Dissertation Writing - A Complete Guide with Topics, & Sample

Do you find yourself struggling to write your dissertation? It can be a difficult process, but it is worth the effort. Let's talk about getting started on your own personal journey of writing and completing this challenging task.

It's time to stop thinking about your dissertation and thesis writing as a burden and start thinking of it as an opportunity.

This blog post is for all the students who are currently in dissertation writing mode. It's been a long process, but you're almost there. Whether it's your first time or not, we know how difficult this stage can be.

You may have just finished your second draft and are ready to move on to the final draft before submission. We've got all of the tips and tricks below to help make this process easier for you.

Read on to know more about how to write a dissertation and other helpful tips that will get you through this tough spot.

What is Dissertation Writing?

Dissertations are long-form research papers. They can either report on an empirical study or literature-based study and cover a particular topic set by the department or school where the student is enrolled.

However, the student chooses the topic himself from the given list.

A dissertation is a high-level writing project that may contain individual chapters, headings, and subheadings. They are extended to ten thousand to twenty thousand words, which is a lot when compared to a classroom assignment.

Despite the fact that a dissertation is meant to answer questions, it's more important for writers not to lose sight of how they've learned from their process and what stopped them from meeting expectations.

Even if you produce nothing usable in your research project, as long as you can show evidence about your study and research, you can definitely get an A on your work.

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Dissertation Writing Format

‘How to structure a dissertation?’

Each dissertation takes a different form depending on the location, discipline, topic, and approach.

Some dissertations are structured to reflect research in sociology or mathematics, while others might be written for an English-speaking audience with references to modern literature.

Here is a dissertation structure that is usually followed by all the students.

Front Matter
	Title Page
	Abstract
	Table of Contents
	List of Figures
	List of Tables
	List of Unknown Symbols, Terms, and Acronyms
Main Body
	Introduction
	Theoretical Framework
	Results
	Discussion
	Conclusions
	Recommendations
End Matter
	Acknowledgment
	References
	Appendixes
	Bibliography

This structure and format are commonly used by students but make sure that you consult your teacher before structuring and formatting your dissertation.

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Dissertation Writing Outline

‘How to develop an outline for a dissertation?’

An outline is an important part of writing, and without a workable outline, you cannot write a good and top-quality dissertation. Here are the parts of a dissertation that you can use to make an outline for your dissertation and thesis.

Below is a detailed discussion of each part of the dissertation writing process.

• Chapter 1: Introduction

  The introduction of a research paper should clarify the problem to be solved and explain why this information needs to be studied.

  The reasoning behind it is sometimes called a theoretical argument that justifies the study and its need for providing new or needed knowledge.

  Here is how you should structure your dissertation’s introduction section.

  • General description and background information about the topic.
  • Significance of the research problem.
  • Analysis of the theoretical basis for the respective study.
  • Analysis and synthesis of relevant literature.
  • Statement and explanation of the problem.
  • Relevant and to-be discussed research questions and hypotheses.

  When writing the introduction of your dissertation, it is important that you take care of all these points.

• Chapter 2: Literature Review

  This chapter analyzes and studies the relevant and existing literature about the chosen field of study. This provides a basis for your study and shows the readers why your work is significant.

  The writer uses this section to demonstrate his understanding of the said topic and existing findings.

  Mention and add the given-below details in this chapter.

  • Historical background of the study.
  • Relevant theory that focuses on the research questions.
  • Existing empirical literature review that highlights the dissertation’s hypothesis.
  • Heading and subheadings for proper organization of the researched material and chapters.

  Literature review is a vast chapter as it studies previous literature and builds a foundation for the current study.

• Chapter 3: Methodology

  This chapter gives complete details and information about the methods and techniques that the writer has used to conduct the research. It includes the following details.

  • Participants of the research, if it is field-based research.
  • Research measures that are relevant and used in the research.
  • The design of the research.
  • The procedures that are used for the research.
  • Analysis of the added research data.

  Make sure that you add everything carefully and properly and leave no important detail behind.

• Chapter 4: Results

  This chapter puts the results of the research forward but without any interpretation or discussion. Here is how this section is created.

