Hints On Best Dissertation Layout: A Piece Of Advice For Dummies

Okay, so you have been tasked with writing a dissertation for the very first time. It can be a daunting prospect but just like learning to ride a bike, once you have completed it you will never look back and your academic writing will get easier and more rewarding with the passing of time. It will probably come as no surprise to learn that there is a structure to dissertations. Simply follow my step by step guide and you should have no problems with it.

Regardless of the topic the purpose of this exercise is:

• To outline clearly and concisely your objectives


• Describe the methodology behind your research


• Present and discuss your findings.

It will need to be organized and flow as follows:

• Research Proposal - In a nutshell your proposal is a means of authenticating your dissertation. It should clearly describe what you want to do, demonstrate how you are going to do it and state what you wish to achieve.


• Title – This should include the full title of your work, your full name, the name of your college, the date,


• Abstract – This can be quite challenging when you do this for the very first time. You need to condense your whole dissertation into one succinct paragraph.


• Acknowledgements – You should acknowledge anyone that has worked with you or assisted you on your dissertation


• Introduction – Describe what you hope to achieve as well as stating the significance and relevance of your findings.


• Review of Literature – This is where you undertake a critical review of any past literature on the subject. You can’t just skim over this. It is vital that you give this the attention that it deserves.


• Methods used – Describe your research methods as well as how you collected and analyzed data.


• Results – Describe and interpret the results of your findings. Objectively discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your findings.


• Conclusion - This is where you tie up all the loose ends by pulling together all of the strands of your work.


• Bibliography and references – You must cite any sources that you have used. Failure to do so will inevitably lead to accusations of plagiarism.


• Appendices – This section is for the inclusion of samples of things that you have gathered during the course of your research. For example, surveys and questionaires.