Write Your Thesis in Record Time: Research, Write, and Defend Any Paper, and Graduate With Victory (The Wisdom Toolbox)

The American educational system does not teach the skill of how to write a long-form, well-reasoned essay. Most high schools and universities don’t find this skill necessary enough to direct resources toward teaching young people how to do it. Generally speaking, when we watch the news, we see smatterings of soundbites without the depth found in long-form content that allows for the presentation of a detailed argument. In addition, the articles written by journalists are designed to get clicks through shocking headlines, or they are short prose pieces where the argumentation we find in such writing is poor at best. As a society, we, each of us, need to learn how to evaluate an argument, whether presented to us in sparse logical outline or extended prose. We hear the statement made again and again that people now digest information in different ways. However, the skill of presenting an extended argument is still necessary and respected today. Jordan Peterson rose to meteoric fame because of his ability to defend his views in debate. Peterson gained this skill from his mastery of the long-form thesis project. In an interview with Joe Rogan, Peterson recounted how he realized he didn’t know his worldview’s scientific and philosophical bases. To reason through his own worldview, he wrote Maps of Meaning, a magisterial defense of Jungian psychology by way of evolutionary psychology and neuroscience. Joe Rogan, Chris Williams, and Russell Brand have risen to fame for their podcasts which ask questions of people that require them to discuss their topic in a verbal form of carefully reasoned long-form content. The skill of producing this kind of content is what the thesis process is designed to create, and because so few people learn how to do this, we live during one of the most inarticulate periods in human history. Since we find ourselves in this situation, the value of the thesis project should not be underestimated. It is a tragedy that it is so often neglected or cast aside in favor of other less profitable activities, especially as the capstone of an academic program.. Our educational system has not prepared them to complete a project which used to be the hallmark culmination of a scholar’s preparatory journey. The reason why our education system cannot produce students who can write the long-form thesis is that modern education has set asside classical rhetoric, the art of persuasion taught in Greece and Rome, which gave students skills in producing the long-form thesis. Classical rhetoric used to be a mandatory subject of study, a part of anyone’s education. This subject is so important because people need to be able to communicate and function in society. As Aristotle wisely observes, a person who doesn’t know how to put together an argument and present it cogently cannot defend himself with words. Humans have minds that can reason. We have the technology of language. Because we are human beings, we should be able to defend ourselves with our minds, defend our thoughts, make a case, and argue persuasively. A person who can’t do this is like a lion without claws, like a bird without wings. This book teaches the key aspects of classical rhetoric needed to write a thesis quickly. So, this book will be helpful to anyone. While prior knowledge is an ideal prerequisite for working through this book, this book does not assume it. This book will teach you the key ideas in classical rhetoric that I have found decisive for completing theses quickly. How to Write Your Thesis in Record Time will show you how to accelerate your ability to write the long-form thesis paper whether you find yourself in high school, college, grad school, a doctoral program, or the publish or perish world of professional academic work.