A dissertation is the demonstration of the student’s knowledge and skills which he has accumulated during the years of studying and this assignment is written at the stage when the student wants to defend the following academic degree. Writing a dissertation is exceptionally challenging due to the following factors:
- most probably you have never written anything like this before and don’t have enough experience;
- this task requires some meticulous planning and not less meticulous following of the plan made;
- the psychological pressure is rather high, and it might make you procrastinate and spend more time than usual even completing the well-known tasks;
- mostly thesis advisors are rather busy, and you don’t receive enough support and timely feedback;
- writing a dissertation often coincides with looking for some side-job or participating in extra activities useful for your future career.
Below, you can find steps to follow when writing a Ph.D. dissertation or Master’s thesis papers. Make sure not to skip steps and pay attention to the extra ideas for each point.
Step #1. Choose the Appealing Topic and Make It Work
The initial point of writing is related with the appropriate choice of the topic for the research. The student is supposed to generate a good topic which is worth the reader’s attention, because if the topic is not an interesting one, the whole research will not be noticed by the professor. Here are the demands you have to follow in order to succeed:
- the topic for the dissertation is expected to be unique and dwell on the original issue which has not been investigated before;
- the topic should be engaging and should unveil your true interests and abilities;
- the topic should be somewhat academically provocative, not shallow;
- it should now be too long, written with the usage of too complicated vocabulary — it is no longer impressive.
Step #2. Write an Engaging Introduction
The introductory part of the dissertation is a broad chapter which explains to the professor the aim of the research, the relevance and importance of the chosen topic and this purpose is supported by the up-to-date evidence. Furthermore, the introduction contains the brief list of the methods of the research and list of the issues selected for the detailed observation. To make it work:
- choose the original questions and problems for the research in order to make the dissertation useful from the practical point of view;
- write a thesis statement the way you would write an essense of your favorite book — engaging and with love;
- make sure introduction is brief enough not to remind body paragrapghs.
Step #3. Create a Compresensive Body Part
The body of the dissertation is a vast field of the research, which consists of numerous sections. The young professional is expected to pay attention to the core issues he wants to research and collect information about them. The problem of the dissertation should be written scrupulously and the student’s ideas should be supported by arguments and valid facts. The purpose of writing is to inform the reader about the topic and answer to all possible questions related with it. Here are some rules to follow:
- pay attention to the logical presentation of the information and appropriate distribution of the facts into the separate parts and paragraphs;
- the text should be easy for reading and possess favourable optical qualities;
- every chapter should represent some limited logical idea.
Step #4. Elaborate on the Chosen Methodology
The methodology of the research and the sources of writing are the most important parts of the dissertation, because the commission evaluates the student’s professional skills and knowledge about the right investigation of the issue. The quantity and quality of the methods and books and periodicals used for writing often gives an idea of the quality of the whole paper. To do it right:
- use the methodology required by your professor;
- follow the basic academic principles;
- meticulously write down every deviation from the norms.
Step #5. Make a Conclusion Worth to Remember
The concluding part of the dissertation has the aim to summarize the process of writing in the right way. Most of the thesis committee members will read only your thesis statement and this part, so to impress them:
- say whether you’ve reached the predicted results;
- state the limitations and obstacles you have encountered;
- how you’ve coped with the obstacles;
- whether you treat your research as a real success;
- insert the additional appendix chapter to demonstrate helpful materials used for writing.