Writing a Dissertation for Dummies - Paperback

by Carrie Winstanley (Author)

Producing a dissertation has become a major requirement of most university courses, both undergraduate and Masters. It's likely to be the largest single piece of work you'll have to submit - and also the hardest

Writing a Dissertation For Dummies walks you through all the practical and theoretical aspects of writing a dissertation to help you produce a first-class work. This guide is ideal for any student in the broad range of the social sciences, from anthropology to law, psychology to media studies. From choosing a topic, to researching the literature, utilising your supervisor, managing your time, and structuring and writing your dissertation, you'll be able to avoid all the common mistakes and stay on top of your workload throughout the process. You'll also find tips on the best way to reference your work, and expert advice on presentation and binding. This is a must if you want to maximise your marks on your university dissertation.

Writing a Dissertation For Dummies covers:

Part I: What is a Dissertation?
Chapter 1: So You Have to Write a Dissertation
Chapter 2: Thinking About a Research Question

Part II: Getting Set Up for Your Dissertation
Chapter 3: The Structure of Your Dissertation
Chapter 4: Getting Started
Chapter 5: Finalising Your Research Question, Dissertation 'Type' And Considering Ethics
Chapter 6: Reading Efficiently and Taking Useful Notes

Part III: Getting On With Your Research
Chapter 7: Researching in Libraries and the Using the Internet
Chapter 8: Creating Your Own Empirical Data
Chapter 9: Analysing Data And Drawing Conclusions
Chapter 10: Staying on Track

Part IV: Writing and Polishing
Chapter 11: Managing Your Argument: 'Writing Up' Your Non-Empirical Dissertation
Chapter 12: Writing Up Your Empirical Dissertation
Chapter 13: Writing Effectively
Chapter 14: References, Bibliographies and Appendices
Chapter 15: Sorting Out The Presentation of Your Dissertation

Part V: Managing The Overall Experience
Chapter 16: Your Work Habits
Chapter 17: Looking After Yourself Physically and Emotionally
Chapter 18: Ten Common Dissertation Pitfalls to Avoid
Chapter 19: Ten Essential Tips For Completing Your Dissertation
Chapter 20: Ten Items For Your Very Final Checklist

Back Jacket

Learn to:

• Choose a winning topic and finalise your research question
• Find information on or offline, or collect your own empirical data
• Whip the final version of your work into shape
• Approach the whole project with confidence

All you need to research, write and present a brilliant dissertation

As long as you adopt a winning plan of attack, writing a dissertation needn't take over your life. Focusing on the social sciences, this book breaks down your project into bite-size chunks, leading you step-by-step through the process. From research, structure and building a coherent argument, to polishing your final draft and avoiding common pitfalls, you'll find everything you need to reach the finishing post with finesse.

• Prepare for what's ahead - choose your dissertation topic, write a strong proposal, decide on structure and pin down your research question
• Tackle the ground rules - plan your time wisely and practise effective reading and note-taking
• Present first-class research - gather the material you need, analyse your data and clearly display your findings
• Nail the writing - transform your ideas into polished text, with clear arguments, thorough references and a solid conclusion

Open the book and find:

• Tips on writing either an empirical or non-empirical dissertation
• How to make the best use of your supervisor
• The elements of a great interview or questionnaire
• How to draw meaningful conclusions from your research
• Reviewing and editing skills to refine your first draft
• The right way to reference, build a bibliography and avoid plagiarism
• Perfect printing, binding and presentation techniques
• What should make your final checklist

Author Biography

Dr Carrie Winstanley is a Principal Lecturer in Education at Roehampton University, London, where she works with both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Carrie was recently named one of the Top 50 university teachers in the UK by the Higher Education Academy, for which she was awarded a national teaching fellowship.