The dissertation writing is one of the hardest scholar works and definitely the most daunting one. Spending years studying the subject, and having experience in writing research papers, people still can hardly manage the dissertation writing process. This task is certainly overwhelming and not only because of the large scale of the research. However, you have an advantage that the first dissertation writers did not have – there are people who have survived the writing nightmare, and can share their wisdom with you. Here are the tips experts wish they knew before preparing the dissertation.
- Find the appropriate topic. There are a few ways to find a great topic for the dissertation and here are they.
- Search for the dissertations written on the topics in your field to get a general understanding of what you are expected to write. Look at the style and formatting the writers use, and see how they develop their ideas.
- Find out what you are interested in. Think of something you love about your subject. This will help narrow the search down to certain areas.
- Analyze how you like researching. Think whether you want to keep the focus on one subject or make a comparison of a few.
- Look for the job ads to see what kind of research options are the most popular now and what potential employers want.
- Looking for the topic, make sure to think not only whether you like the topic, but also if it is practical enough to work on.
- Consult your professor and see what they can suggest. Maybe, you can pick the topic related to their current research so that you can help them with it in the future.
- Look for the expert opinion regarding new or hot topics in the sphere.
When you know what you want to work on but did not make a final decision yet, think of the following.
- If you only have a general idea or what the topic is going to bee, it is okay to research but too early to write anything.
- Do a lot of reading. Read as much as you can and where you can. It will help you learn more about the field and see which areas are worth researching.
- Create a list of possible topics/titles. Put any related keywords and just anything that can help you come up with the best topic.
- Pick the best options on the list, ask your professor to help you develop them, and present a few options to the committee to see which they find the most appropriate.
- Organize your ideas by making extensive notes and keeping them neat.
- Prepare a proposal
- When you have a topic, it is crucial to craft a proposal. It is more like a preview of research that explains its significance and shows how you will conduct it.
- Contact the committee and make it absolutely clear what kind of requirement they have for you before you start writing. You need to make sure you have all necessary details to adhere to if you do not want to make revisions and waste your time.
- Your proposal will help the committee understand whether your topic is good and actual enough for the field and your level. Also, it will tell them about your idea, its significance, and the materials you have to back the research up with.
- Know what to expect from the proposal
- Create the outline and let the professor take a look at it.
- Think about the questions a committee may ask you when you will defend the proposal
- Ask colleagues to help you with ideas if you have troubles brainstorming alone
- Speak with the advisor regarding the structure and the overall content.