dissertation writing course

dissertation writing course

The Importance of Effective Dissertation Writing

1. Introduction

Every student pursuing a higher degree in any discipline will get a requirement to write a dissertation. At UG, PG or PhD level, this is to assess the depth of a student’s learning during the course time. Reaching this stage will be the result of a lot of hard work starting from the admission time. You had to study a lot of complex subjects and have to present hundreds of papers during this time, and that would have taught effective written skills by the time you reach the dissertation writing stage. Now, coming to the importance of effective written skills, many students misinterpret it as the writing language style. I agree on the fact that language style plays a vital role and it should suitably fit the type of audience you are targeting. But in terms of effectiveness, we mean clear and concise presentation of your ideas, taking an understandable and logical approach to convey it. This form of presentation can be achieved with good planning and thought process. Now you may feel, this is not a big deal, I can do this to some extent. But a dissertation being a big task, requires a consistent application of this method throughout the document which is a bit tough for an ordinary student. Now I will exemplify the importance of effectiveness by comparing an effective and an ineffective part of a sample dissertation. Coming to the goal of dissertation writing, many people do not realize its importance. A dissertation is a highly rewarding task which not only prepares a student for deep research in his future but also helps to get a thorough understanding of a specific area of interest. This, in turn, helps to understand the subject in a better way during the research. By researching using tools and methodologies, one can practically implement what he has learned theoretically during the course term. This is possible only if one reads a good amount of literature currently found on his area of interest. The result of your readings should be a new solution to a problem or a better understanding. Now this reading and understanding part is the same as doing research; and a researcher has to present his findings in a clear and concise manner which is effective dissertation writing. Thus, dissertation writing is an application of your learning in a process where the end result is not only a new discovery but you also get a new job of learning something to present it in a better way.

2. Understanding the Dissertation Writing Process

Dissertation writing and the writing of an academic article should not be confused. The purpose of an article is to transmit information, the purpose of a dissertation is to solve a problem through the gathering and analysis of data. It is highly advisable to have the end goal of the dissertation in mind when writing a draft, as this will help to connect the writing with the problem that needs to be solved. This can be done using a form of reverse engineering starting with the analysis and interpretation, working through the results, and finishing with the methods and introduction. This method is a very beneficial way to write a coherent thesis on a complex topic. Another effective technique and a means of ensuring consistency is using the same paragraph headings as would be used in the final document in the logic and process of the writing.

The writing process lasts between 6 to 24 months (or more) depending on the size of the project, the level of degree, and personal circumstances of the writer. At any time during this period, it is possible to access excellence (when that happens it’s a great feeling), regression, boredom, lack of motivation, and direction. The excellence can be accessed by viewing the end goal of a successful dissertation. This always provides an effective prod to resume working on the project. Direction can always be regained by reviewing the proposal or reviewing drafts to ensure they are concise, clear, as a specific plan in mind can prevent aimless wandering in writing. Failure in the writing process can be as damaging as failure at the proposals or even the prospectus stage. One of the biggest threats to writing a dissertation is procrastination because of how self-sufficient the work is. A few missed days of writing can snowball into weeks where progress is not made. Failure comes in the form of not progressing towards the end goal of a completed document.

The theme of dissertation writing can be analyzed from various perspectives. One of the less obvious, but ultimately important, aspects to consider is the process of writing a dissertation. Indeed, the writing process is a significant aspect in the struggle of producing an excellent dissertation. This is evident regardless of the topic at hand as the process of writing the dissertation is essentially the same. Throughout this section, the writing process will be demystified, and examples to help one envisage the final stages of producing a dissertation will be given.

3. Developing a Strong Research Proposal

It is important to understand the importance of developing a strong research proposal regarding its necessity and function in executing a good research. This should be considered as a key element before considering to execute a research. It is listed as a guideline to those who are new or to those who wish to sharpen their skills in research. A research proposal is intended to convince others that you have a worthwhile research project and that you have the competence and the work plan to complete it. Generally, a research proposal should contain all the key elements involved in the research process and include sufficient information for the readers to evaluate the proposed study. Failure to develop a coherent and persuasive research proposal may result in the research being rejected. A research proposal is intended to explain your academic and/or professional level in the research subject of your interest. By producing a research proposal, it is expected that you will be able to identify the general area of your research, clarify your research topic, develop a preliminary literature review, and develop a method to approach the study.

4. Structuring and Writing the Dissertation

This is the point at which to set out your chosen research methods, including the rationale for using them, detailed methodology, and also a timetable for your research. You should be clear about the academic basis for all the choices of research methods that you have made. If you are submitting as a single thesis, then the methodology should explain what you did, with any refinements that you made as your work progressed. On the other hand, if you are actually doing a dissertation, say in the arts or social sciences, you will be expected to write up your methodology in a way that is more structured than if you were doing a dissertation in the sciences. It should be written like this is common in your discipline. This is the reason why many students make the decision to obtain help with dissertation topics. A portion of this may be down to the pressure of not wanting to get things wrong, and this is because of the marks that are tied to the dissertation. A dissertation methodology and a well-written research methodology will differentiate from one student to the next. This is because it’s all down to the individual and it’s an automated plan. The more a student does on his research, the better it will be and then in turn the more preparation and thought put into how this research should be written up. But problems will arise in putting the research down. Students can often encounter some difficulties in constructing a methodology for their dissertation. The most difficult piece of the methodology may actually be the most difficult to state precisely as not all dissertations will be the same.

5. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In summary, every single portion of your dissertation is important and the above is just a guide to get your thoughts flowing. It is important to remember that the aim of dissertation writing is to transform your thoughts and ideas into a piece of written work. Therefore, all of the stages above should be undertaken with the utmost importance. If you are confident that you are able to carry out the above stages and you will deliver your dissertation without too much anxiety. Remember the dissertation is a marathon, not a sprint and the result will determine how well you have internalized the knowledge communicated to you during the course. A job well done can be incredibly satisfying and so remember to give yourself enough time to give it the effort it deserves. Now have a well-deserved drink and congratulate yourself! Well done!