A Short Guide On How To Structure Your Dissertation

Sometimes called a "Thesis" a Dissertation is a piece of work or document that has been researched by the author. It will present the author's findings, facts, evidence and ideas that will be submitted in support for candidature of a professional qualification or degree that the author is currently undertaking.



In the U.S. it's the required submission for a doctorate and in the UK it's usually written for the PhD or M.Phil. level.

This will be a short guide on how to structure and write your dissertation, so let's begin.

So what is a dissertation help?

A dissertation is an extended piece of writing that is similar in some retrospect to an essay, but is overall a different document altogether as it is divided into chapters as opposed to an essay that is one piece of continuous writing.

First, you will need to check the exact requirements before you start planning to write. These would include when the submission date is, what the word limit will be, formatting guidelines and how it should be presented. This is the first and most essential step before moving on to the planning stage of your dissertation.

Your dissertation will contain detailed exploration of evidence presented. Evidence may come in the form of published text and can refer to numerous things and all you have to do is make sure you follow the specific guidelines set out for you on presenting your dissertation.

Next you must choose your topic. This in itself can be a daunting prospect but all you have to do is think back to class discussions or ideas you may have entertained and you might already have an inkling on what your chosen topic will cover.

Make sure that the topic is of academic significance and not trivial in essence. Narrow the focus and don't be too broad in the topic you have chosen. This can lead to many unanswered questions. Just remember that you cannot be totally objective so how does your own attitude, value and belief influence the topic?

Next step is to do some research and a literature search or review would help you to see what the academic community have to say about the topic you're going to write on. You also need to evaluate your dissertation critically and remember that you are constructing an argument or defending a topic of importance.

Every paragraph you write should further your argument, claims, facts and evidence. It's imperative that right from the start you create notes for yourself. It's better to start sooner rather than later and by organizing your detailed notes and bibliography, you will save yourself a lot of hours in the end when it comes to completing your dissertation.

One thing that will help you focus, is if you draw up a time schedule for the weeks ahead. Mark in all the essentials first and then see where you can commit to your dissertation. Try to be as realistic as you can and you will be able to complete it within the given time frame.

Remember that in the end your dissertation needs to retain ethical standards, referencing and intellectual honesty and lastly, write with accuracy and elegance. Then find someone to evaluate your work before submitting it in the end.

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