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Getting started, moving on:planning & timelines

Dissertation workshop for coursework postgrads

Dr Cheryl Lange

A journey of a thousand miles begins with the first stepLao-tzu,The Way of Lao-tzu (604 BC - 531 BC)

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What is a dissertation?

A dissertation is a lengthy, in-depth

piece of writing which is the result of

extensive research.

Dissertations contain

a central position which will form

the organising principle of yourwriting

a clear and consistent argument

which pertains to your central

position.

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Getting started - checklist

What do youneed to think about/be aware of?

Have you read your

dissertation unit outline?

Are you aware of the units

objectives?

Are you aware of the

dissertation requirements?

Are you aware of the

assessment criteria?

Have you started thinking

about your research

question?

Have you thought about

your methodology?

Have you begun reading

the literature?

Are you aware of the

deadlines for each section

of your dissertation?

Have you set up a filing

system?

Have you chosen/been

assigned a supervisor?

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Prioritizing

To complete your dissertation by the time specified, what

are the main tasks youwill need to accomplish?

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Timeline preparation

Its a good idea to plan backwards

Dissertation due

Final draft completed

Supervisor returns draft withcomments

First draft

Data collection Literature review completed

Research design worked out

Proposal due

5pm, Friday, 19 October

5pm, Friday, 23 March

What do youneed to take into consideration?

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Develop your own timeline

Task Date

Check with others. Have you left anything out?

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Integral aspects of academic work

Wri t ing

Reading

Think ing

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A dissertation is the culmination of months of

research, reading, thinking and writing

What are the features of a good dissertation?

Research focus is made

clear in first sentences.

Structure is logical and

well-organised e.g. clear

presentation of aim at

beginning of each chapter

& paragraph.

Methodology is clearly

explained.

Tables and figures

complement the text and

are clearly captioned.

Expression is clear and

concise.

Grammar and spelling arecorrect.

Word limit has been

observed.

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Towards choosing a topic

What I am most interested in is

The ideas I want to write about are

What I want to look at is

The idea I keep coming back to is

My ideas/feelings/views on the topic are

The main question that interests me is

I want to find out whether

Adapted from Murray, Rowena, How to write a thesis (3rded.) Maidenhead, Open University Press, p. 31

WRITE answers to these prompts

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Getting started - writing from the beginning

Helps shapeyour research program early

Helps structureyour dissertation (but revise whenneeded)

Encourages constructive thinkingabout your ideas

Encourages supervisors to give feedbackfrom the start

What do you think are the benefits?

t

Tip

Set up different folders for each section of your dissertation

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Writers block?

What could you do?

mind mapping

free writing for 5-20 mins invisible writing

What do youdo that works?

Write something/anything on

your thesis topic and dont

immediately delete it.

Unable to get your ideas down on paper?

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Flooded with ideas?keeping focussed

Do you have so much information you cant focus on one

area?

Do you keep writing and rewriting the same section?

Do you think you must get it right before you move on?

Tip

Ask yourself:

what are the 3 areas Im MOST KEENLY interestedin?

do they relate to the aim of my thesis?

how can I develop each into a section?

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Tips

Become an initiator e.g.

if you need help, ask, if your supervisor takes a while to give you feedback, keep

reading and writing and ask for help elsewhere.

Write early, write often (every day if possible).

Talk about your ideas and research to your peers,

supervisor

Keep focused on your research topic, make slight

adjustments if necessary. Keep to your timeline or adjust it as necessary.

Back up your work constantly.

Reward yourself for sub-gaols reached.

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