Do you know the different requirements for writing a thesis or dissertation? The truth is that a good number of students are not always sure of what is needed while beginning the process. Writing a dissertation often takes place in an environment filled with many activities, mostly towards the end of your degree. Additionally, many people who are at this stage in their studies often have a full-time job or need to make ends meet one way or another. Hence, there are many opportunities for errors to creep in.
Luckily, Dr. Ken Oldfield, a professor at the University of Illinois, offers some important strategies and tips of how to create a whole dissertation. Here are some seven reasons to keep in mind!
Proper planning is essential when you’re writing a dissertation. How best can you do this? Well, only start by taking down ideas in a notebook (preferably one that never leaves your pocket!). Take up courses whose lecturers and subject matter match your particular interests.
If possible, pick the writing assignments that form the content of your dissertation or more so, complement your thesis goals. For more strategic planning, you can even choose to develop a suitable ‘research stream.’ Using already completed seminar research documents, you can go on to easily define your research content and dissertation topic!
Oldfield says that you should pick someone with the reputation of success. Take the time and ask the advanced students about the members of faculty well known for getting students through the rather tedious process. Choose those with positive attitudes and beliefs concerning graduate education and students. Identify those teachers that are more socially and academically involved with the dissertation students.
Another point is that you need a thesis adviser who pays close attention to the needs of the deadlines, to the degree program and most importantly, to you! Pick the person who best understands the process, one who is demanding but fair, and also one who communicates his or her expectations in a clear manner. You adviser should also be well experienced. What does this mean? Well, you may not want to choose someone who is new to the campus. Always keep in mind that those faculty members who have sat in different thesis and dissertation committees are the best!
What is most important while coming up with your thesis topic? Here, only one word comes to mind, and this is scope! You’ll save a lot of time and effort by carefully restricting your problem of research. Also, pick an easy to manage topic. A dissertation is a significant and substantial project in a student’s academic life, but it should not take forever. Seek the guidance of your adviser as previously mentioned, and he or she will help you in narrowing down your topic of focus!
Remember to always keep contact with your teacher and regularly seek his or her advice. These individuals normally have a broader perspective on the topic and the thesis process. Following his or her guidelines will keep you focused on producing one of the best dissertation projects.
So how can you ensure that the meeting is useful? It’s necessary always to plan ahead. Make a list of the different questions you want to ask your adviser or even come up with a list of thesis topics. Simply put, have a clear agenda!
You also need to take notes during the meeting. Later on, send them through e-mail to your advisor. What is the purpose of this? Well, most advisors have more than one dissertation student, hence, it’s difficult for him or her to remember every point of discussion, in every meeting.
We’ve heard that there are students who go to the extent of keeping their dissertations locked in the freezer, to protect them from catching fire. Okay, maybe this is a little bit too much, but it sums up our main point. Keep copies in different places for example flash drives, or even external hard drives!
It is important to keep such copies because advisers may require seeing their feedbacks from previous projects incorporated into the complete version. It also helps you see how your ideas have evolved over time.
For those students who struggle with writing, Jennifer Overkamp, a doctorate holder in English, recommends using the UNL Writing Center found in Andrews Hall. She adds that it’s free and contains many students, some who are already writing their own theses. These individuals can easily help with any level in the process of writing.
Organized dissertation groups assist in the following ways:
An efficient plan for completing an important task such as writing a dissertation needs proper routines. Identify the hours of the day when you are most productive and use them to write! Treat you thesis like an added ‘job’ and work on it throughout the week until it is fully completed.
Also creating a backward timeline or calendar for finishing up on your dissertation is another effective strategy. Here, you should include:
Coming up with an excellent dissertation is not always easy. However, through the above tips, as a student, you now have clear tips to follow. You can now save on time and also get cheap essay writing help from online academic advisors.
Have you learned something important from the article? If so, then we wish you all the best as you write your thesis or dissertation. Remember to share this information with other students, and friends. What are the challenges you’ve come across while writing your essay? Feel free to post your comments and suggestions. We need to keep this conversation alive!