles: Art.
• Article: art.
• Chapters chap.
• Chapter chap.
• Cited cit.
• Cited cit.
• Code cod.
• Codes codd.
• Compare cf.
• Et cetera, etc.
• Editions ed.
• Example (ex.)
• Figure fig.
• Figures figs.
• Ibidem ibid.
• Idem Id.
• Numbers nos.
• Number no.
• Cited work op.cit.
• Page p.
• Pages pp.
• Next sg.
• Following ff.
• No year n.y.
• No date n.d.
• No place of publication n.p.
• Table tab.
• Tables tabs.
• Translation trans.
• Volume vol.
• Volumes vol.

Or related to the cited publications:

• J. = Journal
• Rev. = Revue, Review
• Riv. = Journal
• Z., Zeit. = Zeitschrift Zh.
• Zhur. = Zhurnal
• Bull. = Bulletin
• Proc. = Proceedings
• Ann. = Annals, Annual 
• Hist. = History, Historical 
• Soc. = Society, Social
• Am., Amer. = America, American 
• Can., Canad. = Canada, Canadian 
• Brit. = British
• It., Ital. = Italy, Italian

When abbreviations are used systematically, it’s a good idea to include a summary table of all abbreviations used in the paper.

4.1. How to find your way around

The Library staff provides general guidance on bibliographic resources, as well as assistance in browsing catalogs and databases and locating documents.

You can also use the online service “Ask the Librarian” for questions related to: compiling bibliographies, finding information and material on a specific topic, guidance on research strategies and sources to consult, access to other libraries, and information on the Library's services and its collections, both in print and electronic formats.

4.2. How to search for a book

Use Discovery to perform a single, integrated search across most of the bibliographic and full-text resources available through the Luiss Library, as well as other relevant open-access resources and the institutional archive LuissThesis.

If you can't find the book you're looking for in the catalog, you can:

• consult other national catalogs, such as SBN, to locate it in other libraries in Rome that you can visit in person (for information, contact biblioteca@luiss.it);
• use the interlibrary loan service for books not available in Rome (average wait time: 10 days);
• submit a purchase request (average wait time: 30 days).

4.3. Loans

All students can borrow up to 10 books for 40 days.

Remember that the loan can be renewed before the due date if no other users have reserved the item. You can renew it:

• via the Luiss app;
• via the My Account section of Discovery;
• by phone (06.8522.5600);
• by email (biblioteca@luiss.it);
• in person.

4.4. How do I find a periodical?

Check out the Journal search, which lists all the titles available in print and/or electronic format at the Library.

• For the print format, the following are indicated: the periodical's title, ISSN, location in the reading room, holdings, and missing volumes;
• For the electronic format, the following information is provided: title with a direct link to the resource, ISSN, full-text coverage, the database it belongs to, and access methods.

Remember that with the remote access service, you can also browse most of the Library's electronic periodicals from home.

If the periodical you are looking for is not held by the Library, you can:

• Check other national catalogs, such as  ACNP or  SBN, to find it in other libraries in Rome that you can visit in person (for information, contact biblioteca@luiss.it);
• take advantage of the document delivery service for periodicals not available in Rome (average wait time is 7 days).

4.5. How can I find journal articles?

If you already know the article's bibliographic details, use the Journal search to find all the periodicals available at the Library in print and/or electronic format.

If the periodical you're looking for isn't held by the Library, you can:

• consult other national catalogs, such as  ACNP or SBN, to locate it in other libraries in Rome that you can visit in person;
• take advantage of the document delivery service for periodicals not available in Rome (average wait time: 7 days).

If you don't know the article's bibliographic details or are looking for articles on a specific topic:

• browse the ESSPER catalog, which is freely accessible online;
• browse the databases, which contain periodicals in electronic format and allow you to search by author, title, or keyword.

Remember that with the remote access service, you can also consult most of the Library's databases from home.

The Library offers a wealth of electronic resources, accessible from the thematic rooms, the University network, or even remotely from home. The main advantages over free information on the web include:

• a guarantee of reliability and scientific quality;
• greater time coverage: availability of historical data series;
• the ability to process available data in spreadsheets or through graphs;
• the ability to perform comparisons and analyses based on selected variables.

• Master’s Thesis Guidance (This guide is valid for students enrolled up to the 2024/2025 academic year)
• Master’s Thesis Guidance (This guide is valid for students enrolled starting from the 2025/2026 academic year)