| No doubt you have been given numerous guides on | | | | these were the best possible methods to choose for |
| how to write your dissertation, how many source | | | | this particular research project. |
| you should be looking for and in what tone you | | | | Data Analysis |
| should be writing down your research and evaluation | | | | Here you present your empirical data collected and |
| conclusions for your reader, but how do you actually | | | | highlight the main issues which have emerged from |
| structure your dissertation? Do you really know if the | | | | your research. You will most probably use graphs, |
| rationale comes before the methodology? This short | | | | charts and diagrams to illustrate trends and analysis - |
| article identifies the main structure that colleges and | | | | you should not, however, draw any conclusions at |
| universities go from and expect students to follow | | | | this point. The way to write this section and |
| when setting out their dissertation. | | | | structure weak is to show data gathered and set it |
| Abstract | | | | out so that the data collected could be used |
| This is a synopsis of the whole document, which | | | | independently of your conclusions. |
| should allow your reader to gain an understanding of | | | | Discussion |
| the objectives and outcome of the actual | | | | This section is for a researcher to identify the data |
| dissertation. You are looking to keep this part brief | | | | they have collected and analyze it against one |
| and to the point, looking to write no more than 130 | | | | another to develop an analysis of gathered data and |
| words. | | | | present your main findings. |
| Contents Page | | | | Conclusion |
| Here you should list the major parts to the | | | | Your conclusion is a summary of what you have |
| dissertation, with subsections, and the page numbers | | | | already said in the paper. If you can clearly draw a |
| that they are on. Having more than one page for | | | | conclusion from what you have said in earlier parts, |
| your contents page isn't advisable and making a really | | | | then this needs to be stated here clearly. You could |
| rough draft before you begin any part of your | | | | also include an assessment of how appropriate (firm |
| dissertation will allow you to plan your research and | | | | or tenuous) that particular conclusion is, with indication |
| writing more effectively. | | | | of further research or analysis to overcome this |
| Introduction | | | | issue. |
| Your introduction should provide a detailed and focus | | | | Bibliography |
| overview of the background on the dissertation topic | | | | All reference should be listed alphabetically, this |
| and the structure the paper will follow. Your main | | | | doesn't matter whether you have quoted from them |
| findings are provided and you should also summaries | | | | or not. You should include the author's name, title, |
| the conclusions that you have gained from analysis of | | | | place of publication, publisher and date when including |
| your results. You should base your introduction | | | | any material in your bibliography. |
| around a journey of the reader - it explains to them | | | | Appendices |
| where they are, where they are going, and what | | | | The appendices are a place where you can place |
| other things they will find when they pass by. | | | | extra information so that your dissertation does not |
| Literature Review | | | | become cluttered. It is a place to provide the reader |
| Your literature review will simply outline all previous | | | | a fuller picture of the information you are writing |
| research that has been undertaken on the topic for | | | | about, for example, a blank questionnaire that you |
| which you are investigating. You should concentrate | | | | used. |
| on the most important points that are relevant to | | | | Overall, you should allow your structure to flow |
| your chosen topic and angle to gain maximum effect. | | | | between your dissertation seamlessly. You do not |
| Methodology | | | | want your reader to be structured in reading your |
| Your methodology should identify an understanding | | | | dissertation in a way that will regiment their reading, |
| of methods of data collection, and here you should | | | | but you also do not want them to be lost for where |
| outline the ways in which you will collect empirical | | | | to go next, or be reading the data analysis before |
| data (i.e. questionnaires, interviews, etc). You will | | | | the literature review. You should also have your work |
| need to substantiate your argument for using these | | | | checked by a professional before you submit. |
| methods and allow the reader to understand that | | | | |