Theory section

that you:

• Know how you want to apply the theory section later in the assignment.
• Clearly argue for your specific choice of theoretical knowledge.
• Remember, it’s not about retelling everything you know.
• Keep in mind that your reader is probably already familiar with the theories, so you don’t necessarily need to explain your subject’s basic concepts.
• Make yourself familiar with the assignment requirements for the theory section.

This is where you describe the academic knowledge you will use as an explanatory framework in your study.

You practise systematising complex knowledge, and you show a lot of academic skill by selecting the knowledge that makes academic sense in your study.

You must include the necessary theory. Generally speaking, however, theoretical sections should be short rather than too long. A guideline could be:

• A master’s thesis: x pages
• A bachelor project: x pages
• A 15-page assignment: 1 page

Ask your supervisor or lecturer whether particular rules apply to your programme.

It’s usually a good idea to write your theory section when you are well underway with your assignment and have perhaps looked at your analysis.

Many people are tempted to write it first just to get the ball rolling. However, it can be a little risky to commit to a specific theoretical angle from the get-go. After all, you never know what will emerge once you delve into your research.

Obviously, some assignments are based on a theory, and it’s easier to just write the section before doing anything else.

Sometimes you can just use the theoretical knowledge you’ve learnt in class. But especially in connection with bachelor projects and master’s thesis projects, it is a good idea to include theoretical angles that you have not encountered in class – i.e. that you have found yourself and whose applicability you must justify. By applying and justifying new theoretical knowledge, you show independence.

On the other hand, you don’t have time to read up on too much new theoretical knowledge.

You do this by explaining what the academic knowledge can be used for in general and specifically in your assignment.

Yes, you can make adjustments along the way as you delve further into the analysis process. However, you can’t completely switch focus.

You may be bound by, for example, your master’s thesis contract, so reach out to your supervisor if you want to change the focus of your theory.

• Are you writing about the theoretical knowledge you are using in the assignment?
• Can your reader clearly recognise the theoretical knowledge in the discussion?
• Have you struck the right balance between the description of the theoretical knowledge and the arguments in favour of it?
• Is a lot of the theoretical knowledge in your assignment more than ‘just’ the basic literature of the subject?