Style, structure and presentation
• Appropriate use of academic style and language
• Coherence of arguments, both within sections, and between sections
• Spelling, punctuation and grammar
• Labelling of figures and diagrams
Structure of the Dissertation
The structure of the dissertation will depend on the topic, and may be edited throughout the process of writing. The following are, however, key elements:
Abstract
A brief outline (300 words maximum). This should be a factual summary of the dissertation that briefly provides:
• the aim and rationale for the research
• the research methods adopted
• the major findings and conclusions.
Table of contents
Chapters in sequence with brief titles; appendices, if any; bibliography, all with respective page numbers.
List of tables/illustrations/maps
You may not have any. If you do have them, a separate sheet is used for each category, listing each item in order, with page numbers. Where the total number of items is very small, you may combine the lists on one page. All the tables, diagrams and other illustrations should be listed in the order in which they appear in the text, together with page numbers.
Abbreviations
It can be very convenient for the reader to have a list of abbreviations when a large number is used in the text and notes. If you do provide such a list, it should be on a separate sheet.
Chapters
Where the first chapter is short and of an introductory nature it may be appropriate to entitle it ‘Introduction’, in the Table of Contents, with the title ‘Chapter One’ reserved for the first substantive chapter. Similarly, there may be a short final chapter simply called ‘Conclusion’. On the other hand, it may be that the argument is introduced and/or concluded in the course of larger opening or closing chapters.
Introduction
This chapter should help the reader understand what the research is about and how it has been conducted. It should provide:
• Any necessary background information
• The rationale for the research (typically including both theoretical and practical rationales)
• The research aims, question and/or objectives, as appropriate
• An overview of the chapters that follow
Literature Review/methods
This chapter reviews previous research, and sometimes practice, that is relevant to your research. It should:
• be informed by a reading in a good range of relevant sources – with an emphasis on academic sources.
• provide definitions of key concepts
• identify major issues, current debates or areas of interest to both researchers and practitioners
• offer a clear view of how the dissertation research fits with existing knowledge, and the modest contribution that it seeks to make
• be analytical and evaluative, comparing and structuring previous research, and not just be a descriptive account of previous research.
• give a statement of the research strategies and research methods chosen and why
• reference ethical issues (if appropriate)
• provide details of the selection of sample interviewees, if used
• inform and lead into the subsequent chapters of the dissertation
Conclusions
This chapter concludes the dissertation. It should:
• offer a summary of the key issues identified which your dissertation has identified, referring back to aims, and the sources identified in the literature review
• evaluate the research you have conducted
• summarise its ‘contribution’ – what is known now that wasn’t known before this research was conducted?
• identify recommendations for further research.
Appendices
Appendices are optional. Typically they include examples of useful background information or evidence. There is no merit in a thick bundle of Appendices.
Sometimes you may have a large body of information which does not fit easily into either the text or notes, as in the case of large statistical tables. Always ask yourself whether you need to provide such information in an appendix.
Bibliography
You must provide a full bibliography of all the material you have used in preparing the dissertation, separated into primary and secondary sources.
Word count
The word count should be typed at the bottom right hand side of the contents page.
References
References must:
• cover all primary and secondary sources cited in the dissertation,
• list secondary sources divided into book and journal articles, in alphabetical order of authors’ names
• adopt a consistent citation practice.( Harvard)