help in dissertation writing

help in dissertation writing

The Importance of Effective Dissertation Writing

1. Introduction

Ideally, it is desirable that the research be completed over a lengthy time period with checks on progress from the project supervisor. Often the suggested time periods and frequency of meetings are impractical for taught course students with lecture commitments. Full-time MSc students find that the dissertation is the only period free from teaching-related work and it is this and the length of time available that makes choice of topic and degree of originality more realistic than for a mini project.

The key factors in the importance of the dissertation are its status as a research report, an activity with a high ratio of effort to personal credit. The position with most other types of writing activity is that the better they are done, the quicker they can be got over with, and often the student’s best efforts are focused more on assignments than on preparation for examinations. With report writing, the effort in doing the job and the quality of the end product are more directly related, and people tend to remember bad reports. The dissertation falls into the category of a report and it is expected that the student will help in its choice of topic and plan the methodology to be used for investigation.

The dissertation is the single most important component of the entire degree programme. It is the dissertation that is likely to predominate over the student’s attention and to represent the bulk of the written work in terms of time input and word count.

2. Choosing a Research Topic

When choosing a research topic, it is important to choose the one that you are interested in. It is difficult to complete a project successfully if you have no interest in what you are studying. Frequently you start studying a subject and then something in the subject interests you. You already have conducted some exploratory research and you know that there are findings in the area, it is time to develop this into a research project. You have a vague idea of what you want to study, now is the time to find a question to answer. This part is essential for a good project. A well-focused question is half the battle, if you have a clear question in mind it will be much easier to research what you need to answer it. The other thing to watch out dealing with complex questions is to not be too broad, for example ‘why does provocation mitigate murder to manslaughter’ is too complex, the question should be divided. ‘What are the current provisions for provocation defence for murder and its effects on sentencing practice?’. Then repeat the process to this question. Now you have a question, it’s time to see if it’s interesting and important. What are you learning from the study of criminal law? Young drivers have high accident rates that cause injury and death. In order to obtain information on the feelings and experiences that lead to accidental injury and death, the Law and Social Science Program conducted interdisciplinary research, combining legal and psychological perspectives on adolescents and young adults. Note this interesting request for proposals for projects that address the circumstances leading to injury and death. The definite topic will incorporate various studies in criminal law and apply them to the issue of certain areas of the law’s effectiveness with specific reference to law developed from case law statutes effect on punishment phase for offences.

3. Structuring Your Dissertation

An effective structure for a dissertation involves a clear beginning and ending. In other words, the purpose of the research should be clearly signposted. A good way to do this is to provide an opening statement and then frame the question that your research answers. The final phase of a first-class research dissertation is the proofreading process. This can make a significant difference to the grade you achieve. The proofreading process checks the final draft for errors and manipulates the layout of the document to increase readability. This involves checking the spelling and grammar, ensuring the essay is in the appropriate format (font and line spacing), and adding additional material such as tables and diagrams. During your time at university, it is likely you will be required to write a report or a dissertation. This is what they prepare you for, and this is where this resource comes into its own.

4. Writing and Editing Techniques

Writing with a thesis is important because it can help focus the thoughts that follow. A clear thesis conveys to the reader that the writer knows what they are writing about. It also can help to guide and keep the writer on the right track towards a successful result. A thesis can be something you are arguing for or it can be something you are arguing against. It should be a statement that you could argue for or against, but it will be difficult to disprove. It should also be a statement that can be proven with evidence and not just something based on a personal opinion. After developing a usable thesis, writing an outline can help a great deal. An outline will provide structure and will help to keep the paper from going off topic. It can be beneficial to start with a working outline which can help to provide a general overview of what the sections will be about and which points will be discussed. With the use of a working outline, a writer can begin to make connections with supporting details that will further the explanation of the points that are being conveyed. Once these supporting details have been accentuated, the working outline can be revised so that the information is clear and concise. The outline should serve as a road map for the journey of writing the paper and should continually be referred back to as new material is added to it.

5. Conclusion

As the writer of the dissertation, you are close to reaching the end of your marathon. The feeling is both poignant and satisfying. You want to remember your objective. You had a purpose and a motive for your study. You have been striving to find something and provide the reader with some rationale for what you have done. Now is the time to present a crisp perceptual view of your study. Focus attention to the ‘take-home message’. What is the most important thing to learn from your study? How do your results affect the upper understanding of the problem at hand? These are the final questions to be answered in the conclusions. This is the concluding segment of the dissertation. Here you can provide an assessment of whether you were able to reach your specific objectives. Note: A conclusion may also open with a phrase that signals its place in the whole composition, such as “In summary…”, “To conclude…”, “In conclusion…”, etc. This phrase can also be used in the core areas of the conclusion. At last, it should be ensured that the concluding phrases melds into the opening paragraph of the thesis. Discuss the importance of the findings of the study. This should not be done in an evaluative manner. This final stage should not be rushed. Take your time. It should be a cumulative assessment of your note and it must be part of naturally flowing from the discussion, i.e. do not just simply list different areas.