As you study in college, you have to contribute by making the knowledge already available more useful. This is where the dissertation comes in as a relevant document. It brings an opportunity to show you are competent and able to research on important content in your field. Apart from a proper grasp of content, you should know how to communicate appropriately.
What Is the Definition of a Dissertation?
It is known as an academic document where the findings of independent research conducted by a student are written. Most courses require the completion of this document before one can graduate. The intention is that you need to contribute to the course of study by providing unique knowledge. Since this is a chance to prove your competence in the area, you need to work hard before and during the writing process.
How Should You Prepare the Different Dissertation Sections?
It is critical to comprehend the various parts of a dissertation before you start preparing it. It simplifies and makes the entire preparation process flawless. Although the parts may vary from one course to the next, some basic sections have to be included. These critical parts are highlighted below:
- Dissertation abstract
It is the part which follows the title page. The section provides a brief overview of the content that is contained in the dissertation. To make the professor interested in the content of the dissertation, you have to write this part superbly. Give the best first impression since it is the part that can make the readers interested in your work.
Expert advice is that you should craft the information in the abstract last. This is after you have completed and read the content in your dissertation. It allows you to to give the exact presentation of the information.
What should you write here? Give an overview of the research questions used, the method used during the research process, what you obtained, and the conclusion from the findings. With an exquisite abstract, you can have a guarantee of a better performance. Therefore, prepare the dissertation in a way that it announces your abilities to the professor.
- Introduction
The dissertation introduction is where you give the impression of your capabilities as you prepare the professor for the dissertation body content. Arouse the interest of the professor by giving compelling background information on the subject matter. Moreover, it is your chance to justify why you chose a given topic.
The length of the introduction depends on the guidelines provided, topic handled, and the course pursued. In most cases, it should be between 250 and 500 words. You have to make the professor curious.
How can you make the introduction interesting? Begin with surprising statistics on the subject. That way, the professor can be interested in knowing your perspective on the issue. A question can also work given that you make the professor curious of the answers you will provide in the dissertation body. Avoid including unnecessary words in the dissertation as they add no value. Instead, be brief, punchy, and informative.
- Literature review
The professors need to read a dissertation with the context explained. They need to know that you did not just come up with the topic of research and did research without considering what other people have done in your field. The literature review is a chance for you to give an overview of what other scholars have done in the field.
The review can be done in different ways. You can opt for the first approach, which is to go from what one other did on the subject to the next. Alternatively, give your description of one idea to the next. However, you have to consider many information sources as you do the review.
What is the aim of the review? It is a sign to the professor that you have a grasp of the issues in your area. By identifying the gaps left by the other researches, you can explain how the research you have conducted aims to fill the research gaps.
- Methodology
You cannot do your research haphazardly. There are several issues you need to take into consideration. For example, how your research on a nursing dissertation varies from a philosophy paper. Be well-versed with the research ethics in your field to select the best techniques. In the methodology section, explain to the professor the way you carried out the study, the data you chose, and how you analyzed the data.
Moreover, you have to justify why you picked on those specific research techniques. Consult the supervisor where you are unsure of what to do.
- Results and discussion
In the first part, give the professor the raw data you obtained in the field. Do not give the interpretation yet. If there is any data that is different from what was expected in the results, explain where it came from. For better comprehension of the content, present the data in tables and graphs.
The discussion section is where the results are brought into context. The answers to the research questions are provided based on the results obtained. Refer back to the literature review to tell the professor how the research has filled the gaps identified earlier.
- Conclusion
Give a summary of the whole research. As you give the research overview, do not sound as if you are merely repeating what has already been written. Instead, give the professor your final thoughts on the research based on the results. However, do not introduce anything new not discussed in the dissertation body.
There are still more parts to include. In the reference section, write all the external information sources used. Prepare them in a format approved by your college. The appendix is also an important dissertation component. To ensure that you are more specific, refer to the dissertation sections approved in your college.
What Is the Best Procedure for Writing a Dissertation?
