Transcript Critical Thinking - University of Bradford

Writing Up Your Dissertation
This workshop will:
− provide strategies for tackling the writing-up phase of your
dissertation
− give advice and tips on structuring the whole dissertation, including
how to manage appendices
− offer ideas on how to organise chapters and chapter sections, as
part of good structuring
Louise Livesey
Academic Skills Adviser
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Academic Skills Advice
The Plan…
1.What is a dissertation?
2.Managing your time
3.Starting to write
4.Structures of dissertations
5.Structure of chapters
6.Drafting tips
7.Dealing with appendices
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1.What is a dissertation?
• An extended piece of academic writing
• Demonstrate your…
– Understanding of themes and concepts
– Independent choice
– Research and analytical skills
• Focus on a topic
• Develop deep knowledge
Check with your
programme tutor/dissertation supervisor
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2.Managing your time
It is not planning to deadlines...
It’s planning from a deadline –
working backwards from it.
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2.Managing your time
First draft
• Just write it, don't worry about anyone else seeing it
• Start your writing anywhere
• Does everything link back to the ?/hypothesis
• Check the order of your ideas
Revise and • Check style, tone, vocabulary
edit
• Is it in the word limit?
Final draft
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• Proofread for spelling, grammar, punctuation, references and
citations
• Does it conform to your departments requirements (font, spacing,
etc)?
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2.Managing your time
Tips:
• Arranging notes creates structure in mind
for both the dissertation as a whole and
also how long you will need to spend on
each section.
• Use the Pizza Principle and break down the process into
Chunks.
• Think of a dissertation like a series of linked essays;
each section/ chapter is self-contained but they connect
together to contribute to the argument of your dissertation.
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3.Starting to write
• Deciding what you want to say is key to effective writing. Read through
your notes and see what your research is telling you.
• Do not put off writing: the longer you take to start, the more pressure
you pile on yourself as the deadline creeps nearer.
• Your first draft does not have to be written in full sentences – nobody will
see it.
• You do not have to start at the beginning:
− If low on confidence, choose a section you enjoyed working on or
that you are interested in
− If dislike one section, so try ‘eating your sprouts’ and do that one first
• Make sure you have breaks even if you get into a rhythm.
• Keep going until you’ve finished – well done, this is your first draft.
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Title page
Full title of research question
Your name
Course name
Contents page
Sections of the dissertation clearly labelled with page numbers
Introduction
Informs the reader what the research is about, and presents the overall research objective and specific research
questions – and why.
The introduction may also present and summarise the contents of the remaining sections to the reader
Abstract/Background
Puts the research into a particular social, commercial, theoretical or historical context.
It puts your research into perspective and helps to explain the reasons for the research.
Literature Review
Informs the reader what previous research has been done on the topic and how it has guided or informed your own
research.
For example, this can include how previous research it may have influenced your own methodology or how you may be
building on what happened in previous research.
The literature review will also summarise the main theoretical models, principles or practices that are relevant to your
research.
Methodology
Informs the reader what overall research methodology you adopted – and why - and what research tools (or methods)
you adopted to gain and analyse your result.
It can also involve discussing objectively the limitations of the methodology & methods used.
It also describes the participants involved (how many/how they were selected/their characteristics etc).
Results/Findings
Presents a summary of the data or other information you gathered. At this stage you just present and summarise the
data or information without going into detailed discussion of the implications of your findings (this goes into the next
section: ‘Discussion’).
Discussion
Analyses & discusses the result, including implications, consequences, issues raised etc. It presents some resolution or
answers to the main research questions. You may also want or need to connect the result in some way to the theories,
models, practices etc you introduced in the literature review.
It may also include recommendations, although this could go into a separate ‘Recommendations’ section.
Conclusion
Reminds the reader of the main aim of your research, your methodology and the findings. You are also likely to point out
the limitations of your research and how future research might take your findings a stage further.
Recommendations
Lays out recommendations.
Glossary
List of terms, e.g. acronyms used.
Bibliography/Reference list
List of all references in correct format.
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Appendices
Attachments, e.g. questionnaires used.
4.Structures of dissertations
Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. (theme / text 1)
Chapter 3. (theme / text 2)
Chapter 4. (theme / text 3)
Chapter 5. Conclusion
Bibliography
Appendices
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5.Structures of chapters
A. Literature review
•
•
•
•
Introduction
Topical headings
Summary
Research question
B. Discussion
•
•
•
•
•
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Justification/why you chose that topic
Recap of lit review and methodology
Justification of sample
Brief recap of results
Analysis
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5.Structures of chapters
Activity 2: Methodology sub-sections
• Research philosophy
• Research approach
• Research strategy
• Data collection
• Data analysis
• Access
• Reliability, validity, and generalizability
• Ethical issues
• Research limitations
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6.Drafting
Drafts:
• the structure of your dissertation,
sections/chapters and sub-sections/chapters
• the structure of each sub-section/chapter: each
point has its own paragraph
• the ‘flow’: not just from one section to another,
but also that within each section, so your different
points move smoothly from one to the next.
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6.Drafting
Editing and proofreading
• Editing: to maintain focus on answering your research
question or hypothesis, and ensure it is written in the
appropriate academic style and with the appropriate
terminology.
• Proofreading is a final run-though looking for
grammatical and punctuation mistakes, and typographical
and spelling errors. Beware spell-checkers! Poor
referencing, punctuation, and formatting can be costly in
terms of marks.
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7.Dealing with appendices
Contain information that is not essential to explain your
findings, but that…
• support your analysis (especially repetitive or lengthy
information)
• validate your conclusions
• pursue a related point
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References
Greetham, B. (2013) How to write better essays. 3rd ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave
Macmillan.
Richard. (2011) How to Structure a Dissertation: Chapters & Sub-chapters.
London: Write Enterprise Ltd. [online] Available at:
http://writepass.com/journal/2011/10/how-to-structure-a-dissertation-chapterssub-chapters/ [Accessed 12.1.2015]
Stockbyte. (2012) A Satellite View of Rivers and Tributaries. UK: FineArt
America.[online] Available at: http://fineartamerica.com/featured/a-satellite-viewof-rivers-and-tributaries-stockbyte.html [Accessed 30.1.2015]
Study Advice. (2014) Writing up your dissertation. Reading: University of
Reading. [online] Available at:
http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/studyadvice/Studyresources/Essays/stawritingdissertation.aspx [Accessed 12.2.2014]
UniLearning. (2000) Using Appendices. Wollongong: University of Wollongong.
[online] Available at: http://unilearning.uow.edu.au/report/1i.html [Accessed
12.2.2014]
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Academic Skills Advice Service
• Where are we? Chesham Building B0.23. Give us a call
or come speak to us Monday- Friday 9am-5pm (closing at
4pm Fridays).
• Who am I? Louise, the dedicated workshop adviser.
• Who can help me with study and writing skills? Lucy
and Russell run Instant Study Skills Advice sessions every
weekday and Writing Skills Clinics three times a week. You
can also access self-help resources on our webpage.
• Who can give me maths advice? Helen and Michael
specialise in Maths support for students though clinics and
pre-booked appointment.
• How do I get in touch? Email: [email protected] Telephone: 01274 236849
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Any questions?
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