Cohesion and coherence are pivotal aspects of academic writing. Although the analysis of these elements in academic texts has garnered considerable attention from researchers worldwide, there remains a notable paucity of studies focused on the research backgrounds of student texts, particularly with respect to their educational level. This study sought to explore how the effective utilization of Theme-Rheme structures can enhance the overall clarity and organization of students’ research backgrounds. Employing a qualitative content analysis approach inspired by Krippendorff (2004), this study meticulously scrutinizes fifty samples of academic papers to discern the prevalence and variations of Theme-Rheme patterns and their impact on the logical flow of information. The thematic structure formulated by Halliday & Matthiessen (2004/2014) and the thematic progression framework by Bloor & Bloor (2004) were instrumental in analyzing the data. The findings reveal that students utilize a variety of theme types in their research backgrounds. The unmarked theme is the most prevalent, accounting for 55% in undergraduate theses (UT), 54% in master's theses (MT), and 59% in doctoral dissertations (DD). Following this, the textual theme is utilized at rates of 30% in UT, 34% in MT, and 31% in DD. The marked theme appears less frequently, comprising about 13% in UT, 11% in MT, and 8% in DD, while the interpersonal theme is rarely employed, with an approximate usage of 2% across all educational levels. This study sheds light on the significance of Theme-Rheme structures in academic writing and offers valuable insights for educators and students alike, who are striving to enhance the quality of their academic papers.