To complete a graduate degree in English, you have to write a thesis, which is called a dissertation at the Ph.D. level. With advice from your faculty adviser, determine the subject matter for your paper and submit a research proposal that must be approved before you can begin your work. The proposal should thoroughly outline your plan for completing the paper, including a statement of the problem (also called a thesis), your research methods, purpose, hypotheses and other background information about your topic. The proposal also serves as a rough outline for completing your paper.