How to write a Perfect dissertation
Dissertation is the most
important hurdle, every student has to clear before getting the final Masters
certification. It is the most important phase of your final stage and getting
it done in a right way is extremely crucial to get good grades. There are different
aspects of writing a prefect dissertation, one should follow in order to
produce a master piece. I am glad to present some useful tips which will prove
to be very useful in writing your dissertation.
Step 1:
Start thinking about what you would like to write about. Get
in touch with your tutor or supervisor as soon as possible and consult
with him on the expected scope of your dissertation and area of your interest.
The most important point to remember here is that you will not be writing a
general proposal, but you need to rather focus on particular aspects, such as
solving a problem, studying existing research, or
critically analysing a specific case study or “thesis”. The
final title can therefore be a simple title with extensive research aspect or a
critical analysis of a particular problem and probable solutions to overcome
the issue. Project title also needs to be refined over the weeks before you
agree the final version with your supervisor.
Step 2:
Start with your research and planning. Planning your
dissertation is very important as it is a commitment which is going to decide
your final award in the long run. It is therefore obvious, to plan your
dissertation carefully. Plan your schedule and stick to it, avoid leaving
things to the last minute. Problems are surely going to arise like difficulties
in obtaining books or materials; delays in receiving replies to letters or
questionnaires; lack of feedback, these are all mysterious dissertation-eating
dogs which cannot be avoided. Whilst all such problems you have to manage
everything. Therefore start by collecting some recent journals, articles and
books relevant to your topic of study. Frame your aims and objectives. Scan
through the information and frame your research questions in mind to avoid the
overheads of wasting time in reading irrelevant information. Most important
finalize your research methodology, if you are planning to conduct primary
research through questionnaire or a survey then please be specific about it and
mention about all the minute details including the approach of collecting
responses to prove your evidences.
The drawback of conducting
primary research however is that the said companies and organizations are often
swamped with such sort of things and the response rate will probably be very
disappointing or negligible which can again create issues. This will lead to
redrafting your dissertation drafts several times and waste your crucial time.
Focus on committing lesser mistakes while writing, avoid grammatical and
spelling errors. Proofread everything you write, or perhaps get someone else to
do this for you. Any revisions needed, will of course take time, depending on
your tutors availability. In the process, make sure you take your tutors
feedback regularly chapter wise every week to show him the progress of your
work.
Step 3:
Structure your dissertation. Structuring your
dissertation is again very important because a good clearly presented
dissertation can easily get the additional edge. Consult your tutor and with
course literature what the required structure is, as there are many variations
with the structures available. A basic framework would be as follows:
Abstract: One
paragraph summarizing the whole dissertation
Acknowledgements: Thanks
to those who have assisted you.
Table of
contents: Chapters and/or sections & sub-sections with page numbers
Table of
figures, if appropriate
:
Introduction: A
presentation of your question/problem/thesis, with a brief outline of the
structure of your work
Main body/discussion: The
facts, evidence, analysis, evaluation and discussion. All very well structured:
arts/social sciences tending towards paragraphs; sciences/engineering towards
sections; business a mixture of the two.
Conclusion: Where
you bring it all together, stating very clearly your answer to your central
question and if appropriate making recommendations, suggestions etc.
Bibliography: A
complete list of your sources, correctly formatted.
Appendices: Any
information not central to your main text or too large to be included: for
example, complete questionnaires, copies of letters, maps etc. Other
sections you may be asked to include could be terms of reference, procedure,
methodology, executive summary, literature review or recommendations. Avoid
footnotes, unless you’re using a numerical referencing system. Avoid too many
brackets. Use bold and italics sparingly and consistently. Avoid underlining.
Avoid using “etc.”
Step 4:
Content and writing style. The dissertation you
are going to produce is a piece of academic work. It’s purely an
intellectual achievement. Considering your academic level of understanding,
university will never expect you to produce something which is completely new
and unique, but it expects you to present a grasp of good theories and
important issues; deep understanding of proof of concept and evidence, and
critical analysis and evaluation capabilities to narrow down on the particular
aspect of your study. You should be able to demonstrate the research onion and
theme adding value to your research and present your findings correctly. Simple
or a generalize approach can directly impact your grades. It
is therefore extremely important to write in an academic style, avoiding
common terms, contractions, semantic errors and imprecision. You should be
clear and concise in your expression and often avoid writing long paragraphs of
vocabulary. Remember to always write as a third person while writing your
dissertation as this is a universally accepted rule of thumb in all UK
universities. Personal expression (“I”, “my” etc.) can be used only if you are
expressing your personal opinion or probably drawing your own conclusion. In
case of group assignments always prefer to express yourself as “we” because it
is a collective effort which you represent through your work.
Coming to your conclusion,
do not draw your tutors attention on unnecessary criticism or exhibiting
apology for poorly presented results. Keep a positive approach, every research
has weaknesses; it is matter of how thoroughly you have analysed the problems
and presented your findings. Sentences should be precise with appropriate
punctuations and adequate paragraphs. Make use of phrases or connecting words
to keep the reader engaged through your writing. All figures and diagrams
should be correctly referenced with valid sources and integrated within the
text referred to.
Step 5:
The art of referencing: Referencing your
information with vital and valid sources is extremely important in your
academic dissertation. Improper and poor referencing can directly impact your
grades as your writing will then be considered as offence for plagiarism. It is
expected that you are completely aware of the referencing standards followed in
your university. If you are not, then please contact your tutor or library
staff there is lots of information and sources available which can help you
learn the referencing style. In depth referencing and citations prove extensive
research whereas poor referencing leads to poor or weak research. Referencing
and citations help you to back up your theory and argument. So do not hesitate
and use as many sources as possible. Focus more on use of academic journals and
books.
Comments
Post a Comment