  • Destruction of the statistical data and studies.
  • Primary statistical analysis.
  • Analysis to answer the hypotheses and research questions.
  • Organization of the researched and collected data into tables and figures.

  The results section of the dissertation focuses on the results that are collected during the research process.

• Chapter 5: Discussion

  The researchers discuss their findings and how they compare to other literature. They also cover limitations of interpretation, as well as implications for future research in the field.

  Here are the things added in the discussion section.

  • Summary of the acquired results.
  • Conclusions based on the researched data and summary.
  • Limitations of the study and further perspectives.
  • Recommendations for future study and research.

  This section is lengthier than the results and methodology chapters because it would both analyze and compare the results with existing research.

• Chapter 6: Conclusion

  This chapter closes the entire research and wraps up everything. It does not introduce any new themes or ideas but focuses on summarizing the important points of the respective research.

  References, appendices, and bibliography are added at the end of the dissertation. When doing so, make sure that you do not miss any detail or important reference.

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How to Write a Dissertation?

Writing a dissertation could be an arduous task that could only be achieved through hard work and following the process below.

There are no shortcuts, and you will have to follow each step to write a good and memorable dissertation.

• 1. Understand What a Dissertation Is

  Before heading to writing your dissertation, you must understand exactly what it is.

  Many students who come to us for writing help do not actually have any idea about the assignment. In simple terms, a dissertation is a detailed research paper that includes both existing and new research.

  Here are the steps involved in the research process.

  • Ask a specific question and guide it towards your research topic.
  • Research and see what other researchers have to say about your topic.
  • If there are any loopholes, analyze them and explain how your research could answer them adequately.
  • Answer your research question and use the researched evidence for it.

  In simple terms, a research process is about asking and answering a question, and this is what you will do in a dissertation.

• 2. Find a Research-Worthy and Valuable Research Topic

  Finding a topic could be hard, and finding a good dissertation topic could be even harder. The topic should ask the readers a direct question.

  However, an ideal dissertation topic must have the following qualities.

  • Clarity - Your research topic should be very specific and unambiguous. You need to clarify what you want your project to investigate, how you plan on looking for information about the subject matter, and when it will take place.

    Example: The increase in obesity among the British people is due to their overconsumption of chocolates and other sweets.

  • Originality - The research question should be unique and original. It could be a never-asked-before kind of question, or it could also be about an unknown aspect of an existing thing.

    The question should be original because otherwise, it would not show the significance of your research.

    Example: The increase in obesity could also be because of a lack of exercise and physical activities.

  • Important - Besides being original and clear, the question must be important and valuable for the audience. It must offer and provide value to the respective field and open doors for future research.
• 3. Write a Solid Research Proposal

  Once you’ve found a great research topic, the next step is to submit it for approval. Even if your idea seems perfect and like something no one has ever thought of before, every proposal needs an endorsement from the university to be considered legitimate.

  The key document for this process is called a proposal.

  Your proposal is one of the most important documents that you will write in your academic career.

  It doesn't matter if it's a Master’s, Ph.D., or Doctoral degree; without an approved research proposal, you will not be able to get anywhere or complete any course work successfully either.

  Following are the things that a university wants to see in your research proposal.

  • An original and valuable topic.
  • A review of existing research regarding your research topic.
  • A complete and comprehensive plan through which you will write your dissertation.

  Here, you are not expected to present complete research, but you must show your understanding of the topic.

• 4. Write a Strong and Engaging Introduction

  There is a lot of work to do before you start writing your dissertation. Once approved, the first thing on your list should be getting started with crafting the introduction section.

  It might seem like one of those pesky tasks that can wait until tomorrow, but if you put in some time and actually create an engaging intro - or at least get off to a good start- then when it comes time for research, you will have a clear direction about your work.

  Following are the things that go into an introduction chapter.

  • A brief background of the research.
  • The statement of the problem.
  • Your research questions.
  • The importance and value of your research

  Treat the introduction chapter of your research as your dissertation’s sales letter. Here, you have a chance to engage your readers and encourage them to read your paper further.

• 5. Write an In-Depth Literature Review

  Once you reach the literature review writing, it is time to dig deeper into the existing research. It is important to show your research’s relevance to the existing research and study.

  Writing a literature review includes two steps.

