Working on the degree-level papers can be a totally new chapter in your student’s life as well as going a step up on your career ladder. Even though the online space is packed with memes how hard it is to write or defend dissertations, there are ways to work smarter, not necessarily harder, on any chosen topic. This article will break down the essentials for a solid proposal, explain the typical dissertation structure, and highlight the key points to keep in mind during your scholar journey. Let’s start with the step zero.
What Is a Dissertation?
This is not your usual term papers, even though you’d love it to be. The biggest difference between the dissertations and other academic projects is that they discover the particular issue and includes the practical research part, which aims at providing the scholar with evidence to support what was stated as “significant input into the field” in one’s proposal. In other words, this is an original approach towards the chosen subject that benefits the field with the new findings, solutions or pose problems for further research. If you are not the one who will buy dissertation services in UK online but will do every step by oneself, make sure you follow these bite-size tips to do your best.
To-do Checklist
Choose a Topic
So far, this is the pivot decision one makes before even searching the materials or organizing surveys. When choosing the topic, make sure you are interested in the field in general. Every science has many roads untravelled, and it’s important that the chosen one is aligned with one’s personal interests. After all, any research shouldn’t be boring!
Find a Blind Spot
Original work implies research of the unknown, and the best way to find out the undiscovered is to check the recent studies. For example, if your task is to find out the benefits of horse riding on human’s mental health, you may realize that this topic is widely covered. Instead, you can narrow your scope to “kids’ mental health” or “post-traumatic patients”. When you go online with this topic, you’ll come across various research papers that give you an understanding of what is still silenced.
Write a Proposal
Now that you have a topic and subject in your toolkit, it’s a high time to work on your proposal. In its essence, the proposal is a document that provides a brief topic overview and explains the value and significance of your work to any given field. Nota Bene: many dissertations fail because they “don’t provide an original insight” or “have no scientific significance for the research community”. There are a few reasons why this could’ve happened.
First, the chosen topic was discovered previously and is well-documented in online or printed sources. Second, the dissertation committee didn’t see the clear statement that describes the novelty and research importance. This is where our next tip comes in handy.
Include a Clear Thesis Statement
Sometimes, the lack of this one can cost you a failure. A thesis statement is, in a nutshell, your argument why the existence of this work is so important and how it can benefit other scholars. Usually, the title papers have a paragraph for this statement, and it can take a few sentences to shape it well. Pro tip: exclude any possibility of double interpretation; make sure your thesis is clear and easy to comprehend.
Add Structure
In this type of work, the form is as important as essence. An ordinary thesis usually has a title page, proposal, introduction, overview of the problem and related research, description of study methods, practical part, discussion, conclusion, appendices, and bibliography. Of course, the structure varies from subject to subject, but you can take this is a starting point.
Use Citations
Most findings and studies you’ll use have their author(s), and when you refer to any data or idea, you should cite the initial source. What’ll happen if you fail to do it? At best, you’ll be asked to provide the proof of its originality (surveys, research data, etc). At worst (and usual), the panel will put a “plagiarized” mark on your work that will exclude you from the scientific community for a long time. P.S. Citation formats are different for Humanities or Science subjects, so make sure to use the proper one.
There you have it, a 6-point checklist to start with your great project. Follow them thoroughly and you will omit the burden of getting lost and confused. The best part? You will do it yourself! So put yourself to work, and who knows, maybe humanity will benefit from your contribution.