M.A. thesis introduction length

[Imaginary]

Any thoughts on how long an M.A. thesis introduction should be? I know what it should include, but I'm having difficulty determining the length for what should roughly be a 100 page thesis.

[iExcelAtMicrosoftPuns]

No fewer words than it takes to make the introduction cogent.

No more words than it takes to make the introduction cogent.

You're probably a super intelligent person; write the introduction and re-read it, does it make sense? is it too long?

* I am in no way qualified to give you this advice; take it with a grain of salt.

[BunnyWantsaPhD]

I second the above advice. Also, you can check out other MA theses online if you want to see what a range of introductions can look like. Mine happened to be approximately 20 pages for an approximately 140 page thesis.  

[Imaginary]

No fewer words than it takes to make the introduction cogent.

No more words than it takes to make the introduction cogent.

You're probably a super intelligent person; write the introduction and re-read it, does it make sense? is it too long?

* I am in no way qualified to give you this advice; take it with a grain of salt.

 

Haha. Thanks for the undeserved compliment, BowTiesAreCool. Some days I'm not so sure about that.

 

 

I second the above advice. Also, you can check out other MA theses online if you want to see what a range of introductions can look like. Mine happened to be approximately 20 pages for an approximately 140 page thesis.  

 

I've been taking a look at theses and came to the determination that mine should be roughly fifteen pages, but I'm suffering from performance anxiety and coherence issues at the moment.

[rising_star]

The introduction is one of the hardest parts to write, at least for me. I usually write the middle and end, then go back to the introduction.

[iExcelAtMicrosoftPuns]

 

 I'm suffering from performance anxiety and coherence issues at the moment.

 

Don't. Don't suffer. Don't submit to doubts.

The difference between 15 and 16 pages (1 page for all you non-maths folks) is not going to break you as a scholar. And it certainly won't break you as a brilliant and wonderfully-human person.

I understand your need for some form of metric, measuring sticks are reassuring.

But you're building something that has never been built before. You have the tools (writing skills). You have the materials (research).

So what if your porch looks a little different than mine? I bet it's a really great porch.

 

[Tweedledumb]

So what if your porch looks a little different than mine? I bet it's a really great porch.

 

I just really appreciate this comment. Excellent advice.