How you approach the dissertation tasks determines if you complete it successfully or not. For the best final results, you have to be professional in the execution of the whole writing process. First, you have to take time and plan for the work. Any dissertation work has to be done diligently regardless of the education level. What should you do to obtain an exquisite piece?
Carefully Select the Research Topic
Everything revolves around the subject you decide to choose. Since you are the one who is to do the research, settle for something, you are sure to handle properly. Pick on something that you are familiar with. With such a subject, you can complete your work within a short period since you already have an idea of what is expected. It should be a subject you are passionate about so that you can have the drive to research on it adequately to make it meaningful.
There are times you may lack ideas of what to write. In that case, you can do your research using previously written content in your area of specialization. In the process, you can stumble on something that you can adjust to suit you. Journals and newspaper articles can be a great source of inspiration.
Moreover, you should never underestimate the contribution the supervisor can have in making the piece more attractive. If stuck on the topic to select, consult them. They can also assist you in deciding on the methodologies and information sources to use.
Check and Assess the Specific Dissertation Requirements
Your faculty has specific rules pertaining to dissertation writing. Overlooking them may have disastrous results. Therefore, you have to familiarize yourself with them before you begin the writing process. The important information you should review include the word count recommended in your department, how academic writing is done in your course, and the deadline for the submission of work.
Other important guidelines that you should be well-versed with include the proper dissertation structure, the number and type of information sources to use, the appropriate data collection and analysis procedure. Assessment of these rules is to ensure you do not lose important marks because there is an instruction you overlooked.
Do Extensive Dissertation Research for Content
Now that you already know what is required, it is time to search for the information to include in the dissertation. It begins with determining the sources that you should review. Pick on peer-reviewed journals that were published recently to ensure you are dealing with updated information. The authors should also be people who are considered authoritative in the field. Take brief notes on the information you obtain and the details of the source to make things easier during the citation process.
Next, decide on the areas to do the actual research on the topic. Pick on what qualifies to provide concrete answers to your research questions. That is the only way to have a solid, informative, and authoritative dissertation.
Write the Dissertation in Sections Until Completion
Now that you have the content needed in the dissertation, analyze them and decide on what to write in the final piece. Pick the best since you need a dissertation you can confidently submit to your professor.
The dissertation can be lengthy. Therefore, you cannot work on it wholesomely. Work on each section progressively. Therefore, know all the parts and work on them depending on the amount of time available. Have a schedule specifying how long you need to work on each part depending on the intensity of the task and the amount of work you have.
For the best results, work on one section and complete it properly before you move on to the next. Review what you have done. When satisfied that you have done it perfectly, take a short break, and move to the next part. That way, you are sure to finish all the sections successfully.
Edit and Proofread the Completed Task
During the dissertation writing process, there may be those mistakes you committed but have no idea where they are. Therefore, it is crucial to review the whole piece and rectify all the mistakes. Ensure that the information in the paper is relevant and discusses the topic you selected. All the paper parts should also send a consistent message. If there is any diversion from the main theme, adjust accordingly. The paragraphs should send a clear message with all the parts available, including the topic sentence, required explanations, and the examples.
Check every section ensuring the sentences are clear, there are no misspellings, and the punctuation marks are in the right place. The completed paper should be refined and comprehensible. Get another opinion on your work before submission.
How Do Impressive and Mediocre Dissertations Differ?
The qualities of dissertations differ. What are the distinguishing factors in these pieces?
Authoritativeness of the Information Included
While a mediocre dissertation is shallow and contains unverified information, an exquisite one has comprehensive information written in an organized manner. Therefore, you have to do adequate research to improve the persuasiveness of your dissertation.
The Language Used in Writing the Dissertation Content
A top-grade dissertation is prepared in easy, comprehensive, and error-free language. Technical terms are simplified so that someone who is not an expert in the field can still have a grasp of the message. It makes an easy read for the instructor. On the other hand, the mediocre pieces are written in a complicated language and the sentences used are long and convoluted. Always edit your dissertation after completion to ensure it is understandable.
General Organization of the Content
Preparation of haphazard content can risk the dissertation marks. A great dissertation has relevant information in the right areas. Therefore, you need to do your research on the dissertation parts and ensure your paper is in order.
