In a synthesis essay, one performs research on a selected topic and writes an essay that weaves the research sources together to form a coherent unit of thought. Synthesis essays may or may not make a persuasive argument; in either case, their primary goal is to show the writer's ability to read many different research sources and to fit them together to present the reader with a unique body of information. . . . .

Literature reviews provide an invaluable service for academia because they perform the function of the peer review, in which one expert in the field analyzes the work of another expert and evaluates the validity and reputability of that work. This function allows people who know less about the field to feel comfortable trusting or ignoring major works of literature based on the reviewer's educated, disinterested opinion. . . . .

A research paper thesis discusses a selected topic in a highly detailed, highly informed way. Research paper theses require the strongest research that a student has ever conducted; they are the culmination of a college career of learning to conduct research, to determine the value of research sources, and to synthesize that information in writing. . . . .

The literature review serves an indispensable purpose in the academic world. Because no one can read every work of literature in the world, the literature reviews tell potential readers whether or not they should read the work. The literature reviews serve, in effect, as an information exchange in which the review writer tells the review reader what the work of literature accomplishes, and if the reader believes the analysis of the writer, he or she decides accordingly whether or not to read the work. Therefore, the literature review writer should form his or her opinions carefully and should argue them adeptly in the review. . . . .

In a history thesis, the thesis writer attempts to make a contribution to the academic study of history. In order to achieve this goal, the writer usually either offers a new interpretation or perspective on a historical figure, event, or series of events; conducts new research into the topic and releases it to the public; or draws new lines of cause and effect for historical issues. . . . .

A thesis research paper is a project for which a student performs the most exhaustive research possible and synthesizes it into a single work, usually filling 50 to 150 pages. The same guidelines apply to thesis research papers as to research term papers, but they result in larger, more extensive, more unique work. These guidelines are topic selection, research, organizing, writing, and editing. . . . .

At times, students may have to choose a subject for literature review. If the instructor assigns a certain text or provides a list of approved texts, the student may have a rather easy time selecting a subject for literature review, but if not, the student may have to do some brainstorming. . . . .

Literature reviews provide a valuable service by informing potential readers what to expect from the work of literature, but students may not readily know how to write literature reviews. Students may follow a few principles to develop excellent literature reviews. . . . .

The goal of an economics thesis is to solve a problem regarding the exchange of goods and services in an innovative way. To this end, the student may explore macroeconomics, the study of large economics systems, or microeconomics, the study of person-to-person exchanges of goods and services, in a completely unique manner or in a manner that simply expands on or addresses previous ideas. . . . .

Dissertations and theses are similar projects; a dissertation is a specific type of thesis that one writes to receive a doctoral degree. The major difference between a master's thesis and a doctoral dissertation is the depth to which one explores the chosen idea. Therefore, one usually needs to allow several years to write a dissertation, whereas one can write a master\'s thesis in a year. However, certain elements occur in both dissertations and theses. . . . .