The dissertation or thesis is a research project that university students are required to do to graduate. The objective of having students write dissertations is to show what they've learned through their years in school and during their specializations.
Most students getting an undergraduate degree have to do a dissertation after their four-year program. However, some universities offer students the option of either doing a six-month internship for credit or a dissertation. On the other hand, graduate, postgraduate, and PhD students are all required to complete a dissertation or thesis.
This project aims to test the independent research skills students have acquired during their time at university, with the assessment used to help determine their final grade.
Keep in mind that even though there is usually some guidance from your tutors, the dissertation project is a largely independent project. This is not a group project or a class exercise, it is a paper that will determine whether you graduate or not.
Continue reading and learn how exactly you can make the process of getting your dissertation started much more accessible. Don't forget you can also search for tutors specialized in dissertations on Superprof.
A tutor can help you review your work, give you tips and guidance, and they can push you toward the correct path. They can also help you with objectives, and methodology, and give you advice during the analysis of results.
Do you know that Superprof is a good site to find a reputable dissertation coach?
Start early
The majority of people believe that the dissertation project is a problem of the future or something they'll take care of once they're in their university senior year.
However, this doesn't necessarily have to be the case. You can have your dissertation project in mind from previous years. You can come up with ideas, ask yourself questions that can turn into a thesis, review certain literature or work, read a book or a chapter on writing the dissertation, and more.
You can come up with a proposal during your sophomore or junior year and review it with the help of a teacher. This way you can plan instead of stressing out and rushing during your last months as a senior.
This doesn't mean you should write an abstract as a sophomore, but you can benefit from having ideas and taking small steps. As a student, it is your responsibility to focus on your end goal, which is graduating. Everything you do in the process will take you closer to your objectives.
However, don't get ahead of yourself. Coming up with ideas, a methodology, or having a proposal is not the same as recollecting data, writing an introduction or conclusion, or doing an analysis.
Keep in mind that the dissertation will take you months to complete, if not an entire year. It is best to take things one step at a time instead of getting ahead of yourself.
You can also focus on answering questions or reading examples of dissertations from an older student. This way you won't be entirely clueless once you make it to your senior year.
It is also important you find a thesis tutor and ask quickly as possible. You can find a tutor before starting your senior year and show them your proposal. Teachers appreciate students who are one step ahead and are prepared to do the work.
Pick a topic you feel comfortable with
As a student, you might feel the pressure to come up with a research project that will break boundaries and change the world. However, the goal of a dissertation is for you to show, chapter after chapter, the skills you've acquired during your academic life.
It is not about creating something out of thin air. Probably all the possible research that can be done at the undergraduate level has been done which means that trying to find something that is 100% original is practically impossible.
This is why, when you are picking your topic, it is better to think about small things, to focus your attention on research that can be completed in months and it won't take all of your energy.
Some people do their dissertations during the last semester of the academic year, and they take no other classes. This way they can focus all of their attention to read information, collect data, analyze findings, and write each chapter of the dissertation for 6 long months.
Others take an entire academic year and pair it with other easy classes. This way they have more time but they are not that distracted by a complicated literature class or a demanding science course.
Keep in mind that choosing the topic is only about 2% of all the work you will have to do in this process. Other things to do during the dissertation are writing an abstract, collecting data, searching for an article (or several) that proves or disproves your thesis, getting clear citations, writing an introduction and conclusion, answering questions, and more.
Don't forget that whatever topic you choose, you'll have to stick to it for a long time. You'll study and learn everything you need to know, you'll come up with a study and research process, and you'll create each chapter of the dissertation based on your work.
This is why it is important to pick a topic you are passionate about and fascinated with. Or else, you'll lose interest during the first step and you'll have a hard time the rest of the academic year.
If you're struggling to write your dissertation, you can always search for a tutor on Superprof and get the help you need to make sure you excel and get an A.
Create a timeline
Creating a timeline for your project will be incredibly helpful once you're knee-deep in your research or written process. There are many different ways to go about writing a dissertation.
However, teachers tend to recommend each student follows their timelines and rules. You can write the introduction at the same time you are carrying out your research. And you can move forward with writing your findings as you continue to read and search for citations.
Most people tend to prefer leaving the writing portion of the dissertation until the end. The key is to become an expert at managing your time.
To do so, you need to create a plan and stick to it. You can print out a calendar, hang it in your room, and write down every deadline. This way you'll see it every day and you'll know your deadlines by heart.
Setting deadlines is one of the most effective ways to do anything because it allows you to do things within a time frame. If you say you are going to do research for three months and put a date for when you'll have to complete it, you won't procrastinate as much as a person who is winging it.
Planning and organizing your time is key for anything you do in life, and a great way to practice it is with your dissertation. Another good idea is to ask Alexa, Hey Google, or Siri to remind you to do something. This way you could be sitting in your room watching Netflix as the reminder goes off and you'll be reminded to get up and go do your dissertation.
You can come up with a lot of clever ways to interrupt your harmful habits and get to work! Remember you can also hire a private tutor from Superprof to help you stay on track. If you set a day and time for your tutor to come to your house, there's no way you could skip working on your dissertation.
Get started!
Finally, people are always asking how does one start writing a dissertation? But there is not one single correct answer. All you have to do is get started.
Remember that as an undergraduate, postgraduate, or PhD student you're in school to make mistakes and learn from them. If you make a mistake during the realization of your dissertation, you can cultivate your problem-solving skills which will come in handy once you're in the real world.
Getting started is probably one of the most stressful parts of doing a dissertation. However, all you have to do is pick which step to take and start working. And remember to not stay on the planning chapter for too long because you have many other chapters to complete.
Keep in mind that plans sometimes change, and you do have to be flexible with your working timeline, but you do need one to use as a reference.
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