HOW TO STRUCTURE A DISSERTATION

Title Page

This should include:

§ Dissertation Title and subtitle (if any)

§ Student’s full name

§ Study department

§ Submission date (month and year)

§ Word count

Abstract

Purpose: To summarise the whole research study and its conclusions, giving your reader a general idea of what the dissertation is about so they will know if they need to read further

To do it well: Keep it brief – no more than about 300 words.

Dedication and Acknowledgements

This section is not compulsory.

Purpose: To thank everyone who has helped you, whether academically or personally.

To do it well: It should be brief, and quite formal.

Author’s Declaration

Purpose: To declare that the dissertation is all your own work. If it’s a collaborative effort, say so.

Table of Contents, Figures, and Tables

Purpose: To show your organisation and to help readers find their way around the text.

Chapter One: Introduction

Purpose: To explain why this particular piece of research is necessary.

To do it well:

Introduce the subject and put it into context.
Explain how it fits into existing literature on the topic.
Show that the subject is relevant by referring to a wider context than just academic literature (e.g. the media, government reports etc.)
Having explained the need, identify the research questions which will be studied.
Present the research questions to be studied as a logical consequence of the argument they have constructed.
Summarise Chapter One and introduce Chapter Two.

Chapter one should make up about 10% of your essay.

Chapter Two: Literature Review

Purpose: To examine the academic literature relevant to the research question & to show that you are aware of and understand the academic debates pertaining to your subject.

To do it well:

Make sure that every piece of reviewed literature is relevant to the research questions.
Identify the strengths and weakness of major texts on your topic.
Analyse the texts critically: always try to find gaps and to present counter arguments.
Avoid presenting literature uncritically – this does not demonstrate understanding.
Summarise Chapter Two and introduce Chapter Three.

Chapter Two should make up about 40% of your essay.

Chapter Three: Research Methodology

Purpose: To present your research methodology and to justify your choices

To do it well:

Explain your chosen strategy with reference to established literature on research methodology.
Make sure that your strategy is consistent with how you have approached the collection of data.
Explore the advantages and disadvantages of your chosen research strategy and methods of data collection.
Identify the limitations of the methodology chosen.
Summarise Chapter Two and introduce Chapter Four.

Chapter Three should make up about 15% of your essay.

Chapter Four: Data Presentation & Analysis

Purpose: To present and analyse your data and to relate your findings to your literature review.

To do it well:

Keep the research questions in mind throughout to make sure everything is relevant.
Present your data clearly, using tables, graphs pie charts as required.
Discuss your findings in relation to your literature review . Make sure you highlight areas of agreement and disagreement.
Explore the reasons that these results have been obtained, including any anomalies.
Summarise Chapter Four and introduce Chapter Five.

Chapter Four should make up about 25% of your essay.

Chapter Five: Conclusions/Limitations & Recommendations

Purpose: To summarise the essays’s key points and to make recommendations based on your research.

To do it well :

Sum up all the main issues in the essay.
Reflect on your research, and what you may do differently were you to do it all over again.
Explain the limitations of the study.
Present any areas which your study has made you think require further research.

Chapter Five should make up about 10% of your essay.

References/Bibliography

Purpose: To acknowledge every book, web page, article etc that you have used in the course of your research.

To do it well :

Arrange the list alphabetically. Where there is no named author, use the first significant word of the title.
If there is more than one text by the same author, list item chronologically, earliest first.

Appendices

These are not always compulsory.

Purpose:

To provide your reader with access to extra information. This should not be information which is essential in order to understand the study fully.
To include items that help with clarification.
To provide a clear record of your methods of research.

To do it well :

Include copies of relevant letters
Include copies of blank questionnaires.
Include copies of interview questions.
Include transcripts of interviews.
Include copies of any extra documents referred to in the text.
In your dissertation, draw your readers attention to the existence of any relevant document in the appendix.
Reflect on your research, and what you may do differently were you to do it all over again.

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