  • Reading - The first step in conducting research is to gather as much information about your topic.

    As you dive into the existing literature, it's important that you read every article related to your core questions and create a catalog of this material.

    You can use it later when creating an overview of what we currently know on the subject.

  • Writing - Many students believe incorrectly that a literature review is about summarizing everything that is already written by other researchers.

    While this is somewhat true, the work does not end here. As a researcher, it is your job to synthesize the existing studies while highlighting the research gap effectively.

  A strong literature review is important for a strong thesis and dissertation.

• 6. Design your Own Dissertation’s Research

  Once you are done with the previous chapters, it is time to work on your own research.

  Discuss how you have approached the research question or topic and the methodology you have used in it.

  It will include details like;

  • Your research perception or philosophy.
  • Your data collection strategy.
  • Your data analysis techniques.

  Once you are done with the data collection, you can start with its analysis. The analysis method will be based on the kind of your research.

  In case of interviews or focus groups, you will have to transcribe the data before analyzing it.

• 7. Present or Add the Research Results

  This will include both the results and discussion chapters. However, both of these chapters will discuss different things.

  The results will include the details of the acquired results only, while the discussion chapter will discuss those results.

  Some universities tell the students to merge both of these chapters into a single chapter, while others may ask the students to make separate chapters for both.

  No matter what, the writer needs to analyze and present the researched data.

  This will show the value and relevance of the research.

• 8. Write an Impactful Conclusion

  After all your research, it is time to tie up loose ends with the concluding chapter.

  This final piece of writing will take a look at what you learned from this study and offer insight on how these findings can be used in future studies.

  These easy-to-follow steps will help you write a dissertation easily and within the given deadline.

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Dissertation Writing Example

Here is a dissertation writing sample to guide you further.

Dissertation Writing Sample

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Dissertation Writing Topic Ideas

A good research topic is essential for a high-quality dissertation. Here are some dissertation topic ideas that you can use to develop your research work’s question or topic.

• Value of Ethics in the Workplace.
• Socio-cultural Diversity and Inclusiveness.
• Influence of Globalization on Businesses.
• Effects of Technology on Management Practices.
• Employee Commitment in a Non-Profit Organization.
• Career Guidance in Colleges and Universities.
• Role of Culture in Architecture and Design.
• Usage of Semiotics in Advertising and Marketing.
• Benefits of Developing Soft Skills in the Workplace.
• Implementation of Human Resource Theories in Offices.

These topics could be used by graduate students also who are looking for some help with their research and writing.

It is probably the most important academic paper for a student, and due to its difficulty and time-consuming nature, many students turn to online dissertation writers also.

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Dissertation Writing Tips

Here are some helpful tips for writing your dissertation.

• Begin early and do not think that there is still a lot of time to do your dissertation.
• Make achievable and reasonable goals.
• Ask for feedback early in the process so that you do not make the same mistakes throughout your assignment.
• Find out about the expectations of your teacher and committee.
• Take necessary and reasonable breaks when needed but do not extend the time too much.
• Make sure to get back to work as soon as possible.
• Make writing a habit and write regularly. This will ensure that your dissertation is moving forward.
• Read A LOT, and by this, we mean that read everything you get your hands on.
• Maintain your focus and remove distractions as much as possible.
• More importantly, make a plan and stick to it.

It is significant academic work, and you need to be serious and willing to commit to the work and efforts that go into writing it.

In case you need additional help, you can always turn to dissertation services like FreeEssayWriter.net. Your assigned essay writer will be an expert at providing dissertation writing services.

All you have to do is place your order in time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you write a dissertation in 2 weeks?

Yes, you can write a dissertation in 2 weeks, but it is highly unlikely to get accepted. Dissertation writing requires ample time, and doing something in such a short time will not give it enough time to research, write, and proofread at the same time.

Is writing a dissertation hard?

If you are writing it for the first time, it could be hard, but it is more considered time-consuming than hard.

For many, it's the most difficult task they'll ever undertake intellectually, and one of the hardest parts about writing your dissertation is staying committed.

This is what makes dissertation writing hard.

How long does it take to write a 15000 word dissertation?

It takes nearly 50 hours to complete a 15000 word dissertation.