Writing a Dissertation For Dummies^®

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 successfully       

Chapter 20:  Ten Items For Your Very Final Checklist