You end your degree with a written assignment for your research project. Depending on where you live in the world, a dissertation could be the final assignment of your PhD or it can be interchangeable with a ‘thesis’, which is your research project you require to complete your undergraduate or postgraduate degree. Normally, a dissertation is a way for a student to present their findings of the research project they have worked on during their degree. It will most likely be the longest piece of writing you have ever completed, but it allows you to show off all the skills you have acquired during this period, such as researching, writing and analyse skills. A dissertation is an individual project, although you are working under the supervision of a tutor.
In this post I will explain when to prepare for writing and how to structure your dissertation. I will give a short overview of all the different chapters that are required (some are optional) for your thesis. I will do this by separating it in two categories:
- Preliminaries: This category would include everything from the title page up to the list of abbreviations. It encompasses all the administrative sections that precede the main content of the dissertation.
- Main Content and Appendices: This category would cover everything from the introduction through to the appendices. It includes the core chapters of your dissertation where the research, analysis, and conclusions are presented.
1. When to write and how to structure your dissertation
There are many factors that determine the structure of your thesis, such as the university, your discipline, topic and your supervisor.
Writing your thesis typically occurs towards the end of your research journey, which may have involved interim reports, regular meetings, published papers, or oral presentations. These experiences contribute to determining the crucial aspects and content that should be included in your final report.
Prior to commencing the thesis writing process, engaging in a discussion with your supervisor to devise a plan can be highly beneficial. A common approach is to establish a submission deadline and work backward, setting deadlines for individual chapters (backward planning). It is important to consider that supervisors require time to review your work, and certain sections may require revision.
Once you have a planning on when to write what chapter, it is a good strategy to start by creating a manuscript skeleton, which consists of essential elements such as chapter headers, subsections (basically a full table of content), and relevant figures with captions.
These figures or graphs can either be new, or you could have already made them during the regular meetings or even from your previous published articles. For the latter, make sure to use proper citations and clearly indicate in your dissertation which parts have been published previously. Also, do check your institution’s specific guidelines and policies regarding the inclusion of previously published material, to see if it is allowed.
In addition to the headers and figures, articulate the intended goals or objectives for each section. If you struggle with this, you can try to answer the question “why?”. Ideally, this preparatory text can serve as the opening paragraph for each respective section in your completed manuscript, effectively informing readers about the anticipated content.
For more information on the research writing process, check my article on it here.
2. Chapter titles
This section aims to provide an ordered overview of the various chapters comprising your manuscript, starting from the title page and extending to the appendices. To enhance clarity and organization, I have categorised them into two sets, one for the preliminaries that discusses all the sections from title page to list of abbreviations, and the second part is all about the main content of your dissertation.
To get more detailed information on each section, please use the link to that particular section or click on the button in the figures below which will automatically link to the correct post.
2.1 The preliminaries
The initial three sections encompass the title page, abstract, and preface/acknowledgements. While they are likely among the final sections you will create, as your primary focus will be on the methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion, it is crucial to acknowledge their significance within your thesis. Dedicate ample time to perfecting these sections, as they contribute to the overall quality of your work.
1. Title page
The front page of your dissertation is also called the title page, it should contain: several items, such as the dissertation title, your name, department / University, etc. Click here for more information.
2. Abstract
The abstract is a short (but well-structured) summary of your dissertation, that outlines the most important points of your research. It should contain the main topic, your methodology, the results that you obtained and your conclusion. It is usually a single paragraph, containing around 300 words, but this depends on your university. Click here for more information.
3. Preface / Acknowledgements
The preface is a personal section of the dissertation where you reflect on your writing experiences. It offers an opportunity to share gratitude towards individuals who supported you during your PhD, including supervisors, collaborators, and family members. Click here for more information
The subsequent set comprises three sections aimed at providing an overview of the chapters/sections, figures and/or tables, and a comprehensive list of abbreviations used throughout the document. It is important to note that the inclusion of the latter two sections may vary depending on the requirements set by your institution. In the following discussion, I will delve into each section in greater detail, providing guidance on how to create these tables and lists in MS Word and outlining the necessary components.
4. Table of content
The table of contents provides a comprehensive list of chapters, subheadings, and their respective page numbers. It offers a quick overview of the thesis content and facilitates easy navigation. Typically, the table of contents includes chapter titles, as well as level 2 and 3 subheaders. Prior to the first chapter, page numbers are often displayed in roman numerals (I, II, III, IV, etc.), while the first chapter onwards starts with page number 1. Click here for more information.
5. List of figures / tables
This section of your dissertation is not mandatory, but it is generally added when you are using a lot of figures or tables. It helps the reader navigate quicker and makes it easier to find a certain figure. In Word, it can be generated automatically by inserting captions for each figure/table. Click here for more information.
6. List of abbreviations
When you use a lot of abbreviations in your dissertation, it helps if there is a list of all abbreviations with their corresponding meanings. This should be in alphabetical order of the abbreviations. Click here for more information.
2.1 Main content
Within the subsequent grouping, the main body of your manuscript commences. The initial chapter comprises the introduction, succeeded by the literature review and methodology sections. It is worth noting that it is not unusual to defer working on the introduction and literature review until later stages, prioritizing the completion of other more important chapters.
7. Introduction
The introduction sets the reader’s expectations for your dissertation, aiming to be engaging while providing clarity on your research. It should include the background information; and also define the scope of the thesis; it needs to state your research question; and provide an outline of the subsequent chapters to give a preview of what to expect. Click here for more information.
8. Literature review
9. Methodology
The point of the methodology chapter is to show exactly how you designed and conducted your research and to justify why you made these choices. This could be the type of research that you conducted (Qualitative vs. quantitative); how you collected your research; how you analyzed the data or where you collected the data from. The methodology is an important part of your dissertation because it gives credibility to your research, and it allows for other researchers to replicate your study. Click here for more information.
The upcoming three chapters encompass the culmination of your research efforts, representing a pivotal and demanding component of your manuscript. These chapters hold utmost importance, as they are typically prioritized by readers over supplementary sections like the list of figures. It is paramount to allocate sufficient time and attention to meticulously writing these chapters, ensuring comprehensive documentation of your research findings.
10. Results
This chapter is crucial in your dissertation, encompassing findings and data presented in a clear narrative with supporting tables and figures. While sometimes combined with the discussion chapter, when presenting results, focus solely on the factual “numbers.” Even if you’re allowed to merge the chapters, separating the elements within the chapter is a good practice. Click here for more information.
11. Discussion
12. Conclusion
The conclusion is the final chapter of your work. It is where you wrap your dissertation with a final conclusion and recommendations for any possible future work that can continue on this topic. It should leave the reader with a clear understanding of your arguments and explain what the research has contributed to science. Click here for more information.
Concluding the list are the last two sections of your thesis: the reference list and the appendices. The reference list necessitates consistent updates throughout your research journey to encompass the most current and relevant sources. The appendices serve as a space to include supplementary information that is not integral to the main results chapter but may enhance readers’ understanding or provide additional context.
13. Reference list
14. Appendices
The dissertation should have all essential information, but not all data can be part of the result chapter. Certain data such as surveys and interview transcriptions can be added to the appendix. Click here for more information.
With that, we have reached the conclusion of all the sections comprising your manuscript. I trust that this comprehensive overview has provided valuable guidance for your writing process.